Peeling Fruit or Vegetables on Shabbat

It's Shabbat afternoon and you've decided to prepare a fruit salad for the third meal. You take a few apples out of the refrigerator and, as you would on a weekday, you reach for a peeler to peel them, but... is it permissible to use a peeler on Shabbat? May one even peel fruit at all?

The answer depends on a number of factors. First, you need to decide whether what you want to peel is usually eaten with or without its peel. Regarding the peeler itself, Sephardim and Ashkenazim have different practices.

The fruit or vegetable

A fruit or vegetable that is usually eaten without peeling (e.g., apple, pear, cucumber) may be peeled on Shabbat. According to Sephardic poskim (legal authorities), such a fruit or vegetable may be peeled even many hours before one intends to eat it.

However, Sephardim who are particular to peel all fruits and vegetables, regardless of whether or not they are usually eaten peeled, may only peel shortly before eating.

According to Ashkenaki poskim, fruits or vegetables that are usually eaten peeled should preferably be peeled only shortly before eating them.

Regarding a fruit or vegetable that is usually peeled before eating (e.g., carrot, kiwi), according to both Sephardi and Ashkenazi poskim, it may be peeled only shortly before eating. 

The peeler

Ashkenazim are not permitted to use a peeler for any type of fruit or vegetable on Shabbat. Only a knife may be used.

Sephardim may use a peeler to peel any fruit or vegetable which is commonly eaten with its peel. Fruits or vegetables that are usually peeled may, however, only be peeled with a knife on Shabbat, and not with a peeler.

Sephardim who are fastidious about peeling all fruits and vegetables regardless of whether they are commonly peeled or not may only use a knife to peel them on Shabbat.

In summary –

Sephardim may peel fruit/vegetables that are usually eaten with the peel with a peeler or a knife, even many hours before eating. If they are fastidious about peeling all fruit/vegetables, however, they may only peel with a knife and only shortly before eating. Fruit/vegetables that are usually peeled may only be peeled with a knife and only shortly before eating.

Ashkenazim may peel fruit/vegetables only with a knife and only shortly before eating, regardless of whether the food item is usually peeled before eating.