Kuhn Rikon 22780 Piranha Y Peeler, Red

Product Information

Making your own vegetable chips, whether you fry or bake them, is easier than you think. Almost any root vegetable can be made into homemade vegetable chips. Other options includerutabaga, turnips, celery root, and yuca. The vegetables are peeled, thinly sliced, and then soaked in water. After drained and dried, they are fried, kept warm, and then tossed with seasoned salt.

If you want to peel and slice vegetables in an instant, then you need a peeler with sharp teeth. "The Piranha Peeler," is a must for every kitchen. This peeler has a swivelling pair of serrated micro blades which cut on the push and pull strokes. The grip has finger-hold ridges, but they may not be perfectly fit for every user. The blade swivels, so it’s at the right angle for cutting, and when all the work is done, cleanup is easy since it’s dishwasher safe. It's also available in a wide variety of colors if you want to add a bit of personality to your toolkit. There are three common types of blade materials: stainless steel, ceramic, and carbon steel. Stainless steel blades are by far the most popular because it is the one material that you can sharpen like you would with knives. Ceramic blades are similar in sharpness to stainless steel, but when it comes to toughness and durability, they can be more prone to breaking or dulling. Lastly, carbon steel blades are susceptible to rust if not taken care of properly. This means you will have to wipe down after each use, so the blade isn’t wet.

The best Y-peeler: Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler

We found that it worked wonders on bushels of apples and large quantities of potatoes, but longer foods, like larger zucchini, had to be trimmed or cut in half to fit the machine (which was simple). Though it’s considerably more expensive than a manual peeler, this would be a major help if you find yourself peeling produce in large quantities (or you’re just trying to give your hands a break). The attachments are even dishwasher safe, which makes clean up super straightforward. Reviewers are immensely pleased with this product, noting that they were able to peel more difficult produce items, such as butternut squash. We found the same to be true during our tests, noting this peeler shines when working with firm produce, like carrots, apples, and cucumbers. However, we found it unable to peel softer-skinned fruit, like tomatoes; For that job, you’ll do better with one of the serrated blade peelers on this list. To create long, ribbon-like shapes with a vegetable peeler, you’ll want to peel the vegetable lengthwise for long, strand-like cuts. You can do this with zucchini, asparagus, and carrots. If you find yourself making zoodles more often, it may make sense to add a dedicated spiralizer to your collection of kitchen tools.

This roundup was updated by Sharon Lehman, RDN, a passionate home cook who is also a registered dietitian. Since testing five of the peelers on this list, she keeps reaching for the Kuhn Rikon, which she found the most versatile of the bunch. The potato eye removers are located on the sides of the peeler and are hollow circles, so they can also be used for getting a strand of zest from citrus, too. When all is said and done, you can wash this in the dishwasher. Replacement blades are included in the storage area at the base of the device. The peeler includes a 6-volt adapter, though it can also operate with batteries. This may be a worthwhile investment if you find yourself peeling a lot of potatoes at once.Manual peelers are available in a straight handle design or a Y-peeler. For the straight handles, the blade is parallel to the handle, so you’ll hold the blade on its side and work in a sideways fashion, sort of like you’re brushing hair. For a Y-peeler, the blade is perpendicular to the handle, so you’ll work in a more vertical motion like you’re painting a wall top to bottom. The difference in stroke can largely be left up to personal preference.