How to Peel Potatoes?

Does the potato peeler used by your grandmother seem imperishable to you? It may be good, but you can look for another process. This article will let you know about all the possible methods, including the traditional approach of peeling potatoes. After going through this article, you will get to know about a method which is easier compared to boiling away the skin. Although following both processes, you will get perfectly peeled potatoes. So, let's know in detail how to peel potatoes. 

 How to Peel Potatoes

Method 1) How to peel potatoes using a Potato Peeler:

These steps will let you know how to peel potatoes without boiling.

Step 1: 

Your first job is to hold a potato in one hand while holding a peeler in the other hand. But, ensure that you are standing over the garbage or at the sink before peeling the potato. Therefore, the potato bits will not fall over the kitchen. However, you will find two generic shaped potato peelers. So, let's know how to hold the potato peelers.

Suppose you are using a long potato peeler. Hence, you should hold the peeler just like a paint roller. Then, you need to use your thumb to control its balance in your fingers but keep your thumb away from the blade. If you are using a Y-shaped potato peeler, remember that you have to hold this as a pencil. Following this way, there remains fewer chances of hurting yourself. Ensure that you hold the peeler between your middle finger & thumb and obviously with the dominant hand. Hence, you should keep your finger pointing correctly towards it.

Step 2: 

You should start peeling the base portion of potato first. In this case, you need to think that you are drawing a line using the peeler pointing the elbow, away from the body. We have already mentioned to start peeling the potato from its base. You need to perform a single shift motion all the way up the potato. No matter which shaped potato peelers you are using, you need to peel off the skin in strips. Remember that a few potatoes are fussier than others. As a result, the skin comes off in chunks when potatoes are not smooth and round. Ensure that you are paying extra attention to such areas.

Step 3: 

Now, you should rotate your potato and keep on peeling it. Once you complete peeling one side, you need to rotate this in your hand for peeling and rotating. Make sure that you are not hurting yourself. Moreover, you need to confirm that you are not taking off the good parts of the potato. If you gently work at first, it will make your technique perfect for later.

Step 4: 

If you see any dark spots on the potato, you should peel through them. Sometimes, when you expose the inside part of potatoes, you can find dark spots. However, it is normal. You need to continue peeling until you remove the dark spots through the peeler. You can find the dark "meat" of the potato very deep, and we know this "eye". Hence, you should use the edge of your peeler to cut out the area.

Step 5: 

You must carry on the process for the top & bottom portions of your potato. It is a kind of procedure that you can follow while shaving your knees. You need to move the peeler around the curves of the potato properly. After that, you have to rinse it with cold water once you finish the peeling process. Thus, it is possible to clean potatoes.

Method 2) How to peel potatoes by Boiling Away the Skin:

These steps let you know how to peel potatoes without peeler.

Step 1:

You need to take a big pot full of water. Then, keep the potatoes in that pot. Ensure that you are using a pot where the potatoes can remain covered with water properly. Make sure that the water remains a minimum of 1 or 2 inches (2.5 - 5 cm) high on the potato's top portion.

Step 2:

Score these if necessary. Hence, you can find that the skin is coming off easily. So, you should make one line into its skin and about ¼ " deep (.6 cm) around the potato's centre. You should not cut it deeply. Cutting only the skin layer can make your job done. Besides, you should cut each potato to offer an even look.

Step 3:

Now, you need to boil the potatoes for fifteen minutes. If you use a pot that can carry 6 or 7 potatoes, the process takes around fifteen minutes to cook through. The time can vary because it depends on the number of potatoes you are dealing with at that time. After boiling it, you need to take a fork and pierce one potato with it. In case, you see that it goes easily, then it's ready.

Step 4:

Once the boiling is done, you need to immerse the potatoes in ice-cold water for five to ten seconds. As soon as the method completes, keep ready a bowl containing ice water. After that, you have to grab potatoes with tongs. Ensure that you are not directly touching the potatoes. Next, you should put this in a bowl with ice-cold water. Wait for five to ten seconds to cool them down. For each potato, you should add one or two ice cubes.

Step 5:

When you use your fingers to apply pressure to the skin to peel the skin off, you can see that it is coming off just like a tablecloth. Have you already scored the potato? Then, your task is to place the thumbs on the line. After that, you have to pull the skin toward the potato's end so that you can get a skinless potato. After that, you need to dispose of the leftover skin of the potatoes in the garbage.

How to peel potatoes with a knife:

You can use a paring knife for peeling. Cut the skin by holding the potato in one hand and using another hand to hold the knife. You need to swipe your paring knife under the potato skin to peel it.

How to Use Peeled Potatoes:

These are several recipes where you can use peeled potatoes.

1. Potato salad: This recipe needs peeled or unpeeled potatoes, and people use it as a summer dish.

2. French fries: You can use peeled potatoes for making crispy homemade French fries.

3. Mashed potatoes: Although a few people use skin-on baked potatoes for this recipe. But mostly people use peeled potatoes to make mashed potatoes.

4. Korokke: In this Japanese dish, mashed potatoes are used

5. Chowder: To prepare a hearty stew-like clam chowder, you need to first peel the potatoes. Then, your task is to dice the potatoes.

Conclusion:

If you want, you can boil potatoes with the skin on. As a result, you can keep the nutrients inside this. We hope that after going through this article, you have understood properly how to peel potatoes fast with a peeler, and with a knife.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q. Is it easier to peel potatoes after boiling?

You will be glad to know that it is very easy to peel the potatoes after boiling them. But before peeling, you need to confirm that these potatoes have become cooled enough. Thus, you can prevent yourself from getting burnt. You can use the peeled potatoes to make mashed potatoes, soups, or potato salad.

Q. Is it better to peel potatoes wet or dry?

We will recommend you to peel potatoes when you find them dry. Try to wash these before peeling them. So, it is better to wait for them until they become dry. It is because the potatoes will not become slippery when you try to hold them while peeling. Suppose you don't have sufficient time to wait until they become dry. Then, you should use a dish towel so that you are capable of holding them properly. As a result, you can get a better grip while peeling.

Q. How long do you need to boil potatoes to peel the skin?

The time taken by Cubed spuds to get completely boiled is around fifteen minutes. Whereas you need to give a minimum 20-25 minutes for boiling the big chunks or new potatoes. If you want to check whether the potatoes are completely boiled or not, you need to take the tip of a knife for piercing the potatoes. If the tip of the knife goes easily, boiling is done.