The Clever Potato Peeler Hack We Wish We’d Known About Sooner

Angel Albring

Thu, January 15, 2026 at 8:17 PM UTC

4 min read

A potato peeler has a hidden feature called a "potato eye remover" that helps dig out blemishes and dark spots without cutting too deeply into the potato.
Using the pointed notch at the end of a potato peeler can help save more potato flesh, reduce waste, and speed up prep time.
The potato peeler hack of using the eye remover can make prepping potatoes more efficient, keep them intact, and result in better-looking and evenly cooked potatoes.

For most of my life , prepping potatoes meant carving out an eye, nicking off a bad spot—and accidentally taking half the potato with it. By the time I was done, I had a cutting board full of scraps, a sink full of potato scraps and noticeably smaller potatoes than when I started. It felt messy, inefficient and, honestly, a little annoying, but I assumed that was just how it worked.

Then, thanks to social media (where all life-changing information lives now), I learned that there's a better, more efficient way to use your potato peeler. With this helpful intel, there's no need to continue struggling with those spuds—and the hack is actually hiding in plain sight.

Once I saw this trick in action in a video posted by content creator Dustin Hadley ( @that40yearguy ), I had one of those "Wait… seriously?" moments. So I tried it myself. And it worked! It feels like one of those quiet kitchen secrets grandmas always knew, and somehow we all forgot along the way, until now. So, whether you're cooking up some potatoes tonight or you want to save or bookmark this hack for later, read on for everything you need to know.

Related: The Clever Whisk Trick We Wish We'd Known About Sooner

😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Parade Eats newsletter . 🍳🍔

The Potato Peeler Hack You Might Not Know About

A standard potato peeler may look simple, but it has more features than you think. The long blade is designed to remove thin layers of skin while preserving as much flesh as possible. That part we all understand.

What often gets ignored is the pointed, oval-shaped notch at the end of the peeler. It's commonly called a "potato eye remover," and it's there for a very specific reason. The curved scoop is designed to help you dig out small blemishes, eyes and dark spots without cutting too deeply into the potato.

My potato peeler has a plastic scoop attached to the end of the blade, but the design of your peeler might be different. Some have a plastic tool, like mine, while others are just one solid blade with a pointy end, which works in a similar way.

Instead of switching tools and grabbing a paring knife (as I usually do), just use the end of the peeler. The shape limits waste, keeps your hands safer than a sharp knife and speeds up prep time. Three cheers for kitchen efficiency!

How To Use the End of a Potato Peeler the Right Way

Using the end of a potato peeler is surprisingly intuitive once you know what it's for. Start by peeling your potato as usual. When you spot an eye or dark spot, flip the peeler so the pointed notch is facing the potato.

Place the tip directly over the eye and apply gentle pressure. Twist gently, letting the curved edge scoop the spot out in one clean motion. You don't need to dig because the shape does the work for you.

The key is restraint. Unlike a knife , which encourages overcutting, the peeler's end naturally limits how much you remove. That means less waste and more potato .

It's fast, neat and oddly satisfying, which is exactly the kind of small win that makes you feel like you've unlocked a secret level of adulthood.

My Honest Thoughts About This Potato Peeler Hack

I didn't expect this hack to feel life-changing, but it kind of is. By using the eye remover, the potatoes stay intact, which means there's less damage to the flesh. The prepped potatoes look better and cook more evenly.

The biggest surprise was how much potato I was saving using this trick. Those little cuts add up, and suddenly I wasn't throwing away nearly as much food.

It's important to note that you don't have to peel your potatoes to use the eye remover. It's also a handy feature to use if you want to keep the skin on as you cook the potatoes.

I don't see myself prepping potatoes any other way now. It's officially part of my routine! Sometimes, the smallest kitchen hacks make the biggest difference, especially those that have been hiding in plain sight all along.

Up Next:

This story was originally published by Parade on Jan 15, 2026, where it first appeared in the Food & Drink section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.