How to peel a carrot?
There is no immediate harm in eating a carrot unpeeled.
However, any pesticide residues that have accumulated in the skin of conventionally grown carrots can be removed by peeling them.
In addition, the skin often has a slightly bitter taste.
If you want the full sweetness of the carrot, peel it!
Also, people peel carrots for their aesthetics.
When they are peeled, they are uniform in color and shape and glow with a vibrant orange hue.
You can peel vegetables with a peeler or a paring knife if you have one.
But how do you peel a carrot properly with a peeler?
How To Peel A Carrot
To peel a carrot hold the carrot at a 45-degree angle and push it down onto the cutting board. Peel the carrot from the center to the cutting board using a vegetable peeler. Peel the bottom half of the carrot first. After that, peel upward in the opposite direction as a peeler has two blades for both directions. Stop at the carrot’s center. Rotate the carrot and continue until done with the lower part of the carrot. Now peel the unpeeled top part of the carrot in the same way.
Peel a carrot using a carrot peeler – step by step
Step 1: Wash the carrot
Run cool water over the carrots.
Get rid of the dirt and impurities on carrots by brushing them with nylon-bristled brushes.
To ensure all pesticides and dirt have been removed, washing is a must.
The outer color of carrots can sometimes seem dingy or odd.
When the outer layer is peeled off, it will disappear.
You will need a bowl or a cutting board that you can place on the counter.
When you remove the carrot peels from the carrot, the bowl will catch them as they fall into it.
If you feel clever, you can also just peel the carrots over the rubbish bin.
But this can be hard and the main disadvantage is that you don’t have a surface to rest the carrots on.
Step 2: Hold the carrot the right way
Hold the carrot between your forefinger and the thumb of your non-dominant hand.
It is important to position your palm up (under the carrot) with your non-dominant hand.
The carrot tip should point downward when tilted 45 degrees over the bowl or cutting board.
Keeping your hands safe while cutting yourself is not an easy task.
Step 3: Where to start peeling a carrot
Start with the lower part of the carrot first.
Leave the upper part of the carrot unpeeled until you are done with the lower part.
The blades on most peelers are bi-directional.
This is something a lot of people do not realize.
So you can peel up and down in one move.
Is peeling carrots better than cutting them?
Peeling carrots with a vegetable peeler preserves the layer beneath that contains many of the carrot’s phytonutrients.
If you press a vegetable peeler against a carrot gently, thin slices are removed from the skin.
Step 4: The peeling motion
To peel the carrot, slide the vegetable peeler across its surface.
Essentially what you will be doing is removing a thin layer of skin that will curl inwards when removed, falling into a bowl or onto a cutting board.
To prepare the carrot, place its tip on a cutting board.
Hold the peeler in your dominant hand.
With the non-dominant hand, you hold the carrot top.
Putting the carrot on the cutting board at a 45-degree angle is best.
Flip your palm over, so your palm faces the ceiling and hold it between your thumb and forefinger.
The carrot is supported by your hand underneath it.
Step 5: Peeling, Peeling, Peeling
Turn the carrot as you peel the thinner lower half.
Peel down and up, down and up.
Slightly turn the carrot as you go along.
Once the lower part of the carrot has been peeled, turn the carrot around so that the thicker top part is now facing down.
Peel in the same way until the thick end is peeled as well. Voila!
How to peel a carrot with a paring knife
You can also peel a carrot using a paring knife. This is how it is done.
To remove the skin of a carrot using a paring knife, place the blade of the paring knife against the surface and scrape thin layers from the surface.
It’s important to peel the carrot carefully so that you don’t remove too much meat.
The top can be gently scraped.
Make sure not to injure yourself as well!
Paring knives should never be handled with your non-dominant hand.
Ensure you keep your fingers on the sides and under the carrot in order to prevent cutting yourself.
Continually rotate the carrot as you peel it in order to reveal the raw skin part of the carrot that has yet to be removed.
Continue to peel the carrot until it is skin-free.
You can switch from your dominant hand to the non-dominant hand without stopping the process.
The carrot top near your wrist is often difficult to see.
If that is the case for you, turn the carrot over, hold the tip and repeat the steps.
Cut the tip and top of the carrot off with your paring knife.
Continue peeling carrots until you have peeled all of them.
Before using the carrots, rinse them well.
What to do with the carrot peels?
Since the peels do not add any flavor to a dish, they can be placed in the bin.
Some people may use them for vegetable broth.
If you are using non-organic carrots the peel contains also all of the pesticides.
It’s not recommended to use the peels unless you have organic carrots at hand.
Conclusion
You can peel carrots quickly without cutting your fingers once you learn the right technique.
The more you practice, the more comfortable and faster you will become.
Vegetables with a long, thin shape work are best suited for the described method of peeling.
Apart from carrots, zucchini, cucumbers, and parsnips can be peeled the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Peeling Carrots
Do I Have To Peel Carrots?
You do not have to peel carrots. Carrots can also be eaten with the skin. Wash and scrub them well before eating if eaten with the skin.
Can I Eat Carrot Skin?
You can eat carrot skin. Carrot peel is loaded with vitamin C and niacin and can be eaten unpeeled to profit from the full nutritional benefits. Make sure to wash the carrots carefully in order to remove all the dirt and pollutants the skin may contain.