Do you use a spiraliser?

I have been interested in spiraliser a for a while now. I first saw one at a baking show last year and bought it, but found it incredibly hard to use and gave up. I then saw a table top version in a shop that was giving a demonstration. I tried to use it, but it turns out that it was not suitable for left-handers. I consigned myself to the fact that I just wasn't able to use one. But then I saw a handheld one that came with a money back guarantee if I didn't like it. I bought it, tried it, and love it. I use it so regularly now. The key is finding one that works for you.

by Bryony Harrison

So third time (very) lucky Bryony?! Good on you for persevering!

I haven't got one, but I'd like one. I've eaten "zoodles" (noodles made from zucchini) and I enjoyed them.

by Jennifer Muirhead

We call it courgetti for spaghetti made from courgettes.

Yes I do -in fact i have just received a different one that I ordered from china.
I tend however, not to use them often as they are really a hassle to clean.

by Finy

Yes, anything with little corners where food and get trapped are always a pain to clean.

it gets stuck under the blades and almost impossible to get to them depending which one it is...

Thats not a word thats even in my vocabulary. Looks interesting, may try it if I see one.

by dwatk

A spiraliser is a type of grater/peeler that turns the vegetable around as it is peeling, and thus turning it into spirals. You can get hand held and table top versions.

I soooo badly want one!

by jonaja

No. That's one thing I don't need. Something that I use a couple of times and then find in the back of the drawer gathering dust in a few years. Sounds like a big waste of money to me.

by Lluxi

No I don't have 1, so I don't know if I'd like 1 or not. It would depend on the price. I bought a footpath about 10yeras ago, because I said to my self I had to have 1, & I'll always use it, & how wonderful it would be to use 1, & I haven't even used it once !

by Miro

I've seen them priced between £9-£30, which I think is $18-$60.

I was very inspired to buy on and saw one on sale in the big supermarket here, in the "burbs" in Melbourne for $8. It was a hand twirler one in green. You could Google the one I mean. I got out the zucchini and carrot to test. The carrot spat out irregular chunks of grated carrot and the effort to turn it with the carrot in was a huge effort and difficult. So I wrestled the carrot out and thought seeing the zucchini was soft then turning etc would be a breeze. It was a disaster! It's hot mangled up and the only thing I saw was the irregular grated zucchini bit's. I returned it. Since then there are heaps to choose from with one costing $69! Most are around $30 it seems which all look the same except one which looks like how you mince things and it has 4 different blades to use and you use a handle but make sure it's got suction thingies on the 4 feet or you might scream. I use a potato peeler but of course it doesn't twirl or spiral. I'm still looking but you have to have strong hands and wrists and patience. :-)

by summer

Oh I forgot to add I returned the spiraling next day, with no issues. I wanted it to work so much ...oh well.

You definitely need a strong grip to use one, but the quality does vary quite significantly with different models.

I find this kitchen tool particularly fascinating! Seeing people use it on TV makes it look so easy! So I finally went out and bought one for myself. I tried to make zucchini spaghetti and failed miserably! Not sure what I was doing wrong but it just didn't work!

by Monika

I have never had a problem with courgette, but other vegetables - sweet potatoes in particular - do require a lot of muscle put into it. It can also depend on the spiraliser; I went through three before finding one I could use.

Are you left handed? I am and that is one of the reasons I had difficulty with some models.

I've never even heard of a spiraliser but I'm not big on kitchen gadgets. I still mash potatoes with a fork and drain saucepans by angling their lids across the lip of the pan.

by Gayle Beveridge

Yes Gayle, I also drain my spuds your way, but I use a 'masher' to mash the spuds. 'Our' draining way, saves washing up a sieve/calendar, if 1 doesn't have a dishwasher, (like us!)

I haven't used one. And, to be honest, I don't even know what they look like.

by Vee

Most of them are quite unremarkable, Vee, sort of like a thin cylinder.

I imagine they wouldn't be easy to clean.

I like the idea but I just know I would not be able to drive it. The other day I could not even get a panadol out of the foil :(

by Rice

After reading everyone else answers about them, I think I'll give it a miss buying 1. They just seem like too much hard work, for a rather lazy person like me!

by Miro