An apple peeler is one of those kitchen tools you don’t realize you needed until you get it. It’s super helpful in food preparation and saves you time not to mention effort.
You’ll find it especially helpful if you often prepare recipes that require many apples.
Apple peelers are great for people with reduced hand strength and anyone with arthritis. You can even use some apple peelers with just one hand.
Most people call these handy tools apple peelers but they can usually peel more than just apples. Most can also peel potatoes, carrots, cucumbers and other vegetables.
In this buying guide, we review the best apple peelers you can buy online in the UK, and give you some tips on how to choose the right one for your kitchen.
What to Consider When Choosing an Apple Peeler
a) Manual vs. Electric
The first thing to consider is whether you want a manual or electric apple peeler.
A manual peeler will cost less but involves more work. It may not be ideal for disabled persons or an arthritis sufferer.
For faster and easier peeling, get an electric peeler. It’s completely hands-free. Once you’ve positioned your apple (or potato), it peels away automatically.
An electric apple peeler is also the best if you often peel large amounts of apples or potatoes.
b) Power
If you select an electric apple peeler, check how it’s powered. There are two possibilities: battery-powered and plugged-in.
Battery-powered peelers are more versatile since you don’t need to be close to a power source to use it. You can even travel with it.
On the downside, you have to regularly charge or replace the batteries.
Plugged-in peelers never need a recharge or battery replacement. But you can only use it near a power source.
Note that some peelers offer both options: they can be connected to a socket and can also be powered by batteries.
c) Design
Apple peelers come in many different designs starting from a simple handheld peeler to large automatic peelers.
The best design depends on your peeling needs.
If you peel apples as well as vegetables and other fruits, get a traditional handheld peeler. It can be electric or manual.
If you plan to peel mostly fruits and potatoes, get one of those peelers with a hand crank and a corer.
d) Versatility
When it comes to kitchen tools and appliances, multi-purpose products are the best. Otherwise, your counter and drawers will overflow with tools that can only do one thing.
At the very least, the apple peeler you get should also work well on potatoes.
For added versatility, look for a peeler you can also use on other fruits such as pears and vegetables like carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers.
e) Ease of Use and Cleaning
The peeler should be easy to operate; much easier than peeling with a knife. Ease of use is especially important if you have arthritis or reduced arm mobility.
Something else you should check is ease of cleaning.
Apple and potato peelers use a sharp blade. Make sure the peeler is easy to disassemble and clean without hurting yourself.
The Best Apple Peeler Reviews
1. POWERGIANT 3-in-1 Electric Peeler Review
This is our favourite apple peeler. It’s super easy to use, versatile and affordable.
It’s a one-button electric peeler. You should have no trouble using it even if you have arthritis since there’s no force required. Just push the power button and slide the peeler around the apple.
The peeler comes with three interchangeable blades, all stainless steel.
The first is a single-edge peeler for thick-skinned fruits and vegetables such as pears and carrots.
The second is a two-way Y-peeler that’s perfect for thinner-skinned fruits and veggies such as tomatoes and apples.
The third is a Julienne peeler for cutting julienne strips for garnishes and salads.
The blades take only a couple of seconds to interchange.
The peeler comes with an ergonomic handle that fits perfectly in your hand. It has grips to ensure it doesn’t slip even when your hands are wet.
When you are done peeling, remove the blade head and rinse it under tap water. Since the blades are made from stainless steel, they won’t rust.
As for power, the POWERGIANT peeler uses 3 AA batteries (not included). A set of batteries lasts several months before you need new ones.
What we like about it:
- Compact and battery-powered – perfect for travel.
- Easy to use.
- Versatile – can peel a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
- 3 blade options.
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2. ARSUK Fruit Peeler, Corer and Slicer Review
The POWERGIANT peeler is nice but it won’t core or slice your apples. For that, we recommend the ARSUK fruit peeler.
It works great for various fruits including apples and pears. It can also work on large potatoes though you may need to clean up some missed bits with a knife or a handheld peeler.
The ARSUK peeler works manually. Press an apple into the sharp needles and then rotate the hand crank to move the apple forward.
You can adjust the blade to make sure it peels away all the skin.
As the blade peels the skin, another cuts the apple into perfect spirals. By the time you are done, you have a perfectly peeled and sliced apple.
When you pull out the apple, the core gets left behind.
Though it works great, it takes some practice to learn how to use this peeler well. You have to make sure the needles go perfectly into the core. Otherwise, the apple will come out with some of the core attached.
You also need to adjust the blade to avoid cutting too deep into the apple.
But once you get the hang of it, the ARSUK peeler is a real time saver.
What we like about it:
- Easy to use and clean.
- Versatile – can peel different fruits as well as potatoes.
- Peels, slices and cores.
- Stable suction base.
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3. Aisaving Automatic Electric Potato Peeler Review
This is another huge time saver especially for those with large apple harvests or need to prepare lots of potatoes for a recipe.
It looks like an upright version of the ARSUK peeler but it does not core or slice. It only peels. That’s why it’s more popular for peeling potatoes.
But you can also use it to peel apples quickly and then core and slice them with a knife or using one of those press-down apple corers and slicers. You still get to save time.
The Aisaving peeler is easy to use. Press a potato or apple into the bottom holder and then insert the top pin into it.
Press the power button and the peeler does its job.
You don’t need to adjust the blade. The robotic arm will adjust automatically as the width of the potato changes. This ensures it peels evenly from top to bottom.
When the peeler gets to the bottom of the apple or potato, it shuts off automatically.
The peeler comes with an adapter to plug into an outlet. You can also use 4 AA batteries, but you’ll have to buy them yourself.
It also comes with three replaceable blades and a thumb knife for removing eyes on potatoes and an remaining bits of skin.
What we like about it:
- Hands-free operation – great for the disabled and arthritis sufferers.
- Peels apples, mangoes, pears and many other fruits as well as potatoes.
- Can be plugged in or battery-powered.
- Non-slip base.
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4. OXO Good Grips Y Peeler Review
If you want a cheap no-frills peeler, we recommend the OXO Y peeler.
Beware, the blade on the peeler is super sharp. That’s what makes it such an effective peeler. It goes through an apple, potato or carrot in no time. But it can also leave a deep cut on your hand if you are not careful.
One end of the Y is a built-in potato eyer. It’s handy when you are peeling potatoes. You can peel and scoop out the eyes without switching to a knige.
The handle is one of the best designed parts of the OXO peeler. It is contoured and has deep grooves that ensure a strong grip on the peeler even when your hands are wet.
The non-slip handle doesn’t just make peeling easier but also safer. A small slip is all you need to find out just how sharp the blade is.
When you are done peeling, you can clean the peeler in the dishwasher or rinse it under the tap.
What we like about it:
- Cheap but very effective.
- Comfortable handle.
- Long lasting.
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5. Lakeland Apple Master Peeler & Corer Review
The Lakeland Apple Master Peeler & Corer has a similar design to the ARSUK peeler and works the same way.
Like the ARSUK peeler, this one from Lakeland will also peel, slice and core your apples. Position the apple on the prongs and turn the crank to start peeling. It’s also works with potatoes and other fruits.
The peeler comes with a vacuum base that sticks securely to any smooth surface, be it a table or counter. And since it doesn’t require any power, you can use it anywhere.
What we like about it:
- Easy to use and clean.
- Peels, slices and cores.
- Sturdy vacuum base.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is an apple peeler worth it?
Even if you only eat one apple a day and like it without the skin, an apple peeler is much easier to use compared to a knife, not to mention safer.
If you often have to peel several apples for a recipe or juice, an apple peeler, especially an electric one, is definitely worth it.
An apple peeler is also convenient for someone with arthritis.
2. Does an apple peeler core and slice apples?
Some apple peelers will peel, core, and slice apples as well as other vegetables in one move. Not all apple peelers can do this so check the product description carefully when ordering to see exactly what a particular peeler can do.
3. What else can I peel with an apple peeler?
Most apple peelers are versatile. In addition to apples, they can also peel potatoes, pears and other fruits. Hand held peelers tend to be more versatile. They can peel just about any fruit or vegetable, making it a handy tool to have in the kitchen.
