This site will give you the confidence to choose and use the knives and other nonelectric sharp tools in your kitchen. It’s also a reference site that you can use as you improve your skills and acquire the tools that will make you a better cook!

Vegetable peeler

Vegetable peelers come in two different styles: the swivel style and the harp style (also called a Swiss or Y-style peeler). Like choosing a knife, it’s a matter of what’s comfortable in your hand. For that reason, my preference is the swivel-style peeler.

But other people have told me they feel the same way about the harp style. If you’re not sure, then you might want to buy both and see which you prefer. Different brands of each type of peeler range from $3 to $15. You can also spend almost $25 for a Swiss peeler that comes in right- and left-handed models. This, however, cuts down on the chances of having someone cook with you in your kitchen.

The one thing to verify whenever you buy a peeler is that the blade is sharp. For some odd reason, some peelers are sharp, and stay that way for years, while others arrive dull, and are never very useful.

There is a rounded end on most swivel-style peelers to remove potato eyes and blemishes. It’s easier and faster to use this rounded tip than to use a paring knife.

Nonknife, nonmotorized sharp kitchen tools

Scissors

As the camel falls to its knees, more knives are drawn.

One knife whets another.

When you take a knife away from a child, give him a piece of wood instead.

Javier Perez De Cuellar

I am like a doctor. I have written a prescription to help the patient. If the patient doesn’t want all the pills I’ve recommended, that’s up to him. But I must warn that next time I will have to come as a surgeon with a knife.

Rodney Dangerfield

One time a guy pulled a knife on me... I could tell it wasn’t a professional job — it had butter on it.

Knife Skills —

a kitchen guide to using the right knife the right way

Vegetable peeler

Javier Perez De Cuellar

Rodney Dangerfield