TikTok's Simple Fork Hack Makes Peeling Potatoes A Breeze

Who doesn't enjoy a warm baked potato with butter or, better yet, a plate of crispy french fries with ketchup? This mild-flavored, starchy vegetable is one of those foods that seem to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. The USDA confirmed this assertion in 2019, when potatoes were declared the most-consumed vegetable, next to tomatoes and onions. According to the Potatoes USA 2022 report, more than 75% of survey participants reported eating this highly versatile vegetable at least once per week.

Even though potatoes are high in the starch department, they also pose a number of health benefits when integrated into your everyday diet. According to ClevelandClinic, potatoes provide your body with a decent amount of fiber and protein, along with almost half your daily requirements for vitamins C, B6, and potassium. 

However, based on a 2014 analysis conducted by the USDA on how the country most commonly prefers to chow down on these precious spuds, many of the most-coveted potato recipes require potato peeling and a significant amount of cooking oil. Additionally, in many cases, potato skins are removed in the cooking process. When it comes to food prep, wouldn't it be nice to have a streamlined method for peeling potatoes? 

As you consider what potato recipes you're going to add to this week's repertoire of meals, whether it's cheesy hash brown casserole or homemade gnocchi, you may want to expand your horizons and try a new way of peeling potatoes. Thanks to social media and the wonders of recipe sharing and kitchen hack swapping on TikTok, Sonny Hurrell of @thatdudecancook shares his time-saving method of peeling potatoes by keeping spuds steady with a simple kitchen fork. 

In the TikTok video, Hurrell pierces one end of a potato with a fork. Turning the potato with the fork handle, he removes the peels at lightning speed with a vegetable peeler. He then removes the fork and peels the potato's end in a snap.

While this simple potato peeling hack is worth a try, there's one method of peeling potatoes that doesn't require a vegetable peeler. MasterClass describes a simple technique that involves scoring and parboiling potatoes. Once rinsed in cold water, the potatoes peels simply slide off or you can cut them away neatly with a scoring knife. If you've been avoiding your favorite vegetable because of the anticipated prep work, at least you're not risking the safety of your fingers by giving Sonny Hurrell's method a try. If you have your eyes set on a big pot of mashed potatoes, combine a few simple steps and try the parboiling method to save time.

Even though The Idaho Potato Commission recommends eating the potato skin for a healthy dose of vitamins and fiber, many popular recipes don't include the peel. In the USDA's 2014 analysis of potato consumption at home, potato chips were the most popular way to chow down. Yet 19% of potato eaters preferred their spuds boiled on the stove or baked in the oven, and most of these varieties were prepared without the fiber-filled peel.

According to a 2019 survey conducted by the Little Potato Co., potato eaters mostly enjoy these versatile vegetables mashed, baked, or turned into salty, crispy French fries (via The Packer). And according to National Geographic, the average American citizen eats almost 30 pounds of French fries every single year. Not to mention if you're making fries at home, many standard recipes suggest peeling potatoes before cooking.

While so many people seem to enjoy potatoes without persuasion, findings from the 2022 Potatoes USA report show more people would choose potatoes if they were easier to prepare. Peeling can feel quite monotonous and never-ending at the end of a busy workday. Luckily, thanks to TikTok, there's another peeling method that may streamline your cooking process, allowing you to enjoy these delicious spuds with ease.