Difficult-peeler

A 'difficult-peeler' describes an object, usually a fruit or vegetable, that presents challenges during the peeling process. This can stem from a tough or uneven skin, a shape that makes handling tricky, or an adhesion of the skin to the edible flesh that is unusually strong. The term often implies frustration and extra effort on the part of the person attempting to peel the item, requiring sharp knives, strategic angles, and sometimes, a healthy dose of patience. These items may also be considered to have an unfavorable texture, such as fibrous or watery flesh.

Difficult-peeler meaning with examples

• The heirloom tomato, while bursting with flavor, proved a difficult-peeler. Its thin skin stubbornly clung to the juicy flesh, threatening to disintegrate with every delicate knife stroke. I ended up blanching it to remove the skin. In contrast, the store-bought tomatoes peeled away effortlessly, losing any of the rich tomato flavor in the process.
• The stubborn pineapple was a difficult-peeler. Despite my sharpest knife, the thick, patterned skin resisted my attempts, clinging stubbornly to the sweet, fibrous fruit. Each chunk of flesh peeled away was a testament to my perseverance. By the end, my hands were sticky with juice, but I had finally wrestled the tropical treat free of its armor.
• When preparing the potatoes for mashed potatoes, it was quite the struggle, a truly difficult-peeler situation. Their skin seemed particularly prone to breaking, and instead of long strips, my peeler produced a series of tiny, frustratingly insignificant peels. This led to me changing my method and the outcome.
• The butternut squash became a difficult-peeler. The thick, hard rind was impervious to my regular peeler, requiring several attempts with a cleaver and a strong grip. Sweat dripped from my brow as I wrestled with its cumbersome shape. I contemplated tossing the whole thing in the oven, then settled for a more measured, strategic attack.
• The kiwi, with its fuzzy, fragile skin, frequently lives up to its reputation as a difficult-peeler, even when perfectly ripe. It required a combination of slicing the kiwi, rather than peeling it, and carefully scooping out the fruit with a spoon. Using any other methods resulted in a mangled mess.