Zucchini spaghetti is experiencing a real boom. However, the so-called zoodles are not ordinary spaghetti with zucchini taste. Rather, these special pasta consist entirely of zucchini . To make them, special vegetable cutters are suitable that turn carrots, zucchini or potatoes into healthy spirals in no time at all.
Spiral cutters are available in both a manual and an electrical version . Spiral cutter tests mostly shed light on the advantages and disadvantages of both variants. Read our guide to find out how they differ and which spiral cutter is suitable for you.
Buying advice on the spiral cutter test or comparison: Find our personal spiral cutter test winner with our help!
- A spiral cutter is a special vegetable cutter . With this practical helper you can transform raw vegetables into spaghetti-like spirals.
- Spiral cutters are available in an electrical version and as a manually operated crank device. Handling is an important purchase criterion, especially for the latter. When buying, also make sure that the device is easy to clean.
- Some models have special interchangeable blades. You can use it to produce vegetable spirals in various strengths.
Vegetarian, vegan, raw food or low carb - if you pay particular attention to the health of your body, you not only exercise regularly, but also pay attention to calories and vital substances and their usability in your diet . The focus of the diet is on fruits and vegetables .
Anyone who makes zucchini spaghetti with the spiral cutter not only ensures variety on the plate, but also chooses a lower-calorie and healthier variant than pasta made from durum wheat semolina.
We have studied a series of spiral cutter tests so that you can find the right spiral cutter for your requirements from the wide range of devices available. In our 2020 spiral cutter comparison, we present a selection of different devices and give you tips on how to buy such a vegetable cutter . We also answer the most common questions on this topic.
1. Spiral cutters shape vegetables
A spiral cutter is almost an indispensable kitchen appliance in modern kitchens, where health aspects are particularly important and where a lot of vegetables and fruits are processed .
You can use a spiral cutter to cut carrots, potatoes, zucchini, apples and pears, but also kohlrabi and beetroot into long spirals that are a special eye-catcher on the plate.
You can serve raw food in an appealing way or cook a delicious and healthy alternative to pasta made from durum wheat semolina. Freshly prepared dishes made from vegetables have the advantage of having a high density of vital substances and having significantly fewer carbohydrates than pasta or rice.
You can find recipes for spiral cutters on the one hand on the Internet, and on the other hand the manufacturers often include recipe booklets with their devices in which you can find inspiration.
1.1. If you choose a spiral cutter, you can count on the following advantages
Spiral cutters have advantages and disadvantages :
- Versatility and fun when preparing vegetables
- Joy of healthy (raw) food is awakened
- different models available
- simple operation, faster and more versatile than a kitchen knife
- Cleaning is not always easy
- hard vegetables require sharp blades
1.2. You have the choice: manually or electrically operated
A brief overview of the different spiral cutter types: At this point we would like to give you an overview of the properties of different spiral cutters. So you can see at a glance which model meets your requirements .
| Spiral cutter type | properties |
|---|---|
| Electric spiral cutter
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| Spiral cutter with crank
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| Compact spiral cutter
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| Vegetable sharpener
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Especially when you prepare a meal for several people, electric spiral cutters and models with a crank score. If you only need a small portion, you are best served with a compact model.
2. Buying advice: What you should pay attention to when buying a spiral cutter
Regardless of whether you are buying an inexpensive Tchibo spiral cutter or want to add a Kitchenaid spiral cutter to your kitchen: the device should suit your needs . We'll tell you what to look for when buying.
2.1. The material of the housing and blades
There is little difference in the material between the spiral cutters. Both crank-operated and electric models have a housing made of robust plastic and blades made of durable stainless steel .
These materials are not only resistant but also very easy to care for . Apart from rinsing and drying, you have no trouble doing this.
2.2. Sharpness of the blades and various attachments
Straightforward
When buying zucchini, make sure that it is as straight as possible. You can also process crooked vegetables, but the spirals are much shorter.
The sharpness of the blades is very important with spiral cutters. The blades of most devices in spiral cutter tests are particularly sharp. This enables them to slide easily and quickly through the fruit or vegetables to be cut . Most spiral cutters also come with additional blades. Usually there are 3 or 4 attachments with different blade thicknesses or spacings.
2.3. Wattage electric spiral cutter
While you are responsible for the force applied to a manually operated spiral cutter, it is the motor that determines the power in the electric models. The wattage is between 70 and 100 watts .
2.4. Ergonomics and cutting results
Use a spiral cutter to transform raw vegetables into spaghetti-like spirals.
You will get the best results with an electric spiral cutter. Operation is also easiest here. All you have to do is insert the vegetables and press the power button. The larger spiral cutters with crank also give good results. The operation is simple here , so cut with a little skill even spirals.
Small spiral cutters and vegetable sharpeners also achieve passable results, however, they differ significantly in ergonomics and uniformity of the cut from the more stable standing devices.
2.5. measurements and weight
Compact spiral cutters and vegetable cutters are particularly handy. Depending on the model, they even fit comfortably in your cutlery drawer. Crank spiral cutters and electric spiral cutters, on the other hand, have larger dimensions. You need a little more space in the closet. Often some parts can be removed so that the devices fit better in the kitchen cabinet .
The weight of the compact hand-held spiral cutters is usually between 50 and 150 grams . Crank spiral cutters weigh about 550 to 850 grams , electric models are significantly heavier because of the motor. They weigh about 1 to 2 kilograms .
2.6. Other properties: slip resistance and dishwasher-safe
Slip resistance is an important criterion for floor-standing units. Especially with the devices that you drive with a crank, you should be sure that the spiral cutter is firmly on its surface. While electric spiral cutters often stand very securely because of their higher weight, the Lurch spiral cutters score with special suction feet , with which they stand securely on your worktop.
Most spiral cutters are dishwasher safe, you can clean them in the dishwasher . Usually not the entire device, of course, but at least the most important components, such as collecting containers, blades and plastic parts .
2.7. Accessories included: with cleaning brush and collecting container
The electric spiral cutters have a collection container in which the fresh vegetable spirals end up. There is no such container in the compact models and spiral cutters with crank. Here you can use a bowl of your choice.
A cleaning brush - as practical as it is - is unfortunately only included in very few devices. You can often remove vegetable residues with a dish brush . In the case of particularly narrow spaces, special smaller brushes are more suitable. Many manufacturers include recipes with their spiral cutters that you can be inspired by.
3. The best spiral cutters are smooth and easy to use
If the spiral cutter is not only operated with the push of a button, it is particularly important that it runs smoothly and is easy to use . This includes that the crank can be easily turned and the vegetables are pushed evenly against the blade.
4. Spiral cutter in the test: Most devices are robust and easy to maintain
Vegetable pasta is a healthy alternative to pasta made from durum wheat semolina.
It is important that kitchen appliances are robust and easy to clean. This is the case with most devices in spiral cutter tests. They are made of plastic, which is resistant and very easy to maintain . The blades are mostly made of stainless steel. This is also durable and easy to maintain.
5. Tips for maintaining and cleaning your spiral cutter
After cooking and baking, it is time to clean the material and kitchen. This is no different when using spiral cutters. Spiral cutter tests have shown that it makes sense - and makes work easier - not to take too much time after using it. The sooner you go for cleaning , the faster you can remove the remains of fruit and vegetables from the blades, containers and housing.
A special cleaning brush is only included with a few devices . Often a normal or slightly smaller dish brush is sufficient. Under running, warm water you can usually clean the components of your spiral cutter quite quickly. If you don't want to wash the spiral cutter for vegetable spaghetti by hand, you can also wash a variety of devices and parts in the dishwasher .
Tip: When cleaning in the dishwasher, we recommend that you roughly rinse the spiral cutter under running water to prevent buildup of vegetable residues.
6. Well-known brands and manufacturers of spiral cutters
If you have ever been looking for a spiral cutter for zucchini spaghetti or a spiral cutter for potato spirals, you will have noticed how large the selection of vegetable cutters is . Numerous practical kitchen helpers are ready to use their blades to turn vegetables into attractive spirals:
In addition to the most well-known models such as Lurch spiral cutters, WMF spiral cutters or the more expensive Kitchenaid spiral cutters, there are also many cheaper models, for example Gefu spiral cutters or Tchibo spiral cutters. The main manufacturers , we have summarized for you:
- Feu
- Joseph Joseph
- Kenwood
- Leifness
- Lurch
- Severin
- Westmark
- WMF
7. Frequently asked questions about vegetable spiral cutters and vegetable cutters
7.1. Where can I buy spiral cutters?
Some spiral cutters have special interchangeable blade inserts to produce vegetable spirals of various thicknesses.
Vegetable pasta has conquered the kitchens of health-conscious consumers in recent years. Since kitchen gadgets such as vegetable and spiral cutters are experiencing a real boom in this context, you can buy them in many shops . In addition to specialist shops, the kitchen departments of large department stores are also possible.
You will also find a large selection in online shops, be it Lurch spiral cutters, OXO, WMF spiral cutters or Gefu spiral cutters. But the discounters, for example Aldi and Lidl, have also picked up on the trend and regularly offer cheap spiral cutters .
7.2. Which vegetables are suitable for a spiral cutter?
Not every vegetable is suitable for the use of a spiral cutter. Hollow vegetables such as peppers are just as unsuitable as tomatoes. In addition to the consistency, the size of the vegetables also plays a role . In both manual and electric spiral cutters, the vegetables must fit into an opening.
The pointed opening and filler shaft of the vegetable slicer specify the maximum size. Courgettes, carrots, sweet potatoes and potatoes are ideal . Beetroot, parsnips and fruit such as apples and pears can also be processed. Make sure that the fruit is not too soft and juicy, otherwise you might get some kind of mush instead of spirals.
7.3. What do I do with the vegetable scraps?
It is in the nature of things that spiral cutters - electrical or manual - cannot process the entire fruit. Potatoes, zucchini and Co. often have a lot of parts left over. You can eat this raw - with the exception of the potato. Alternatively, you can cut the leftovers into small cubes , freeze them and cook a tasty vegetable soup later .
Depending on how you process the spirals, you can simply add the small pieces. Dog owners can also puree or cook leftover vegetables and add them to their four-legged friends' food if they can tolerate them.
7.4. How does Stiftung Warentest assess spiral cutters?
The experts at Stiftung Warentest have not yet chosen a spiral cutter test winner. However, in issue 08/2018 they refer to a spiral cutter test by their Portuguese partner magazine Pro teste. A number of spiral cutters were tested in this test, including both manual and electric spiral cutters .
The best spiral cutter in the field was the Kenwood FGP203WG electric spiral cutter. This device particularly impressed the testers when slicing zucchini, carrots and potatoes. Thanks to three different knife inserts, you can use this electric spiral cutter to produce differently shaped vegetable noodles.
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