Wednesday 4 October 2017

Act in haste...



There was panic in the Magnon household; my favourite old potato peeler had gone missing, and Lady M needed to peel Apples. 

She took to her iPad, whilst I took to the compost bucket.

Lady M ordered a replacement industrial pack of peelers, whilst I rummaged amongst a pile of potato peelings and worse.

My spirits were raised when I found my old friend at the bottom of the bucket, but too late; Lady M had already confirmed her order to Amazon and there was no going back.

Her hastily ordered 3-pack arrived yesterday, and although they may at first sight look similar, they are in fact total rubbish imitations.

My treasured old one is made of wood, string and stainless steel. The modern equivalent is plastic and poor quality steel.

Now that my faithful 65 year old peeler has been found, the new ones will be confined to the back of the 'rarely used' cupboard; just in case. Somehow I fear they may NEVER be used.

I may even bury them in the garden. 




51 comments:

  1. You can peel apples with a normal little knife.

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    1. You would have to use mine to know how inefficient are all other methods. It is the perfect peeler, it has never needed re-sharpening, and it was designed to survive a nuclear war. A small knife could never replace it; even an Opinel.

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    2. Ir's just in case you have no peeler. I have a potato peeler from WMF, very very good German quality.

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  2. That brings back memories. I have a couple of black Victorinox peelers that I ha ve had for quite a few years now. It amazes me that I still have them and they haven't ended up in the compost.

    It is annoying when one buys something online that looks exactly what one wants and it turns out to be a nasty imitation.

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    1. Cheap imitation is worse than just plain useless. I think I will bury them!

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  3. I don't know if it's because I'm left handed but I can't use peelers, I always use my favourite little knife that I've had forever.

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    Replies
    1. These peelers are bi-lingual, and ambidextrous. Perfect for you.

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  4. Mrs. Sue thinks like me , a little knife can do perfect work.

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    1. I always peel my daily lunchtime Apple with an Opinel; a peeler wouldn't seem right (at table).

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  5. We've got half a dozen peelers. One works. Peelers take off a thinner peel. When I use a knife on a potato I'm throwing away half the potato

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    Replies
    1. Our trouble was that we only had ONE; hence the panic!

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  6. what you want (next time you lose it) is one of these: http://www.kuhnrikonshop.com/category/cooks-tools-peelers
    ever so easy to use and good for slicing thin strips of carrot, courgette, cheese or anything else too, & fantastic for peeling a marrow or a swede!

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    Replies
    1. I did once have one of those; I think mine was called 'Speed Peeler'. I didn't get on with it at all, and soon returned to my old fashioned model.

      I think it's all a question of what you're used to!

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  7. The first think that came in mind when I saw those peelers was, ah, grandchildren will help peel potatoes!
    Greetings Maria x

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  8. I have a favorite coffee cup. Somehow coffee just doesn't taste the same in another cup!

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  9. If you find my can opener anytime please let me know...we're not sure whether it went in the compost or even worse in the bin. I've definitely refound knives in the compost....sometimes it feels like I am definitely losing the plot! Arilx

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    Replies
    1. It's always wise to look in the compost first. I'll keep an eye out for your can opener.

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  10. Peelers and other kitchen utensils are very personal, something that appeals to one person will not suit another. I have two peelers, one which is rubbish-but I keep it, just in case - and the red one, which works well for me.
    I don't want to lose either of them.

    Alphie

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    Replies
    1. Most people would throw away the very old wooden spoon that I use on a daily basis, but to me it's perfect.

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  11. Good you found your trusty peeler. I'm always tossing my weeding fork into the compost heap. I've never used a potato peeler and don't peel my delicious allotment grown potatoes anyway but I do own four different Sabatier knives which I've been accruing since the mid-80s when my chef brother bought me one as a house-warming present. I do have a Global bread knife which is fantastic for cutting into large squash (and homemade sourdough!).

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    Replies
    1. Last Easter I found a small 'antique' metal Easter egg in the compost. I think certain grandsons were to blame. I soon managed to clean it up a bit.

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  12. We found a teaspoon that had gone missing for months when using the compost from the 'Darlek'. Stuck it, and the others from the S/S set, in bleach and it's like new. Recriminations over.

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    Replies
    1. Teaspoons are very easily thrown out. OK if they're cheap S/S ones; not so good if they're antique silver.

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  13. For some reason I have never used a peeler - I have a small knife that fits the bill.

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    1. AS I said above, I do use a knife to peel my daily Apple. It works perfectly.

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  14. I still have and use my old potato peeler which is like yours but doesn't have the serrated blade. However I know that you can still buy ones in wood, string and a serrated blade. I wish that I could remember what they were called.

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    Replies
    1. Silly me. I think it was called a Lancashire potato peeler - though presumably not by people from Yorkshire.

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    2. The one's that Lady M bought were simply called 'Peelers'; rather like Sussex Cheese that is simply called 'Cheese'.

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  15. I have never got on with peelers. I am pretty nifty with a knife, but lousy at using peelers. I always get bits jammed in the slot and it takes time to un-jam them.

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    1. I don't think one needs to become over philosophical about peelers, but bits of peel jamming the blade IS very annoying.

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  16. I think it is like this with all our tools Cro - we get very attached to them and any replacement seems inferior.

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  17. My meals don't seem to call for a peeler. I have never owned one.

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    Replies
    1. Shame on you Rachel. Every home needs one!

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  18. The manufacture of potato peelers is a good business model. I don't know what number somebody in The Highrise has accidently thrown out over the years, but it is many.

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    Replies
    1. You are the perfect client for a similar industrial pack!

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  19. I have to admit I hate to peel potatoes, but a good peeler makes the job go faster. I do like some of the new products on the market, but more often use my old kitchen ware because it feels comfortable.

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    Replies
    1. I've just this minute been peeling some spuds. I used one of the new ones... total rubbish.

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  20. I have my grans trusty old veg knife. Used to watch her sharpening it on the door step!.😀 Prob not as sharp now.

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  21. If I lost that would panick.

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    Replies
    1. Many a front doorstep is worn away by sharpening. Probably as good a method as any.

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  22. Any time we've lost something the quickest way to find it is to order a replacement.

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  23. There were some half-price spud peelers in a basket outside a shop. I'd lost mine so I bought a replacement. When I got home and tried it out I couldn't get it to peel. What a load of rubbish, was my first thought. Then I looked at it again. The blade was sharp, the steel was good, the handle was good, so why wouldn't it work? Then it dawned on me. It was a left-handed potato peeler - and being right handed it was not much use me! When I took it back to the shop they gave me a voucher to use against a right handed one which of course was twice the price!

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    1. That sounds like the first paragraph of a good book!

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  24. A peeler is so important I have had mine since I was first married 36 years ago, just plain old stainless steel. I tried updating to one that looked better, but it was useless. I would not want to loose mine. So do understand.

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    Replies
    1. I've had mine since my first London flat (aged 18). I won't tell you how long that is!

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  25. LOL, a beautifully said tribute to the way things used to be made. One good thing, the predictably poor quality of most modern tools and devices had gotten me out of the habit of buying things. We turn more and more to devising our own or doing without.

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