Why do we peel carrots? And apples?

[amberj]

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?

[ezymay]

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.

[Liz]

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.

[~Kim~]

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....

[*Ash*]

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

[KatieRabbit]

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...

[boobaloo]

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.

[angelaartsstudent]

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

[Visitor8]

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

[christy]

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

[Jewel]

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.