Spiralizer

Arwen's Mom

Arwen's Mom

Mother of Dragons, Breaker of Chains
Never knew they even existed till a couple of you mentioned them.
Of course hopped on google, then amazon, for opinions.

Would like to hear opinions of "real" people.

Which one do you have?
Do you love it or hate it?
why?
will it work with cheese?
do you think its really worth it?
will it help this vegetarian make more veggie dishes that the rest of the family will like?

I cut up a LOT of fruits and veggies for my sugar gliders as well, will this help cut some of my prep time? They like their stuff cut up into TINY pieces. So I am thinking spiral shape, then a few extra chops with the knife and I will have small pieces. But will it work on juicy fruits like water melon, prickly pear, etc. ?

Thanks for any input.
Some sarcasm is allowed if its funny.
 
My gf has one of the cheap, double sided cone spiralizers. It's fun to make stuff with, but it only really works with zucchini and some larger carrots. If you want to do beets or other larger as well as different shapes of vegetables, you'd need a fancier spiralizer with a crank arm and press design. Most things that are firm with work in a spiralizer like: zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, root vegetables, sweet potatoes, etc. Watermelon would probably make a pile of mush if you want to eat watermelon out of a bowl with a spoon. I don't know how long the trick would last, but it definitely makes vegetables more fun. We have made kind of a pad thai with the zucchini 'noodles', and something resembling really thin sweet potato fries in the oven tossed in olive oil, grated parmigiano reggiano, and paprika.
 
got this one

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WKENSDA?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01

the crank handle will eventually break, it is not beefy enough for the job. I've been careful about not putting too much pressure on it.
there are 3 or 4 rebrands of the same design all around $30 - there is no way to sharpen the blades either, so too many hard carrots is going to do them in.

it might work with soft cheese. it is probably not sharp enough for harder cheese, and it would turn it into grated balls.

we have made noodles from
potatoes
turnips
rutabaga
parsnip
carrots
beets
apples
zukes
cukes
pears
onions - (use the slicing blade)

i'm probably missing something.

if the noodle shape is what you are looking for, then this is the way to go. the beets were fantastic, as were the turnips.
just more fun to eat as noodles, and they replace something familiar. they would work in a soup too.

a good mandolin (same spelling and pronunciation, different meaning, homonym) has a few julienne settings, and from a speed perspective drops the spiralizer before the turn at the compost pail.....but it makes veggie sticks, not noodles. from a pet perspective, this seems the way to go. the sticks can also be dehydrated, then reconstituted as needed from the freezer taking advantage of good sales, or special treats. There is also a waffle blade, which made for great pickle slices or waffle fries! (the spiralizer claims it can make curly fries, but they are more the shape of fettuccini)

i have this one, very easy to clean, very safe to use with the guard. (there is a safety glove available, recommended if easily distracted!) been using it for 6 years or so. blade has remained sharp, but can be redressed if needed. there is a newer model (angled blade, and the guard has a notch for things like carrots, so they don't roll.)

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grip...&qid=1452520916&sr=8-4&keywords=oxo+mandoline

been slicing the apples and pears to dehydrate. there is no other good way to get consistent, thin slices.

the mandolin will also do softer fruits, like a mango or orange, and probably watermelon. and it can evenly shred head lettuce, or dice ocra/celery
long banana slices for banana maple candy!!!!

ps
to get smaller pieces out of the spiralizer, cut slits in the veggie before putting through the blade, then it doesn't create one continuous noodle.

i'll add some pics, and the admins can hook up the pintrest media share 😉
 
Thanks for all the info! Good stuff.
You know...I have one of those mandolin things in the house somewhere.....never used it. Gotta dig it out of...where ever its hiding.
 
We have a mandolin slicer too, but it doesn't get much use. We made a veggie lasagna last night though, and I used it to make some thin zucchini slices for one of the layers. I think we bought it to make potato chips, but we only did that a few times because laziness.
 
I'm scared of our mandoline after I sliced my knuckle off while slicing mangoes.
Have been considering a spiralizer, should probably also get out the mandoline again, and just get some of those gloves!
 
1sh0t1b33r said:
Mandolin is 100% worth it.
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Like an elephant's friendship.

Movie-Review-Horton-Hears-Who.jpg
 
Dominos said:
I'm scared of our mandoline after I sliced my knuckle off while slicing mangoes.
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Yeah you have to be really careful. I have a friend that sliced a good chunk off the end of his pinky finger. My wife isn't allowed to use the mandolin slicer, because we both know she'll get hurt.
 
Santa gave me a spiralizer (kitchen aid attachment) for Xmas. Busted it out for the first time today. So far, apple slices for dried apples and swet potatoe noodles. Peeler doesn't work on skinny stuff - but this was easy-peasy and super fast! My kids are going to go nutz for these.
 

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muddybike said:
Santa gave me a spiralizer (kitchen aid attachment) for Xmas. Busted it out for the first time today. So far, apple slices for dried apples and swet potatoe noodles. Peeler doesn't work on skinny stuff - but this was easy-peasy and super fast! My kids are going to go nutz for these.
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i'm going this way when i break the plastic one!
 
no spiralizer here, but chefscatalog is going out business, good prices for knives and pans/pots
http://www.chefscatalog.com

figured I'd post up if anyone is interested, the Shun and Global Sai knives look very appealing, you can never have enough good cutlery in the kitchen
 
qclabrat said:
no spiralizer here, but chefscatalog is going out business, good prices for knives and pans/pots
http://www.chefscatalog.com

figured I'd post up if anyone is interested, the Shun and Global Sai knives look very appealing, you can never have enough good cutlery in the kitchen
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Cause gadgets ain't for everyone...

speaking of cutlery, you mentioned this the other day...all my other knives are from germany. Love this thing.
has some rust from not being washed/dried right after use - 30 years old!


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hmm - used a real hand in this one 🙂
 
mine is about 30 as well and was used by my dad at his restaurant
I had aversions to cleavers till I was older, cleavers were the weapons of choice in NYC when I was growing up
there was a time when the lower east side was pretty rough
 
qclabrat said:
mine is about 30 as well and was used by my dad at his restaurant
I had aversions to cleavers till I was older, cleavers were the weapons of choice in NYC when I was growing up
there was a time when the lower east side was pretty rough
Click to expand...

Gangs_of_New_York_-_Five_Points_-_screenshot.JPG
 
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