How to Peel Potatoes: Easy Ways to Peel a Potato

You can peel almost any type of potato—including Idaho russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, new potatoes, red potatoes, and Yukon gold potatoes—with a common vegetable peeler. 1. __Wash the potatoes__. Raw potatoes from the grocery store may arrive carrying residual dirt and pesticides. Use cold water to rinse these off. During this process, check that the potatoes are still firm and free of mold before moving on to peeling. 2. __Remove any eyes__. Using the sharp end of your vegetable peeler or a paring knife, remove any sprouts (commonly called potato “eyes”). 3. __Hold the potato and peel it__. Hold the potato in your weaker hand and peel with your dominant hand, using downward strokes when possible and avoiding the tips of your fingers. 4. __Rinse the potatoes again__. Rinse the potatoes once more to remove any stray bits of skin or dirt before cooking with your peeled potatoes. If you can spare slightly more prep time, it can be easier to peel potatoes without a vegetable peeler. The key is to first submerge them in boiling water since boiled potatoes drop their skin quite readily. 1. __Wash the potatoes__. Even though you will be boiling the potatoes, you can still use the opportunity to scrub off dirt and pesticides with a little cold water. 2. __Score the potatoes with a sharp knife__. Using a paring knife, score the potatoes by cutting a shallow line around the circumference of each spud. This will be the line you peel the skin from. 3. __Submerge the potatoes in boiling water__. Drop your scored potatoes into a pot of boiling water. Leave them there until tender. 4. __Rinse the potatoes with cold water__. When the potatoes are tender, transfer them from the pot to a colander so you can douse them with cold water and stop the cooking process. If you prefer, you can also use tongs to pluck the potatoes from the pot and submerge them in a bowl of ice water. 5. __Slide off the potato peels__. Slide off the potato skin starting at the line you scored. The potatoes should readily shed their skins. 6. __Finish your work with a sharp knife__. If any part of the skin does not slide off, you can always cut it away with a paring knife. This peeler-free boiling method is a great option when you need to peel many pounds of potatoes at once. Peeled potatoes perfectly fit into many recipes. 1. __Potato salad__: The ultimate summer side dish, potato salad may call for peeled or unpeeled potatoes. If your recipe requires peeled potatoes, your work is already done. 2. __French fries__: Use peeled potatoes to make crispy homemade French fries in an air fryer or in your oven. 3. __Mashed potatoes__: Some mashed potato recipes start with a skin-on baked potato, but most call for peeled potatoes. 4. __Korokke__: [Korokke](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/korokke-recipe) is a Japanese potato croquette. It involves mashed potatoes, which can be peeled or come with the skin included. 5. __Chowder__: You can make a hearty stew, such as clam chowder, by [dicing peeled potatoes](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-dice-potatoes) and adding them to a rich broth. Become a better chef with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com). Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Mashama Bailey, Gabriela Cámara, Niki Nakayama, Chef Thomas Keller, Yotam Ottolenghi, Dominique Ansel, Gordon Ramsay, Alice Waters, and more. Many potato recipes call for peeled potatoes, yet few cookbooks reveal the best way to remove potato skin from the vegetable. Try the following potato peeling kitchen hacks to simplify your next cooking session.

​​How to Peel Potatoes: Easy Ways to Peel a Potato

How to Peel Potatoes: Easy Ways to Peel a Potato