Every once in a while, a kitchen accessory comes along that completely changes the way we prepare and eat foods in our home. With everyone on board recently with the gluten free and low carb way of life, there’s been a huge need for more fruit and vegetables to enter our diet.
No matter how good our intentions, though, it can be hard to find ways to fit all of these fruits and vegetables into our diet, and to sneak them by our unsuspecting families as well. What the modern kitchen needs is a way to get creative with their healthy meal preparation and put an entirely new spin on how we prepare and cook our fruits and vegetables.
Rather than tirelessly chopping away at foods or using a grater to prepare them, the vegetable spiralizer is looking to change the game completely. These handy little devices have so many benefits over the regular way of preparing food, and they can help you and your family make more nutritious choices in the kitchen, but that’s not all they’re good for.
What Are Vegetable Spiralizers?
With so many kitchen utensils out there, it can be confusing finding just one that’s right for your home. A vegetable spiralizer in its simplest form allows you to make noodles, ribbons or spirals from your vegetables, whereas a mandolin produces different types of cuts like julienne or fine slices.
Although both can be hugely beneficial and time-saving in the kitchen, a spiralizer is better suited to those looking to add more fruits and vegetables into their meals. A vegetable spiralizer is usually found as handheld or countertop model, depending on your space options, and they work by inserting the vegetable into one end which is then turned onto a sharp blade, producing the ribbons.
When the spiralizer first began there was really only one standard shape that they could make, but since they’ve seen such success in the kitchen replacing noodles and pasta in all kinds of meals, there are now more choices than ever. Some spiralizers have angel hair, fettuccine, spaghetti and more as an option, so you can really get creative in the kitchen.
Types Of Vegetable Spiralizers
There are two main types of spiralizers worth mentioning, the countertop and handheld models. Each has their own pros and cons, with the choice depending on how much space the user has and how much input they want in the preparation.
Handheld Spiralizer
This is a vertical vegetable spiralizer that you hold in your hand while you feed through the vegetable with another. While they do require more manual work to operate they’re still easy to use and they pack away nicely in your kitchen drawer to save on space.
You’re able to change the attachments on some so that you can get different shapes, but it’s usually more limited than a countertop model.
Countertop Spiralizer
These are usually the largest type of this device and while they can take up a lot of space on your countertop they also take less time and effort to get results. These have many different attachments which allow you to automatically feed the fruits and vegetables in so that you don’t have to put in any work to get your spirals from the device.
Electric Spiralizer
An electric vegetable spiralizer can be either handheld or countertop and they usually operate with the touch of a button. They require less effort to do the work but can be limited in terms of attachments, so it depends on your preference.
The Best Vegetable For Your Spiralizer
Once you own a vegetable spiralizer you’ll be amazed at just how many different things it can be used for. Rather than reaching for a packet of pasta for your spaghetti or plain old lettuce in a salad, a spiralizer can help to add personality and color to just about any dish. Here are some of the best fruits and vegetables to use your spiralizer with:
​​​​If you’re a family who has trouble hitting your recommended five vegetables a day, a spiralizer is the easiest way to make that target. Just by adding a few spiralized vegetables into your breakfast, lunch, and dinner, you’ll be living your healthiest life yet without getting bored of the meals.
A Must Have Accessory For Every Kitchen
Whether you’re a home cook who prefers to have as little as possible or enjoy the latest and greatest utensils in your kitchen, the spiralizer is one that you just can’t be without. With just this one device, you’ll completely change the way you look at your favorite vegetables and make it easier than ever to eat nutritious meals daily.
The spiralizer is one of those great utensils that can be used to create just about anything and put a whole new spin on your favorite meals. Although they can take a few tries to master, once you do you’ll be amazed at just much use you get out of it and you’ll never look back to any other type of slicing and dicing.
