How to Use a Y Peeler for Vegetables and Fruits

Quick answer

Hold the Y peeler in your dominant hand with your thumb on the back of the blade and fingers wrapped around the handle. Glide the blade away from you along the produce, applying light pressure to remove only the skin.

How to use a Y peeler in 4 steps

1. 1. Grip the peeler correctly: Hold the Y peeler in your dominant hand. Place your thumb on the back of the blade (the flat metal part opposite the cutting edge) and wrap your fingers around the handle. This gives you the most control and prevents the peeler from twisting.
2. 2. Position the produce: Hold the vegetable or fruit firmly in your non-dominant hand. For long produce like carrots or zucchini, hold one end and peel away from your body. For round produce like apples or potatoes, work around the circumference. A common mistake is peeling towards your fingers. Always peel away from your hand to avoid cuts.
3. 3. Apply the right pressure and angle: Place the blade against the skin at a slight angle (about 30 degrees). Apply light, even pressure and pull the peeler toward you in a single, smooth motion. The blade should shave off a thin strip of skin without digging into the flesh. If you see white flesh or juice, you are pressing too hard. Ease up to avoid wasting the edible part.
4. 4. Handle curves and ends: For irregular shapes, use short, controlled strokes. After peeling the main body, trim any remaining skin from the ends with a paring knife or the small serrated edge found on some Y peelers. Rinse the peeled produce before use. Don't try to peel the entire item in one continuous stroke. Short strokes give you better control around bumps and curves.

Our recommended tool

• Y Peeler: The Y Peeler is crafted from lead-free metal with a wide blade that moves smoothly across firm produce such as squash, sweet potatoes, and carrots. The wide blade removes skins in clean, even strokes, reducing the need to go over the same area multiple times.