Handy peeler puts a spin on cooking with apples

Ever used one of those nifty apple-peelers? I bought one a few years ago at a Pampered Chef party because I just love cooking and baking with apples. Am I glad I did? Pretty much! Here’s my pros and cons review:

First, the good:

• The apple peeler takes care of three cumbersome tasks all at once – the peeling, coring and slicing.

• When you’re cutting a bunch of apples, the gadget speeds the process so the apple slices don’t get mushy and brown so fast.
• It turns out uniform slices so it’s easier to cook with apples without overcooking. (The peeler works better with hard apples, by the way, which are best for cooking anyway.)
• This crank-and-spin machine is fun and exciting to watch, so it makes good entertainment when you’re in the kitchen with little ones.

The not-so-good:

• It’s messy, (but not hard to clean).
• It takes more “apple” than hand cutting with a knife. (More waste.)
• It’s easier to use if attached to a table or countertop than it is when used with the “lift” that comes with the machine because it takes quite a bit of “muscle” to power through the apple.

My conclusion:

It’s worth using the apple peeler when I have to peel, core and slice more than three apples. I used to avoid making stewed apples because of the prep involved, and so using the apple peeler brings a favorite side dish back into my repertoire!

(We googled apple peelers and found many outlets sell them via the Internet. Williams-Sonoma stores also carry them. Some are cast iron and some are nickel plated, and some attach to the counter via a suction cup while others adjust and clamp to a counter top if there is sufficient overhang. Most models sell for about $30.)

Do you own an apple peeler? What recipes do you use it for? Do you recommend buying one? Let us know in the comments section following this post!