What is the primary use of a peeler?

• A. To cut dough into shapes
• B. To measure ingredients
• C. To remove the skin from fruits and vegetables
• D. To zest citrus

Answer: (C)

A peeler’s main use is to remove the skin from fruits and vegetables. The blade is designed to shave off a thin, even layer of the outer surface, letting you keep most of the edible flesh intact while taking away blemishes, eyes, or thin peels. This is especially handy for potatoes, carrots, apples, cucumbers, and other produce where you want to protect the nutritious flesh while discarding the outer layer.

It’s good to keep in mind how this differs from citrus zesting: zesting aims to remove only the colorful outer rind to capture aroma without the bitter white pith, so a zesting tool or microplane is typically used for that task. A peeler, by contrast, removes a broader strip of skin and isn’t ideal for producing fine zest.