The 1 Kitchen Tool You Should Be Replacing Every Year

My family makes a lot of mashed potatoes over the holidays, so we go through pounds and pounds of spuds between Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year, I found myself struggling through my potato peeling duties despite using the trusty vegetable peeler I’ve relied on for years. Rather than gliding smoothly through each peel, removing the skin required significant force. This led to hand fatigue and caused the slippery, dull blade to nick my fingers. Frustrating, to say the least. (Painful, too.)

After doing a bit of research and asking around, I realized I should have replaced my vegetable peeler a long time ago—and should continue to replace it each year to prevent further kitchen injuries. Luckily, I found a budget-conscious 3-pack of highly rated Kuhn Rikon peelers for just under $6 apiece.

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler 3-Pack

Like many home cooks, I have a habit of waiting too long to replace worn-out kitchen tools. When it comes to safety, however, it pays to be overly cautious. These vegetable peelers come in a pack of three, so I won’t have to worry about buying a new one anytime soon. If you’re halfway through a bag of potatoes and realize your peeler is no longer sharp, you’ll already have a couple of backups waiting in the drawer. Plus, the peelers feature different colors to easily differentiate between the ones I’ve already used and the others that remain sharp.

The Kuhn Rikon peeler is a favorite among Amazon shoppers, and the set has already racked up over 2,300 five-star ratings on the site. They feature carbon steel blades that remain sharper longer than stainless steel, and the design is easy to hold and takes up very little storage space. “Wow, I wish I had known about these peelers sooner, they are amazing,” said one shopper. “They have me thinking of dishes to make that require vegetables to be peeled, because of how easily and quickly I can get the job done. The price point is perfect.”

Another advantage of these peelers is that both left- and right-handed cooks can use them. “They are very sharp and retain their edge better than any other peeler I’ve used,” said another shopper. “Additionally, they’re ambidextrous; my husband and I are both lefties.”

The best type of vegetable peeler may differ from person to person, but I prefer Y-shaped versions because they require less wrist effort and offer greater maneuverability than swivel peelers. This makes for swift, fluid motions when working through several pounds of apples for apple pie. Y-shaped peelers also won’t jam as easily as other shapes, in my experience. Of course, you can also find serrated peelers for softer fruits and vegetables, as well as julienne peelers to create long, thin strips.

If you prefer a different peeler shape, color, or are looking for a stainless steel version, Amazon has plenty of options. Check out more vegetable peelers and vegetable peeler sets below.

Shop More Vegetable Peelers at Amazon

OXO Good Grips Swivel Vegetable Peeler

Spring Chef Premium Swivel Vegetable Peeler

OXO Good Grips Prep Y-Peeler

Linden Sweden Original Jonas Vegetable Peeler

Farberware Euro Peeler

Fuhuy Vegetable Peeler Set

At the time of publishing, the price was $17.