The Best Apple Peelers and Corers

Ah, sweet apple pie. Whether it evokes memories of grandma pulling it piping hot out of the oven to cool on the windowsill or nostalgia for cartoons who take one whiff of the decadent scent and can float on air, we all know that apple pie is a classic treat. But have you ever tried to bake one? Peeling, slicing, and coring the apples is a pain and takes forever, too. (Especially if you’re like me and have yet to master the art of cutting the skin off in one long ribbon with the help of a paring knife.) 

Given the massive popularity of apple pie, however, it should come as no surprise that crafty bakers have come up with a solution to the tedium of prepping apples. There are tools dedicated to peeling, coring, and slicing up apples all at once, with just a few turns of a crank—and Amazon shoppers have decided that their favorite of these clever tools is the Johnny Apple Peeler Corer and Slicer. 

This tool is fairly simple but incredibly effective. The base is a giant suction cup, and with a flip of the lever, it will stick to any smooth surface. Once securely in place, you can stick a whole apple onto the three-pronged stainless steel spit. Two main blades come with the device—a peeling blade and a coring/slicing blade. Crank the wooden handle, and the apple will press into these blades while rotating, making a cored, peeled, and spiral-sliced apple ready for your favorite turnover recipe. 

Both blades are adjustable, making the Johnny Apple Peeler more versatile. The peeling blade can be adjusted for thicker or thinner peels. It can also be removed entirely if you prefer to keep the skin on and just want to make apple slices—perfect for baking into apple chips or garnishing a delicious punch. Likewise, you can remove the coring/slicing blade to peel an ingredient—think potatoes or maybe skinless apples for a kid’s snack. You can also use the leftover apple skins to make a tasty cider or tea. 

The Johnny Apple Peeler is very durable because the main body is cast iron, the rotating spit is nickel-plated steel, and the blades are stainless steel. With proper care, the peeler can last a lifetime. The downside of the peeler is the bulk. It’s not especially big, at 12 x 4.25 inches, but the shape is awkward to store. Fortunately, it isn’t heavy either—only weighing around two pounds—so it won’t be too heavy to remove from a cupboard. There are two versions of the Johnny Apple Peeler, both with the same functionalities, but one has a suction-cup base, while the other has a screw-clamp base, ideal for the edges of countertops. They’re even the same price. 

Amazon shoppers rave about this handy device, which has over 12,000 five-star ratings. Reviewers praise the machine’s ease of use and sturdiness, loving the fact that it works well no matter how big or small the apple is. One reviewer rejoiced how much time he had saved baking pies over the years, stating, “Peeling the apples used to be the most tedious part of the job—now it’s fast, easy, and fun. Just a few seconds per apple. Really, the most time-consuming part is making sure you get the apples on the peeler straight.” 

Another reviewer recommends it as a gift: “Bought this for my very DIY SIL. She thought it was silly, but she has arthritis in her hands, and it’s been bothering her so much recently. They have apple and pear trees, and she loves to bake, but…that arthritis! So I got her this little peeler-slicer, and she reported that it was absolutely brilliant! Easy to operate, not hard to clean, and it slices the apples all to the same size, which she loves. Big success!”

The Details: Peels, cores, and slices; stainless steel and cast iron construction; 2 pounds; 12 x 4.25 inches

Other Apple Corers, Peelers, and Slicers to Consider

There are a number of helpful apple tools out there. Some will tackle all three tasks, just like the Johnny Apple Peeler, while other tools may focus on a single goal. Either way, these tools are designed to make preparing apples much easier. 

The Norpro Apple Mate 2 is similar to the Johnny Apple Peeler. The device can core, peel, and slice apples all at once with the turn of a crank. It secures to the edge of a counter thanks to a clamp (though a suction-cup style is available also). 

The biggest difference between the Norpro Apple Mate and the Johnny Apple Peeler is the size. The small version of the Norpro Apple Mate is 7.5 x 9.5 inches, while the large option is 17.75 x 11.25 inches. Another difference between the peelers is that the Apple Mate looks a bit more old-fashioned with its industrial gray-blue design, which could be a pro or a con, depending on your style. Regardless of aesthetic, the Apple Mate 2 can prepare apples for turnovers, potatoes for homemade chips, or onions for crispy onion rings. 

The Details: Peels, cores, and slices; stainless steel and aluminum construction; 1 pound; 7.5 x 9.5 inches

I promise this isn’t a toy. Though the see-through design and bright red internal gears are reminiscent of 90s gadgets, this dependable tool is meant to peel apples quickly. The Starfrit Apple Peeler sits on the countertop, secured by four suction cup feet, and holds onto an apple with a sharp four-pointed prong. A spring-loaded arm tilts a sharp blade to the apple and removes only the skin. Some Amazon reviewers noted that the peeler does leave a bit of skin on the tops and bottoms of the apples, so you may need to use a paring knife or veggie peeler to finish the job. Additionally, some reviewers say it works best on round apples, while others claim to use the device on pears and potatoes. It seems some trial and error is necessary to get the best peel out of different ingredients or shapes.

It’s an affordable device that takes the tedious effort out of peeling apples by hand. Given the eye-catching design and ease of use, this could be a great way to have kiddos help in the kitchen—just be sure to keep tiny hands away from the prongs and blades. Once the apple is set, the kids can crank the wheel and watch it peel.  

The Details: Peels; plastic and stainless steel construction; 1.1 pounds; 24 x 10 inches

Starfrit has another apple-peeling device worth looking at—this one is fully automatic. The Electric Rotato Express peels apples, potatoes, carrots, limes, nectarines, onions, kiwis, cucumbers, pears, squash, and more. Place your chosen ingredient on the prongs, lower the top skewer, and press a button—the Rotato Express will take care of the rest. A bladed arm lowers along the apple while it rotates in place, peeling off the skin with ease. 

It’s a fantastic option for bakers who have arthritis, cooks preparing multiple other foods for dinner, or busy parents wrangling their kids while trying to make apple hand pies for a school function. While certainly affordable (especially for an automatic machine), multiple Amazon reviewers feel that the plastic construction is a bit flimsy and may not last a lifetime. There have also been reports that the Rotato Express has a hard time fully peeling the tops and bottoms of the foods, so you may need to hand peel the ends. 

The Details: Peels; plastic and stainless steel construction; 1 pound; 6.5 x 6.31 inches

Zulay Kitchen Premium Apple Corer

Coring an apple can be tricky. You could use a knife to cut off the apple’s sides, but you may lose some fruit in the process. And digging the core out with a knife? Forget it. Luckily, there are dedicated tools for removing the center of fruits and veggies. Zulay’s Premium Apple Corer has a stainless steel shaft topped with teeth that can bite into the skin and meat of an apple. Push in, twist, pull, and you can remove the whole core—there’s even a handy lever on the side of the cylinder to release the core. 

Just note that you’ll need to aim the tool well to remove the entire core. It’s a great device if you love baked apples, cutting up pineapple, or hollowing out cupcakes for fruity fillings. 

The Details: Cores; stainless steel construction; 3.5 ounces; 7 x 4 inches

More Allrecipes-Approved Finds: