--- title: "Spiralize: what it means in cooking — Tiny Plates" description: "To spiralize is to cut vegetables or fruit into long, curly strands with a spiral slicer, often to make zucchini noodles or sweet potato spirals." url: "https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/spiralize" --- # Spiralize To spiralize is to cut vegetables or fruit into long, curly strands with a spiral slicer, often to make zucchini noodles or sweet potato spirals. Also called Spiralized, Zoodles, Courgetti, Vegetable noodles. To spiralize means to turn a vegetable or fruit into long, thin, curly strands with a spiral slicer. The strands look like noodles. Zucchini (courgette in the UK) is the most common choice, but carrots, beets (beetroot in the UK), sweet potatoes, cucumbers, apples and daikon work too. ## How to do it 1. Choose straight, firm vegetables at least 4 cm (1 1/2 inches) wide. 2. Trim both ends flat. 3. Fix one end on the blade side and the other on the prongs of the handle. 4. Pick the blade: flat for ribbons, small teeth for thin noodles, larger teeth for thick noodles. 5. Turn the handle while pressing the vegetable gently toward the blade. 6. Cut the long strands with kitchen scissors so they are easy to eat. A julienne peeler or a [mandoline](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mandoline) with a julienne blade gives straight strands if you do not have a spiral slicer. That is a [julienne](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/julienne) rather than a spiral. ## How to use it * [Zucchini](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/zucchini) noodles: eat raw with a dressing, or [sauté](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/saute) in a little oil for 1 to 2 minutes until just warm. * Sweet potato and beet spirals: roast at 200°C (400°F) for 10 to 15 minutes, or until tender. * Carrot and cucumber spirals: toss raw into salads and noodle bowls. * Apple spirals: add to salads or bake with cinnamon. ## How to store it Keep raw spiralized vegetables in a sealed container lined with a paper towel in the fridge. Firm ones such as carrots and beets keep for 3 to 5 days. Zucchini noodles are best within 1 to 2 days. ## Common mistakes * Overcooking zucchini noodles. They go limp and give off water. Cook them briefly, or warm them only with the hot sauce. * Not drying watery vegetables. Salt zucchini noodles lightly, leave them in a colander for 15 minutes, then [pat dry](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/pat-dry). * Using curved or soft vegetables. They break into short pieces. * Adding the sauce long before serving. The strands release water and thin the sauce. ## In recipes "Zoodles" and "courgetti" are zucchini noodles. "Spiralized" means cut into spiral strands, usually with a medium noodle blade unless the recipe says otherwise. ## Recipes that use this technique 18 recipes from the sites we collect. * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Mexicanspiralizedsweetpotatocasserole-3.jpg)Spiralized Mexican Sweet Potato and Chicken Casserolewww.skinnytaste.com · 105 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-mexican-sweet-potato-and/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Asian-Beef-Zoodle-Soup-1-3.jpg)Asian Beef Zoodle Soup (Whole30)www.skinnytaste.com · 20 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/asian-beef-zoodle-soup-whole30/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/EasySpiralizedSweetPotatoLatkes.jpg)Spiralized Sweet Potato Latkeswww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-sweet-potato-latkes/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/ChickenZoodleLoMeinForTwo.jpg)Chicken Zoodle "Lo Mein" For Twowww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-zoodle-lo-mein-for-two/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SpiralizedAppleSlawwithPoppySeedDressing.jpg)Spiralized Apple and Cabbage Slawwww.skinnytaste.com · 20 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-apple-and-cabbage-slaw/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/ZoodleChickenCaprese-9.jpg)Chicken and Zucchini Noodle Capresewww.skinnytaste.com · 30 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/chicken-zucchini-noodle-caprese/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/roastedbutternutsquashnoodles.jpg)Roasted Spiralized Butternut Squash Noodleswww.skinnytaste.com · 25 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/roasted-spiralized-butternut-squash/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/CrockPotChipotleChickenZoodleSoup.jpg)Chipotle Chicken Zucchini "Fideo" Soup (Slow Cooker or Instant Pot)www.skinnytaste.com · 45 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/slow-cooker-chipotle-chicken-zucchini/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Spralized-Raw-Zucchini-Salad-with-Avocado-and-Edamame.jpg)Spiralized Raw Zucchini Salad with Avocado and Edamamewww.skinnytaste.com · 25 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-raw-zucchini-salad-with/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/rawspiralizedbeetswithmandarins.jpg)Raw Spiralized Beet & Mandarin Salad with Mintwww.skinnytaste.com · 15 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/raw-spiralized-beet-mandarin-salad-with/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/spiralized-carrot-salad-with-lemon-dijon-6-1.jpg)Spiralized Carrot Salad with Lemon and Dijonwww.skinnytaste.com · 15 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-carrot-salad-with-lemon-and-dijon/) * [![](https://www.skinnytaste.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Spiralized-Carrots-and-Cucumber-2.jpg)Spiralized Summer Roll Bowls with Hoisin Peanut Saucewww.skinnytaste.com · 10 min](https://www.skinnytaste.com/spiralized-summer-roll-bowls-with-hoisin-peanut-sauce/) ## Related terms * [ZucchiniZucchini is a mild green summer squash, tender enough to eat raw and quick to cook. In the UK, Ireland and France it is called courgette.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/zucchini) * [JulienneJulienne is a knife cut that turns vegetables into thin, even matchsticks about 3 mm thick and 5 cm long, for salads, stir-fries and garnishes.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/julienne) * [MandolineA mandoline is a flat slicer with a fixed blade that cuts vegetables into even, paper-thin slices. Here is how to use one safely.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/mandoline) * [SautéTo sauté is to cook small pieces of food quickly in a little hot fat over fairly high heat, tossing or stirring so they brown lightly and cook evenly.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/saute) * [Pat dryTo pat dry is to blot the surface of meat, fish or vegetables with paper towels before cooking. A dry surface browns well and does not spit in hot oil.](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/pat-dry) [More in knife skills and preparation](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary/category/knife-skills)[Every term from A to Z](https://www.tinyplates.dev/glossary)