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How to Peel an Apple 3 Ways

One of the first lessons I learned working in professional kitchens revolved around vegetable peelers. Working in restaurants that made mashed potatoes and glazed carrots meant lots and lots of time around the prep table, peeler in hand. The house peelers were always so dull, and using them made life significantly more difficult. I found it was easy enough to bring my own to guarantee that I’d have a good day.

But, inevitably, someone would borrow my peeler, and I’d never see it again. It always happened on a big prep day, too. I was left wondering how to peel an apple to make 100 apple pies for a catered event when my trusty peeler was nowhere to be found. Luckily, there are a few different ways to peel apples!

How to Peel an Apple with a Knife

Girl peeling an apple on table

In culinary school, we learned how to peel an apple with a knife before we were allowed to use a vegetable peeler. This taught us how to be resourceful if we didn’t have a kitchen full of tools, and it also helped us practice our dexterity. While it’s not my go-to method today, I will reach for a knife if I only have to peel one or two apples.

Technically, you can peel an apple with any knife, but we recommend using a straight paring knife instead of a larger chef’s knife. The smaller knife fits nicely in your hand and allows you to peel the apple above a sink, trash can or cutting board. Another good option is a curved paring knife or a tourne knife. This knife was designed to shape potatoes into a specific cut for presentation purposes, but the curve is helpful for peeling any round vegetables.

To peel the apple, hold the knife in your dominant hand and the apple in the other. Starting at the stem end, press the knife against the apple skin. Turn the apple slowly and steadily, and the skin will peel off like a ribbon. After the entire apple is peeled, use the knife to remove any spots that were missed in the peeling process.

How to Peel an Apple with a Vegetable Peeler

Woman peeling red apple in home kitchen

This is my favorite way to peel an apple because it’s quick and efficient. There are two types of vegetable peelers: y-peelers and swivel peelers. The general consent among my chef friends is that the y-peeler is the way to go. These peelers have a blade on both sides, allowing you to peel in both directions. They also tend to have a wider handle, making them more comfortable to hold for extended periods.

Either peeler works for peeling an apple, so go with the one that suits your peeling style best. There are two peeling options here. The first is to peel the apple the same way you would with a knife—by holding the peeler in your dominant hand, the apple in the other and peeling in a circular motion (starting at the stem end) to create one large ribbon.

The second option is to set the apple down on a cutting board and run the peeler downward in straight strokes from the stem end to the blossom end. This creates several peels and tends to be faster, but it can leave ridged lines on the apple.

See which apple peeler earned top marks from our Test Kitchen.

How to Peel an Apple with an Apple Peeler

Person using apple peeler

If you peel a lot of apples, you might want to invest in an apple peeler. This gadget clamps onto the side of a table or uses a suction base to stick to an edgeless table. Then, the apple is loaded onto the fork and a hand crank moves it in a circular motion around the peeler, removing the peel quickly and efficiently. As a bonus, it also cores the apple.

You can also purchase a KitchenAid attachment to peel apples, or you can hack the apple peeler idea using a regular drill. Simply skewer the apple on a drill bit and turn on the drill to spin the apple. Hold a vegetable peeler against the apple’s skin as it spins to remove the peels. Keep in mind this method is messy, so get ready for some cleanup!

How to Core an Apple

close up of hands holding a red apple and an apple corer In the other hand

Once the apple is peeled, you’ll want to remove the core before cooking it. The quickest way is to use an apple corer. This handheld device plunges into the center of the apple and remove the entire core with a slight twist of the wrist. There are also apple corers that will slice the apple into eight slices. These are ideal if you want to core and slice at the same time.

Of course, if you don’t want another gadget cluttering up your kitchen drawers, you can also core an apple with a knife. This method is a little dangerous, but you can core a whole apple with a paring knife. Push the blade through the center of the apple and cut a circle around the core. This method requires a lot of dexterity, so cut with care!

If you’re peeling apples for apple pie and you don’t need to end up with a whole cored apple, we prefer another method. Place the apple on a cutting board with the stem end up. Cut it in half directly through the core before cutting each half again through the core, resulting in four quarters. Place the quarters cut-side down and make a diagonal cut on each quarter to remove the core piece.

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Grilled Apple Tossed Salad

The grilled apples in this salad combine so well with the blue cheese, walnuts and balsamic dressing. I like to serve it on pink Depression glass dessert plates from my great-grandmother. —Paul Soska, Toledo, Ohio
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Air-Fryer Apple Pie Egg Rolls

These easy apple pie egg rolls can be prepared as needed, using egg roll wrappers as vessels for the fruit rather than traditional pie crust. The air-fryer method of cooking results in a crispy, crunchy crust with a tender, juicy filling. Flavored cream cheese spread may be used instead of plain, depending on availability. —Sheila Suhan, Scottdale, Pennsylvania
Winning Apple Crisp

Winning Apple Crisp

I live in apple country, and making a delicious apple crisp is one way to use the fruit. This treat doesn’t take a lot of time to assemble. —Gertrude Bartnick, Portage, Wisconsin
Pressure-Cooker Pork with Apples and Dried Plums

Pressure-Cooker Pork with Apples and Dried Plums

The classic flavors of herbes de Provence, apples and dried plums make this easy cooked pork taste like a hearty meal at a French country cafe. For a traditional pairing, serve the pork with braised lentils. —Suzanne Banfield, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
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Apple Kolaches

A fellow home cook shared this recipe for a sweet, fruit-filled pastry. My son, who isn’t a dessert fan, was disappointed when he came home to find his dad had polished off the last kolache in the batch. —Ann Johnson, Evansville, Indiana
Apple Cider-Glazed Ham

Apple Cider-Glazed Ham

When I wanted to try something new with our holiday ham, I created this cider glaze. It's slightly sweet but still has the spicy flavor my family craves. —Rebecca LaWare, Hilton, New York
Apple Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

Apple Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

Both my husband and I were raised on farms, and we prefer home cooking to eating out. That works out fine since I love trying new recipes! I've served this apple salsa as an appetizer and a snack. Plus, it's sweet enough to be a dessert. It's easy to transport besides. —Carolyn Brinkmeyer, Golden, Colorado
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Oatmeal Caramel Apple Cookies

This recipe for caramel apple cookies is a fun twist on traditional oatmeal raisin. These treats are hard to resist! —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
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Apple Pie Cupcakes with Cinnamon Buttercream

These apple pie cupcakes are always a hit! They are so easy to make and the flavor just screams fall. Of course, they're equally delicious any other time of year. —Jennifer Stowell, Deep River, Iowa
Acorn Squash with Cranberry Stuffing

Acorn Squash with Cranberry Stuffing

If you have squash or cranberry lovers at the table, here’s your new go-to recipe. It’s colorful, the blend of flavors is delicious and it’s a fitting addition to a Thanksgiving menu. —Dorothy Pritchett, Wills Point, Texas
Upside-Down Apple Pie

Upside-Down Apple Pie

This pie has won eight ribbons at area fairs. People say it looks and tastes like a giant apple-cinnamon bun. I take time off from work around the holidays to fill pie requests from family and friends. The recipe has become everyone's favorite. —Susan Frisch, Germansville, Pennsylvania
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Apple Pie Bites

These apple pie bites are fun for kids to make. Simply wrap strips of pastry around apple wedges and shake on some cinnamon-sugar. Then just bake and watch them disappear! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Apple Butter

I make several batches of this simple and delicious homemade apple butter recipe to freeze in jars. Depending on the sweetness of the apples used, you can adjust the sugar to taste. —Betty Ruenholl, Syracuse, Nebraska
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"Everything" Stuffing

My family goes crazy for this stuffing that I make in the slow cooker. It freezes well so we can enjoy it long after Thanksgiving has passed. —Bette Votral, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
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Apple Cider Doughnuts

Apple doughnuts remind me of family trips to South Dakota. We’d stop at Wall Drug for a dozen or so before camping in the Badlands. Maple glaze was and still is my favorite. Share a batch with friends and family who appreciate a hot, fresh apple cider doughnut. —Melissa Hansen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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German Apple Strudel

This gorgeous strudel has just what you crave this time of year: thin layers of flaky crust and lots of juicy apples. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
Apple Chicken Quesadillas

Apple Chicken Quesadillas

My sister came up with an easy recipe that can be served as a main course or an appetizer. People are surprised by the combination of chicken, apples, tomatoes and corn inside the crispy tortillas, but they love it. —Stacia Slagle of Maysville, Missouri
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Glazed Apple-Maple Blondies

My 6-year-old son and I conjured up this recipe to use the last of the apples we picked from the local apple orchard. Each bar goes beautifully with a dollop of sweetened whipped cream. —Heather Bates, Athens, Maine
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Apple & Cheddar Mini Scones

Because cheese and sage go so well with apples, I decided to put them all in scones. These mini treats make a fall weekend brunch, tailgate or party even more fun. —Sue Gronholz, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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Apple Pie

I remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested, "Maybe a slice of my homemade apple pie will make you feel better." One bite, and Grandma was right. If you want to learn how to make homemade apple pie filling, this is really the only recipe you need. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
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Cinnamon-Apple Pork Chops

When I found these pork chops and apples recipe online years ago, it quickly became a favorite. The ingredients are easy to keep on hand, and the one-pan cleanup is a bonus. —Christina Price, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Apple Pie Filling

My family is always delighted to see an oven-fresh pie cooling on the counter. What a convenience it is to have jars of homemade freezer apple pie filling on hand so I can treat them to pies year-round. —Laurie Mace, Los Osos, California
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Apple-Spice Angel Food Cake

I dressed up an angel food cake mix with some nuts, spice and applesauce to make an easy and light dessert. I serve it with a dollop of whipped topping mixed with a half cup of sour cream. —Joan Buehnerkemper, Teutopolis, Illinois
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Butternut Squash Apple Bake

Even those who aren't fans of squash enjoy this side dish. Sweet slices of butternut squash are topped with apples covered in a cinnamon-sugar glaze for a quick and easy dinner accompaniment. —Ellie Klopping, Toledo, Ohio
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Slow-Cooker Pork and Apple Curry

Here's a gentle curry dish that's sure to please American palates. For fun, try varying the garnish—add a few chopped peanuts or a little chutney. —Nancy Reck, Mill Valley, California
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Festive Apple Dip

I came up with this layered peanut butter treat when my dad gave me a big bag of apples. The dip has been one of my favorites ever since. In addition to serving it with apples, try it with graham crackers, vanilla wafers, banana chunks or animal crackers. —Theresa Tometich, Coralville, Iowa
German Red Cabbage

German Red Cabbage

Sunday afternoons were a time for family gatherings when I was a kid. While the uncles played cards, the aunts made treats such as this traditional German red cabbage recipe. —Jeannette Heim, Dunlap, Tennessee
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Apple Kuchen Bars

This recipe is about family, comfort and simplicity. My mom made this delicious sweet treat many a winter night and served it warm with some of her famous homemade ice cream. I like to make a double batch and pass on the love! —Elizabeth Monfort, Celina, Ohio
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Maple Cran-Apple Breakfast Pizza

When hosting overnight guests, I like to start their day with a giant surprise – a breakfast pizza with apples, sausage and cranberries. Bye-bye, ho-hum morning. —Marybeth Mank, Mesquite, TX
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Apple-Almond Muffins

I like to snack on apple slices slathered with almond butter. That's the flavor combo that inspired these muffins. Add a dash of almond extract to boost the nuttiness. —Kelly Alesso, Chicago, IL
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Apple-Sage Sausage Patties

Apple and sausage naturally go together. Add sage, and you’ve got some standout patties. They’re freezer friendly, so I make them ahead and grab when needed. —Scarlett Elrod, Newnan, Georgia
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Fruity Baked Oatmeal

This is my husband’s favorite breakfast treat and the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, filling and always a hit when I serve it to guests. —Karen Schroeder, Kankakee, Illinois.
Apple-Feta Tossed Salad

Apple-Feta Tossed Salad

A friend of mine shared this recipe with me after I raved about the delightful salad at dinner. I have served it for years now, and no matter where i take it, I have to bring along copies of the recipe to hand out. -Marlene Clark Apple Valley, California
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Potluck German Apple Cake

My mother made this German apple cake for my brothers and me when we were kids. It's an excellent choice for a Christmas potluck or actually any time of year. —Edie DeSpain, Logan, Utah
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Contest-Winning Caramel Apple Crisp

When my kids and I make apple crisp, we use all sorts of apples to boost the flavor and texture. Add melted caramels, and you’ve got something scrumptious. —Michelle Brooks, Clarkston, Michigan
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Pecan Apple Pancakes

Weekend brunches are a big deal here in Texas, and these sweet, well-spiced pancakes make any breakfast special. So put on your apron and invite the neighbors in! —Sharon Richardson, Dallas, Texas
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Candy Bar Apple Salad

This creamy, sweet salad with crisp apple crunch is a real people-pleaser. It makes a lot, which is good, because it will go fast! —Cyndi Fynaardt, Oskaloosa, Iowa
Golden Harvest Apple Pie

Golden Harvest Apple Pie

You'll think Grandma was baking in the kitchen when you taste your first bite of this old-fashioned pie. The golden, tender crust holds a yummy apple filling with a hint of orange.—Drew Menne, Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
Grain-Free Apple Pie Granola

Grain-Free Apple Pie Granola

Because of food allergies, I’ve learned to swap ingredients. There are no grains in this granola but loads of nuts and apples. Try it with yogurt or milk. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
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Apple-Cranberry Grains

These delicious slow-cooker grains are perfect. I set my slow cooker to start automatically overnight and a hearty breakfast is ready in the morning, making this quick and healthy recipe a favorite in my home. —Sherisse Dawe, Black Diamond, Alberta, Canada
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Apple Brown Betty

This apple brown betty can be whipped up in hardly any time. It costs little to prepare, but it's big on flavor. —Florence Palmer, Marshall, Illinois
Apple Pear Coffee Cake

Apple Pear Coffee Cake

A friend gave me this apple pear coffee cake recipe to make for a breakfast I was hosting. The pan was empty before the breakfast was over! It's one of my most-requested recipes, probably because it's a bit different. —Joanne Hoschette, Paxton, Massachusetts
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Apple Cranberry Slab Pie

My husband loves pie, so I made one with apples, raspberries and cranberries. It’s so good, I bend the rules and let the grandkids have it for breakfast. —Brenda Smith, Curran, Michigan
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Chunky Applesauce

There's just something extra special about a homemade applesauce recipe like this one. This simple dish is tart and not too sweet. It makes the perfect side, especially with pork chops or a pork roast. —Deborah Amrine, Grand Haven, Michigan
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Northwoods Wild Rice Salad

This is my Minnesota version of a vintage German slaw that’s popular at church suppers. The wild rice has a nutty flavor that pairs perfectly with tangy sauerkraut. —Jeanne Holt, St. Paul, Minnesota

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