#908 Peeling an orange in one shot

Neil Pasricha

It ain’t easy, but when you finally succeed in peeling an orange into only one big, swirly peel, it can be one of the greatest fruit-eating experiences of your life. Here’s how to make the magic happen:

1. Pick a winner. No two oranges are created equal so it’s important to inspect your fruit before you pick it. Smart money says eye a juicy one that’s been ripe for a day or two and has plenty of loose, saggy peel hanging around, just begging for a big thumb-puncture right in the gut. If you have trouble, just remember this handy line: to get that peel off, pick one that’s soft. Word to your sister.

2. Roll it out (optional). Some people like to roll their orange around on the counter a bit, just to make doubly sure that the peel is primed and ready to go. This is the equivalent of sending the orange out to the bullpen to warm up. A side benefit is that your orange becomes extra juicy.

3. The thumb-puncture. This is the most critical move so let’s break it down. First, make sure you do actually use your thumb to perform the puncture, not the questionable four-fingers-in-a- scratch-the-blackboard-pose tactic. People who go the four-finger route are doomed to get all kinds of peel scraps flying everywhere. So just don’t do it. Now, when you have your game face ready, aim for one of the flabby peel-rolls right near the top or bottom of the orange. No matter what, do not stab right in the middle of the fruit, because that’s the thinnest part of the peel and you’ll walk away a humiliated, wet, pulpy mess.

4. Long, slow burn. Once you’re in, it’s time to slowly, majestically carve out a big peel-strip around and around and around the orange. Be careful not to create any peel islands, those little chunks of peel just hanging out in the middle of a freshly peeled area. Also, don’t peel too thick a strip (inaccurate and unpredictable) and don’t peel too thin a strip (could snap off). Just relax and it will come with practice. If you seem to be losing your momentum or getting stressed out, just put the orange down, shake your hands out, take some deep breaths, and regroup.

5. Show and tell. Did you nail it? Did you finish it off good? If so, congratulations, you’re now holding a freshly shorn orange in one hand and a limp n’ long, snake-like strip of peel in the other. You have to finish by showing this to at least one person and saying “Hey, check it out!” Maybe hang it right in their face if they don’t seem impressed at first. They should come around and at least flash you a terse thumbs up or a sarcastic eyebrow-raise.

Yes, peeling an orange in one shot is a terrific accomplishment. It’s one of the best fruit-openings out there, easily trumping the big watermelon split, the pineapple top lop, the pomegranate pry, the coconut crack, or the apple bite.

AWESOME!

Photos from: here, here, and here

27 thoughts to “#908 Peeling an orange in one shot”

  1. I’ve NEVER done this! New goal: do this. I feel like the detailed advice gives me a good chance. If not, I’ll just go for the orange peel man. :)

    1. Laura is that really you? Teacher Laura? Laura who used to beat everbody to the first comment?!* Laura who frequently bantered with Freddo, jdurley. Bekah and the rest of the regulars? :)

          1. Awesome, Laura! So good to hear from you in these stormy times! I feel the wind’s a changing. *Olly-olly-oxen free, Freddo, Magda, jdurley…everybody!!!

            1. Thanks! :) Glad to see some of y’all are still around, too!!

              You know I love me some Moody Blues (or maybe you didn’t, but my parents LOVE them and have taken my sister and me with them to their concerts since we were little)! :D

              1. Ah, yes! I recall your mention sometime last year. I tend to hold important matters with special people close to my heart.
                Pretty sure Freddo LOVES rubber ducky;)

        2. Laura! Welcome back! You will always be part of the soul of 1000 Awesome Things — reflecting the awesome, building up the awesome movement, and shining out into the world.

          Great to see you!

  2. That last photo is too cute!

    When I was young, I’d always ask my Nan to peel my apples, so I could just eat the yummy flesh. She’s take out her knife and remove the peel in one long, curly strand… At which point, it would actually start looking kinda delicious…

      1. I’ve never done this, but it’s been a goal of mine for many years. I try it with apples too – no success there either. Thank you for mentioning apple peels (which is my favorite part of the apple)! My ex sister-in-law used to make fun of me for eating the peel and giving the apple to anyone that was willing to take it.
        Neil, I love picturing oranges warming-up in a bullpen. So cute!

        1. I know a lady who does this with both apples and oranges, managing to turn the skins tightly while story telling! They look like roses when she’s done! She dries and sprays with a clear coat to preserve. Then she makes collages, adds to dry flower arrangements and creative gift baskets.
          Hard as I’ve tried, I cannot make a rose so I’ll eat the nutricious apple skins, follow tips of #2 and maybe try Orange man which should be on Bekah’s blog too:)

          *I hope everyone is safe and sound out there! My prayers are with you all.

        1. I never saw this back at the time, so though it’s a bit late, I’ll say thanks now. LOL!

  4. I’ve only done this a few times before. Soon, I shall become an orange peeling wizard. Peeling oranges faster than a speeding bullet. My favourite oranges are those tiny mandarin oranges that always come out near christmas. Christmas oranges. It’s just not winter without them.

    1. Makes me hungry for Christmas oranges…mmmmm. “Peeling oranges faster than a speeding bullet.” LOL!

  6. Neil, this post was one reason I am so grateful you took up this effort. You take a relatively benign activity and somehow describe it so well I’ll never forget it. I’ll never peel another orange without thinking of this, and probably celebrate as well!

  7. I can’t do this. My peeling only comes off in little pieces no matter how hard I try. Is there a secret trick to doing it? I must know!!!

  8. This is a really usefull tip, that will help me a lot. Orange is my favourite fruit, and untill nowadays, with 15 years-old, I couldn’t peel an orange perfectly by myself. Since I had an accident with the knife when peeling an orange, that I got a really deep cut in my finger, I always had to ask my mother to do it for me. It is is only necessary a technique, nothing else. Now I’ll tell everyone I know about this, and now I won’t need anybody to peel the orange for me!

  9. The past 7 websites I’ve been to look like autospun junk and there wasn’t even a readable sentence.
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