This Is the Best Way to Peel an Apple
Our favorite way to peel an apple is to quarter it then use a vegetable peeler. It saves more flesh than using a knife and it's less messy than using a counter mounted apple peeler.
There are so many different ways to peel an apple. You could use a paring knife. Or you could use one of those fancy peelers that rotates the apple like a rotisserie chicken. I like to keep things simple: The best way to peel an apple is to cut it into quarters and then peel it with a vegetable peeler.
Why do I prefer using a vegetable peeler to skin apples? It spares more flesh than a paring knife (I’m always getting hasty and taking off too much apple with the peel when we I use a knife).
Why a Vegetable Peeler Is the Best Tool for Peeling Apples
It’s also fast and efficient, especially if you pull it toward you rather than slashing away from your body. You’ll have more control that way.
How to Peel Apples Using a Vegetable Peeler
I like to cut it into quarters before peeling. Then pull the peeler horizontally across the top of the chunk, taking off a tiny strip (about 1/4-inch), just to give us a place for the peeler to “grab” when we start peeling downward.
Then I simply pull the peeler down vertically, taking off 1/2-inch strips as I go. Once the quarter is peeled, I’ll do the same horizontal move across the bottom to remove the final bit of peel.
So, that’s what works for me. I find this easier than peeling a whole apple in one, long spiral, although that’s a cool trick if you can do it.
What You Will Need
I’ve found that people can be pretty passionate about their favorite vegetable peeler — Y-peeler or swivel. Really, I say use the peeler that is most comfortable for you. If it’s old and and perhaps a little dull, have it professionally sharpened or splurge on a new one.
Aside from having your favorite peeler on hand, you’ll want to have a cutting board and a knife for quartering the apple before you peel it.
Some of Our Favorite Apple (and Apple Peel) Recipes
How to Peel an Apple
Our favorite way to peel an apple is to quarter it then use a vegetable peeler. It saves more flesh than using a knife and it's less messy than using a counter mounted apple peeler.
YieldMakes 1 peeled apple
Prep time 5 minutes to 10 minutes
Ingredients
- 1
apple (or more)
Equipment
Instructions
Quarter the apple. Use a sharp knife to cut one side of the apple from the stem to the base. Stay as close to the core as possible. Set the slice aside. Lay the freshly cut slide down and cut the remaining sides of the apple until you are left with just the core.
Peel a small section from the top. Take one apple quarter and pull a vegetable peeler horizontally across the top. This should remove a strip about 1/4 inch thick. Just to give the peeler a place to grab.
Peel the apple. Next pull the peeler down vertically, top to bottom taking off 1/2 inch strips as you go. Repeat until all the apple quarters have been peeled.
Check the base. If a little peel remains at the base of a quarter just move the peeler horizontally across the bottom to remove it. (edited)
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