This Potato Prep Trick Just Blew Up The Internet

A clever potato skinning trick demonstrated in a viral TikTok video has home cooks astounded over its game-changing simplicity. In the clip that's drawn 22 million views, user @quitmyjob reveals an astonishingly easy method to strip potato skins using only your hands after boiling.

The process begins by cutting a slit midway around raw potatoes before dropping them in boiling water. Once cooked, grip the slice, and the taut skin peels right off without needing a peeler at all. Fans call it a "life hack" that should be common knowledge by now for basic vegetable prep. But based on the tsunami of shocked reactions, most are only just discovering this spud-stripping technique despite likely having peeled piles of potatoes manually for years.

"You mean to tell me I have been peeling potatoes for 40 years and I could be doing this," one awestruck commenter wrote. Indeed, scores of viewers professed equal bewilderment over the simple yet seemingly revolutionary tip. Some even recalled seeing this method before but remained unaware it had failed to be widely adopted. One user dubbed it the "only useful hack I've learned from the internet" to date.

The revelation comes from the aptly named TikTok profile @quitmyjob, which specializes in sharing shortcut cooking techniques to simplify kitchen tasks. Their boiled potato skinning trick video first posted November 23rd rapidly went viral as people realized how profoundly the basic food prep staple could be simplified.

But some users quickly noted a catch - handling freshly boiled potatoes with bare hands poses a burning hazard. Fortunately, TikTok cooking hack personality The Gooch (@ralphy_gooch) proposed an additional step to tackle that problem.

In his follow-up video, The Gooch starts by reproducing the initial potato skinning method to impressed success. After slicing round a raw Russet and dropping it in boiling water for 15 minutes, he easily pulls the skin off the cooked spud by the slit edge in one piece without any peeler needed.

"Super easy, super simple potato hack," The Gooch declares, reaffirming the initial video's premise. However, he acknowledges the valid complaint of manipulating recently boiled vegetables being dangerously hot.

His solution? Simply dunk the freshly cooked, skin-split potatoes into ice water for 1 minute before peeling them by hand. The rapid temperature shift stops the cooking while allowing comfortable handling to complete the skin removal process.

With this simple added step, The Gooch validates the scalding concerns over what otherwise shapes up as a game-changing potato preparation hack. Overall, the one-two video combination earned nearly 50 million views and counting, spawned numerous duet reaction clips, and had many claiming their minds were blown over this overlooked trick.

"I saw this hack years ago and am baffled how it hasn't caught on yet," one baffled viewer remarked. Indeed, the technique itself is not entirely new. Some home cooks noted first seeing it years back but never realizing it failed to become a mainstream practice.

Yet old or not, the ultra convenient spud skinning method clearly clicked widely in the videos for the first time. Scores of commenters expressed equal parts shock and sheepishness over not recognizing such an obvious way to ditch the peeler for boiled potato recipes.

In addition to requiring fewer tools, fans say the manual removal process leaves less flesh wasted compared to sloppier peeler scraping. It also adapts well for other root vegetables like beets or sweet potatoes.

That versatility and ease continues wowing the millions captivated by this revitalized tuber trick. "I made this last night and omg it was so much easier than trying to peel hot potatoes!! 100% recommend," one home cook raved. It seems for every year folks fruitlessly labored over hot peelers and nicked spuds, this handy hack delivers long overdue relief.

The now viral skins-off potato technique originated from TikTok user @quitmyjob, an account dedicated to cooking shortcuts that make kitchen work easier. Their 20-second clip showcasing a shockingly straightforward peeled potato preparation brought the account its biggest hit yet.

It also spawned scores of impressed duets, including one from popular cooking hack personality The Gooch assessing then improving the tip. Between them, the paired viral videos have earned nearly 50 million views and counting since posting last week.

The initial clip that set TikTok ablaze opens with raw russet potatoes already sliced halfway through their circumference. @quitmyjob silently drops the spuds into boiling water with the pre-cut side face up.

After 15 minutes of simmering, they remove one tender boiled potato with tongs. Gripping the slice edge, @quitmyjob pulls the skin off in one full piece with zero peeler required. They flip to the camera with a sly grin as text displays 'You've been peeling them wrong this whole time.'

Indeed, the smooth skin separation elicits amazed laughter from off-camera companions. Confirming the trick's effectiveness, @quitmyjob repeats the hand peel process on several more pre-slice potatoes from the batch. Each sheds its skin easily in full sheets after boiling, with no gadgets involved.

The viral clip currently tallies 16 million likes, while the caption “How easy is that?” represents the consensus reaction. Viewers expressed equal parts astonishment and self-consciousness at the revelation. “I've been cooking for 60 years....why am I just finding this out now??” one remarked.

Even those familiar with the boiled potato skinning method admit they continued using peelers simply unaware the technique had not become standard practice. “I saw this hack years ago and am baffled how it hasn’t caught on yet,” a commenter agreed. The collective shock speaks to how broadly the seemingly obvious tip managed to slip under the radar.

Until now, as millions applaud the efficiency of this scaled back spud prep. “You mean to tell me I been peeling potatoes for 40 years and I could been doing this?” a viewer replied, echoing widespread sentiment. The manual skin removal requires fewer tools, leaves less flesh wasted, and works for many root crops alike.

However, some quickly noted a lingering concern: handling freshly boiled potatoes risks burns. But popular TikToker The Gooch (@ralphy_gooch) proved up for the challenge, cementing this old trick’s new viral fame.

In his follow-up, The Gooch first replicates @quitmyjob’s potato demo to similar amazement. But after deeming the hack “super crazy easy,” he acknowledges the hot handling issue. His solution? Briefly dunking the freshly boiled and pre-sliced spuds in ice water before peeling.

The rapid temperature shift stops the cooking while allowing comfortable manipulation to strip the skins by hand. With this simple added step, The Gooch perfects the preparations behind what many now call their new favorite potato hack. “I made this last night...100% recommend,” one home cook replied.

For those still digging out old peelers to skin batches, the mind-blowing modern upgrade seems long overdue. But the ultra convenient manual method is better discovered late than never in the eyes of its millions of satisfied new adherents. Their collective reaction is perhaps best summarized by one ecstatic commenter: “where has this been all my life?!”