What is an Easy Peeler?

Posted by cheandbis@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 21 comments

Simple question, what is an easy peeler? Is it a specific type of fruit or is it generically used for any small, orange, citrus fruit that can be easily peeled? I bought some easy peelers and the back of the label had the origin information, saying they were clementines. Could I have bought another bag and they be satsumas, for example? If it is any type of fruit, why not call them easy peel clementines or easy peel satsumas etc? Do people buy them thinking they're getting clementines when they're actually satsumas (what is the difference anyway). I'm losing sleep here people.

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21 Comments

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PlumbTuckerd@reddit

It's just another symptom if the moral decay that's gnawing at the heart of the country.

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Saint_Malo@reddit

The best projectile in the glorious game of Fruit Baseball

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djfnejdijRandom@reddit

I am also always confused by the multiple names. Satsumas - I think are the ones that are slightly larger, usually quite loose and squishy to the touch, and fairly easy to peel as the peel isn’t firmly attached to the flesh; but they can be somewhat boring in taste Clementines - are usually smaller and have a thin peel which can be a pain to remove. But they taste more aromatic and fragrant so are usually worth the hassle. But no idea what tangerines or mandarins (mandarines) are then?

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AutumnSunshiiine@reddit

Clementines have a tendency to have a million pips in them as well. Trade-off for usually tasting nicer I guess.

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

They're all the same. I don't believe they're different. It's like a Rover Metro and a Mini Metro <insert Alan Partridge GIF here>.

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terryjuicelawson@reddit

It suggests they peel easily to eat in segments, this over what small fruit it technically is which often doesn't reallty matter.

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bigger-hammer@reddit

I buy easy-peelers every week from multiple sources and the type of fruit changes over the year. I assume it is a way to extend the season of a popular Christmas fruit to the rest of the year.

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

That's like buying 'chocolate' and it being a lucky dip as to whether you get a Bounty or a Twix.

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RichardsonM24@reddit

I worked on produce at Morrisons whilst I was at Uni and saw them change from having distinct tangerines, clementines, satsumas etc and changing them all to “sweetclems”. I believe the reason is to make the operation cheaper. They can just package whichever variety they can get hold of at any given time and call it an easy peeler. The actual variety will be printed in small on the label alongside the country of origin

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

I worked with a bloke who didn't like clementines (it may have been satsumas or tangerines, but the point is, he didn't like one of them). To buy an easy peeler but not actually know what species of citrus goodness you're getting, seems a little dangerous.

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LondonCycling@reddit

I think 'dangerous' may be a stretch. It may be dangerous to somebody with an absurdly niche allergy to eat one, but those people are going to scrutinise something called 'easy peeler' anyway. For the bloke in your example - oh well.

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

Oh well? That laissez-faire attitude to citrus choice being eroded is disappointing, I must say.

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LondonCycling@reddit

But you can read the label to find the actual name. On the Asda easy peelers in my fruit bowl it says nadorcott, which is a Clementine type of mandarin.

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RichardsonM24@reddit

Yeah we buy a pack each week and they are very hit and miss. Some weeks they’re gorgeous and other weeks they’re tasteless. Some weeks they seem to be trying to shed their own peel and other weeks they’d be better named unpeelables. Shite

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Djinjja-Ninja@reddit

Easy peeler seems to be a catch all term for clementine, satsuma and mandarin. For instance this is [Clementine/Mandarin on the ingredient](https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/288115395), but this one is [clementine, satsuma and mandarin](https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/288135169), while this one is [Mandarin/Satsuma.](https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/275047161). Just means they can use one lot of main brand labelling. Often you can check the specific batch label and it will tell you which specific type of citrus is in the bag this time.

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

I get my groceries delivered, so I can't check the label. If I wanted to buy a clementine, I should be able to buy a clementine, God damm it! They've messed with the system and we're all worse off because of it.

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Djinjja-Ninja@reddit

Oh absolutely. I often have to check every single type when I'm specifically looking for mandarins for cocktail purposes, and sometimes they just don't have any. Luck of the draw really.

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28374woolijay@reddit

It's just a silly name that supermarkets use to market clementines. You can still by "satsumas" in most supermarkets alongside the "easy peelers". They're usually easier to peel too, as well as tasting better.

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

So all easy peelers are clementines?

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JuiceMeSqueezeMe@reddit

There was one time I bought easy peelers and they were harder to peel than my other oranges, that was when I started to lose trust in my fellow man

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cheandbis@reddit (OP)

Big citrus has hoodwinked us I fear.