:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/best-vegetable-peelers-4164913-SpruceEats-Primary-DD-02d7310e944443e8b978b1ade77b56ce.png)
The Spruce Eats / Danie Drankwalter
Many home cooks would agree that peeling vegetables is not the most exciting kitchen task, though it certainly is an important one. Peeling fruits and vegetables does not require a ton of skill or practice, but it does require a durable, sharp tool that can work properly on a variety of produce and last you a long time.
To help you find the right vegetable peeler for your kitchen, we tested them side-by-side and evaluated each on design, versatility, performance, ease of use, cleaning, and overall value. Dozens of potatoes were peeled—as well as other fruits and veggies—to test out the peelers' multitasking capabilities and make sure these peelers are truly the best.
Here are the best vegetable peelers.
Best Overall
Oxo Good Grips Pro Swivel Peeler
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/oxo-good-grips-pro-swivel-peeler-04868f77b0104894a7a00eec1f3c2879.jpg)
Amazon
Blade is very sharp
Peels smoothly and easily
Non-slip, comfortable grip
Peels in both directions
Slightly pricier than competitors
This is the upgraded version of a classic Oxo peeler. It has a slightly better grip and sharper blade and is much sturdier than the original. The swiveling blade moves at exactly the right angle to peel vegetables with ease, which was confirmed by our tester after peeling many white potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, apples, and tomatoes. She even zested a few limes. In all, it cut easily and felt smooth.
Our tester found that the handle was comfortable to hold, even after a long session with potatoes. Also, the blade cut flawlessly in both directions, making it ideal for any cutting method and for both left- and right-handed users. The metal eye at the top lets you remove eyes from potatoes without reaching for a knife, and the hole in the handle can be used for hanging it on a hook. When it comes time for cleaning, it can be washed by hand or in the dishwasher. In fact, our tester has been using this peeler for more than three years now and always throws it in the dishwasher. It's still an absolute workhorse.
Price at time of publish: $16
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/oxo_pro_swivel_peeler-c62ccf49deec4a59b0f912d64e1c2ff3.png)
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Dimensions: 7.5 x 1.25 x 0.75 inches | Blade material: Stainless steel
"It took an average of 30 seconds per potato to peel average-sized potatoes. The peeling felt smooth, and the peels fell away from the peeler rather than getting stuck in the blade." — Donna Currie, Product Tester
Best Set
Oxo Good Grips 3-Piece Peeler Set
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/81I7aL6l-hL._AC_SL1500_-64e41eab3f8f402e89fd6b004eb0a8dd.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Swivel, julienne, and serrated blades
Includes safety guards for each blade
Grips are comfortable and non-slip
Blades are super sharp
Full set is bulky to store
If you’re in the market for several peelers to outfit your kitchen, this Oxo set is the way to go. Not only do you have the option to go for a colorful set—one swivel peeler with a green handle, one julienne peeler with an orange handle, and one serrated peeler with a red handle—but these peelers also offer versatility and durability.
Our tester found there wasn’t much in her kitchen that this set didn’t handle with ease. She wielded the straight-edged peeler to prep Yukon golds for mashing and peel apples for her toddler’s snacks. Soft Roma tomatoes were no match for the serrated blade—the skin glided off with little waste and no squashed tomatoes left behind. She knew she was working with extra-sharp blades when she barely had to apply any pressure to peel tough sweet potatoes.
If a vegetable peeler is a tool that you use infrequently, this might be more than you need, but if you want a variety of blades, this is a must-have set. Each peeler has its own clear safety cover to make sure blades aren’t exposed in storage.
Price at time of publish: $30
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/OXO_GoodGripsProYPeeler_HeroHoriz-f4a017c034a846b3b2b1296a06087722.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Dimensions: 11.3 x 6.8 x 1.25 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
"The green peeler was best for potatoes, apples, cucumbers, and removing the outer skin from carrots; the red peeler worked well on apple skin and even better on peeling ripe Roma tomatoes; and the orange peeler cut perfect strips of potato and carrot." — Sharon Lehman, RDN, Product Tester
Best for Potatoes
Oxo Good Grips Pro Y-Peeler
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/614DMA3IYYL._AC_SL1500_-3bf6520949db4256896474f31163289f.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Sharp, durable blade
Built-in eyer
Peels in both directions
Interchangeable blade replacement
Wide blade tricky to maneuver on small produce
Doesn’t work on soft-skinned fruit
When it comes to peelers, Oxo makes a variety of different models for your specific peeling needs (its swivel peeler and peeler set are also on this list). This Y-peeler model is a go-to for professionals and home chefs alike. The extra-durable, stainless steel swivel blade can work through produce of all shapes, sizes, and toughness. Should the blade ever become dull, you can change it out for a new blade replacement cartridge (sold separately). You should get a lot of use out of the blade before it needs replacing, though. Our tester breezed through several pounds of Yukon and sweet potatoes without noticing any dulling of the blade.
This peeler is designed with a sharp eye that can carve out eyes or blemishes on potatoes and other produce, and the comfortable, non-slip contoured handle allows for the user to choke up or grip farther back depending on how they prefer to hold the tool. The Y-peeler design allows for more control and customization than any other shaped peeler, plus you can use it in both directions. The only potential downside to the design is the wide blade, which our tester found tricky to maneuver over smaller fruit and vegetables.
Reviewers are immensely pleased with this product, noting that they were able to peel more difficult produce items, such as butternut squash. Our tester concurs, noting this peeler shines when working with firm produce, like carrots, apples, and cucumbers. She 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.
Price at time of publish: $16
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/OXO_GoodGripsProYPeeler_02-a9045c86ade2464bb64d3fcee65d81b1.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Dimensions: 10.2 x 4.5 x 0.8 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
"This peeled Yukon and sweet potatoes with ease. I barely had to apply any pressure to remove a strip of peel, which came without much potato flesh attached." — Sharon Lehman, RDN, Product Tester
Best Electric
Starfrit Electric Rotato Express
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2021-09-16at11.23.36AM-127dcb464f7b4f9f9236356fb685f08a.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Reduces food waste
Produces a very thin peel
Hands-free peeling
Affordable price
Doesn’t work with thin or irregular shaped produce
Blade is tough to clean
If you’re wanting an automatic peeler, but you don’t own a stand mixer, you can opt for this freestanding electric peeler. It claims to work on most produce, such as potatoes, apples, citrus, and stone fruits. Although the position of the peeler can be adjusted to accommodate fruit and veggies of all sizes, it struggles with thinner items like parsnips and carrots and heavier items like butternut squash.
In testing, the Rotato Express made quick work of peeling Yukons and russets. Our tester clocked this peeler at about 10 seconds to peel a medium potato. Because the potatoes have to be held in place by prongs, the blade isn’t able to peel potatoes entirely from end to end, but it’s close.
Unfortunately, our tester didn’t have as much luck with sweet potatoes, which was disappointing after seeing how well it handled white potatoes. The blade couldn’t seem to grab onto the tougher skin, and the tapered ends of the sweet potatoes were tough to fit on the peeler. The bit of sweet potato skin it did manage to remove got stuck in the blade and required extra tools, like cleaning brushes and toothpicks, to dislodge. The rest of the peeler assembly can be wiped down by hand. Note that the prongs that hold the produce in place get a bit dirty and are also hard to thoroughly clean, as there's not much room to fit fingers, a sponge, or a rag between them.
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.
Price at time of publish: $25
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Rotato_ExpressPeeler_HeroHoriz-3b9449481e5149cc87aa571528eefcff.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Dimensions: 6.31 x 6.5 x 11 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
"Apples and pears peeled without issue, but quite a bit of skin was left on the rounded ends of the fruit. There's no way to start the blade at the very top of whatever you're peeling, so there's always some amount of skin left on the ends no matter what you peel." — Sharon Lehman, RDN, Product Tester
Best Serrated
Kuhn Rikon Serrated Piranha Swivel Peeler
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/KuhnRikonSerratedPiranhaSwivelPeeler-1cbb604390a54c9c807b49090d4450cc.jpg)
Amazon
Lightweight and comfortable to hold
Sharp blade works smoothly and consistently
Ergonomic grip design
Stores away easily
No safety cover for blade
This classic, Swiss-design peeler offers a serrated swivel peeler that is adept at catching onto tough-to-penetrate skins (fuzzy, hard, or smooth), like tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and peaches. The serrated blade is also great for trimming tougher foods, like asparagus and squash. Because it's serrated, it leaves behind very fine ridges on the item that you’re peeling, which provides extra grip on your food to prevent slipping. The imprint is so small, though, that you may not even notice.
Of all the peelers on this list, our tester found this one to be one of her favorites. It's especially easy to use thanks to an ultra-sharp blade that takes off produce skin in one smooth, thin strip with very little effort or fatigue on the cook’s hands. Whether she was peeling jumbo sweet potatoes or small plum tomatoes, this peeler performed consistently. It even took the skin right off a very ripe Roma tomato. The ergonomic design and vertical blade position made it easy to glide the peeler over both wide and narrow produce and curved items, including pears.
The curved non-slip handle is comfortable, lightweight, and functional for both righties and lefties. It’s available in two colors: green and red. The skin design barely takes up any storage space, but there’s no safety cover for the blade, so stash it with caution. While this is dishwasher safe, it is also easy to clean by hand. Even though the blade is serrated, any stuck-on bits of food rinsed right off the teeth.
Price at time of publish: $14
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/KuhnRikon_SerratedPiranhaSwivelPeeler_HeroHoriz-0aab3314d236496e9fea5dd0121fbd6d.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Dimensions: 7.25 x 0.75 x 1 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
"This peeler is the smallest of the bunch, so I mistakenly thought it wouldn't handle potato skins very well. Boy, was I wrong." — Sharon Lehman, RDN, Product Tester
Best KitchenAid Attachment
KitchenAid Spiralizer Plus Attachment
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/71yj4hcoVTL._AC_SL1500_-6a92d3df7a174c6d803069ee20349231.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Requires much less manual work
Medium, fine, and extra-fine spiraling blades
Blades are dishwasher safe
Peels multiple fruits or vegetables at once
Pricey
Vegetable length is limited
If you’d rather put your stand mixer instead of your wrists to work, then this attachment is about to become your new best friend when it’s time to peel veggies. Equipped with six quick-change blades, you can use this attachment for basic vegetable peeling as well as creating large, medium, and ultra-thin noodles. Of course, you’ll need access to an outlet as well as a stand mixer in order to use this attachment.
Our tester 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). As for the process as a whole? Our tester described it as "fun and awesome."
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.
Price at time of publish: $150
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kitchenaid_spiralizer_attachment-bd35049f7ec3400b8522b5ee90d8cb5b.png)
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Dimensions: 5.8 x 12.4 x 2.9 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
"Of course, this spiralizer made short work of zucchini, and I also had success with a fat carrot." — Donna Currie, Product Tester
Best Ceramic
Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Horizontal Y-Peeler
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kyoceraCeramicYPeeler-24d33f94c7344d9e8a890f547cec685c.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Available in many fun colors
Ergonomic Y-peeler design
Easy to use
Minimizes food browning
Single sided blade
Ceramic is not as durable as stainless steel
Kyocera has made a name for itself with super-sharp ceramic knives, so it should come as no surprise that this ceramic peeler performs just as well. The Y-shaped tool won't rust or corrode, and the ceramic material minimizes food browning, which comes in handy when peeling large amounts of apples or potatoes. Like Kyocera’s ceramic knives, the blade on this peeler is made from the company’s proprietary zirconia material and will stay sharp much longer than similar metal knives.
Our tester thought this peeler felt incredibly smooth when in use and required very little force to get a good cut. It performed best when used with a light touch, which made it less tiring to use. While it worked wonders on tomatoes, she found it best to move the peeler side-to-side rather than pulling it in the direction of the cut.
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.
Price at time of publish: $14
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/kyocera_ceramic_peeler-ef7eb1b3a2074b7bb8a25a40e06cb34d.png)
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Dimensions: 1.1 x 3.1 x 5.7 inches | Blade Material: Ceramic
"This had no trouble at all with sweet potatoes, slicing through them easily and efficiently." — Donna Currie, Product Tester
Best Handmold Grip
Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2021-09-16at11.45.28AM-e4bf89b1e5364686a700055bb599f31a.png)
Courtesy of Amazon
Extremely comfortable and easy to hold grip
Swiveling blade peels smoothly
Peels soft fruits well
Grip may not fit all hands
Comfort is key when you’re using a tool that requires diligence and repetition. Keep your hands comfortable with an easy, natural grip that’s not going to fall out of your hands. This peeler, which is equally as comfortable for righties as it is for lefties, boasts a molded handle that is easy to hold onto. The dual stainless steel blades allow you to peel in either direction.
Our tester had no issues peeling any vegetables, from hard sweet potatoes to delicate tomatoes. It cut well in both directions, though she did find that sometimes peels got caught in the blade rather than falling away, so it slowed the peeling time down a bit, especially with potatoes.
The grip has finger-hold ridges, but they may not be perfect for every user. Our tester said they were a little off for the way she wanted to grip the peeler, but that other users may love it. 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.
Price at time of publish: $25
Dimensions: 7.5 x 1.5 x 0.8 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/spring_chef_peeler-e5e78fd6de544db78404739be077b93b.png)
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
Dimensions: 7.5 x 1.5 x 0.8 inches | Blade Material: Stainless steel
"The peeler managed to remove the peels in one swipe, and didn't remove an excess amount of the actual potato." — Donna Currie, Product Tester
Compare
Overall Rating | Performance | Ease of Use | Cleaning | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]()
Best Overall:
Oxo Good Grips Pro Swivel Peeler
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
![]()
Best Set:
Oxo Good Grips 3-Piece Peeler Set
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
![]()
Best for Potatoes:
Oxo Good Grips Pro Y-Peeler
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
![]()
Best Electric:
Starfrit Electric Rotato Express
|
Amazon | 4 | 5 | 3 | |
![]()
Best Serrated:
Kuhn Rikon Serrated Piranha Swivel Peeler
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
![]()
Best KitchenAid Attachment:
KitchenAid Spiralizer Plus Attachment
|
Amazon | 5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | |
![]()
Best Ceramic:
Kyocera Advanced Ceramic Horizontal Y-Peeler
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | |
![]()
Best Handmold Grip:
Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler
|
Amazon | 5 | 4 | 5 |
We chose the Oxo Good Grips Pro Swivel Peeler because its extra-durable, stainless steel swivel blade can tackle produce of all shapes, sizes, and toughness. It slices through loads of potatoes, tomatoes, apples, and much more with ease. If it's a set you're looking for, you absolutely cannot go wrong with the Oxo Good Grips 3-Piece Peeler Set.
How We Tested
We sent vegetable peelers to our experienced home chefs and product testers, who tried each out with potatoes of different kinds as well as other fruits and vegetables, including carrots, zucchini, and apples, to determine which peelers are truly the best. Each peeler was rated on design, versatility, performance, ease of use, ease of cleaning, and overall value. Our testers then offered additional insights on each peeler's strengths and weaknesses.
Making your own vegetable chips, whether you fry or bake them, is easier than you think. Almost any root vegetable can be made into chips. Other options include rutabaga, 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 a seasoned salt.
Other Options We Tested
- Precision Kitchenware Julienne and Vegetable Peeler: The concept of this peeler is nice—it offers different blade options, including straight and julienne, without the hassle of purchasing multiple peelers. With each blade on opposite sides, all you have to do is flip the handle around to switch cuts, whether you're right- or left-handed. The side of the peeler features a small, sharp eyer to remove blemishes and scars, too. Unfortunately, our tester found it to be heavy and therefore tiring to use, and the opposing blades are wide, which made them tough to use on small potatoes and fruits. However, they did perform well on large potatoes and thick carrots. The two-in-one blade design tends to jangle around, making quite a bit of noise in use. Bits of skin tend to stick in the blades, so the included cleaning brush comes in handy for keeping this tool in tip-top shape.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/PrecisionKitchenware_JulienneVegetablePeeler_HeroHoriz-ad6cbeecb0ba4de689733e6f2da00a82.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
What to Look for in a Vegetable Peeler
Blade Material
The most important part of the peeler is the blade. If the blade is strong and sharp, you’re going to have a tough time getting through certain vegetables, and you also want a blade that stays sharp.
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.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/KuhnRikon_SerratedPiranhaSwivelPeeler_04-d9dbd60df96e40fcbfe5e624422f4dce.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Blade Design
Aside from the blade’s material, it is also worth considering how it is designed. Some blades are serrated, and others have a fine edge. Consider which makes more sense for the types of food that you’ll be peeling.
Some peelers have multiple blade options in one if you want the option to switch between serrated and straight. Additionally, a swivel blade allows you to peel in both directions and with much more freedom, whereas using a stiffer, stationary blade means you'll have to be on top of holding it at the proper angle for it to grab the peel.
Consider how deeply and smoothly the blade peels. The distance between the two blades varies from peeler to peeler. It’s always helpful when the second "guiding" blade has a raised ridge because less of it will come into contact with the food thus allowing the first blade to peel more smoothly. Some blades are also wider than others, so if you tend to work with larger produce, this could be advantageous.
Power Source
Keep in mind that you can opt for a vegetable peeler that is used manually or electronically. If you are trying to cut down on how much work your hands are doing, it may be in your best interest to opt for a free-standing electric peeler or peeler attachment that works with your stand mixer. If you prefer to do things by hand, whether it be for added accuracy or speed, then you should stick to a manual peeler.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/OXO_GoodGripsProYPeeler_03-6c413365ef5d4672a15168da1328d49a.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Handle
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. Molly Adams says, “I prefer a Y-peeler because it’s much more versatile, and I have better control with the small handle.”
FAQs
How do you sharpen a vegetable peeler?
It is uncommon to sharpen a vegetable. While it may be possible, because of the awkward shape of the two parallel blades, it’s hard to sufficiently sharpen both blades simultaneously since they get in the way of one another. You could slide a metal nail file between the two blades to sharpen each of them one at a time, but this can be tricky. The best plan for keeping your peeler sharp and ready to use is to look for peelers that offer the ability to replace the blade. This way, you can keep the same body of the peeler and not have to buy a completely new peeler every time the blade dulls.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/PrecisionKitchenware_JulienneVegetablePeeler_03-d2476c7604484280bd803e8a56349a8f.jpg)
The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
How do you clean a vegetable peeler?
Like any other dirty tool, your best bet is to clean the peeler by hand washing with warm, soapy water. Avoid the dishwasher, as this is going to dull the blade. If there are food bits stuck onto the blade, use a gentle scrub brush to loosen them up and wash them away.
How do you make zoodles with a vegetable peeler?
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.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Sara Tane has written dozens of buying guides for The Spruce Eats, understanding what consumers and cooks need to consider before making a new purchase for their culinary adventures. She is a professionally trained chef, food writer, and recipe developer. With many hours spent in the kitchen, she is no stranger to the importance of using reliable, well-made tools. After researching different vegetable peelers and their materials, she can help you find the peeler for your home kitchen.
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.
Donna Currie personally tested four vegetable peelers on this roundup. She is a cookbook author and lover of kitchen gadgets in general. The KitchenAid Spiralizer Plus, which she tested and reviewed, is one of her all-time favorites.