# POLL: To peel or not to peel -- kiwifruit, that is **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [April 26, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572 "2026-04-26T18:51:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/1 "2026-04-26T18:51:02Z")
To just eat a kiwi out of hand, I don’t peel it. I slice it crosswise into about 1/4 inch slices so there’s just a thin strip of peel and I eat it. An unpeeled kiwi has 3.5 to 4 grams of fiber, which is a good thing. I wouldn’t just bite into a kiwi like an apple. If I were going to put the flesh diced up into a salad, I’d peel it first, but I’m way too lazy to do that. How about you? _Poll ([view on site](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/1))_ ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/2 "2026-04-26T19:00:23Z")
#1) It honestly never occurred to me to peel a kiwi before eating until someone pointed it out to me. I always just ate them skin-on. Not until my now wife asked why I didn’t peel the kiwi did I realize not everyone ate the skin. #2) I’m not entirely sure slicing it still qualifies as “eating out of hand” per my understanding of the term, but maybe that’s just me. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/3 "2026-04-26T19:51:18Z")
I voted for “always”, but there’s a type of non-fuzzy kiwi where I don’t always peel it. I’d still say it’s at least 80/20 for peel vs. no-peel. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/4 "2026-04-26T20:35:21Z")
Slice in half and scoop with a spoon. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/5 "2026-04-26T20:39:58Z")
I have never once in my life even _considered_ eating the skin of a kiwi. Until now I thought it was something so obvious that nobody would do otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/6 "2026-04-26T21:47:08Z")
I’ll often slightly ‘shave’ the kiwi if it’s a bushy one, but always eat the skin these days. A nice bitter counterpoint to the sickly sweet flesh. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/7 "2026-04-26T21:49:08Z")
I didn’t know kiwi skin was edible. Apparently it doesn’t irritate the tongue. What’s it like? ---
**Author:** ![eburacum45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eburacum45/32/8690_2.png) [@eburacum45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eburacum45)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/8 "2026-04-26T22:04:54Z")
Fifty-odd years ago, when I first ate a kiwifruit, I ate the skin. But something in the rough, outer skin made me cough, and ever since then I’ve peeled them. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/9 "2026-04-26T22:13:47Z")
💡 What a good idea! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/10 "2026-04-26T23:09:05Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > What’s it like? To me about the same as apple peel? Don’t notice it. FWIW the peel avoiders are missing out on a good amount of nutritional goodness! > **[Surprise! Kiwi Skin Is Edible — and Really Good for You](https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-you-eat-kiwi-skin)** > > Did you know that you can eat the skin of a kiwi? It’s true! Here’s how and why the skin can be beneficial to your health. ---
**Author:** ![Jegpeg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jegpeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jegpeg)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2026, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/11 "2026-04-26T23:33:38Z")
My approach is marginally different, just cut the top off and scoop with a spoon, like a boiled egg. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/12 "2026-04-27T00:40:27Z")
Yea, this. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/13 "2026-04-27T01:13:55Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Slice in half and scoop with a spoon. That’s how I always do it. (And happy birthday, coach!) > [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > I have never once in my life even _considered_ eating the skin of a kiwi. Until now I thought it was something so obvious that nobody would do otherwise. Ditto. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/14 "2026-04-27T01:15:12Z")
> [@SCAdian](#): > > That’s how I always do it. > (And happy birthday, coach!) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/15 "2026-04-27T03:09:06Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Slice in half and scoop with a spoon. The only alternative to peeling. Peach fuzz is one thing, but kiwi fuzz is a bridge too far. ---
**Author:** ![mozchron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@mozchron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mozchron)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/16 "2026-04-27T12:06:18Z")
What kind of psychopath eats kiwi skin??? ---
**Author:** ![Thumper668](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thumper668/32/20803_2.png) [@Thumper668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thumper668)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/17 "2026-04-27T12:19:43Z")
Umm, the kind who eats edible fruit? ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/18 "2026-04-27T13:12:56Z")
I’m not a huge kiwi fan, but in the rare occasions when i eat a kiwi, this is how i do it. I often peel peaches, too. My preferred way to eat a peach is to cut it into skinless chunks in a bowl. Sometimes i add milk. Sometimes i just eat the chunks with a fork. If i don’t have a knife handy, I’ll eat a peach, skin and all. If i don’t have a knife handy, I’ll take a pass on that kiwi. I’m sure I’d eat skin if i were really hungry and that’s the only food i had. But i dislike it. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/19 "2026-04-27T13:16:49Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > I didn’t know kiwi skin was edible. Apparently it doesn’t irritate the tongue. What’s it like? Dry. Rough. Slightly bitter. It’s not terrible. But it feels kinda like eating a brown paper bag. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572/20 "2026-04-27T13:43:41Z")
Love kiwifruit, and I eat the skin. I also eat it just like an apple or pear or plum. The skin reminds me of plum skin (flavor wise), just with a slightly different texture. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poll-to-peel-or-not-to-peel-kiwifruit-that-is/1029572.md?page=2)