Best Apple Peelers

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Johnny
Test Winner: Johnny
Amazon Link
It never fails- as soon as the leaves begin to change on the trees, you suddenly transform into Johnny Appleseed. Even if you enjoy eating them with the skin on, the skin isn’t ideal for using them for cooking and baking. If you intend on using your excess bounty on things like pies, jam, sauce, and cobblers without a peeler, be prepared to spend the better part of an afternoon carefully removing the skin with a kitchen knife. Investing in one of these handy kitchen gadgets will allow you to remove the skin much more quickly than doing it by hand, and you will save a lot more of the meat inside by utilizing this method. There are various styles and designs on the market that can work for other fruits and vegetables to make meal prep just a little bit easier.

Standout Picks

Johnny
The reason that we selected this design as our favorite pick was because it is made from superior high-quality materials, and it is also very easy to use. Plus, it has a sharp exterior design which means that you might not even mid keeping this out on your countertop all year.
Amazon Link
$28.99
Starfrit
We absolutely loved the look of this unit. It has a clear plastic frame that allows users to watch all of the interior gears work and spin as it takes the skin off of your fruit. Users find that this design is incredibly easy to use, but it does come with a few limitations that you wouldn’t find on the more common crank-like options.
Amazon Link
$15.00
COOK JOY
It’s hard to resist the bright and happy charm of the COOK JOY option. It has a clear frame with a lime green base, so users will be able to watch the gears turn as they crank the lever along the side. It has a similar frame to that of the Starfrit option, and just a few shortcomings that bumps it down a peg.
Amazon Link
$28.99
Precision Kitchenware
This little gadget is going to be able to do all of the things that you would do with a knife, so you can spend more time canning and less time fiddling with peeling and slicing over the kitchen sink. We love this option because it has a series of sharp knives that are affixed to a sturdy frame, and it is relatively easy to use.
Amazon Link
Back to Basics
What we liked most about the Back to Basics model is that while it has all of the advanced functions as some of the higher end options, it is just slightly easier to use for those that aren’t very mechanically inclined. With these types of manual gadgets, users typically don’t want to spend a lot of time reading dense instruction manuals for casual home use, and with the Back to Basics options, they won’t have to.
Amazon Link
$24.95
Allrecipes 3 in 1
All home cooks have used a recipe or two from the Allrecipes.com, so you know that this product is designed with all home cooks in mind. What we liked about this option is that is has a very sturdy frame which is perfect for those not-so-ripe fruits, and it is really simple to use.
Amazon Link
New Star Foodservice
The New Star Foodservice option looks like it came right out of a professional kitchen. It has a sleek steel frame that will fit in perfectly in almost any kitchen, and it is incredibly easy to use. Users love that it is very easy to use and does a great job removing the skin without taking much meat with is as well.
Amazon Link
Prepworks
You might have noticed a trend with a lot of the designs out there on the market that utilizes suction cups to secure their units- and that’s suction cups that just don’t stay put. This option by Prepworks is designed to eliminate that frustration altogether by utilizing a clamp instead of a suction cup.
Amazon Link
$33.99
Starfrit Rotato
Sometimes, you just want the robots to do all of the prep work for you. This electric version requires very little effort on your part, and it will remove the skin with just a simple flick of the button. This is the perfect option for the home cooks that just don’t have the same level of dexterity that they used to.
Amazon Link
$19.98
Purelite
The Purelite option is great because it is built like a tank. It has a little bit of a smaller footprint as some of the similar options, and it has thicker components that will make it easier to clean. It cores, slices, and peels seamlessly, but it comes at a price point that is a tad higher than many of the others out there on the market.
Amazon Link

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Use

Of course, this was the very first thing that we looked at. The fastest way to add to your kitchen gadget burial ground is to buy tools that only serve one very specific function on only one type of food. That’s why we made sure that the units we selected were able to do just a little bit more than simply remove peels. We were drawn to options had the ability to cut and core as well so that you could leave all of your kitchen knives in their blocks, and let these handy little gadgets do all of the prep work for you. It was also important that users be able to use each individual function independently. That means that if you just wanted to peel or you just want to slice, you would have the option of turning off some of the functions based upon what you are cooking that day. Plus, we also liked to select designs that could work on more than just apples, because while fall only comes once a year, peeling potatoes is something that home cooks trudge through all year!

Materials

It was important that we selected options that were made from high-quality materials to not only hold up for many harvests over the years but to reduce the risk of cutting your hands. It’s important to remember that these units have very sharp features- including the forked prongs that are used to mount your fruit or vegetable. If you are dealing with materials that do not seem very stable, that means that you are running the risk of possibly cutting your hand. Another thing that we also took into consideration was the method by which each unit was mounted. For the most part, companies utilize a suction cup found at the base of each design because suction cups can be used pretty much anywhere. The problem with suction cups is that they sometimes have a hard time really grabbing onto a surface, especially if that surface is a little dirty or is a porous material. Clamps are a great alternative to suction cups, but the problem with clamps is that they can only fit on certain types of thinly lipped countertops or tables. As far as the blades are concerned- stainless steel was is the way to go. Stainless steel is great because they are able to be incredibly sharp, and they are a lot easier to clean without running the risk of rusting over time.

Value

Homes cooks generally want to spend more money purchasing high-quality butter and vanilla, and less on kitchen tools- and we took that into consideration when selecting our products for our list. Some of the higher end options that could really set you back a good deal of money were often commercial grade and weren’t really designed for casual home cooks. When selecting our designs, we wanted to ensure that we picked options that were affordable but that weren’t cheap. Most of the styles that we found were the best of the best for home cooks had a price tag that ran about in the middle of the road, and would set you back about the same amount that you would spend on a peck of fresh apples.

Top 10 Picks

1. Johnny

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$28.99
Johnny
Amazon Link

The reason that we selected this design as our favorite pick was because it is made from superior high-quality materials, and it is also very easy to use. Plus, it has a sharp exterior design which means that you might not even mid keeping this out on your countertop all year.

Read more

Use
This option is able to remove the skin with a smart designed and very sharp cutter that will just remove the very top layer of the skin without losing any meat in the process. In addition to being able to remove the skin, it can also remove the core, slice it into small slices, or simply slice and core while still leaving the skin on. Users find that it takes about 40 seconds to core, peel, and slice- which pales in comparison to how long it would take you with a knife!

Materials
What we liked most about this option is that it is made out of cast iron, which means that you aren’t going to need to worry about any of the frame components breaking on you. It has a suction cup base that sticks to almost any non-porous surface, and a wood crank to remove the skin.

Value
The cost of this unit is just slightly above average, but not by much. Considering that it is made from cast iron- we find this unit is an excellent deal. Plus, it comes with an impressive 5-year warranty in case any of the components break down on you.

Summary
If you are looking for something that is very duty- this unit will be the perfect addition to all of your autumn baking. Plus, weighing in at just 2 pounds it will be a snap to store this in your cupboards and take it down only when you need it. All in all- this is our favorite choice based upon style, used, and value.

Amazon Link
$28.99

2. Starfrit

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$15.00
Starfrit
Amazon Link

We absolutely loved the look of this unit. It has a clear plastic frame that allows users to watch all of the interior gears work and spin as it takes the skin off of your fruit. Users find that this design is incredibly easy to use, but it does come with a few limitations that you wouldn’t find on the more common crank-like options.

Read more

Use
Unlike some of the other options out there on the market, this design doesn’t remove the core, and it also doesn’t slice your fruit either. However, before you quit reading- you should know that this option is a ninja in peeling. Even those that are a little bit mechanically inclined will have enough smarts and dexterity to get this unit to work for them. All users will need to do it place their fruit on the fork, and turn the crank until the entire peel has been removed.

Materials
Instead of being made from heavy materials, this unit is composed primarily of sturdy plastic, with the exception of the sharp metal blades. It also has a set of 4 suction cups along the base that allows the users to securely fasten it to the countertop to create a sturdy structure. Once finished, the smaller frame can be easily stored until the next harvest.

Value
The cost of this option is a little bit higher than some of the other options that tend to run in the middle of the road. However, we feel that the uptick in cost is well worth it because this device does an excellent job at peeling, and is perfect for almost all home cooks.

Summary
It’s important to keep in mind that this option doesn’t come with all of the extra features like coring or slicing. However, if you were in the market for something that can simply remove the skin lightening fast and in incredibly simple to use- this is going to be your best option.

Amazon Link
$15.00

3. COOK JOY

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$28.99
COOK JOY
Amazon Link

It’s hard to resist the bright and happy charm of the COOK JOY option. It has a clear frame with a lime green base, so users will be able to watch the gears turn as they crank the lever along the side. It has a similar frame to that of the Starfrit option, and just a few shortcomings that bumps it down a peg.

Read more

Use
The main unit of the COOK JOY option is able to simply peel your fruit with just the crank of a lever. It isn’t able to complete functions such as coring or slicing. However, it comes with an additional manual corer and slicing gadget that works by pressing down on your fruit (it will require a little bit of elbow grease!)

Materials
Just like the Starfrit option, this design is made from sturdy plastic for the exception of the very sharp metal blades. Where this option falls a little bit short is in the suction cups that hold the unit in place on your countertop. There are some users that feel that these suction cups are a little less than ideal, and found that they need to hold the unit in place with one hand while using the other hand to turn the crank.

Value
We love that this option comes in just a tad lower than many of the other options on the market that run about in the middle of the road. If you were looking for an option that was just a little bit more affordable, this is a great choice.

Summary
While this unit does have a few shortcomings, we love how easy it is to use, and the affordable price tag. Plus, it comes with the addition of a corer and slicer, which makes it the perfect addition for all of your fall baking.

Amazon Link
$28.99

4. Precision Kitchenware

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Precision Kitchenware
Amazon Link

This little gadget is going to be able to do all of the things that you would do with a knife, so you can spend more time canning and less time fiddling with peeling and slicing over the kitchen sink. We love this option because it has a series of sharp knives that are affixed to a sturdy frame, and it is relatively easy to use.

Read more

Use
With this unit, users will be able to not only peel their fruit without losing a lot of that precious meat, but they will also be able to core and slice it without taking it off of the mounting fork. All you will need to do it mount it on the forks and then turn the crank to easily peel off the skin. A retractable knife on the end can slice as you peel, or you can simply tuck the knife away to keep your fruit whole.

Materials
This unit is composed of high-quality stainless steel that has a shiny black finish that will look great in almost any kitchen. This unit uses a very firm suction cup that stays in place while in use, and many users claim that it offers excellent suction.

Value
The cost of this unit runs a little bit higher than those that boast an average price tag- but not be much. We feel that this is really an excellent deal considering the quality of materials used and the various functions of this little kitchen gadget.

Summary
If you are in the market for something that is going to be able to do it all so that you can prep an entire bushel in lightning fast time. We love that you won’t even need to bust out any of your knives because this unit will do all of the prep work for you.

Amazon Link

5. Back to Basics

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$24.95
Back to Basics
Amazon Link

What we liked most about the Back to Basics model is that while it has all of the advanced functions as some of the higher end options, it is just slightly easier to use for those that aren’t very mechanically inclined. With these types of manual gadgets, users typically don’t want to spend a lot of time reading dense instruction manuals for casual home use, and with the Back to Basics options, they won’t have to.

Read more

Use
This design is going to be able no not only peel the skin off without losing a lot of meat, but it can also remove the core and slice it as well. Also, if you simply want to simply peel it without slicing, simply tuck in the blade found at the end of the unit back down.

Materials
The incredibly sharp blades are composed of high-quality stainless steel that is really able to slice right through the fruit seamlessly. The base is made from pewter that has been painted red, and the crank is composed of wood. To affix this unit securely to your countertop, simply place it on a non-porous surface and press down on the large suction cup on the base.

Value
What we love most about this option is that it is priced to be about in the middle of the road. It isn’t the most expensive unit out there on the market but is far from being the most expensive. If you want something simple that won’t set you back too much money, this is an excellent option.

Summary
For those that are in the market for something that will be able to do everything that your trusty kitchen knife would be able to do, only far faster and easier- this is an excellent choice that will not break the bank.

Amazon Link
$24.95

6. Allrecipes 3 in 1

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Allrecipes 3 in 1
Amazon Link

All home cooks have used a recipe or two from the Allrecipes.com, so you know that this product is designed with all home cooks in mind. What we liked about this option is that is has a very sturdy frame which is perfect for those not-so-ripe fruits, and it is really simple to use.

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Use
Just like the title says, this unit can perform three tasks with just one motion. After mounting your fruit to the fork base, simply turn the crank to remove the peel of your fruit. If you wish to also remove the core as well as slice it at the same time, pull down the knife feature at the end to slice it and core it as you peel This slicing function if perfect for pies and cobblers, as well as sauces or even just for snacking.

Materials
The very sharp blades are composed of stainless steel, and the base is made of a metal that has been coated with shiny black paint that will look great in just about any kitchen. To secure it to the countertop, users must press down on the large suction cup found on the base to a clean, non-porous surface.

Value
This unit cost just a little bit more than those that run about in the middle of the road, but b=past users find that this unit is well worth the slight uptick in price.

Summary
Past users love how easy it is to use this unit, and the slightly thicker components make it much easier to clean than some that have small spaces and crevices. Plus, there are very few complaints about the suction power of this unit- so you know it will stay in place when you use it.

Amazon Link

7. New Star Foodservice

Where to buy
Amazon Link
New Star Foodservice
Amazon Link

The New Star Foodservice option looks like it came right out of a professional kitchen. It has a sleek steel frame that will fit in perfectly in almost any kitchen, and it is incredibly easy to use. Users love that it is very easy to use and does a great job removing the skin without taking much meat with is as well.

Read more

Use
This unit is able to complete three different tasks with just one crank. If you are making a pie or a cobble, simply pull down the knife feature found at the end of the unit, and as the sharp blades remove the peel, the knife will slice it into thin slices that are perfect for pie. If you simply want to slice your fruit, or you just want to peel it without slicing it, the blades can be easily tucked away to fit your specific needs.

Materials
This entire unit is made from sleek stainless steel that offers incredibly sharp blades, but the material also makes it just a little bit easier to clean. It has a chrome shaft with a wooden crank that is a little easier on hands while in use. To affix to the countertop, simply press down on the suction cup that is found at the base of the unit

Value
Hands down, this is the most affordable option out there on the market. The New Star Foodservice design is offered at a price tag that is almost half of what some of the average priced designs cost. Considering how many past users love this design, we feel that this is an incredible deal.

Summary
For all of the skeptics out there that don’t know if they will get a lot of mileage out of such a specific kitchen gadget, this is an excellent place to start considering that it is offered at such a low price point.

Amazon Link

8. Prepworks

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$33.99
Prepworks
Amazon Link

You might have noticed a trend with a lot of the designs out there on the market that utilizes suction cups to secure their units- and that’s suction cups that just don’t stay put. This option by Prepworks is designed to eliminate that frustration altogether by utilizing a clamp instead of a suction cup.

Read more

Use
Just like all of the 3-in-1 options out there on the market, the Prepworks design can peel, slice, and core your fruit with just one pass through on the crank. Plus, if you only want to peel but leave your fruit whole, simply fold the cutting arm at the end on the unit down to keep your fruit whole.

Materials
The frame of this unit is made from incredibly strong cast iron, and all of the arms and components are made from stainless steel- which means clean up will be a breeze. Where this device differs from all of the rest is in how it affixes to the countertop. Instead of employing a suction cup that can often come loose, this design uses a clamp that affixes to the end of our counter to stay firmly in place at all times.

Value
The cost of this unit runs pretty par for the course. If you were looking for something that ran in the middle of the road in terms of price- this is going to be a great choice. Users love that the clamp design means that it will stay securely in place while in use, and it is incredibly easy to use.

Summary
For those that are looking to take a chance on one of these kitchen gadgets- this is a great choice. One thing to note, however, is that you should make sure that you have a lip on your countertop that is going to be thin enough in order to securely clamp this unit down.

Amazon Link
$33.99

9. Starfrit Rotato

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$19.98
Starfrit Rotato
Amazon Link

Sometimes, you just want the robots to do all of the prep work for you. This electric version requires very little effort on your part, and it will remove the skin with just a simple flick of the button. This is the perfect option for the home cooks that just don’t have the same level of dexterity that they used to.

Read more

Use
This unit moves like a ninja over your fruits and vegetables- and can remove the skin in 10 seconds flat with just the press of the button. The downside to this option, however, is that is isn’t able to cut and core the same way a manual unit can.

Materials
The Starfrit Rotato Express is housed in a durable ABS plastic shell and utilizes very sharp stainless steel blades. What we loved about this option is that it doesn’t require it to be mounted to your countertop, and users are also able to replace the blade simply and easily when they start to get a little dull over time. The bad part about this option is that it takes up a lot more countertop space as well as storage as some of the other options.

Value
You might have already written off this option because you assumed that electric means a much higher price tag- but you would be very wrong. The cost of this unit runs about the same price as many of the average priced manual options.

Summary
If you have an affinity to electric kitchen gadgets- this is going to be an excellent addition to your kitchen this fall. It is able to peel just about anything and comes in at a price tag that won’t break the bank.

Amazon Link
$19.98

10. Purelite

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Purelite
Amazon Link

The Purelite option is great because it is built like a tank. It has a little bit of a smaller footprint as some of the similar options, and it has thicker components that will make it easier to clean. It cores, slices, and peels seamlessly, but it comes at a price point that is a tad higher than many of the others out there on the market.

Read more

Use
Users love this option because they have the ability to peel, core, and slice all in one little device. Plus, it comes with a convenient eBook with detailed instructions on how to use all of the clever features that sometimes go overlooked.

Materials
This tank of a kitchen gadget is made from high-quality stainless steel for the blades and components, and the base is made from a heavy duty cast iron that is painted red to look great in all kitchen. To mount it to your countertop, simply press down on a clean surface so the suction cup at the bottom with grip the surface so there will be no slipping or sliding while in use.

Value
Like we mentioned earlier, the price tag of this unit is a smidge higher than many of the average priced units out there on the market. However, we feel that the superior quality of the materials used makes it well worth the price tag.

Summary
If you are in the market for something a little more heavy duty that will be able to keep up with all of your home cooking- this is a great option. Just keep in mind that it is slightly more expensive.

Amazon Link