Famos Vegetable Peeler

The "Famos" vegetable peeler is a simple steel kitchen tool, capable of shearing not only vegetables, but hard cheeses and chocolate. It's only $12 (plus shipping), although the vendor appears to be out of stock at the moment. The blade is attached by two screws and looks thick enough to withstand sharpening, so it should withstand many years of kitchen duty.

Catalog Page [KioskKiosk.com via NYTimes.com via Cool Hunting]

[#1 posted by theophrastus , December 14, 2007 11:52 AM]

so what's the dorsal sharks-fin prong for?

[#2 posted by RyanH , December 14, 2007 12:04 PM]

To assist it when swimming around in the sink, searching for prey

[#3 posted by certron , December 14, 2007 1:48 PM]

Actually, I think it is for aerodynamic stability during excited peeling sessions.

Alternately, it could be used to dig out small blemishes, for example, bumps or eyes in potatoes.

You could probably also use it to pick up a newly-sliced piece of cheese and present it to a willing cheese recipient.

[#4 posted by Mike Overbo , December 14, 2007 2:59 PM]

I'd wager that it's a polearm hook variation, used to forcibly dismount riders from a cavalry charge.

Not many companies ever take the cavalry charge into account when designing their kitchen tools.

But I suppose it's just as likely that it's for stability when you're throwing it at your enemies.

[#5 posted by Res Cogitans , December 14, 2007 2:59 PM]

That handle looks rather uncomfortable to me.

Cooks Illustrated recently did a peeler rating. They like the Messermeister Swivel Peeler (Price: $5.95) best, followed by the Kyocera Ceramic Perfect Peeler (Price: $17.95), though I don't think I'd pay that much for a peeler.

I like my Oxo peeler just fine, for the record.

[#6 posted by Moon , December 14, 2007 7:01 PM]

Whoa! Using a peeler to shear cheese!

That's worth the money I paid to get on this site, right there!

:D

[#7 posted by Moon , December 14, 2007 7:03 PM]

Certron, is there anybody who ISN'T a willing cheese recipient?

[#8 posted by Moon , December 14, 2007 7:05 PM]

CHEESE, Gromit, CHEEEEEESE!

[#9 posted by FrankenPengie , December 14, 2007 10:16 PM]

Actually the handle looks like it would work well if you only peeled your foods by scraping away from you. Drawing towards you would be a pain. I like the "bulbous crap" that is easier on arthritic hands.

[#10 posted by Lars , December 15, 2007 5:14 AM]

My mother has exactly this peeler - and had it for ages. It might even be a gift from her mother. It's exceptionally durable.

However, I quit peeling my potatoes since i prefer them with the skin on. Healthier too.

[#11 posted by cha0tic , December 17, 2007 5:05 AM]

If you're going to get peeler geeky you should try one of these.
When I've done kitchen work I've taken this in with me and peeled sacks of potatoes. Works really well.