Spiralizer Question

Ringbearer2

I have decided to add a spiralizer to my collection of kitchen gadgets. I've seen 2 kinds---one is hand held and the other mounts to the counter with suction cups and operates with a crank. Any opinions on which model is better? I'm interested in making zucchini and butternut squash noodles, but any other suggestions are welcome!

Bonny132

Personally I use the hand held one, and I cook for 1-4 people. Quick, easy and takes up very little space.

I zoodle butternut squash, zucchini, cabbage, carrots, sweet potato, beetroot. Any hard vegetable goes.

Great for taking the chopping out of making your own coleslaw. And you can make your own funky "spaghetti" I mix zucchini with other spiralized vegetables, works a treat and looks good to the eye too.

Ringbearer2

Thanks Bonny! Does yours have more than one blade for thick/thin?

Bonny132

Mine has only the two settings, noodles or very thinly sliced (which I use to make vegetable crisps etc)

Mine is about two years old, looks like two giant pencil sharpeners put together where one end does mandolin and the other julienne, but it has served me well so far. I am sure there are newer and funkier ones on the market now.

mandycat223

I have the countertop version which works fine, with three different blades for different shapes. I predict that those four little suction cups are going to be the first parts to go; suction cups usually are, no matter where they show up.

My only suggestion: if a product boasts "As Seen on TV" my first response is to clutch my credit cards and flee like a startled deer.

Bonny: one of those three blades could indeed be used for making veggie crisps; I could never figure out what its purpose was. Just goes to prove: 50+ years in the kitchen and we can still learn new things. Thanks!!

Ringbearer2

Thanks @mandycat223! Yeah I totally agree about the ASOTV. All the plastic ones kinda look like they could fall into that category .

cstehansen

It sounds like I have the same one as @mandycat223 and would agree the suction cups will likely be the first part to go. Zucchini is the main thing I spiralize. I keep thinking I should try something else, but I actually started using it less since I found shiratake noodles which have 0 net carbs and are super cheap.

Cadori

I have the type that suctions to the counter and cranks. I haven't used a handheld for comparison, but mine works really fast. It was a gift and I love it.

It has 4 blades, but we typically user the larger, spaghetti blade for our zucchini. I tried the angel hair blade and it was way too thin for me.

We make zoodles regularly and usually have sausage and pesto with it, or beef stroganoff.

tcunbeliever

I have 2 kinds, the hand held cone shaped one (spiralizer) - one side for thin and one side for thick...plus a mandarin shaped one that just has one size (pampered chef)...I like the mandarin one best because you end up with noodles the length of your vegetables - and it's supposed to rice cauliflower, though I haven't actually tried that...the spiralizer makes loooooong noodles that tend to clump in a saute pan and are kind of a pain to cook unless you take the extra step to cut them shorter...

kpk54

I have the inexpensive Vegetti that works fine for zoodles. $14.95. It's the one that looks like a 2 sided pencil sharpener. I use a mandolin far more frequently.

smacmillan86

I have the paderno 3 blade countertop model, and I love it. It is a bit bulkier, but I don't have to try to manipulate a hand held spiralizer and a vegetable which is good because I'm a klutz. The paderno only ran me $20 on amazon.

LowCarbInScotland

smacmillan86 wrote: »

I have the paderno 3 blade countertop model, and I love it. It is a bit bulkier, but I don't have to try to manipulate a hand held spiralizer and a vegetable which is good because I'm a klutz. The paderno only ran me $20 on amazon.

I used to have that one too, was nervous about it as it looked so cheap, but it was sturdy as heck!

Ringbearer2

Thanks you guys! I'm pretty uncoordinated so I'm leaning towards a model that stays put .

TravellerRay

Lol, I am so easily led. Have ordered my spiralizer :-)

Ringbearer2

Which one did you choose?

TravellerRay

One by Mueller. Plastic with metal blades. Can't wait to play :-)

kirkor

I've owned a handheld one for a long time, and have had no complaints; it works totally fine.
But recently I used a friend's countertop model and HOLY CRAP! It might as well have been a power tool for how fast it zipped through those zucchinis!

TishaGettinFit

I had a hand held one at first from the local dollar store. It did the job when I wanted to see if I liked zucchini noodles but found it hard to clean as I dong have a dishwasher. I've since invested in the counter top one and love it.

TravellerRay

Surely if you use the hand held one you will also burn some calories. Can I log this under Cardio? :-)

poli22

I have the one that mounts onto my kitchen aid mixer. It is truly great if you are doing a whole lot of veggies. It also has the mandolins thick, thin and in between . Expensive though.

TravellerRay

Made first meal last night with the spiralizer. Salmon, ribbons of carrots and courgettes with a. Salsa dressing. Everything except the salmon used the spiralizer. We absolutely loved it. Will play again tonight

Bonny132

Once you start spiralizing there is no going back. Really does change a meal, and it is fun playing with veg, flavours and colours.

TravellerRay

Thing that impressed me most, was that a vegetables now filled your plate. So my mind felt full before I had eaten 1 carrot and a courgette (plus salmon)

Bonny132

Yes, the way we perceive food has a lot to do with how much we enjoy food and how full we become.

The more colourful the food is, the more our brains seems to get enjoyment out of it. Same when it comes to size. Spiralized veg pretty much mirrors the effect of eating off a smaller plate. It looks like your plate is fuller than it is, so you get fuller from less food.

Kitnthecat

I've used by hand held pampered chef julienne peeler for years and have loved it, so I don't know why I bought the spiralizer on sale for $14.95. I've cut my thumb quite badly while cleaning it. That'll teach me! Once I heal, I'm sure I'll love it.....

kpk54

They *are* hard to clean. Ouch

bametels

Well, I've been convinced too! I've had one sitting in my Amazon cart for about a month. My vegetarian daughter will be here next week. It will be a good time to try it out.

ruthiek2000

I have the Starfrit one that suctions on the counter and you crank it... has 3 different blades and works great!

asrai50

I have a hand held one, love it. I use a toothbrush that I now keep in the kitchen to clean mine. Gets all the way in there and doesn't shred my fingers

retirehappy

I tried a handheld model veggti, I think it was, but didn't like it. I have found my mandolin does just as good a job, I don't get the curly fries look, but the adjustments for thickness on the mandolin let me get spaghetti like noodles as well as lasagna type noodles with squash. The mandolin is really great with cabbage for my Mexican slaw.

bowlerae

I have both and threw out the handheld one on first use. I hated it and now have the countertop one which I love. Much easier to use and greater variety of sizes/shapes.