The “Spiralizer” Product Review

I started seeing a lot of posts about this nifty little gadget called the Spiralizer.  It slices up produce in spiral shapes that resemble noodles.  I thought it looked really cool!  So I purchased one for myself from Amazon.  The official name is Paderno World Cuisine A4982799 Tri-Blade Plastic Spiral Vegetable Slicer.

Using My New Spiralizer

When I unboxed the Spiralizer, it was very easy to put together.  I really like that there are four suction cups on the base that hold the device in place on your countertop.  Very handy!

The first item I put through the device was a sweet potato.  It had a bit of a tough time gripping to the claw that holds it into place.  At first I was trying to hold it in place with my hand (BAD idea! Do NOT do this!). I promptly grazed my index finger on one of the cutting blades.  Thankfully it was a minor graze, and there was barely a scratch.

To remedy the problem, I just took the potato out of the claw, and I sliced the end off to give it a new surface to adhere to.  It worked!

Next I spiralized a zucchini.  That was WAY easier than the sweet potato, I must say.

I will note that you will likely want to choose a relatively straight zucchini.  Some of them are curved, and this may make feeding them through the grate a little bit tougher.  Same for yellow squash, which I did next.

I really like this device!  It cuts the veggies just as advertised.  You can use the smaller cutting blades to make veggies noodles.  These can take the place of pasta in a dish, or you could mix them with traditional noodles to “volumize” your meal and make it feel more substantial for fewer calories.

I used the veggie noodles all by themselves.  I sautéed them in a nonstick pan with a little bit of olive oil, salt and pepper.  They do shrink down a bit after cooking, FYI.

While I would never try to convince you that they tasted anything like pasta (they don’t), it did taste very good!  In my opinion, pasta is really just a vehicle for the topping anyway, and zucchini work well as an alternative.  This would be great for anybody trying to go gluten free or low carb.  Even though I do not fit into either of those categories, I will be using it to reduce calories of traditional pasta dishes.  And I am excited about that!

I also will be using the larger spiral to make baked fries, both regular and sweet potato varieties.  Very excited about that!

Potential Drawbacks

1. The Core

Worth noting is that a small strip (core) remains after the produce is fed through.  This is because there is a fixed forward axle for whatever you are slicing. It consists of a round hollow cutting edge with an approximate 3/8 opening. This simply means whatever you are slicing will lose a 3/8 cylinder from its center.  For this reason, I think it would be impractical to put skinnier produce through it, such as carrots or parsnips.  It is fine for cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes and squash.

2. A Bit Messy

When the spirals come out it is a little bit difficult to manage collecting them.  It would be nice if there was a catch basin for the strands as they fall from the blades.  I just stuck a bowl under there and just swept the strands away with my hands.

Conclusion

Overall, I am very happy with my purchase.  I would recommend the spiralizer to others.  Given the price point of about $30, it is my opinion that the value of this product far outweighs any drawbacks.

Note: An Amazon (affiliate) link is included for your reference. If you purchase through my link, you support The Happy Mommy Project at no extra cost to you.  THANK YOU for your support!