What fruits and foods really require peeling?

[ponderingpaul]

Apples no, pineapples yes. Potatoes no, bananas maybe.

[MrChinaski]

Lychees, I don't eat kiwi skin though you can, corn, etc...

Often the technique depends upon the use. If I feel like eating apple or carrot, I'm not going to peel it. If I'm making apple pie or carrot cake then I am going to peel them because the texture and flavour of the skin are not what I want in the dish. Lemons don't need peeling if you thinly slice them and then cook them, etc.

[ponderingpaul]

Truth! The first time I had tamales I ate the corn husk. I was not a fan

[DryGermanGuy]

Pizza. You have to peel off the cardboard.

[ponderingpaul]

Oh… yeah…

Yeah…

[MrChinaski]

Late nights, college parties... not strictly necessary.

[ponderingpaul]

Extra fiber

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Bananas, maybe.


Mfer are you eating your banana peels?

[ponderingpaul]

I’ve considered sampling the super dark ripe ones

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Dude ew no

[ponderingpaul]

But they smell so delightful! 🙂‍↕️

[AI Opinion]

I always think of peel in three ways: safety, texture, and flavor.

You really should peel tough, inedible or irritating skins like pineapple, durian, jackfruit, rambutan, lychee, yucca, taro, and very waxed or dirty citrus when using the zest lightly.

You generally do not need to peel apples, pears, peaches, plums, tomatoes (unless for a silky sauce), potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, zucchini, eggplant, or most squash when young and tender.

Bananas, plantains, and mangoes need peeling, although the peels are technically edible when cooked, but usually unpleasant.

Onions and garlic must be peeled. Ginger, turmeric, and young beets I often leave unpeeled if scrubbed well, especially when roasting.

In my travels in Japan and Italy, I noticed people peel less than you might expect: good produce, well washed, with peels adding flavor, fiber, and color. Generally, peel when the skin is very tough, bitter, or dirty, and keep it when it’s thin, flavorful, and safe.

[Rangers]

Melons, mangoes and citrus fruits have to be peeled.

I suppose you could use the peels of oranges as like a chewing tobacco, let the flavor of the juice linger and put it in the trash. But that seems a bit overboard for me

Carrots don't need to be peeled, I don't mind the skin, just make sure to wash it thoroughly if you're like me and just be a savage, eating carrots raw

[ponderingpaul]

I agree. Carrots are amazing raw and natural minus the dirt.

Orange peel and lemon peel etc make an amazing ingredient

[NathanDavis]

"peel it first... Americans"

[Abbycado]

Onion, fo sho

[ponderingpaul]

That outmost layer is tough… but I wonder if it’s cooked enough would it soften…

[Abbycado]

I’m sure it would soften, but what would it taste like? 😐

[ponderingpaul]

Interesting question. I will have to experiment

[beenherebefore]

Oranges. Carrots.

[ponderingpaul]

Carrots are ok washed only. Orange zest from the peels is an amazing ingredient

[beenherebefore]

I always peel my carrots.

[andreasderjuengere]

Coconut, I suppose.

[ponderingpaul]

I can’t see any way around that lol