Why do we peel carrots? And apples?

Is there any reason to peel carrots? Is the peel bitter or something? And by peeling them, are we losing out on all sorts of goodness?

I know we are when we peel apples, which brings me to my second question- when you are cooking apples (like stewing them), do you HAVE to peel them?

I never peel carrots (or apples) The skins contain a lot of fibre and other nutrients. I just give them a good wash.
When stewing apples in their skins I find they just peel away really easily so don't bother. :)

I hate unpeeled cooked carrots LOL. DH never peels them and the "skin" kinda separates itself and I hate it. If the kids are having a raw carrot it's never peeled tho.

Probably the same thing with cooking apples. The skin would probably separate from the 'mush' so would be texturally weird.

That's the only reason I can think of.

hmmm I must be lazy - I never do either. Unless it's for a recipe that a bit spesh.

Even when stweing baby food. The skin purees in like the rest....

I never peel carrots. I only peel apples if I am making apple pie.

I peel non-organic ones as it is where most of the pesticides, herbicides etc are concentrated (in the skin). So it is a toss up between peeling away the toxins and peeling away the goodness in the skin. I would always peel apples for apple pie in case the skin turns tough...

i don't peel either for cooking or eating raw, even for the kids, i just give them a wash - so much of the nutrients are either in the skin or just under it.

I never peel ANYTHING...becuase I'm lazy!

I peel carrots for eating raw, but not when cooking them. I don't peel apples, well I did when I was making Jazz her first stewed apples, but not any more :)

I peel carrots just because they taste a little bitter to me if I don't and as for apples, if I'm eating them raw then I don't peel but if I cook them then I do. Mmm, good point about he fiber and nutrients ? I may have o start hiding the skin in mashed potato or something ? :lol:

I peel apples for DD cause if I am not stewing them, she will not chew the skin, and I have to dig around in her mouth to get it out.. She will hang onto it in her mouth for ages if I don't.

I don't peel carrots, I prefer the taste of them with the skin on.

I hate the taste of carrot skin, cooked or uncooked so I always peel them.

I don't cook with apples but we never peel them to eat them whole :)

If its organic, I don't peel, if its not organic, I peel.

I don't like the taste of carrot skin so I peel mine.
Sometimes I peel the skin off apples for the boys, sometimes I don't. I don't peel the skin off for me though.