If veggie noodles sound good to you, you’ve probably been eyeing a spiralizer. Spiralizers are known for their ability to make noodles from vegetables as a healthier alternative to regular pasta dishes. Wondering how to use a spiralizer? Never fear. We’ve created an all-inclusive guide to teach you how to use every spiralizer on the market so you can make your next veggie dish with confidence.

Tip!

Make cooking even easier with more handy tools from our guide: 11 Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets

What Is a Spiralizer?

Spiralizers are handy kitchen gadgets to have if you’re looking to make veggie noodle dishes or simply looking for fun ways to serve your favorite vegetables. These gadgets use sharp blades to cut vegetables into your preferred thickness and size – you can choose between the multiple blade attachments that come in each kit.

There’s virtually endless possibilities to what you can shape into noodles using your spiralizer. Zucchini, squash, carrots, cucumbers, and potatoes are just a few examples of veggies you can spiralize to create pasta alternatives.

Every spiralizer is made differently, which means how they work varies with each spiralizer. There are two main types of spiralizers you will find on the market: handheld and countertop.

Handheld: Handheld spiralizers require you to feed the vegetable into the blade and twist by hand to crank your veggie noodles. These spiralizers are typically smaller than countertop spiralizers so they’re easier to hold and keep sturdy as you twist out your noodles, as well as store once you’re finished.

Countertop: Unlike handheld spiralizers, a countertop spiralizer makes things easier with the built-in crank that’s responsible for twisting the veggie around the blade. Countertop spiralizers are larger than their handheld counterparts but produce noodles quicker since twisting is easier and requires less work on your part.

How to Use a Handheld Spiralizer

Most handheld spiralizers require you to spiralize the noodles by hand instead of using a crank. Here’s how to use this spiralizer step by step.

Step 1: Prep Your Veggies

After washing your veggies, take a sharp knife and cut off the stem end of your vegetable to maximize the amount of noodle you will get. This will be the end you place in your spiralizer to start the process of making your veggie noodles. Make sure your chosen veggies are straight and flat and at least 1½ inches in diameter to fit in your spiralizer. If your vegetables are large and not this size naturally, take your kitchen knife and use your cutting board to cut the vegetable into flat strips that are this size. This will make it easier to grab and twist when you begin using the spiralizer.

Step 2: Choose Your Blade

Most spiralizers come with multiple blade options that will make your noodles thinner or wider for your preferred thickness. Once you select your size, attach it to your spiralizer following the manual’s instructions (since every spiralizer is made differently.)

Step 3: Set Up Your Veggie

Take the flat end that you cut when you prepared your veggies, and place it against the blade. Hold the other end of your veggie firmly to keep it securely in place against the blade.

Step 4: Start Twisting

Begin twisting the veggie end in your hand clockwise against the blade attachment to create the spirals. Remember to continue applying pressure and twisting the veggie until you get near the end near your twisting hand – you’ll typically have about a quarter of the vegetable left at this point.

Step 5: Secure the Prong (if Your Kit Includes One)

If your kit includes a pronged food holder, you have the option to use it at this step. When you have a quarter or a little less left of your vegetable, remove your hand from the spiralizer. Take the pronged food holder and attach it to the end of your veggie. This will help you continue to crank out spirals without risking cutting your fingers once your veggie gets closer to the blade. Resume twisting your veggie clockwise to finish getting all the possible noodle shapes from your veggie.

Step 6: Collect Your Spiralizers in a Bowl

As you’re twisting and making your yummy vegetable noodles, keep your counter mess-free with the help of a mixing bowl! Mixing bowls are great to have for collecting your spirals, especially since you’d be surprised at how many noodles your veggies will create. Using a mixing bowl also makes it easy to cut your noodles into your desired length with a pair of kitchen shears as well as to keep your noodles together until you’re ready to transfer them to the cookware your recipe calls for.

How to Use a Countertop Spiralizer

Countertop spiralizers are even more effortless to use, and they produce the same tasty results even faster! These spiralizers are made with a crank that you turn to create spirals instead of twisting the veggie with your hand. Here’s how to use this spiralizer step by step.

Step 1: Prep Your Veggies

Similar to how you’d prepare your veggies for a handheld spiralizer, wash them and cut the stem end off so you have a flat end ready to go. Remember that your veggies should be at least 1½ inches in diameter to cover the blade.

Step 2: Choose Your Blade

Countertop spiralizer kits come with multiple blade options like handheld spiralizers do. Attach your chosen blade as your spiralizer’s instructions say, so your blade is securely (and properly) attached.

Step 3: Set Your Veggies

This is the step that’s slightly different when using a countertop spiralizer. These spiralizers are designed with a pronged food holder on one end that locks into your veggie the whole time you’re spiralizing – no more having to hold it yourself! To use this spiralizer, place the flat end of your veggie against the blade (the end that you cut), and attach the other end to your pronged food holder. The pronged holder included on the countertop spiralizer is typically on the same end as the crank. You will notice it from the spikes.

Step 4: Start Twisting

Once your veggie is secured on the pronged holder, resume using the crank to twist your veggie for effortless noodles all the way to the end! Don’t forget to place a mixing bowl at the end of your spiralizer to catch your noodles.

Tip!

Interested in other appliances you can cook with? Check out our guide: 13 Cool Kitchen Gadgets to Change Up Your Cooking Game

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Now that you know how to use a spiralizer, it’s time to make your favorite dish using your veggie noodles!

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