A good peeler is an essential tool, and luckily you don't have to pay a premium for it. The one pictured here, made for right- or left-handed use, has a high-impact plastic handle and works better than any other fancy peeler out there.

TO USE: Place the peeler on top of the vegetable and pull. The razor-sharp swivel blade closely follows the contours of the most amorphous fruit or veg-thickest skins without slipping. The potato-eye cutter on the side comes in handy, too (it's much easier to use than a paring knife). Added bonus: A Y-shape peeler makes beautiful chocolate curls. Kuhn Rikon Swiss-Peeler, $3, www.chefstore.com