The 10 Best Spiralizers
Special Honors
Bron Coucke Le Rouet Manual Made for commercial use in restaurant kitchens, the durable Bron Coucke Le Rouet Manual has a frame and housing made of stainless steel and a knife holder of cast aluminum. It's easy to load, use, and clean, and boasts four sturdy legs that stand firmly on a countertop and a gearless crank with an ergonomic handle that requires minimal effort to turn. It comes with two sets of three stainless steel blades with sizes 1/32", 1/8", and 1/4". webstaurantstore.com
Editor's Notes
December 13, 2019:
Spiralizers are a handy tool to have in the kitchen, especially if you often make recipes in line with the Paleo, Atkins, and Keto diets, or are looking to restrict your daily intake of carbs. When paired with a gadget like a food chopper, a spiralizer can save you a great deal of time preparing produce for meal plans and nutritious dishes.
When considering items for this list, we prioritized value for money, durability, high-quality blades, dishwasher safe or easy to clean components, design, efficacy, storage, and generous warranties. We said goodbye to the Lifestyle Dynamics SpiraLife, a handheld option that we felt was too close in design to the Kitchen Supreme Slicer, which boasts superior construction, is priced similarly, and comes with a bonus ceramic peeler.
And while we love the idea of the Hamilton Beach 3-in-1, we encountered too many reports of it failing to even turn on to justify keeping it around when the Bella 4-in-1 is also available. The reliable Bella model is just as convenient and is very reasonably priced considering the quality, and its useful automatic shutoff technology, wide chute, and rotating blades add even more convenience.
Also joining the ranks today is the KitchenAid KSM2APC Attachment, which, although pricier than many standalone models, is built for the long haul and extremely versatile. It's also easy to store and clean, and offers a neat solution for those who do big jobs often or are arthritic.
These machines should not pose any hazards if cared for and stored properly. Take care when cleaning blades, never drop them in a crowded sink where someone might grab one accidentally, and store them safely away from children.
Creating Culinary Works Of Art
These handy devices can carve everything from a zucchini to a potato into elegant swirling shapes that tantalize the eyes and the taste buds alike.
The adventurous cook knows it is not enough just to prepare foods that taste great; whenever possible, you have to create dishes and desserts that look great, too. Food that engages multiple senses creates a more pleasurable dining experience, and appearance is very much a part of that process.
Preparing attractive and exotic looking meals need not be a complicated ordeal, either. In fact often the elements that create a unique-looking dish are simply alternative ways to cut, slice, or chop the exact same foods you would have served anyway. This can mean topping a salad with julienned carrots instead of more basic carrot coins, it can mean floating a few sprigs of parsley atop a bowl of soup, or it can mean serving shaved parmesan in place of standard grated cheese. But perhaps the most handsome food preparation technique of all is to serve spiral cut foods. The elegant curve of spiral cut foods catches the eye at once, allowing for truly impressive meal presentation.
Few kitchen gadgets help produce such great looking food with such minimal effort than a spiralizer. These handy devices can carve everything from a zucchini to a potato into elegant swirling shapes that tantalize the eyes and the taste buds alike. And thanks to their slenderness, spiral cut foods also cook quite rapidly, saving you time in the kitchen and allowing you more time to enjoy the meal.
Choosing The Right Spiralizer
Any decent spiralizer can create spiral cut foods, swirling most hard-bodied vegetables into handsome and delicious coils. If indeed spiral cut vegetables are all you're looking to create with your new kitchen gadget, it will be hard to find a unit that won't suffice. In that case, shop based on price tag and on the tool's size, factoring in the storage space you have in your kitchen or pantry. Even the more expensive spiralizers are still quite affordable, and the lower-end units are often priced at well under twenty dollars yet still perform more than adequately to suit the needs of most chefs.
If there is one major drawback to using a spiralizer, it is that cleaning the gadget can be a harrowing experience.
If you want a kitchen tool that can do even more than make basic spiral cuts, you'll be pleased to find plenty of versatile options on the market. Many spiralizers can be used to create various types of pasta, including standard spaghetti noodles as well as wider, more exciting pastas. Certain spiralizers also offer the ability to slice and chop vegetables, so with the right attachment in place, a simple turn or two of the spiralizer wheel can have all your recipe's ingredients chopped and ready for the frying pan, baking sheet, or the dinner plate.
Make sure you take into account which spiralizers require multiple attachments to perform various tasks. With more attachment options comes more versatility, but attachments also mean more items to store and more potential for misplacement that will reduce the food prep options at your disposal.
If there is one major drawback to using a spiralizer, it is that cleaning the gadget can be a harrowing experience. Be ready for bits of food to get into every nook and cranny of the device, and know that not all spiralizers have dishwasher safe components. If kitchen cleanup is an annoyance to you, look for units that are dishwasher friendly or at least consider those that disassemble easily for a mix of dishwasher and hand wash cleaning.
Making The Most Of Your Spiralizer
As noted, spiral cut vegetables cook quickly, and this is even true with traditionally slow-cooking potatoes and other root vegetables. Spiral cut veggies are also great as replacements for traditionally starchy foods, making these gadgets convenient for those trying to diet or simply to eat more healthily. Consider substituting zucchini or another healthy and low calorie vegetable for pasta during a dinner and you'll be amazed at how well the meal goes over even with picky younger eaters.
As for the chef who loves to prepare fancy cakes and other desserts, a spiralizer offers the opportunity to create unforgettable treats.
On the less health-conscious but certainly delicious side, spiral cut vegetables are great when prepared in the deep fryer. You can create the ultimate French fry experience by preparing spiral cut potatoes in oil, and this also works with other vegetables, of course. You can also consider brushing your spiral cut food with oil and then baking it for a healthier alternative.
Spiralizers also make the ultimate garnishes for fancy cocktails. You'll wow your dinner guests with cocktail lounge quality drinks using spiral cut citrus fruits or vegetables, and there's no need for your friends to know how easily you prepared that perfect looking martini or cosmopolitan.
As for the chef who loves to prepare fancy cakes and other desserts, a spiralizer offers the opportunity to create unforgettable treats. You can spin apples into a perfectly tart and tasty cake topper, or use spiral cut apples to create the best apple pie your oven ever baked. Spiral cuts can also be used on exotic foods like pumpkin, provided you first chop the pumpkin into smaller, more serviceable pieces.
The more you use a spiralizer, the more ideas will come to you. Eventually, your spiralizer might even replace your knife and cutting board as your go-to food prep choice.