The test: peelers

Lancashire peeler David Mellor, £1.50 A traditional and familiar ­favourite. Firm wooden handle with string wrapped around for grip – there’s nothing like the old school! Can be used left- or right-handed. The blade cuts into potato peel ­easily without gouging too deep, but is not so good with softer-skinned fruits. No frills but no problems. ­Nothing to dislike. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

Zyliss soft fruit peeler Debenhams, £7.50 The serrated blade enables you to peel soft fruits as well as spuds. It cuts into skin very finely and lifts a thin layer off with relative ease. The handy pointed tip is good for digging out ­unwanted blemishes and the handle is comfort­able, though the swivelling blade looks like it could break quite easily. Photograph: guardian.co.uk

JML Pro ceramic peeler Argos, £6.89 Sells itself as a shaver and works quite like one too, easily coping with fruit and veg. The boast is that the ­ceramic blade will last longer than your kitchen – and it certainly seems sharp enough, lifting skin effortlessly without digging too deep and stalling. You can also ­adjust the angle of the head, but it’s not immediately clear what advantage this brings – a gimmick this excellent peeler doesn’t need. Photograph: guardian.co.uk