Lighthearted: Can you peel around a carrot in less than 8 strokes using one of these?

[Sgtmajormummy]

In my constant quest for ergonomics in the house (more like doing the minimum), I've come up against a problem. No matter what size, it takes me between 9 and 13 strokes of this knife

Just to add, I use the "swipe away from you" method.

And no sexual innuendoes expected or implied!

I'm amazed anyone has counted tbh. Why not get an electric peeler?

I use a Y shaped peeler which seems very efficient although I've never counted how many strokes it takes.

I also have a Y shaped peeler and having just peeled for dinner I can confirm it takes 5 -9 stroke s depending on carrot diameter

I'm pretty sure my Y shaped peeler takes about 8-11 strokes (although I like big carrots when choosing them in the shop). But more than that it works will with a single pull for the whole length of the carrot and is less tiring to use that the style of peeler in your pic.

What size carrot?

Does yours have a swivel blade or fixed? Swivel is much better I find. I probably use about 8 strokes per average carrot.

Except when I'm lazy and just wash the carrots and chuck straight in!

Mine's a swivel blade with a normal knife that swaps out from the handle.

My point is that ANY size carrot takes 9 strokes. It must be 360 degrees divided by 9 = 40 degrees per stroke! Try it. I'm curious to see if it's one of those "great universal truths" discovered by MN, like the envelope vest thing which was news to me.

I'm obsessed with it because we eat so many of the darn things! I even worked in a pub where we bought them by the sackful. Guess what the newest recruit's job was...

FEWER!

I am unconvinced that this is a universal truth. If the blade of the peeler is at least the length of the radius of the carrot (at its widest point) multiplied by root two then it is possible to peel in four strokes (picture the square cross-section).

My survey says:
8 strokes for your kind of peeler
7 strokes for the Y-peeler

This is now my guinea pigs' favourite thread.

Please take these comments lightheartedly

maple I suppose that's okay if you're making crudités. Bwahahah!
lancelottie is the first on my spreadsheet. Keep'em coming!

I'll be here till 11pm taking notes.

I can see a few "square root" jokes bubbling to the surface!

I've been using this type of peeler (correct name is a Lancashire peeler) since I was young and I can definitely peel a carrot in fewer than eight strokes!

I realise that it's light-hearted

Or were you correcting my grammar?

Ahemmm, well...

I have to admit that I don't appreciate being SHOUTED AT in real life or online and if somebody is going to correct my grammar, I much prefer jonicomelately's style.
So, I apologise for my lapse in graciousness and humbly offer you the following results of my (and DD's) research this afternoon.

"Can you peel around a carrot in fewer than 8 strokes using a swivel peeler?"

We took three carrots, one thick, one medium and one thin. Using the same knife I peeled each one using downward strokes, from the top then from the bottom.

In each case the number of strokes was similar (17 or 18).

Aren't you intrigued? Does it make you doubt your ideas of "bigger carrot=more peeling"? Are we on to something here?

Or are we blundering in the dark of flawed logic?

I top and tail and leave the (washed) peel on.

I lift between strokes (time is not a factor here) but even watching Youtube videos of up/down peeling methods they're doing 9 or 10 strokes!

I just chop carrots, their skin tastes fine to me. I use a y peeler for potatoes but I only peel for mash as it looks nicer.

Ok, so I broke the rules by saying I don't peel carrots.