#301: Using a Peeler
1. Some poskim permit using a peeler to peel any vegetables on Shabbat (Chazon Ovadia). This approach is consistent with the lenient approach in the previous post, that there is no borer when peeling a fruit/vegetable.
2. Some poskim hold that one may never use a peeler since it is a utensil made for borer, and does not fulfill the condition of “Byad” (that one must only use one’s hand). (Shevet HaLevi, “The Shabbos Kitchen,” and others) This follows the stricter opinion in the previous post that peeling a vegetable is subject to the other rules of borer.
3. Some poskim hold that one may not use a peeler for foods whose peel is not usually eaten (e.g., potato, orange). But these poskim permit using a peeler for a vegetable whose peel is usually eaten (e.g., tomato, apple). (Shemirat Shabbat K'hilchata) According to this opinion, it would be permitted to use a peeler to peel a cucumber in places where the cucumber is often eaten with a peel (this is often the case in Israel, but less so in the United States).
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Dedicated by Fran Broder as a zechus for the hostages to be released safely to their families and may everlasting peace come to Eretz Yisrael in the merit of learning Hilchos Shabbos.
