Vegetable Peeler Buying Guide

What Makes a Good Peeler?

A vegetable peeler should remove thin, consistent peels without wasting food or requiring excessive force. The difference between a $3 peeler and a $15 one is significant: sharper blades, better ergonomics, and longer lifespan.

Key Factors

1. Blade Style

Y-Peeler (RECOMMENDED FOR MOST)

• Horizontal blade orientation
• Unobstructed view of peeling action
• Wider, more comfortable grip
• Best for: Large round produce (potatoes, apples, squash)
• Preferred by: Professional chefs
• Examples: OXO Good Grips, Kuhn Rikon

Straight/Swivel Peeler

• Vertical blade orientation
• Traditional design
• Best for: Long vegetables (carrots, cucumbers, asparagus)
• Examples: Victorinox, standard peelers

Which to choose?

• If buying ONE peeler → Y-peeler (more versatile)
• If you peel lots of carrots → Straight peeler
• Ideally: Own both ($20 total)

2. Blade Material

Stainless Steel (Most Common)

• Durable, rust-resistant
• Stays sharp reasonably well
• Best brands: OXO (Japanese stainless), Victorinox

Carbon Steel

• Sharper, holds edge longer
• Can rust if not dried
• Best brands: Kuhn Rikon

Ceramic

• Extremely sharp
• No food browning
• Fragile - chips easily
• More expensive

Verdict: Japanese stainless steel (OXO) offers best balance of sharpness and durability.

3. Handle & Ergonomics

Critical Features:

• Non-slip grip (especially when wet)
• Comfortable for extended use
• Sufficient width for good leverage
• Lightweight

Best Design: OXO Good Grips - soft, non-slip, ergonomic handle proven through testing.

4. Additional Features

Potato Eye Remover

• Small scoop on side of blade
• Removes bad spots
• Useful bonus feature

Serrated Edge

• Some peelers have optional serrated blade
• Good for soft-skinned fruits (tomatoes, peaches)
• Not essential

Swivel vs Fixed

• Swivel: Blade pivots to follow contours (better)
• Fixed: Blade doesn't move (cheaper, less effective)
• Always choose swivel

Top Recommendations

Best Overall: OXO Good Grips Large Vegetable Peeler ($12.50 at AGC)

• Blade: Japanese stainless steel
• Style: Y-peeler with swivel blade
• Handle: Soft, non-slip Good Grips
• Why: "Makes quick work of big veggies like butternut squash, pumpkin, eggplant"
• Price: $12.50 (RRP $26.30) - Available at AGC Equipment
• Stock: Ships in 5-7 days
• Verdict: Industry standard, worth every penny

Budget Champion: Kuhn Rikon Y-Peeler ($8-12 AUD)

• Carbon steel blade
• "Wickedly sharp"
• Very affordable
• Simple, effective design
• "Very good and practically free"

Traditional Choice: Victorinox Rex Peeler ($10-15 AUD at AGC)

• Straight/swivel design
• Stainless steel
• "The iconic REX Peeler"
• Ergonomic handle
• Helps work "quickly yet safely"
• Available at AGC Equipment

Premium: Rosle ($25-35 AUD)

• German engineering
• Heavy-duty construction
• Dishwasher safe
• Overkill for most people

What Should You Pay?

Price	What You Get
-------	--------------
$3-8	Basic peelers, dull quickly, uncomfortable
$8-15	Quality brands (OXO, Kuhn Rikon, Victorinox), sharp, comfortable
$15-30	Premium (Rosle), marginal improvement
$30+	Specialty/gimmicks, not worth it

Sweet Spot: $10-15 gets you professional-quality peeler that lasts years.

Buying Options in Australia

AGC Equipment (Best for bundling)

• OXO Good Grips Large: $12.50 (RRP $26.30!)
• Link: https://www.agcequipment.com.au/oxo-good-grips-vegetable-prep-peeler-large
• Stock: 5-7 days dispatch
• Bundle with other items

• Victorinox Rex Peeler: ~$12-15
• Stainless steel, classic design

Kitchen Warehouse

• OXO range
• Kuhn Rikon peelers
• Free shipping >$100

Kmart/Woolworths

• Basic peelers $3-5
• Adequate for light use
• Replace yearly

Making the Decision

Choose OXO Good Grips Y-Peeler if:

• Want best overall peeler
• Peel variety of vegetables
• Comfortable grip matters
• This is the recommendation for 90% of people

Choose Kuhn Rikon if:

• Want sharpest blade
• Budget is tight ($8)
• Don't mind simpler design

Choose Victorinox Rex if:

• Prefer traditional straight style
• Peel lots of carrots/long vegetables
• Like classic Swiss design

Care Tips

• Hand wash (even dishwasher-safe ones last longer)
• Dry immediately
• Check blade sharpness yearly
• Replace when peels get thick (means dull blade)
• Most peelers last 3-5 years with proper care

The Bottom Line

Best Buy: OXO Good Grips Large Vegetable Peeler at $12.50 from AGC

• Professional quality
• Sharp Japanese steel
• Ergonomic handle
• 50% off RRP
• Will last 5+ years

Don't overthink this one. OXO at $12.50 is perfect.

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Last updated: October 2025