Veg peeler

Although we aren't a cook shop there are a few kitchen tools that are such standards that we do stock them. Here's a good example - the humble vegetable peeler or spud peeler.

There are two types (and this could be a contentious issue - 'potato/potAto' and all that).

The one on the right is a 'Lancashire' peeler. The type I cannot use, but lots of you really prefer them. So called because (I thought it would be much more interesting than this) that's where the most potatoes were grown. Traditionally they have a string bound handle, but I can't find a really good quality one at the mo, so we have this metal handled version. The blades swivel rather than being fixed which gives it a better action.

The one one on the left is the only type I can use. It requires no particular skill and works brilliantly, if you ask me. Apparently it's called a 'Y' peeler. I think they could have tried harder with that name.

And news just in - we have a gorgeous German made swivel peeler for those of you who admire a good bit of functional design. 

Of course, if you are really a whizz at peeling (like my granny who could peel an apple in one long spirally piece) then you probably just like using a paring knife - and here's a particularly good one.