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    Home » Techniques and Tips » Tools

    What is a Spiralizer and what to do with it?

    Published: Oct 31, 2021 · Modified: Sep 4, 2022 by Laura Reigel · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump To Recipe Comments
    vegetable spiralizer pinterest graphic

    If you've been looking for a way to make healthy meals more fun, a vegetable spiralizer might be the thing. Spiralized vegetables add an exciting new twist to fruits and vegetables, and you might eat more veggies than you expected.

    a baking dish filled with different types of veggie noodles

    We all know that upping your veggie game is easier said than done, and it takes time and effort to prep and cook vegetables.

    What if you had a tool that made vegetable prep super fast and efficient and fun?

    🙌 Enter the spiralizer.

    I have to admit that I'm a huge fan of zoodles. It surprised me because I don't usually like to eat "healthy" stand-ins for my favorite foods.

    However, when I discovered that a high-carb diet wasn't the best for me, I tried a vegetable spiralizer and made a batch of zucchini noodles, topped with my favorite marinara and meatballs. Voila, I was hooked.

    To my surprise, veggie noodles were fantastic, and I haven't looked back. And to this day, I always use a spiralizer to make delicious recipes.

    close up of spiralized zucchini noodles

    Why you should own a spiralizer

    A spiralizer is a tool you need in your kitchen if you want to add healthy vegetables to your diet that you'll actually want to eat. 

    1) It's a time-saving kitchen tool

    A spiralizer will save you tons of time in the kitchen by cutting down on the time you need to prep veggies for recipes.

    2) Healthy & diet friendly

    Using zoodles (vegetable noodles) is a healthy alternative to pasta and tastes fantastic with most traditional pasta sauce recipes. 

    3) Versatile & easy to use

    A spiralizer can be used to make healthy raw salads and veggie chips. 

    a variety or spiralized vegetables

    What you can make with your spiralizer

    A spiralizer uses a blade and spiralized slicing to slice fruits and veggies into long spiral noodles. It's best used with firm fruits and vegetables.

    Some of the best fruits and vegetables to use with a spiralizer are:

    • Fruits: Apples, pears, and firm melons.
    • Vegetables: Cucumber, beets, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini, jicama, white potatoes, and onions.
    the tupperware spiralizer with the flat blade spiralizing zucchini noodles
    zoodles
    the tupperware spiralizer with the flat blade spiralizing a potato
    curly fries
    the tupperware spiralizer with the flat blade spiralizing cucumbers
    cucumber ribbons

    How to buy the right spiralizer

    Finding the right spiralizer all depends on what your intentions are. There are a lot of styles, features, and price ranges out there.

    If you already have a Kitchenaid stand mixer, you might want to add on to your arsenal of tools and purchase the Kitchenaid spiralizer attachment.

    Shop handheld

    A handheld model is perfect if you want a simple, inexpensive, reliable spiralizer. This type of spiralizer usually has one blade and will make one type of veggie noodle.

    If you mostly want to make veggie zoodles from zucchini now and then, a handheld spiralizer might be the way to go.

    Pros: Handled spiralizers are inexpensive, small, and easy to store.

    Cons: Limited blades work best with smaller and softer veggies, like zucchini and summer squash.

    tupperware handy spiralizer

    Tupperware Handy Spiralizer

    See Price

    on Tupperware

    Shop Countertop

    You might want a countertop model if you're ready to experiment a little more in the kitchen and try your hand and some veggie chips or curly fries.

    A countertop spiralizer will mount to your counter, usually with a suction cup. They also contain 5 to 10 different interchangeable blades that can be used to make a variety of sizes of veggie noodles in addition to a thin spiralizing blade to make chips.

    Pros: More blades, secure to your countertop for safe and easy use. Also relatively inexpensive.

    Cons: Countertop models are larger and harder to store.

    WellToBe 6-Blade Vegetable Spiralizer Spiral Slicer

    WellToBe 6-Blade Vegetable Spiralizer

    See Price

    on Amazon

    Shop Kitchen Aid

    If you already have a Kitchenaid stand mixer, you might want to add on to your arsenal of tools and purchase the Kitchenaid spiralizer attachment.

    Pros: The peeler attachment works great for peeling potatoes and apples.

    Cons: I found the blades on this spiralizer were hard to use and there was a large amount of waste. This spiralizer was the worst one out of all the ones that I tested.

    kitchen aid spiralizer attachment

    KitchenAid Spiralizer Plus Attachment

    See Price

    on Amazon

    What to make with a spiralizer

    • Sauté. Zucchini and butternut squash noodles cook up quickly in a saute pan. Sauteing is my favorite way to cook veggie noodles. Simply add a small amount of oil or butter to a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Cook the veggie noodles for 3 to 5 minutes.
    • Stirfry. Spiralized vegetables make a fun addition to stir-fries. You can add carrots, onions, and peppers are easy to spiralize and make fun stir-fry noodle bowls.
    • Soups. Adding veggie noodles to your favorite soups keeps them low carb and adds a ton of extra fiber. Try Chicken Noodle Soup or a Low Carb Ramen recipe.
    • Salads. Lemon tahini dressing is a fantastic salad dressing for spiralized beets, zucchini, and carrots. You can add crunchy roasted chickpeas to make this a fast and easy protein-packed lunch or light dinner.
    • Boil. You can boil veggie noodles in salted water for a few minutes. Time will vary depending on how thick the spiralized noodles are. Butternut squash noodles are more tender if you boil them. I suggest a Vegan Alfredo Sauce plus some spinach or kale.
    • Deep fry. Deep frying spiralized potatoes are perfect for making curly fries, veggie fritters, or latkes. Give beets or zucchini a try and serve with Tzatziki.
    • Bake. If you're not into deep frying, baking is always an option.

    How to clean

    Most models clean up super easily with a quick rinse under warm water. You can use a brush if you do need to scrub off any stubborn bits of food.

    How to store

    Store spiralized veggies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.

    I like to use either a zip-top bag or a glass sealable container. You can buy spiralized vegetables nowadays in most grocery stores. But why when you can save tons of cash by making zoodles at home?

    Find More Healthy Recipe Ideas

    I'd love to hear about your adventures with your brand new vegetable spiralizer or the one you pulled out of the cabinet to try again. 

    I hope you've enjoyed this post and that I've convinced you how versatile and easy this kitchen tool is and that you'll give it a try. 

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    spiralized vegetables on plates. Zucchini, cucumbers, beets, and sweet potatoes
    Favorite Saved!

    How To Make Veggie Noodles

    Laura Reigel
    Use a spiralizer to make noodles from zucchini, daikon radish, sweet potato, butternut squash, cucumbers, and other vegetables.
    PRINT PIN SAVE SAVED
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 5 mins
    Total Time 15 mins
    Course Light Fare
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4
    Calories 25 kcal

    Equipment

    • spiralizer

    Ingredients
      

    Zoodles (Zucchini Noodles)

    • 3 medium zucchini

    Other Options for Vegetable Noodles

    • sweet potatoes
    • cabbage
    • daikon radish
    • summer squash
    • cucumbers
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • Make the vegetable noodles using a spiralizer with a noodle blade,

    Cooking Vegetable Noodles

    • Saute: Add a few teaspoons of oil to a sauté pan and heat to medium-high. Add the zoodles and sauté for 3 to 5 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste.
    • Bake: Preheat the oven to 400℉. Lay your noodles in a single layer on a baking pan. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Salt and pepper to taste. This method is perfect for baking curly fries.
    • Boil: Bring salted water to a boil. Add noodles and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the water and strain. This method is best for sweet potato or butternut squash since they are both firmer vegetables.

    YOUR OWN NOTES

    Click here to add your own private notes.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 cupCalories: 25kcalCarbohydrates: 5gProtein: 2gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 12mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gCalcium: 24mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword spiralizer, zoodles
    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Snap a 📸 and share it. Tag me @foodologygeek and don't forget to hashtag #foodologygeek!

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    About Laura Reigel

    Laura is the owner and CEO of Foodology Geek. She holds a degree in Physiology and Neuroscience as well as a Certification as a Nutrition Coach. Laura uses her love of cooking and science to create healthy real food recipes that you'll love eating.

    As a certified recipe hoarder, and meal prep maven Laura is passionate about sharing her love for cooking easy from-scratch recipes. She also shares the occasional family recipe and all of the technical details.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Hatfield

      November 03, 2021 at 1:44 pm

      5 stars
      This post answers so many questions about veggie noodles! I had no idea you could do so many different cuts. Great tips, I am so excited to try some of these out.

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        November 04, 2021 at 10:24 am

        A spiralizer really does open up a whole new world of veggie possibilities.

        Reply
    2. Seanna

      November 01, 2021 at 3:46 pm

      5 stars
      So helpful. You’ve inspired me to use my spiralizer for more that zucchini noodles. Great post!

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        November 04, 2021 at 10:26 am

        Thanks Seanna! I'm happy to provide inspiration! I'd love to see what you make with your veggie noodles.

        Reply
    3. Debi

      November 01, 2021 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      Wow! I had no idea how many things you could make with a spiralizer until I read this post. Thanks for all the great ideas!

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        November 04, 2021 at 10:27 am

        You're so welcome! Enjoy the endless possibilities and I hope you make something delicious.

        Reply
    4. Jessica Robinson

      November 01, 2021 at 3:17 pm

      5 stars
      Such a great post filled with lots of inspiration. My mom used to make shoe string potatoes all the time when we were kids!

      Reply
      • Laura Reigel

        November 04, 2021 at 10:28 am

        Thanks for the feedback. I ended up making a shoestring potato casserole with the potatoes from this post. Recipe to come.

        Reply

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