HOW TO USE A SPIRALIZER

Do you want to experiment with low carb veggie noodles? Need help slicing your vegetables extra thin for salads, stir fry, pickling or slaws? With the right attachments, your KitchenAid® stand mixer can help you get a variety of cuts for whatever recipes you dream up, like spiralizing those zucchini noodles for your next pasta dish or slicing vegetables extra thin for salads, stir fry and slaws. This guide can help you learn how to use a spiralizer and other slicing attachments from KitchenAid brand for unlimited possibilities to experiment and create.

A teal KitchenAid® Stand Mixer and zucchini spirals. A teal KitchenAid® Stand Mixer and zucchini spirals.

What Can You Use a Spiralizer For?

KitchenAid® spiralizer attachments are versatile and have multiple uses depending on the blade you choose. In addition to slicing thin pasta-like strands, your attachments can also create ribbons, peel potatoes, core apples and create extra fine to medium spirals for a range of fresh ingredients. Experiment with spiralizing a variety of fruits and vegetables to add a refreshing twist to classic recipes. Stretch your creativity with some of the foods from this list:

  • Apples

  • Beets

  • Butternut Squash

  • Cabbage

  • Carrots

  • Cucumbers

  • Onions

  • Pears

  • Potatoes (sweet and white)

  • Summer squash
  • Zucchini

 

A KitchenAid® Stand Mixer with zucchini spirals. A KitchenAid® Stand Mixer with zucchini spirals.

How to Use a Spiralizer: Step-by-Step Instructions

With a few simple tips and this guide, you are minutes away from spiralizing zucchini, coring apples and more with a variety of spiralizer attachments from KitchenAid brand. Experiment with your fruits and veggies and discover new possibilities with the:

Stand mixer blade attachments and an apple. Stand mixer blade attachments and an apple.

Step 1: Select the Appropriate Spiralizer Blade

Get the most out of your favorite fruits and veggies by using the right-sized blade for the perfect cut. KitchenAid brand offers a wide selection of stand mixer attachments, including 5-blade, 7-blade and thin blade sets. Depending on your preference, possible blades to use are:

An extra fine spiralizing blade.
EXTRA FINE SPIRALIZING BLADE

creates a 2 mm x 3 mm strand, similar to angel hair noodles.

A fine spiralizing blade.
FINE SPIRALIZING BLADE

creates a 4 mm x 4 mm strand, similar to spaghetti.

A medium spiralizing blade.
MEDIUM SPIRALIZING BLADE

creates a 4 mm x 6 mm strand for quick and easy potatoes and zucchini in casseroles in soups.

A thin slicing blade.
THIN SLICING BLADE

(small core) for a 2 mm ribbon style result to make extra-thin slices for salads and other garnishes.

A slicing blade.
SLICING BLADE

(small core) for a 4 mm ribbon style result with fresh fruits and vegetables with little to no cores, such as zucchini.

A slicing blade.
SLICING BLADE

(large core) for a 4mm ribbon style result with fresh fruits and vegetables with larger cores, such as apples.

A peeling blade.
PEELING BLADE

can be used independently or in combination with spiralizing or spiral slicing blades.

A person inserting an attachment into a stand mixer. A person inserting an attachment into a stand mixer.

Step 2: Attach the Spiralizer Attachment to a Stand Mixer

With your produce prepped for spiralizing, the next step is to secure the attachment into the hub of the stand mixer. This is the port at the very top and front of your stand mixer. Unscrew the hub cover and rotate your desired attachment into the hub until it is secure.

  • Next, place the skewer onto the mount and turn counterclockwise until it clicks into place. 

  • If you are using the peeler, make sure to first attach it to the bottom of the blade carrier on the attachment.

  • Choose the blade you need, and insert it into the holder on top of the attachment.

Apples, zucchini and potatoes. Apples, zucchini and potatoes.

Step 3: Prep Food for the Spiralizer

Before you spiralize your produce, make sure it’s washed and properly prepared. Some general guidelines are listed below to help you perfect your cuts.

  • Cut the ends off food items to ensure that the food will properly fit on the spiralizer.

    • This creates a flat surface for best spiralizing, slicing, and coring results.

  • Food diameter: should be 1.5 to 3.75 inches (3.81 to 9.5 cm)

  • Food length: no longer than 5.5 inches (14 cm). (Cut large vegetables to fit).

    • This step also ensures proper placement onto the fruit and vegetable skewer.

A person coring an apple. A person coring an apple.

Step 4: Attach Food to the Spiralizer

After you have prepped your produce, insert your favorite fruit or vegetable into the skewer on your stand mixer. Make sure it is secure.

Spiralized zucchini dropping into a bowl. Spiralized zucchini dropping into a bowl.

Step 5: Spiralize the Attached Fruit or Vegetable

Place a large bowl underneath the spiralizer attachment to catch your creations. 

  • Pull the release lever on the attachment, and align the blade core into the center of your food.

  • Turn on your stand mixer.  

When you are beginning to cut, start at the “Stir” speed, then adjust to the recommended setting for your spiralizer blade listed in the chart below:

Icon

Use these parts

with these parts

suggested foods

speed
extra fine spiralizing blade fruit and vegetable skewer and optional peeling blade zucchini
sweet potato
beet		 2
fine spiralizing blade zucchini
sweet potato
beet		 4
medium spiralizing blade zucchini
sweet potato
potato		 6
thin slicing blade (small core) zucchini
potato
cucumber		 2
slicing blade (small core) zucchini
beet		 4
slicing blade (large core) apple
pear		 6
peeling blade fruit and vegetable skewer potato
apple		 4
Yellow spiralized potatoes in a white bowl. Yellow spiralized potatoes in a white bowl.

Spiralizer Maintenance & Troubleshooting Tips

Check out the tips below for information on cleaning and troubleshooting your spiralizer.

How to Clean a Spiralizer

  • The accessories are dishwasher safe, top rack only.

  • The main body of your KitchenAid® stand mixer should be cleaned with a warm, damp cloth.

Why is the Spiralizer Attachment Making a Hole in the Fruit or Vegetable?

  • Make sure that you use only fresh, hard and firm fruits and vegetables for best results.

  • Make sure that the fruit or vegetable is firmly on the skewer before turning on the mixer.

  • Switching the mixer on first and allowing the blade to engage with a fruit or vegetable that is already turning can actually cause the food to stop turning. This can cause the mixer to to "bore" a hole in the food item.

Why is the Spiralizer Carriage Not Moving?

  • Be sure to keep the bar that says KitchenAid® and the black piece that slides over it very clean.

  • Adding a drop or two of vegetable oil on the bar can help ensure that it slides easily.

Shop KitchenAid®Stand Mixer Attachments

With flexible options of 5-blade, 7-blade or thin spiralizer blade sets from KitchenAid, you have the freedom to peel, core, slice and spiralize for creative twists to your favorite recipes.

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