Peeler

Stellar €8.95

Stellar make an awful lot of very good kitchen implements and knives at prices that are not terribly expensive, and that is pretty much what you can expect with this peeler. It is nice and solid, and has a pleasing heft to it. It has a protective rail which sits just above the (very sharp) blade so you can use your thumb to give your peeling action that extra bit of welly. A sharp end to gouge out dirty bits and a very sharp blade do the job very efficiently, while the slightly rippled handle is nicely non-slip. The swivelling head does make a awful racket – although who doesn’t love the sound of little bells tinkling as they peel.

Verdict: No nonsense

Star rating: ****

Ikea €3.05

We really began to appreciate this product once we’d stopped the bleeding. Removing the blue protective film covering the surgically sharp blade was stupidly tricky, and we stupidly managed to remove the top of a thumb while doing it. Apart from that little mishap we could scarcely fault this. It is very cheap, and the rubberised handle means it will never slip from your grip even when dripping wet. It peels vegetables effortlessly and quickly and despite its low price, we have anecdotal evidence to suggest it will keep on peeling for years and years. You have to go to Ikea to get it though – which means you will inevitably end up spending a truckload of cash on all manner of other Swedish bargains which will add to the price considerably.

Verdict: Impossible to beat

Star rating:*****

WMF €16.95

At more than five times the price of the Ikea peeler, we found ourselves wondering what we were paying for from the get-go. Yes, the blades are really sharp – so sharp in fact that you could almost shave with it – and, yes, the head swivels and, yes, it does peel vegetables without much fuss, but is it five times better than the Ikea brand and twice as good as the one from Stellar? No, not remotely. It shaves very thin strips off the vegetables – which probably means you get more carrot for your cash – but really, we’re in a hurry and do not have time for all this delicate peeling.

Verdict: Not at this price

Star rating: **

Judge Fruit Vegetable Peeler €1.95

Who wouldn’t love a peeler in the shape of a carrot? Pricewatch, as it turns out. Granted, the orange handle does make it a whole lot easier to spot in the knife drawer – but beyond that and the price, which was particularly cheap, we were unimpressed. The peeling action wasn’t great and vegetable bits were far too easily stuck between the twin blades. It does have a pointed top for gouging and serrated edges which might come in handy for, um, well, we have no idea really. While it is very cheap, it is also just a little tacky.

Verdict: Cheap

Star rating:

***

Oxo Good Grip Peeler €7.95

This stubby little peeler from Oxo’s well-regarded (by us) Good Grip range has a lot going for it. The rubber handle makes it non-slip, while the blades swivel and shake free of peelings with ease. It has a natty potato eye on one side and a reusable plastic shield – although in truth such a thing is of marginal interest, as we’d quickly separate the two and spend many years wondering what the plastic shield was actually for.

Verdict: It just works

Star rating

: ****