YES, it is a first-world problem but very REAL.

I regret peeling potatoes for mashed potatoes all my life. I made a lamb stew on the weekend and knew we'd be freezing a ton of leftover stew. Potatoes don't defrost well (imo). So instead of dumping the bag of whole small red and white potatoes into the stew, during the cooking process, I kept them out. For dinner I boiled the potatoes until tender and then mashed them (with the whisk attachment) in my kitchenAid. I added a small amount of warmed oat milk and a couple of tablespoons of butter. The mashed potatoes were perfect under the stew and the skins were small and inconsequential.

I will probably still peel large potatoes, but the small ones? Never!

eta: this was my dinner Do iregret eating the whole thing? Not one bit!

Jojoco, I have never peeled a potato and never intend to. The skins contain lots of vitamins and fiber so they taste good and are good for you. I have never had anyone refuse my mashed potatoes because they contained the potato skins. If anyone ever did, well — more for the rest of us!

Oakley, i cant believe you posted that. I did the same thing yesterday!

I still remember the first time DH took me to meet/visit his parents in Oklahoma. I was raised to always offer to help prep (and cleanup afterwards) when invited to someone’s home for a meal. So, that first evening I asked my future MIL what I could do to help. She handed me a paring knife and asked me to peel the tomatoes for the salad. Oh.My.Gosh! I’d never peeled a tomato in my life! Never saw one being peeled! I never knew anyone peeled tomatoes! Where I was born and raised, in Michigan, I’d never seen anyone peel them. MIL was so surprised, and for many years after, she and I would laugh about it. We later figured out that in Michigan, where our Summers were milder, tomatoes usually had a softer/not tough skin. Where as there in their part of Oklahoma tomato skins were tough many times. But, all these years later, I’ve still never peeled a tomato!

Guess I have been preparing mashed potatos incorrectly all of these years!

Oakley, that kind of thing happens to me all of the time! I am glad we only suffere 1st world problems. Many people do not have a counter to clean. We are fortunate!

About thirty years ago, probably more, I watched a Julia Childs episode about preparing the most delicious mashed potatoes. Not only did she not peel them, but she left some lumps in the finished product. NEVER peeled nor whipped potatoes again after that, since she was right!

I regret that we didn’t install bidets on our toilets a long time ago!

In my life when I’m leaving the potato skins on, they are called smashed potatoes and mashed lumpily in a rustic style. Maybe enriched with a good amount of Boursin.

When I peel for more refined puree, these I refer to as mashed.

All are a joy to eat.

I have heard of peeling tomatoes, but to do so I have dunked them in boiling water for about 60 seconds when the skin will split, toss in ice water and the skin then comes off easily as with a peach. I’ve not done this for something like a summer salad though.

I have learned to first cook eggplant in the microwave when making something like caponata or maybe parmesan rather than frying from raw— less olive oil is absorbed.

I also now toast nuts in the micro rather than oven using several 30 second bursts— quick and efficient when the oven doesn’t need to be turned on.

Use granulated sugarinstead of another sort of weight when blind baking a tart crust. After a few uses it becomes golden roasted sugar.

Now, what to do with the windfall minutes?

I regret that I still cannot peel boiled eggs peacefully — no, it is a food-related nightmare each and every time that leaves me frazzled, upset, fingers sore, uttering words no human should know, and wanting to curl up in a dark corner and weep.

I have tried EVERYTHING ever suggested in history. Everything. Nothing works for me.

I might start serving deviled eggs as so: eggs cooked, still in shell, guests can peel their own, I’ll leave the fixings out with utensils and small bowls. DIY.

@Jilly, I was bemoaning the difficulty of peeling boiled eggs today as I was making tuna salad. I, too, have tried every trick in the book and none of them have worked for me.

Jilly and Fun- have you tried steaming the eggs for 9-11 minutes and then chilling in iced water?

Lisa, yes, that’s always been my preferred way. I’ve tried it all … it’s so frustrating!

Oakley, I read your post twice. Don’t you pull the first sheet out from the center of the roll, not the side? Did I mis-read what you did?

Thank you Oakley, Ded, Amykath. All these years I have thought I was just stupid when I couldn't get those darn wipes to work right. Never imagined anyone else, not to mention smart and talented folks like you three had the same issues. I am feeling better about myself. ;-)

I pull from the center, and usually get 2-4 out the first time. Then it's easy. I rarely insert a wipe into the slot. I just tear off as I go.

I never peel potatoes. Made beef stew this weekend. Hopefully the last cold spell.

I purchased three houseplants yesterday. I regret not looking them up online before repotting and watering. I discovered one needed to have soil amended (needs more air than regular potting soil allows). Might redo after it dries out a bit.

Ded, for real? lol I finished up tonight with the toilet and I was too tired to see if I could find the middle sheet. BTW, I did notice the sheets were smaller.

Jilly, after decades of hating to peel deviled eggs, I discovered how to do it in seconds. You can boil them on the stove or an egg cooker which is what I use.

Get the eggs boiled. Take the eggs to the the counter at the side of the sink leaving them in the hot water.

Turn the cold water on full blast. Use a spoon to put ONE egg in the sink under the cold water.

You can safely pick it up under the runing water wilthout getting burnt.

pick up the egg while the cold water is still running and start tapping the shell on the bottom of the sink, not hard but do it fast before the egg cools on the inside.

The shell will get a lot of cracks. Stick your finger in the loosest crack and it just rips off. Rinse the egg, set aside, and repeat.

Because of my egg cooker I don't have to keep an eye on boiling water and I can go do something and ten minutes later the timer goes off. I get a dozen deviled eggs out of it. Makes it easy to take to a gathering.

I only peel potatoes for Thanksgiving and

Christmas, don't ask me why, I don't have a reasonable answer. We don't eat a lot of potatoes, but when we do, other than for the aforementioned holidays, they are always skin on.

Oak, that’s what I try to do, but it just won’t work for me. Dang! Eggs hate me! 😄

Now I’m craving them so bad ….

Oakley - THANK YOU for the LOL! I have suffered the same aggravation so many times - and I'm always left wondering why I'm using these things in the first place! Certainly they are neither economical nor environmentally friendly, but there I am...scraping my fingers trying to coax a sheet up through that dratted center opening! It feels bad, it smells bad, but oh, it's so convenient! Gah!

On potatoes...peeled, not peeled, I love them so much!!

Lynn - your tomato story just killed me! Leave it to a MIL to stymie such an accomplished chef!

The first time I offered (insisted) on helping MIL in the kitchen, she graciously offered to let me prepare the broccoli. I had served it when they visited us, so I guess she felt comfortable that this was something I could manage. I asked her for a steamer, and she gave me something that looked more like a small colander...and was maybe a bit plastic? Well, it was, and yes the broccoli had the essence of burnt tires, and I had to ask everyone not to touch it. I was so embarrassed! Fortunately, this was the visit where we showed up with MIL's big fat first grandchild and nothing else really mattered!

Dash eletric egg cooker was a game changer for me. I just tap the end of the hard boiled egg and peel off the end enough so i can fit a small spoon between the shell & egg and keep turning egg while sliding spoon under shell and it comes right off easy peasy.

If I’m making deviled eggs, I switch from my locally grown farm fresh eggs and buy Trader Joe’s or similar organic eggs. They are perfectly good, but not as fresh, which makes them peel much more easily. I also switched to steaming them which was a game changer.. My DIL buys already peeled eggs in bulk- Costco maybe?

I regret I hadn't found the egg steamer years ago-I only finally bought one about five years ago and eggs have never been so easy! I use to wrestle with peeling those darn things and hated making them before! I bought one for my Dad's wife and she loves it too. They are very small and I keep in a big drawer under my countertop. I thought we had had this boiled egg conversation before? LOL

This is the one I got-but from Amazon.

https://www.dillards.com/p/cuisinart-egg-central-brushed-stainless-steel-egg-cooker/503914012?googleShop=Y&cm_mmc=GooglePLAs--Category+-+Categories+-+Performance+Max--null-_-CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRhA9SR5wxjk6_aVlf13oEZQoyJDUMDhNs-C1OQJS8QwGKY5wmeDt3xoCrDkQAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAjwzuqgBhAcEiwAdj5dRhA9SR5wxjk6_aVlf13oEZQoyJDUMDhNs-C1OQJS8QwGKY5wmeDt3xoCrDkQAvD_BwE

I regret that we didn’t install bidets on our toilets a long time ago!

@rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7.....A plumber on my landlord forum thanks you for ALL the business bidets flooding the bathroom has given him!

As long as I let the boiled eggs sit in cold water for just a few minutes, I don't have a problem peeling them. I often eat a boiled egg and toast for my breakfast.

I keep a box of the clorox wipes in each bathroom for a quick touch-up, etc. but don't use them for a regular cleaning. Another one of those things I don't like to buy alot of due to more trash.

I peel potatoes for some dishes but not others. I love the skin on red-skin potatoes, but not skins on idahos or sweet potatoes. Many restaurants leave the skin in their mashed potatoes.

@Allison0704 I have been looking for a new maiden-hair fern, but have not found one yet. I have one that was beautiful for years, but suddenly it is a bit skimpy looking. : (

I forgot my regret! I regret that I ever purchased Folgers French Vanilla Cappuccino because I love it so much! I have a hard time stopping at one cup.

Plenty of regrets here, but I won't bore everybody with them 😃

You know there must be easier ways to get those various rolls of wipes started that work - but what are they?

And FWIW, My way of making hard-cooked eggs and peeling them is to simmer, not boil for around 9 minutes, then drain off the water and shake the pan to crack the shells all over, then cover the cracked eggs with cold water and put them in the fridge to get completely chilled before taking them out of the water. Then roll them back and forth on a flat surface or between my palms to further loosen the shells before peeling.

And I also resort to a spoon to get under any stubborn stick-tight shells.

And I use organic eggs from places like TJ's and Aldi.

P.S. You don't have to chill the eggs if you're using them right away.

I never peel potatoes. Many years ago--about 50--I was helping an old farm lady prepare dinner. As we peeled the potatoes, I remarked, "You know, I never peel potatoes." "Why who does it for you?" she asked.

Ollie, we did have this egg conversation before but I don't think anyone believes us about how much easier it is. We've all tried those sure fire ways of cooking and peeling the eggs, and while some may work, it takes so much longer and makes for more cleanup. All we need is the egg steamer and a kitchen sink to crack and peel them on. No timing, no water to watch.

Maybe some day they'll believe us and do that as a regret. :)

Agree, Oakley, steaming eggs for hard boiled is the answer. I have the same egg cooker that Ollie has, except mine came from the A company. I HB 10 at a time weekly and never have ugly eggs. They peel beautifully and it is so simple to put them on to boil right before a meal and by the time the meal is finished the eggs are finished and ready to go in ice water. Both my daughters have this same one and love it, too.

Oakley and lizbeth, agree! So much easier and faster! And guaranteed everytime!

Nicole…why would your plumber thank me? Millions of people have bidets, no reason for them to leak other than faulty installation. 🚽

Re peeling hard boiled eggs. Christopher Kimball posted on his IG account that IHO the only way to get perfectly peeled eggs every time is to boil for 8 minutes and 40 seconds (wonder what happens if I go to 41 seconds?), then chill in an ice bath for 3 minutes. I haven’t tested this myself. Just throwing it out there for anyone who wants to do a little experimenting.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CpxSt0gD-w-/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I am 60+ and have never hard boiled an egg. No regrets. All this talk of how to do it confirms my practice not to make them. 😆 I eat one once a year, while on vacation, and my friend asks ”would you like a hard boiled egg since I’m making them?” Sure, why not.

See BB, these "pro's" like CK are "above" doing it the easy way like using an egg steamer. I'm on my second steamer, that's how easy it is. No need to boil water and time it, no need for an ice bath. That's a lot of work and time wasted when you can just pop an egg in the steamer, click "On," go do laundry and ten minutes later the timer goes off. And you don't have to rush to get the eggs out either.

Keep the eggs hot and one at a time put an egg in the sink under cold water, tap it, and the shell practically falls off, and you don't burn your hands because they're under the running water.

Another Houzz coincidence. Just checked my FB page and this is todays memory from 7 years ago. Two batches of eggs in the steamer, and not one messed up.

I think I’m going to go boil some eggs for deviled eggs! I’ll probably do my usual: put the eggs in cold water, bring to a boil, turn off the heat, let sit for 13 minutes. Peel under cold running water. And if a white gets all messed up, it just means an extra yolk in the filling!!

Bb, I'm off to make eggs also!

My egg cooker, short video.