The 10 Best Orange Peelers: Citrus Peeler Tools, Zesters and Electric Machines
From the classic plastic orange peeler stick to stainless steel hook peelers, a Japanese peeler that removes the inner skin and automatic orange peeler machines, here is the right citrus peeler for how you eat, zest and juice.
An orange peeler, or any good peeler for oranges, scores through the rind so the peel lifts off in big, clean pieces: no sticky fingers, no orange under your nails and no knife needed. The best orange peeler tool for you depends on whether you are peeling to eat, zesting or juicing.
We compared ten of the best orange peelers and citrus peelers, from simple plastic sticks that cost a few dollars to electric peeling machines. In a hurry:
What Is an Orange Peeler, and Do They Still Make Them?
Is there such a thing as an orange peeler? Yes, and they are very much still made. An orange peeler, also sold as a citrus peeler, orange skin peeler, orange peel tool, orange peel scorer, peel cutter or orange peeler gadget, is a small tool for peeling an orange or any citrus. A tiny hooked blade cuts only through the rind, and a flat or curved end lifts the peel away from the fruit.
| Type of orange peeler | Made from | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Stick peeler (score and lift) | Plastic or stainless steel | Peeling oranges and grapefruit to eat |
| Ring or finger peeler | Plastic | Small hands, kids and on-the-go snacking |
| Y-peeler for citrus | Stainless steel blade | Thin zest strips with no bitter pith |
| Zester with channel knife | Stainless steel | Fine zest and garnish twists |
| Japanese spike-and-blade peeler | Resin with a small blade | Thick skins, plus the thin inner skin |
| Electric peeler machine | Motor, arm and stainless blade | Batches for juice, weak grip or arthritis |
Orange Peeler Comparison
| Orange peeler | Type | Material | Best for | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cosmer Orange Peeler (2-pack) | Stick | Plastic | Everyday peeling | ★ 4.7 (4,900) |
| VANYI Orange Peeler | Hook peeler | 304 stainless steel | Thick rinds | ★ 4.4 (195) |
| Tupperware Citrus Peelers (5-pack) | Classic stick | Molded, 7 inches | Old-fashioned favorite | ★ 4.8 (1,647) |
| OXO Good Grips Citrus Peeler | Y-peeler | Japanese stainless blade | Zest strips, no pith | ★ 4.5 (2,308) |
| RCOAIMT Citrus Peeler (2-pack) | Hook peeler | Stainless steel | Two for one | ★ 4.6 (129) |
| LUTER Orange Peeler (8-pack) | Sticks + finger rings | Plastic | Families, small hands | ★ 4.6 (479) |
| Shimomura Mukki-chan | Spike + blade | Resin, made in Japan | Inner skin too | — |
| OXO Citrus Zester & Channel Knife | Zester | Stainless steel head | Garnish and zest | ★ 4.7 (5,102) |
| Pelamatic Electric Fruit Peeler | Electric | Plastic + stainless blade | Batches, weak grip | ★ 3.9 (217) |
| AIHANCH Electric Peeler | Electric | Plastic + stainless blade | Potatoes, apples, citrus | ★ 4.1 (164) |
Star ratings and review counts reflect Amazon listings at the time of writing and change over time; tap a name for the current price. The Mukki-chan listing shows no rating yet. Price tiers on the cards: $ under $10 · $$ $10–$50 · $$$ over $50.
The 10 Best Orange Peelers and Citrus Peelers, Reviewed
Cosmer Orange Peeler Tool (2-Pack)
- Plastic
- 2-pack
- Score-and-lift design
- Orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit
- $
The best orange peeler for everyday snacking is also the simplest. This plastic orange peeler tool has a small hooked cutter at one end and a flat, pointed tip at the other: score the peel from top to bottom, then slide the tip under the rind and lift it off.
With the most reviews of any manual peeler here and a 4.7-star average, it is the crowd favorite on Amazon. It keeps juice off your fingers and saves your nails, and the pair costs less than a fancy coffee.
VANYI Stainless Steel Orange Peeler Tool
- 304 stainless steel
- Curved hook blade
- About 6 inches
- Triangle hanging hole
- $
A one-piece 304 stainless steel citrus peeler that will not snap or bend like plastic. The angled hook blade slices through thick navel orange and grapefruit rind without digging into the fruit.
The ergonomic handle gives you leverage, and VANYI says it works on oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, pomelos and even pomegranates. At about 6 inches long, it slips into a drawer or bag, and the triangle hole lets you hang it on a hook.
Tupperware Citrus Peelers (5-Pack)
- Classic stick design
- 5-pack, colors vary
- About 7 inches
- Hook and scoop ends
- $
The old fashioned orange peeler many of us grew up with, and the highest-rated pick here at 4.8 stars. One end has a small hook for scoring the peel; the other is a curved tip that slides under the rind and pops it off.
Five in a pack means one for the kitchen, the lunchbox, the car and the office, with one to spare. If you have watched a Tupperware citrus peeler YouTube tutorial, the How to Use steps below are the same score-and-lift technique.
OXO Good Grips Citrus Prep Peeler & Zester
- Y-peeler shape
- Japanese stainless blade
- Non-slip handle
- Dishwasher safe
- $$
This one works differently. It is a compact Y-peeler built for citrus: instead of lifting the whole peel off, it shaves the colored skin away in thin, wide strips and leaves the bitter white pith behind.
That makes it the best orange rind peeler tool here, and an excellent orange zest peeler, lemon rind peeler and lemon peeler tool for marmalade, candied peel, baking and garnishes. The soft, non-slip handle suits every grip, including weaker hands, and it goes in the dishwasher.
RCOAIMT Stainless Steel Citrus Peeler (2-Pack)
- Stainless steel
- 2 identical peelers
- Ergonomic handles
- Dishwasher safe
- $
Two stainless steel orange peelers for about the price of one. Each hooked blade scores, peels and slices through citrus rind, making it a handy little multitool orange peeler.
The handles are shaped for a secure grip, the pair is lightweight and dishwasher safe, and a 2-pack means one for home and one for work, or one to give away.
LUTER Orange Peelers (8-Pack with Finger Rings)
- Plastic
- 6 sticks + 2 finger rings
- 6.3-inch sticks
- Ring fits a fingertip
- $
The best value for families: six stick peelers and two ring peelers for less than one steel peeler. The rings slip over a fingertip with a small cutter on top, so you score the orange as you hold it.
That makes the ring a finger orange peeler for small hands and anyone who finds a stick awkward. The 6.3-inch sticks work like the Cosmer: score, then lift. Hand them out for lunchboxes, picnics and the office drawer.
Shimomura Mukki-chan Japanese Orange Peeler
- Made in Japan
- Resin body
- Spike + small blade
- Peels the inner skin
- $$
A clever palm-sized Japanese orange peeler made for thick-skinned citrus like hassaku, amanatsu and grapefruit. Press the spike into the top of the fruit and slide it down around the curve four times to cut the peel into neat sections.
The real trick is the second blade: slide each segment over it to slit the thin inner skin, then slip out the bare fruit. It is the only tool here that peels the inside skin too, which is perfect for fruit salads, cakes and kids who do not like the membrane.
OXO Good Grips Citrus Zester with Channel Knife
- 2-in-1 zester + channel knife
- Stainless steel head
- Soft non-slip handle
- Stays sharp
- $$
The most-reviewed tool on this list, and the one to grab for zest and decorative twists. Sharp holes rake off fine threads of zest, while the channel knife on the side carves long, thin spiral strips.
Use them to garnish lemonade, mocktails, iced tea and cakes, or zest straight into frosting and batter. It is a perfect partner for any peeler above: the peeler takes the skin off, and this turns it into garnish.
Pelamatic Electric Fruit Peeler (Orange Peeler Basic)
- Automatic, one button
- Oranges, lemons, apples, potatoes
- Adjustable arm
- Replacement blades sold
- $$$
The answer to do they make a kitchen appliance that peels an orange clean? This automatic orange peeler holds the fruit on a prong and turns it while a blade arm follows the curve, taking the peel off in one long ribbon.
Pelamatic says its orange peelers handle citrus from about 1.8 to 3.9 inches across, thin or thick skinned, plus apples, potatoes and kiwis. It is the best orange peeler machine here for juicing big batches, weak hands or arthritis, and spare blades are sold separately.
AIHANCH Electric Peeler with Apple Corer
- Battery or plug-in
- Apple corer included
- 3 replacement blades
- Self-adjusting arm
- $$
A budget electric peeler that handles more than citrus. Set the fruit on the base, lower the top holder, and the arm peels potatoes, apples, pears and oranges hands-free while you do something else.
It runs on four AA batteries or the included adapter, and the base stores the spare blades, an apple corer and a potato-eye scoop. The arm adjusts as it peels, so it takes off just the skin.
How to Use an Orange Peeler Tool
Every stick-style peeler, plastic or with a metal hook blade, works the same way. This quick tutorial is the fastest method for peeling an orange to eat:
- Hook in at the top. Hold the orange stem end up and press the hooked tip into the peel.
- Score from top to bottom. Draw the hook down to the base, cutting through the rind but not the fruit. Repeat 4 to 6 times around the orange, like the lines on a beach ball.
- Flip the tool. Slide the flat or curved end under the peel at the top of one section.
- Lift it off. Run the tip down each section and the peel comes away in neat strips, most of the white pith with it.
Electric and Automatic Orange Peelers: Are They Worth It?
An electric orange peeler, also called an auto orange peeler, orange peeler machine or citrus peeler machine, holds the fruit while a motor turns it and a spring-loaded blade arm follows its shape. You load the fruit, press a button and walk away.
They are worth it if you peel a lot of citrus at once, for juice or fruit platters, or if weak grip or arthritis makes manual peeling hard. For one orange a day, a manual orange peeler is quicker to grab and to wash.
How to Choose the Best Citrus Peeler
What you peel most
Navel oranges and grapefruit need a sturdy hook, ideally stainless steel. Clementines barely need a tool. For zest and rind strips, choose a Y-peeler or zester.
Plastic or stainless steel
Plastic peelers cost a few dollars and are gentle on fruit. Steel peelers cost a little more, stay sharp and do not snap.
Grip and hands
For weak grip or arthritis, look for a soft, non-slip handle, try a ring peeler worn on the finger, or go electric.
Cleaning
Most peelers here are dishwasher safe. The Mukki-chan is hand wash only.
Kids and safety
Plastic sticks suit older kids with supervision. Keep steel hooks, blades and small rings away from toddlers.
Price
A great manual orange peeler costs under $10, a zester or Japanese peeler $12 to $25, and electric peelers about $40 to $90.
Orange Peeler FAQs
What is the best orange peeler?+
What is the best citrus peeler for grapefruit and thick skins?+
Is there such a thing as an orange peeler? Do they still make citrus peelers?+
How do you use a citrus peeler with a metal hook blade?+
What is the best tool to peel an orange without the pith?+
Is there a Japanese orange peeler that peels the inside skin too?+
Is there an electric orange peeler or orange peeler machine?+
Which orange peeler is best for weak grip or arthritis?+
Do you need an orange peeler for cold press juicer prep?+
What is a finger or ring orange peeler?+
Which orange peeler is best for drink garnishes?+
Is an orange slicer the same as an orange peeler?+
Where can I buy an orange peeler?+
Are plastic orange peelers safe?+
Which Orange Peeler Should You Buy?
For peeling oranges to eat, the Cosmer Orange Peeler is the best orange peeler for most people: cheap, simple and loved by thousands of owners. Want a peeler that lasts for years? The VANYI stainless steel peeler. Feeding a family? The LUTER 8-pack.
For zest and garnish, the OXO Good Grips Citrus Peeler and the OXO Citrus Zester. For membrane-free segments, the Shimomura Mukki-chan. For hands-free peeling, the Pelamatic Electric Fruit Peeler.
Whichever you choose, score first and lift second, and your nails will thank you.
