Abstract: In a peeling machine for peeling fruit or vegetables, for example a continuously operating roller peeling machine which comprises motor-driven peeling rollers and a device, driven independently of the peeling rollers, for metered conveyance of the fruit or vegetables to be peeled, through the machine, the quality of the peeled fruit or vegetables and the peeling performance are decisively influenced by controlling the speeds of the conveying device and of the peeling rollers and also controlling the input rate of fruit or vegetables to be peeled. In order to make the control not solely dependent upon the judgement of the operator of the machine, the magnitude of the input quantity of the fruit or vegetables and of water supplied to the machine and also of the water containing peelings discharged from the machine are measured.