In the June 15 edition of Crave I wrote about the OXO Spiralizer, saying how much I loved the three types of noodles the gadget produced, but that the $40 tool may be a little pricey and a little too big for kitchens with limited storage.
Chef’n has a similar tool that is about $15 cheaper and small enough to fit in a deep drawer. The Twist Spiral Slicer has an easy-to-use, hand-held base and three cone-shaped blade attachments — thick ribbon, thin spaghetti and shoestring — that can turn produce into a substitute for pasta or into colorful, eye-pleasing salads.
But because of the smaller base size, veggies and fruits have to be cut to a length of 5 inches or less to fit between the blade and the metal spikes used to hold each item in place. And, the diameter cannot be more than 3 inches or so.
Because of its shape, Chef’n’s Twist cannot handle round objects, such as whole fruit. The pricier OXO device was able to spiralize a whole pear with its flat blade cutting against the fruit.
Still, even if Chef’n’s instrument can’t do everything the OXO does, it is easy to use, clean and store, and gets the basic job done.
Does it work?: Yes.
Pros: Uncomplicated style creates a device that is straightforward and a breeze to use. Blades are stored in the device, using minimal storage space. Easy to clean. Appealing design.
Cons: Bigger produce must be cut down, limiting items that can be spiralized. With all produce there will be portions that cannot be spiralized, but this is true for all similar gadgets. These leftovers needn’t go to waste, however, as they can still be eaten.
Cost: $22-$25 on various websites, including bhg.com, amazon.com and chefn.com.
Worth it?: Yes.