Peeling a kiwi with a spoon is a quick, tidy way to get the most edible fruit with minimal waste. This simple method produces smooth edges and preserves nearly all of the flesh, so it’s perfect when you want neat slices or to avoid the fuss of a paring knife. I photographed this process with the help of my five-year-old assistant, which explains the small hands in the pictures—he did a great job!
Start by trimming off both ends of the kiwi with a small knife so you have flat surfaces to work with.
Next, slide the backside (convex side) of a spoon under the skin at one cut end, keeping the spoon close to the flesh.
Push the spoon along the edge, guiding it all the way to the opposite end until it peeks through the other side.
Rotate the kiwi and spoon together, keeping the spoon as close to the skin as possible. If the skin tears, simply reinsert the spoon under the edge and continue working around the fruit.
When you’ve cut the skin free, lift it away to reveal a smoothly peeled kiwi.
Now slice the kiwi as you like. For uniform, thin slices try using an egg slicer for quick, even results—great for fruit salads, yogurt, or garnishes.
This spoon method is fast, safe, and ideal when you want to preserve as much fruit as possible. Once you get the feel for sliding the spoon under the skin, you’ll be able to peel kiwis smoothly every time. Enjoy!