The Best Potato Peeling Hack

Peeling a ton of potatoes for a big holiday meal can become a very time-consuming chore. There’s got to be a better way to peel a bunch of potatoes for your upcoming holiday feast that will feature your delicious potato mash.

While it may sound impossible, there is, in fact, a way to peel a potato with just a pinch! This potato peeling hack is perfect for anyone with medical conditions that make peeling difficult, or for the person given the dreaded task that no one wants; Sitting at the kitchen table with a peeler and several pounds of large potatoes in preparation of Christmas dinner. “Yay!” Said no one ever!

Here’s What You’ll Need

You’ll need just a few things to peel your spuds using this easy potato-peeling technique:

• large pot
• large bowl
• tongs or a slotted spoon
• knife
• cutting board

How To Peel Your Potatoes The Easy Way

Step 1

Rinse all of your potatoes in cold water. Next, take your knife and carefully score a line all the way around the center of each potato. Make sure that your cut ends where it begins, making a complete circle.

Step 2

Place your scored potatoes into a pot filled with salted water.

Step 3

Bring the water to a boil, and boil for 20 minutes. Next, fill a large bowl with cold water.

Step 4

After the potatoes have finished boiling, use your tongs or slotted spoon to transfer them to the bowl of cold water.

Tip: If you want the potatoes to cool quickly, or you’re peeling a large number of potatoes, place some ice cubes in your bowl of cold water.

Step 5

Once the potatoes have cooled down enough to touch, remove a potato and place it on the cutting board. Find where you scored the potato in step one and begin gently pulling back on the potato skin. Once the skin is loose, pinch the end of the potato, and the skin should slide away.

Step 6

Repeat step five for the remaining potatoes. Quarter the potatoes and return them to the pot of hot water. Continue to boil them until they are fork tender.

Why Peel Potatoes This Way?

Boiling potatoes for 20 minutes seems like it might not be worth the time investment. However, there are actually several benefits to using this method, especially if you’re preparing a big meal.

Easier For People With Arthritis Or Wrist Injuries

When you have an injury that has hindered the ability to use your wrist, peeling vegetables can become a herculean task. With this method, there is much less wrist movement needed.

It’s Actually Saving You Time

Peeling a large batch of potatoes probably takes close to 20 minutes. That’s 20 minutes of you being stuck in the act of peeling. With this method, however, your hands are free to prepare other components of your meal while they boil. It’s like having an extra pair of hands, and who doesn’t like to have an extra pair of hands in the kitchen?

Then, once it comes time to cut the potatoes, the cutting is far less laborsome as the potato has softened somewhat. Lastly, since the potatoes are already partially cooked when you peel them, they will take less time to cook.

This Method Works On Several Types Of Potatoes

We tested this method on two popular holiday potato varieties. Both the Yukon Gold and the Russet potato peeled without any trouble after 20 minutes of boiling.

The next time you need to peel a monster pile of potatoes, give this method a try. Your life will never be the same.