Published November 1, 2007. From Cook's Illustrated.
Vegetable peelers are a standard in every kitchen, but are the new peelers an improvement on the classics?
Different peelers suit different requirements: Straight, traditional peelers work best for cucumbers and potatoes; serrated peelers make quick work of tender tomato and peach skins; julienne peelers turn out fine matchsticks for stir-fries and salads. When we crowned our winner a few years ago, we called it our favorite for its comfortably narrow grip and razor-sharp, replaceable stainless steel blade. But there was one caveat: It weighed nearly four ounces. This isn't a problem when peeling a carrot or two, but when potatoes and apples are peeled in bulk, hand strain became an issue. Hoping to find a lighter peeler that was just as sharp, we did more tests and found a new champion.
Messermeister Pro-Touch Swivel Peeler
The Messermeister Pro-Touch Swivel Peeler is remarkably sharp and so light that hand strain is never a problem.
