{{Short description|Kitchen appliance used for cutting vegetables}} {{multiple image | image1 = The_spiralizer_in_action!_(4617278380).jpg | caption1 = A table-top spiral vegetable slicer in use | width1 = 240 | height1 = 240 | image2 = Zucchini noodles (spiral slicer).jpg | caption2 = Zucchini noodles prepared with a spiral slicer | width2 = 180 | height2 = 240 }} '''Spiral vegetable slicers''' (also known as '''spiralizers''') are kitchen appliances used for cutting vegetables, such as zucchinis (to make '''zoodles'''), potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, apples, parsnips, and beetroots, into linguine-like strands which can be used as an alternative to pasta.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|last1=Quin|first1=Chloe|title=How to Ditch Carbs with a Spiralizer |date=23 September 2014 |url=http://www.lifehacker.com.au/2014/09/how-to-ditch-carbs-with-a-spiralizer-2/|publisher=Lifehacker|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{cite web|last1=O'Connor|first1=Jill|title=Cooking with late-summer treasures|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/16/late-summer-vegetables-recipes/2/?#article-copy|publisher=U-T San Diego|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref>
== Description == Spiral vegetable slicers are kitchen appliances used for cutting vegetables into linguine-like strands. Vegetables that they can be used with include zucchinis, potatoes, cucumbers, carrots, apples, parsnips, and beetroots. The strands can be used as an alternative to pasta, such as when using zucchinis to make ''zoodles''.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> They can be fried to create spiral fries.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-23 |title=Dish of the Day: Curly Fries {{!}} foodpanda Magazine MY |url=https://magazine.foodpanda.my/dish-of-the-day-curly-fries/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=foodpanda MY Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Popularity== According to ''Good Housekeeping'' and ''US News'', spiralizers were a hot trending item as of September 2014.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Helm|first1=Janet|title=A New View of Vegetables: 7 Ways to Change Your Current Approach to Produce|url=http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/eat-run/2014/10/01/a-new-view-of-vegetables-7-ways-to-change-your-current-approach-to-produce|publisher=US News|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The New Way to Make a Homemade (Healthy!) Pasta Dinner|date=30 September 2014 |url=http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/product-reviews/test-kitchen-blog/spiralizer-spiraled-vegetables|publisher=Good Housekeeping|accessdate=3 October 2014}}</ref> The ''LA Times'' stated that spiralizers became popular in the spring of 2014.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Brown|first1=Michael|title=Experts are divided over spiralizers|url=http://imgur.com/aC9TKKB|newspaper=LA Times|accessdate=6 November 2014}}</ref> Spiralizers are especially popular among people following the Paleo diet, other low-carb diets, and raw vegans.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/08/26/spiralizer-calories-carbs-route-guilt-free-veggie-pasta_n_5609938.html | title=Spiralizer: Cut Calories And Carbs With This Fun Route To Guilt-Free Veggie Pasta | work=The Huffington Post | date=26 August 2014 | accessdate=30 September 2014 | author=Nelson, Sara}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/10/vegetable-noodles-are-going-to-change-everything_n_5112928.html|title=How Zoodles And Spirals Will Change The Way You Eat Veggies|work=The Huffington Post|date=10 April 2014|accessdate=1 October 2014 | author=Bratskier, Kate}}</ref>
==Functionality==
Spiralizers usually contain three blades: a round blade for spaghetti, a small flat blade for ribbons, and a large wide blade for spiral strands.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://metro.co.uk/2014/07/07/the-spiralizer-means-you-can-finally-eat-pasta-and-stay-slim-sort-of-4789568/ | title=The Spiralizer means you can finally eat pasta and stay slim, sort of | publisher=Metro | date=7 July 2014 | accessdate=30 September 2014 | author=Gale, Hannah}}</ref> Vegetables are clamped between the blade and crank. As the handle turns with a bit of pressure, the vegetable is pressed between the turning handle and the blade, which cuts it into spirals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-spiralizer-welcome-to-the-latest-musthave-kitchen-gadget-9605809.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/the-spiralizer-welcome-to-the-latest-musthave-kitchen-gadget-9605809.html |archive-date=2022-05-24 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live | title=The spiralizer: Welcome to the latest must-have kitchen gadget | work=The Independent | date=14 July 2014 | accessdate=30 September 2014 | author=Mowbray, Nicole}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Food}} * Meat slicer
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
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Category:Food preparation appliances Category:Food preparation utensils Category:Kitchenware vegetable slicer