One of my very favorite kitchen “hacks” is an easy way to peel peaches. Just boil the peaches for a couple of minutes, transfer them to an ice bath, and the peels come off so easily you can do it with one hand!
That method is so useful for peaches that I began wondering if the same concept could be applied to other foods that can be time-consuming to peel. As you’ll see in this post, the answer is a resounding “yes!”
Many foods with soft skins are infinitely easier to peel when boiled and “shocked” in ice-cold water. Here, I’ll demonstrate how easy it is to apply this peeling hack to potatoes!
Check out this potato peeling hack in action in the video at the end of the post!
How To Peel Potatoes The Easy Way
You’ll need:
- Potatoes
- Large pot
- Large bowl
- Ice cubes
- Water
- Tongs or a slotted spoon
Directions:
Fill your large pot with water and bring it to a boil on your stovetop.
Wash your potatoes, then place them in the boiling water to cook. Allow the potatoes to boil until they’re tender, which should take between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on the size of your potatoes.
While the potatoes are cooking, prepare your ice bath. Fill your large bowl part of the way with ice cubes, then fill the rest of the way with ice-cold water. Leave a few inches between the water level and the rim of the bowl so it won’t overflow when you add the potatoes.
When the potatoes are tender, remove them from the boiling water and transfer them immediately to the ice bath. Let them rest in the ice bath for at least 3 minutes.
Use your tongs or a slotted spoon to remove the potatoes from the ice bath, then use your thumbs to slide the skins off. It’s really that easy!
Use your cooked and peeled spuds to make potato salad or mashed potatoes. One of my family’s favorite ways to eat mashed potatoes is piled on top of Meatloaf “Cupcakes”. These “cupcakes” are so cute and delicious, not even my “big kids” can resist them!
Want to know more about the benefits of potatoes? Check out the National Potato Council website!
What’s your best potato tip?
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Curious, would this work for sweet potatoes too? I know the peeling is thicker so…
oops, it went to quickly. After taking the fruit out of the boiling water, put it in an ice bath for a couple minutes. Start from the bottom slit to peal easily.
For peaches, tomatoes and other soft fruits, with a paring knife cut an X through the bottom center of the fruit skin. Put them in the boiling water for a minute. Skins come off even easier. If you leave the fruit much longer, the outer layers will begin to cook.
The ice water has now cooled the potoatoes so how can we make mash potoatoes with cold potatoes?
Don’t put potato peels in the garbage disposal (according to my plumber). I put mine in the green waste can.
My mother, who worked is Sears service department for years, said the same thing. She took a lot of service requests for jammed disposals – because of potato peels!
If you put potato peels into your disposal, only put in a few at a time, never all at once. Be sure to rinse the disposal with cold running water in between the SMALL batches of potato peels.
I do not worry about that, now, as I buy the already mashed potatoes.
Thanks for the tip, Penny. :-)
You do not have to let them sit in the ice bath very long. Start peeling them immediately after immersed and they will still be hot. In addition, if you use this process, you can warm the milk and butter on the stove and then mix it. Your mashed potatoes will still be hot!
Would it work to wear the silicone gloves you’ve recommended to remove the peels more easily? I’ll try it.
Val, if you follow the directions in this post, there is no need to use the gloves. The potatoes are so easy to peel!
I have always wondered if I could bake peeled potatoes in the microwave? Would it make the outside hard? I don’t like skin on my baked potatoes.
I wouldn’t suggest this. When you bake a potato, in order to get the texture right, you would need to leave the skin on to bake it. Yes, it would make the outside hard if you used the microwave.
My mom taught me about the peaches, and you can also do this with TOMATOES! I boil a pan of water, and using just a two-prong fork I pick up the peach or tomato and roll/twirl in the boiling water a few times, run under cool water so you can handle it(it’s hot!), and with a paring knife the skin peels easily! For tomatoes, it’s great for slices on sandwiches or just eating. Enjoy!
Wonder if that would work for garbanzo beans ? that is sooo tedious… but, kinda necessary for creamy hummus…
Maure, I’m not sure about garbanzo beans. I think that regardless of the process, peeling garbanzo beans would be tedious. I do not peel them when I make my hummus, so I’m not sure. Give it a try and let us know.
Why would you put hot potatoes that you are going to mash into ice water to cool. I would say that peeling the potatoes before you boil them would be simpler. Sometimes things don’t need to be improved. With that being said, if you are making potato salad, I can see where this helps.
Sherri, for some people that have arthritis or other conditions, using a peeler with raw potatoes and cutting raw potatoes can be difficult. It is much easier to peel the potatoes this way and cutting a cooked potato is also much easier. I appreciate your opinion, but after learning this process, I will always use it.
Thanks for sharing <3
My mom always boiled and peeled. But she never used an ice bath. Boiled drained, cut in half , let cool for 5 minutes or so- cool enough to hold and peeled. And I have done the same for last 35 years.
I have made potato salad since I was 14. I get requests for it from family and friends. All those potatoes. I can no longer stand for long . I usually boil them and then spray cold water on them and pick off the skin. Going to try it with the ice.
I have used it fot tomatoes too. You only put them in the boiling water for less than one minute.
Gosh, my grandmother and my mother taught me that, thought everyones Mum did, hahaha!
In my early years of cooking, I did what you suggested, I even boiled potatoes and mashed them with a hand mixer until recently.
I was sick with the flu, and my husband can’t boil water.
My daughter brought us two large containers of already mashed potatoes by Bob Evans, there is, also, a Store Brand at Market 32/ Price Chopper.
All you have to do is put the amount of mashed potatoes you wish into a microwavable dish and “nuke” it for three minutes, voila, delicious mashed. Easy Peasy, works for me at my advanced age,
Yes it is the basic way to peel tomatoes, pears, peaches, plums, only just boil them for 2 -3 minutes, not longer or you will have mush. it helps to core tomatoes, and make an x in the bottom before blanching them.
A couple of minutes in boiling water makes tomatoes easy to peel too. I use that process when canning tomatoes and peaches. Works like a charm.
Hi Jillee and girls.
My mother always peeled her potatoes that way. I found that peeling other fruit or vegetables using a slightly different method was also very
easy and saved a lot of time.
If you do not want the vegetable cooked, just peeled – boil the water and put the vegetable in for a few seconds, shock with ice water
and peel. Works great for tomatoes. Steaming for a few minutes should also work.