I believe I speak for most of us when I say that one can never have enough (useful) kitchen tools. Especially those that make our lives a little easier in the kitchen, right?
If you’ve never heard of a spiralizer, you are in for a treat. A spiralizer is a manual (handheld or counter mounted) gadget that makes spaghetti and other pasta shapes out of vegetables. Seriously!
Anything I can do to help me get more vegetables into our diet is great, especially when everything that gets sprialized is naturally free of gluten and grains. It’s perfect for those of us who follow a grain-free diet, need to make gluten-free meals, or just want a fun way to eat more vegetables.
You can spiralize apples, beets, broccoli, butternut squash, cabbage, carrots, celery root (celeriac), chayote, cucumbers, jicama, kohlrabi, onions, parsnips, pears, plantains, radish, rutabaga, sweet potatoes, taro roots, turnips, white potatoes, zucchini, and more!
Because I know it’s hard to see on pictures whether or not you are going to like something, my little guy (the 3 year old) and I recorded a video for you to see how the spiralizers I own compare. If anything else, you have to watch the bloopers at the end.
Another reason I love spiralizing is that I can spiralize veggies one night, store them in the fridge in a container, and have them ready to go when I need them a day or two later. Click here to see how I spiralize veggies ahead of time and store them.
Now that I have you thinking about getting a spiralizer or using yours more often, let’s compare some of the most popular models. There are tons of spiralizing units out in the market and you should know that there are quite a few imitators out there; meaning, same machine design (for the most part) different brand label.
I believe that a kitchen tool is most useful when it doesn’t have a lot of unnecessary parts and it does a great job. I’ve seen some pretty intricate things calling themselves spiralizers but they are cumbersome to use (and clean), which is why most people stop using theirs.
There are two main categories of spiralizers. Handheld and counter mounted. In those two main categories, there are lots of variations in design.
The Handheld Julienne Peeling Method
While it’s not officially a spiralizer, this inexpensive peeler cuts veggies into julienne-cut strands. My favorite is the OXO Julienne Peeler because it’s easy to grip and there is a safety cover that covers the very sharp pointed blade when not in use; this prevents you from being poked when reaching inside your kitchen drawer (it’s happened to me more than once).
The pro is that it’s inexpensive and it doesn’t take a lot of room. The con to this tool is that it takes a long time to make enough for a family. Sure, it might take five minutes to make a single serving, but I can sprialize for a entire week with another model in five minutes. Time is of an essence.
The Handheld Spiralizer, or “Vegetti”
I’ve purchased the Vegetti when it first came out after recording a podcast with my friend Aviva. She was a huge fan and got me all excited. Once I tried it, I hate to admit that my enthusiasm was quickly deflated. I watched a ton of YouTube videos on how to use it and I could never get it to work right for me. I quickly got stored in the junk drawer and I stopped spiralizing all together for months.
The pro is that it’s inexpensive and it doesn’t take a lot of room. The cons outweigh any purchase thoughts you might have. It wastes a lot of veggie that is easily used up in other models and it takes a lot of time to make enough for a family meal. This one gets two thumbs down. If it’s going be this cumbersome to get spiralized veggies on the table, I am not going to do it as often as I’d like.
The Counter-mounted Spiralizers
I first purchased a Padermo spiralizer after buying my friend Ali Maffucci’s cookbook, Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals. I have to admit that the counter mounted spiralizer revolutionized the speed at which I could get a veggie filled meal on the table.
Once I started having fun turning my veggies into noodles, my youngest son, Gabriel, became excited about making spiralized veggies too!
There are two drawbacks to the Padermo model; the first one is that the suction cups don’t’ stay suctioned on the counter well and I have to keep pressing the suction cup corners down. The other is that the spiralizing blades are exposed and now that my kids love to spiralize, they pose a big risk and it’s quite easy to cut oneself during spiralizing or washing. Otherwise, it does the job well.
Whichever method you use, be sure to check out my best tips on how to spiralize veggies and store for the week.
Photography: Ali Maffucci
Mayah
I love the inspiralizer! My kids love cooked veggies. I was always very picky until the last 5-10 years. I slowly incorporated veggies and I know the struggle first hand. So I all my kids to at least try a bite. If they don’t like it, I understand, but they at least have to have a note of every thing.
I also have them drinking a green drink with dinner. All it has is water, salad, banana protein powder and ice. They love it and they get their veggies.
Anjli
Thanks for the information Laura! I frequently find it challenging to add vegetables into our daily intake. Especially when we try to incorporate it into more than just a side dish or another salad. The spiralizer is such an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing!
Becky
Thanks for the review! My 6yo is picky but is at least willing to try a bite of new foods. And she likes broccoli! My 2.5yo’s only veggies are sweet potatoes and carrots.
Charlene A.
What a great appliance to have! It’s a constant struggle to get my kids to eat veggies – despite hubby and I being big veggie eaters – so it’s baby steps. Carrots, then cucumbers, now lettuce. I present different options to them all the time and pretend like they’ve never tried a particular veggie (if previously turned down).
Spiral Sue
Fantastic detailed review! A great addition to the kitchen, which gets everyone excited about vegetables at last!
Rachel Smith
My toddler is not a fan of vegetables at all but loves noodles of any kind so I think this would be a great way to get some veggies into his diet and get him more excited about meals.
Monica Donati
I have the vegetti and it has really helped to add some more vegetables to our meals. My favorite is spiralized zucchini sautéed in olive oil and garlic and added to a grilled cheese sandwich. But the vegetti is not always easy to use and I think this Spiralizer would work even better for our family!
Julie Treharne
Wow! Wow! Wow! Just saw this at Kitchen Hardware today. Looks so good. My husband passed away in March and it’s just me and the kitty cat left now. I must admit, the cat eats well but I have neglected myself. Just anything will do for meals. This product has aroused my food senses and I am starting to think good food again. Also loved the recipe book that was on sale with it. I sure would love to be a winner….and grinner!
Jeanine
Thanks for sharing your hands on experience with these. I’ve been thinking about getting one since I saw a zucchini noodle recipe, and I now know where to start! I made spaghetti squash for the first time for my two daughters and was pleasantly surprised that they delighted in it. With a spiralizer, I hope to expand to other veggies.
Marisol salcedo
I currently have a handheld one that takes forever to use!!! I would love to have the inspiralizer. I think if my kids help out they would be likely to try it out. Looks like it would take a lot less time!
Gillian
One of the tricks we use (when we remember) is setting out appetizers of raw veggies (red peppers, carrots, zukes, etc) for my daughter while I’m cooking supper. By the time we sit down to dinner, she’s had a good amount of veggies, so I fuss less about what she eats, so it’s a win-win.
Leah
My kids eat a lot of veggies now, but it wasn’t always like that. I just kept introducing and reintroducing them. I searched for the most delicious and nutritious recipes and did not give up! Also, in order to get them to try new veggies, I serve the veggies first and make trying it a requirement before getting the next dish, which is the main meal. It works every time. I have been meaning to pick up a spiralizer for the longest time but didn’t know which one to get. Thanks, Laura.
Kasey
I have a hard time incorporating veggies in lunches. He will eat them at supper, but it always a side item
grace
I do struggle with my son who basically refused to eat anything with color. OK, maybe not sweet potato casserole – but anything else he refused. I do ask for him to eat something small. It’s a struggle, so maybe trying the inspiralizer will inspire him to eat more veggies 🙂 Thank you for the chance.
Stephanie
I’d love to try the inspiralizer – I actually have the handheld version and I ended up just using it once because it took me forever to get through a zucchini (and by the end it got difficult). It would be really cool if I could use it for lunches (like spiralized carrots) I’ve finally gotten my son to eat them by giving him dipping options and he really likes them cut thin so this would be great – and fun for him to do!
Lisette
I am not sure which spiralizer you bought from Paderno, but I bought the four blade one and I love it. It compacts as well as does not show the blades.
Laura Fuentes
I bought the regular one not the 4 blade. My biggest issue is how it doesn’t mount as well on my counter and my kids who spiralize the blades are exposed. As long as it works, awesome!!
Stacey Rupp
My kids are old enough that they’re willing to try’s new veggies but I struggle with being creative instead of just microwaving something.
Kristin C.
I kids like some veggies but I’m just interested in challenging them with new ones and making it fun! The Spiralizer would certainly help, I’m sure! I’d have fun anyway!
Gaby Eliz
My kid loves almost all veggies except carrots. But one day he decided he did not like fruits: apples, berries, bananas… Now I cannot get him to eat them! Help!
Brenda
When my girls were at home, and now with my grandchildren, we ate the same number of bites as their age. My 7 YO granddaughter was the first to try to negotiate-lol-it was an easy and fun way to try new food.
Julie
When my kids were little we had a veggies first rule at dinner. I served them their vegetable side dish before the main course and they just knew that they had to eat them before they got the main entree. That worked well for us. Now that they’re older (10 and 14) eating their veggies is a habit. My 14 yr old son takes carrots, celery, and cucumbers with hummus in his lunch and my daughter likes carrots or cucumbers with a little salt or celery with peanut butter. I also sneak spinach and/or kale and baby carrots into smoothies.
Amanda
My son has multiple food allergies, so I really need to get veggies in him. He has recently started to get picky on me, so I am always looking for different ways to make food fun for him! The Inspiralizer looks like a great tool for that!
Charlotte
I too bought and tried the Vegetti and was let down by how difficult it was to get a good amount of veggies spiralized quickly. Call me a wimp, but hand cranking like that is not easy. Thanks for telling us about the Inspiralizer!
stephanie
My brother has to change his diet for health reasons, the spiralizing tool would give some excitement to his veggies. I think he’s been missing spaghetti, and her be thrilled with some new noodles.
Jenny Roesler
We are unfortunate with veggie eaters in the family. My only daughter is spoiled and doesn’t really try things if she didn’t have them before. She is 4 and one thing I noticed is that she ate a bunch of veggies when she was a baby (we were starting solids) and one day she decided to cut them from her diet. I think that it is mostly due to the look and texture so the Inspiralizer looks like a fun idea for us to try different things and she might be able to help (meaning eat it after). Hope we can do it 🙂
Diane
I started to give my kids veggies before the rest of the meal was finished cooking. They were hungry so they ate them. Now they just eat them with dinner. I never tried to cover them with cheese or anything just steamed.
Jenny
I have 2 daughters. One loves veggies; the other detests them. I’d LOVE to try the spiralizer to see if I could get my oldest to eat more veggies!
Sarah Becker
Wow – this looks like an amazing tool. I would love to incorporate more veggies into my kids meals and this could be a fun way to do it. They are limited on the veggies they will eat in the traditional forms. Would love to have one.
LILI YEN
my biggest struggles are time and variety. it’s hard to make more time in the busy weekdays, so many times i default to easy steamed veggies. that makes it hard to have variety in our family’s veggie diet. Thanks for the giveaway! it looks like an interesting option!!!
Gisella Santiago-Gronka
Your blog posts/newsletters and cookbooks have been immensely helpful and a blessing for me as well as the kids. I still struggle getting them to eat a new vegetable from zuchinni to beets and sweet potatoes. I’m not opposed to disguising them and have in fun ways with some success. I’d love to try the inspiralizer! What a fabulous tool to make eating veggies more fun!
Cortney Domasig
My kiddos love love love veggies (it’s my husband who I have to sneak veggies into haha). We have tried spaghetti squash in replacement for noodles but I had never thought about spiralizing! Seems great! I can’t wait to give it a try!
Anna
I have a julienne cutter much like the one you described, but I agree that it is not suitable for an entire meal for a family. I use it for lunch box items, but I am looking for something more useful for a family of five. Thanks for your reviews!
Ruth
This looks great! It is hard to get children in our family to eat zucchini without making it extra interesting! 🙂
Tina Hansford
I love this and would love to have it in my kitchen. I don’t really ever have problems getting vegetables into my kiddos. All four of them are very healthy eaters. I find continually offering them even things they don’t like they eventually start to like it. For example…myself and 2 of my kids love spinach and are sad when the pot is empty. 2 of them are not fans and would pass it by without a second thought. I always give them just enough to have a bite. My rule is one bite you have to eat it and you have to swallow it but if you are not a fan then you don’t have to eat more. Most of the time I find they eventually will eat it without complaining and sometimes ask for more of whatever it is lol.
Maranda
I too struggle to get get veggies into my kids diet. The rule had been that you have to try at least one of the veggies on your plate, but as soon as the food enters the mouth, the frame and gaging begins. I now have a new rule, you must CHEW 7 times. Why seven? That’s just the number I picked. 🙂 To my surprise it is working. The faces of tortured little children turn delightful when they get to bite number 5. It also helps to put the veggie on the fork with a bit of meat. I think it’s a texture thing.
Mindy
My kids actually eat a good assortment of veggies. Mixing them with fruits and turning them into a smoothie is a great way to get them eating raw veggies. I add anything from carrots to asparagus to kale to the smoothie.
Cathy
I can barely get one kid to eat any veggies and the other won’t touch them. I don’t know how much of it is psychological at this point, but I sure could use new tricks to try!
Candice
My 19 month old likes broccoli most of the time, some days frozen peas. Have tried dips, veggie ‘fries’, variety, but the more effort I put into making her something, the less likely she’ll eat it! No smoothies, no hidden veggie muffins or mini quiches. So frustrating.
Kelly
I love the giveaway! One thing I would need it for is for myself to incorporate more veggies into my diet since I am the pickiest eater around. I have been wanting to try zucchini or spaghetti squash. Thanks for the reviews!
Susan Smith
Oh, veggies! I have a 6 year old, who is liking a few veggies and is generally ok with trying a new one. I have a 4 year old who is resistant to liking anything new, and has a very limited array of veggies she’ll eat. And a 2 year old who is starting to be more open to new veges.
Adrienne S.
Laura, I love your weekly emails and your first cookbook–lots of helpful recipes that we have used. One of the struggles with getting the kids to eat veggies is just getting them to even try one bite of something new. My daughter loves baked white potatoes but won’t try a baked sweet potato. I think introducing the veggies in a variety of different ways really helps (including disguising them if needed, like with chocolate zucchini muffins:o)). I am very interested in trying spiralizing but was also disappointed with my vegetti experience. The inspiralizer looks like a great tool!
Rachael S
Would love to try. My daughter loves spaghetti but doesn’t like to eat veggies that she can see. So I hide them where I can.
Jennifer
I always put at least one veggitable on their plate at every dinner meal and send veggies to school with them. They will eat veggies with a dip like ranch or hummus, but getting them to eat new veggies besides carrots and cucumber, and cooked vegetables I find very difficult. They will not even try them although they have different veggies on their dinner plate all the time! How do I get them to try the cooked and different vegetables?
Gillian
The Inspiralizer looks super fun! What a great way to eat more vegetables and decrease heavy carbs. I taught my daughter to use our mandolin, and that definitely increased her interest in the veggies she was making, but the blades are too exposed to have her (or me) use it much. The Inspiralizer, and its covered blades, sounds less heart-stopping and much more fun 🙂
Megan
As a mom of a 2 year old, our struggle with veggies isn’t so much him as it is me! He is pretty good about trying things we have exposed him to and enjoys more veggies then I do! But I don’t know how to prepare a lot of different types of veggies and eating healthy has always been a struggle for me. I have never heard of a spiralizer and I am very intrigued by the idea of eating veggies this way!
I know my son would Love to be my helper in the kitchen!
Emily
This is a totally new concept for me! I just started using Momables and already I’ve been inspired by my son’s happy reaction to the meals I’ve made for his lunchbox. It’s helped us both to branch out and try new things. I would love to get more squash and root vegetables into his (our) diet which has not been easy (my son won’t even try mashed potatoes). I’d love to try a spiralizer.
Denise
My son is autistic and I really have a lot of trouble trying to get him to eat veggies. I tried hiding them in food and he picks them out. I can’t even get him to eat fresh tomatoes. I think that spiralizer would be awesome for different veggies and maybe he might try to eat something besides pasta and carbs.
Carol Gamble
My birthday is this month and this may have to be on my list! My biggest struggle w/ eating more veggies is that I make the same ones over and over so I get bored. Spiralizing looks like it may be a perfect way to make them more fun and enjoyable.
Denise
Thank you so much for the product review! I never thought of using a spiralizer. It looks amazing!
Nancy
I have one child who loves vegetables, 2 children who tolerate vegetables, and one who is resistant. This looks like a great way to sneak vegetables into more dishes. Yeah!
Tricia
My kiddos have been going “backward” on veggie eating. I’ve been thinking of getting a sprializer (and pinning recipes) for awhile. I think my kids would have a blast turning veggies into “pasta” and will be more likely to eat them as spaghetti or peanut noodles or many other things I haven’t even thought of yet!!
Heather
I have never used a spiralizer but have been wanting to try it for a while now. This looks so fun!
Kate
Vegetables are not a favorite of my four children. I have not thought of spiralized veggies, I think that if I had them help make them they would LOVE to eat them. As a single mom, I really appreciate all the helpful hints and review that you do. I have thought of a Mandolin as Gwen said, but I think they would love the long skinny veggies.
Mehreen Arbab
First of all congrats on appearing at the Today Show 🙂 so happy for you. Sneaking veggies in my food for the kids is a hard thing to do that’s why I follow you. I can take all the tips one can give me to give my kids nutritious meals.
Thank you for being an inspiration
Marie
I’ve been eyeing the spiralizers for a bit now. Seems like a great way to get the kids to at least eat zucchini! 🙂 Hopefully other veggies, too. I really want to cut back on our grain, particularly wheat, consumption. I’ve added green smoothies to our diet (my whole breakfast but for the kids it’s still an “extra” – but every bit counts!) and I’d like to take this next step in our food journey.
In additional to just wanting to add more veggies, we are moving away from processed foods – a lot of that driven by a kiddo with multiple food allergies. Packaged food usually has his allergens (eye opening once we started avoiding soy! and corn! and milk!).
Shanell Boyster
We don’t have little ones yet (on the way in December!). When I lived at home I tried to incorporate veggies into everything I cooked, because my mom was all about eating healthy. So I incorporated purees in desserts. Definitely didn’t tell my brothers, and they LOVED them.
Tami
No children. I just want to eat healthier.
Jenny B
Hi Laura!
This looks like an awesome tool! Thanks for offering a giveaway of it.
Anyway, my biggest challenge is MY HUSBAND…I could get the kids to eat far more variety if he ate more veggies than peas, green beans, and corn!
Have a great day, and thanks for all you do. Loving the podcast!
Carolina Frederick
I can’t complain too much as my 4 year old son Luis does try many new foods. He likes steamed broccoli with a little salt, sweet baby carrots in an orange & brown sugar glaze, and has finally tried lettuce when having lettuce wraps.
We have been going to the farmer’s market almost every week this Summer as I was hoping this would help. He loves a potato and cilantro soup but will not touch a tomato.
My problem is that he has a huge appetite and even after he has had a meal if he sees me eating something different, he wants that too and dessert. So he is on the heavier side and I worry. I need to make veggies more appetizing for my son. I think the Spiralizer would be great for our whole family.
Nancy
A tip for getting kids to eat veggies: Shop together as a family at the local farmer’s market each week. If your child picks out a veggie and meets the farmer who grew it, they are more likely to try new veggies. Also your child may like a veggie more raw vs. cooked or vice versa.
Kelly Overend
Hi Laura. My 2.5 year old is starting to get picky. Today I made spaghetti squash, which is naturally spiralized, lol, with parmesan and he ate it up. So, I’m hoping this will help. I hide a lot of other veggies in smoothies and muffins. He does love broccoli and green beans. The older two (8 and 52) are about the same. Me, I’d be a vegan as long as I could have sweets. Ha!
Thanks!
Lisa
My 4 kiddos love veggies and would think spiralized are awesome!
Cindy
It is a constant battle getting veggies into my boys! I find that it’s easier to get them to eat crunchier, raw vs mushy, cooked. Dips are my secret – it seems to make any veggie more palatable for them.
Beth Wade
If my kids see or even think something has a vegetable in it they won’t eat! I have tried several of Jessica Seinfelds tricks from her Deceptively Delicious cookbook and some of ideas work for me and some don’t. But hiding beets in chocolate cupcakes and avocados in pudding & sweet potatoes in French toast….what amazing sweet treats can be made from veggies!
Kristina g
My children only eat a few veggies. Zucchini carrot apple muffins, carrots with hummus and celery with peanut butter and raisins. I would love for them to eat more if I could!!
Steff Parmental
My kids like spinach so that goes about every sandwich and wrap. Also we put just if our veggies in the barbecue in foil packets with garlic salt, pepper and a little butter. (Broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, beets, zucchini, carrots, you name it)
Kristin
The Inspiralizer looks wonderful, and I really appreciate the comparison. I’ve wanted a spiralizer for a while to work more veggies into my family’s meals. I have one child who eats most veggies, one who is quite picky, and one who decides whether she’ll eat them based on how they look. I’m pretty sure that the spiralizer would make veggies pass her test.
Deja
I have a very non-adventurous eater. Everything “sounds gross.” But it’s hard to turn down noodles in any form so I got one of those hand-held vegettis. Unfortunately it doesn’t work too well, so I’ve got my fingers crossed for the Inspiralizer (:
Tess
Wow! That looks awesome! We have been using the OXO julienne peeler by hand and you are so right – it takes forever to make enough for a family of four.
We love making zoodles, especially since we are avoiding processed foods due to my nine year old’s autoimmune disease. As for eating veggies – well, since we cut out the processed junk everyone has been eating a lot more veggies. Obviously partly out of hunger but mostly because everything just tastes so much better made from scratch 🙂 The drawback, of course, is time. I could really get some good use from an Inspiralizer!
Thanks so much for all the great tips and congratulations on the Today show! Wonderful!!!
Jacqueline
I have not used a spiralizer yet. I would love to get this one it sounds awesome. I love that it safe for kids. Love having help in the kitchen.
Barbara Platt
My grandkids wont eat veggies. I have tried to sneak some into their diet and change their minds but it’s hard getting them to try it if they know what they’re eating.
Jenn
Cool giveaway! I’ve been wanting to try one of these for a while…my friends keep doing awesome things with zucchini & I’m jealous.
Faith Faatz
We have recently gone grain-free due to one of my sons having Candida so using a spiralizer would help him have pasta in his new eating way! I get other veggies in for my boys by putting kale & spinach in their smoothies!! They have no idea & if it turns out green – it is called a Hulk smoothie!!
Cindy K
Both kids like completely different vegetables! So it’s hard to have just broccoli or just cucumbers as a side since one of the kiddos won’t be happy. I have tried being sneaky with vegetables in some dishes. And they always have to try a bite of the veggie dish. I try to make vegetables different ways so maybe I’ll get lucky with one of them!
Casandra Gordon
I try to sneak veggies in things my kids already like. Carrot or pumpkin in pancakes or muffins and zucchini in their spaghetti. I also, like to mix cauliflower in mashed potatoes. It works for me!
Gwen
I have not spiralized yet, although I have thought about getting one for a while. I use a mandolin for thin strips but it’s just not the same (and not ideal for making long spaghetti-like strands). I really appreciate the comparison between types and models of spiralizers along with the pros and cons. This will help me make a decision soon! Thanks for the post.
Judy
Hi,
Just received The Inspiralizer last week and have it used it twice already. Love the results!
Ali @ Inspiralized
Thanks for the glowing review! We value your opinion so much! Happy spiralizing!