Leave Dull Vegetable Peelers Behind: Sharpen Them With A Tool You Already Have

You get up early on a Sunday morning to surprise your family with some homemade McD-style breakfast. Or, maybe it's your partner's birthday and you want to pamper them with breakfast in bed. Either way, a dull vegetable peeler will throw water on your plans. Now, normally, you wouldn't hesitate to run to the store to replace your cheap kitchen tool with a new one. Otherwise, you can invest in an Amazon find that will sharpen your dull vegetable peeler forever. But neither option will be feasible if you're short on time. In such scenarios, it's best to rummage around your bathroom and see if you can unearth a metal nail file.

Its textured sides will help you chip away the dull metal from your peeler and bring forth the sharp edges, restoring its sharpness in a jiffy. Plus, you probably already have one in your home, so you won't have to spend money on a fancy sharpener. Bonus advantage: It'll prolong the life of your peeler and allow you to stretch your dollar to the last penny. 

That being said, keep in mind that this trick won't make this tool last forever; since you'll be chipping away metal with each swipe, you'll have to replace the peeler eventually. But that doesn't mean you need to throw it away. Store it in your garage or toolshed and turn this common kitchen tool into a makeshift screwdriver in a pinch. Moreover, remember that this hack will only work on peelers with a straight edge, not ones meant for cutting julienne strips. And even though the sharpening bit takes a few seconds at best, you'll need a few minutes to prep your nail file first.

Grab your metal nail file and use a small brush with thin bristles to remove accumulated debris. Do this on both sides to minimize the chances of your peeler retaining some nail dust. Then, mix a few drops of your disinfecting soap with warm water and use the solution to gently scrub out any remaining residue. Rinse it under running water and your nail file will be ready for use. You may sanitize it further by soaking it in 70% isopropyl alcohol for a few minutes, but it isn't necessary as long as you plan on washing the peeler after.

Hold it in your dominant hand while gripping your peeler in the other one. Now, fit it in the gap in your peeler and run it parallel to the inside blade, taking care to push the file up. Though this seems relatively easy in theory, pay close attention to the angle (it should be the same as the blade), or you could end up damaging the blade altogether. In case you have a swiveling model, stabilize it with a finger pressed over the blunt edge. After a few passes, turn the peeler over and repeat the process again on the inside edge to sharpen both sides. But this time, move the file in a downward stroke. When you're done, grab a potato or carrot and see if you can peel the skin off with ease. If you face any issues, rub the file against the inner blade a few more times. Once it's sharp enough, give it a soapy water bath for hygiene purposes and to remove any residual metal shavings.