Peeling fruits is permitted on Shabbat provided that it is done for immediate use, such as to be served at a meal that is about to take place, and not for a later meal. The question arises as to whether one who will be serving fruits at the current Shabbat meal may peel more fruits than are needed for that meal. Once a person needs to peel fruit to be served at the current meal, may he or she peel more fruits than are needed so there will be peeled fruit available later?
The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909) addresses this question in his work of responsa (Rab Pe’alim 1:10), and rules that it is forbidden to peel more fruits than are needed for the current meal. Since Borer (separating between desirable and undesirable substances) is permitted only for immediate use, it would be forbidden to peel more fruits than are needed at the present time. This is also the ruling of Hacham Ovadia Yosef, in Kol Sinai (Hilchot Borer, note 18).
Of course, one who is preparing food to serve does not need to make a precise calculation and ensure to peel only the exact fruits that will be eaten at the current meal. One should make a general estimate of how many fruits are needed, and peel based on this estimate. But it is forbidden to peel fruits knowing that they will not all be needed at the present meal.
The Ben Ish Hai in Perashat Beshalah Shana 2 is lenient for the honor of guests. He allows to peel plenty of fruit even though it won't be eaten.
Summary: Peeling fruit on Shabbat is permissible only for immediate use, and thus one who is preparing fruit to be served may not peel large quantities of fruit knowing that it will not all be needed in the current sitting.
