Matchsticks in Minutes: The Best Julienne Peeler

A julienne peeler does one small job very quickly. Draw it along a carrot, and instead of a wide ribbon you get a pile of thin strips for slaw, a garnish or a quick topping. It is the easy way to get close to knife work without learning knife work, and it takes up less room than a mandoline.

In a Mexican kitchen, those strips turn up everywhere: carrot and jicama for a crunchy slaw on tacos, zucchini for a light side, cucumber for a plate with lime and chile. But the tools vary a lot. Some jam, some turn out limp threads, and independent reviewers have rated some of the well-known names poorly. This guide sets out eight tools that are worth your time, with the evidence for each.

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Quick verdict: which julienne peeler to buy

A word on the evidence: the America’s Test Kitchen review is the only independent comparison we could rely on, and two of our eight picks appear in it. Our top pick is an OXO set that includes the same style of peeler that won. The others rest on what the makers and listings state, and we say so at each one.

Five julienne peelers side by side

Five standout picks, one for each kind of buyer, with details as each listing states them. All eight tools are reviewed in full below.

Our picks for the best julienne peeler

How to choose a julienne tool for your kitchen

Look at the gap between the blades. This is the detail most listings leave out, and ATK’s review shows why it counts. Its winner has about an eighth of an inch between the blades, while lower-rated models set them so close that shreds stuck. Wider teeth give sturdier sticks, and close teeth give thin threads that clog.

Match the shape to your grip. A Y-peeler pulls toward you in long strokes and gives you a lot of control over a wide vegetable. A straight peeler works like the one you probably grew up with. A Thai-style shredder uses short passes with a wavy edge and leaves long, loose strands. Choose the one that matches the way you already work.

Decide on matchsticks or noodles. Crisp sticks suit garnish and a taco slaw. Long shreds suit a papaya salad or a tangle of carrot. If you want both, the OXO and the Kiwi make a good pair, and neither takes up much space.

Think about storage. A julienne edge is a row of small sharp points. A cover protects the teeth and your fingers. Several tools here include one, including the OXO straight peeler, the Kuhn Rikon, the Zyliss and the Prepworks. If yours has none, hang it up or keep it in a utensil crock.

Plan to clean it right away. ATK favored tools that held few or no shredded bits, because fibers trapped in the teeth are annoying to remove. Rinse the blade under running water as soon as you finish. A small brush helps. Many of these tools are listed as dishwasher safe, but Zyliss recommends hand washing to keep the edge sharp.

Know when to use something else. A peeler is ideal for one or two vegetables. For big batches, a mandoline slicer is quicker, and a spiralizer makes longer, rounder noodles. The peeler wins on storage and on speed for small jobs.

How we picked these eight julienne tools

We have not used these products ourselves. We started with America’s Test Kitchen’s July 2025 review by Lisa McManus, which compared seven models on carrots, russet potatoes, zucchini and green papaya, judging the strips, ease of use and cleanup. We then read the in-stock julienne peelers from named makers on Amazon, comparing blades, handles, covers and warranties. Many sites publish lists of julienne peelers, but most are affiliate pages with no sign of real comparison, so we used them only to find candidates.

ATK’s verdicts also shaped what we left out. It rated the Rösle, GIR and Joseph Joseph SafeStore peelers Not Recommended, citing dull blades and jamming, so they are not here. Kuhn Rikon’s long-handled julienne model drew reservations, so we chose its newer Family Y and said plainly that it has not been reviewed. We also skipped the many unbranded peelers that fill the search results, along with the Sunkuka and Dalstrong tools, because we could find no independent review of either. Peelers from Westmark and Norpro were low in stock when we checked, so they are out as well.

We searched the CPSC recall database by brand and found no recall of a peeler from any maker here. OXO has one recall on file, for a booster seat in 2015, and Progressive International has one for canning jar lifters in 2013. Neither concerns these tools.

Julienne peeler questions, answered

What is a julienne vegetable peeler used for?

It cuts thin matchstick strips from vegetables and firm fruit. Common uses are slaws, salads, stir-fries, garnishes and zucchini noodles. The listings on this page name carrots, zucchini, cucumbers and potatoes most often.

What is the difference between a julienne peeler and a regular peeler?

A regular peeler has one straight edge and takes off a wide strip of skin. A julienne peeler has a row of small teeth that divides each stroke into thin strips. The Deiss has both on one tool.

Can you julienne carrots with a peeler?

Yes. Carrots were one of ATK’s test foods, and its winning OXO handled them well, while weaker models dragged. Choose a thick carrot, hold it flat on a board and turn it as each side flattens. Stop before you reach your fingers.

Is a julienne peeler better than a mandoline?

It depends on the amount. A peeler is smaller and easier to clean, and it suits one or two vegetables. A mandoline is quicker for a big batch. Our mandoline guide covers those.

How do you clean a julienne peeler?

Rinse it straight after use, before fibers dry in the teeth, and use a small brush for anything stuck. Check the listing before you use a dishwasher. Most of these tools allow it, and Zyliss suggests hand washing to protect the edge.

How do you keep from cutting yourself?

Keep your fingers behind the blade, stop well before the end of the vegetable and keep the last stub for stock. Use the cover if your tool has one. Take extra care with a two-sided peeler and with the Kom Kom, whose handle ATK found flexible on firm produce.

Our final pick for matchsticks at home

Buy the OXO Y-Prep Peeler Set if you want the safest bet. The Kiwi Pro Slice is the one for long shreds, and the Kom Kom suits a cook who likes one strange tool that does many jobs. For a straight handle, choose the OXO Good Grips. The Kuhn Rikon and the Zyliss both give you a Y shape with a cover, the Deiss saves a drawer slot, and the Prepworks is a useful spare.

This tool sits in a family of prep gadgets, and our guide to the best spiralizer covers the next step up. The best vegetable peeler guide handles ordinary peeling, and the best paring knife guide covers the small knife you will still want nearby. For the wider picture, see our Mexican cooking tools kit.

And if you would rather someone else did the prep tonight, see the menu or call to order.