Decluttering - do I need a peeler or a whisk?

[january2021]

I’ve recently moved house and am having a major declutter of my kitchen utensils before our new kitchen is installed. I really want a clutter-free space. I have a peeler and a whisk that I’ve never used. Do I really need them or can I throw them away? For context, I use a knife for peeling carrots and potatoes, and have never felt the need to use a whisk. Is it worth keeping them or shall I get rid?

That’s the other thing - they do tend to absorb smells and colours!

I'm not helping you with your decluttering but you probably would want a different spoon for your porridge to your onions. I have a red silicone one for tomatoes and other tomatoey stuff which DH has been instructed that is the one to use😂

Unfortunately, silicon holds onto flavors too...

Same in my house. He prefers a traditional style one and for me a Y peeler. I think it is something to do with the direction in which we peel.

DH will only use the peeler with the orange string stuff round the handle.

I use both these items frequently - it’s so much easier to peel veg with a decent peeler, and I use the whisk to make sauces. If you think you’ll never use them put them in the charity pile

We never peel veg!

Couldn't manage without a whisk but I bake a lot.

I don't care about curry in my bolognese or chilli or casserole. Just the sweet non oniony or garlicky stuff!

You can’t believe that someone wouldn’t peel a potato? You cannot believe it? Seriously?!

Obviously if you prefer the knife in spite of owning a perfectly good peeler than there is zero point in keeping the peeler, but I still don't understand it. But then crappy peelers are the worst. If you've only ever used a crappy peeler I can understand why you might think a knife is better.

And of course most people will need a whisk, even if it's only used occasionally. Have you honestly never needed to whisk eggs, or cream, or a pancake batter, or a white sauce or some gravy?
This reminds me of a British woman I know who ran a self catering gite in France and was amazed when a French guest asked her where the salad spinner was kept. She said 'Who on earth uses a salad spinner these days? Why would you wash and spin a lettuce when you can buy it pre-washed and chopped in a bag?

It's like a parallel universe sometimes.

If you decide you need a peeler in a few years time, the £2.50 you spend on it will be worth the peace that your decluttered will bring you now :)

We have about 4 peelers! They are all different and everyone has thier own favourite! We also have several different types of whisk too!
wooden sooons we have a whole jar full. In our defence gusto sent us a few plus like others said you need ones for different things plus DD is veggie so need 2 use 2 at the same time. Some of them are sooons others are flat, some are slotted etc!

Can't imagine not having both. However if you don't use them get rid.

I don’t think I’ve ever peeled a potato. Why would you?!

People on MN never cease to surprise me. All human life is here.

One wooden spoon 😱

Frozen mash pellets 😱😱

Who are these people?

all depends if you use them or not.... they are both very useful. I use mine a lot

What are you all doing to your wooden spoons?! I had some as a wedding present 26 years ago which I'm still using (regularly, for curry/cakes/sauces interchangeably with no ill effects) and they always go in the dishwasher. I did have a wooden spatula split once, but have 2 others that have lasted years.

My mum has wooden spoons that are older than me, that I dare say I'll inherit one day!

I’ve got several of my mum’s spoons.

You can’t believe that someone wouldn’t peel a potato? You cannot believe it? Seriously?!

I find it hard to believe that someone who does actually cook potatoes has never peeled a potato. That's frankly a bit weird. Unless they only ever cook baked jacket potatoes, or boiled new potatoes with thin skins. But surely you don't make all your roast potatoes with the skins, or your mashed potatoes?

Sadly I can believe that plenty of people have never peeled a potato because they've never actually cooked a potato.

They are the sort of people who'll buy McCain frozen jacket potatoes. Literally the simplest thing in the whole world to cook, and yet some people will still pay more for the 'convenience' of a pre-cooked and frozen version.

The older wooden spoons will be much better quality, wood in the olden days used to last not like the cheap wood they use today.

I've never used a peeler, my trainee chef ds bolocks me for using a knife to peel veg! A whisk... couldn't live without. How do you make gravy? But yes I would bin the peeler

Do you need a peeler and a whisk? In my view, yes and yes!

If in doubt chuck it out.