• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Zucchini Zone
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • About
×
Home » How-To

How To Make Zucchini Noodles

Published: Jul 26, 2023 · Modified: Jan 29, 2025 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 904 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

Learn how to make zucchini noodles using five different, easy methods. Use zucchini noodles for fresh salads, layering into lasagna, or topping with pasta sauce.

Different sizes and shapes of zucchini noodles laying on a metal sheet pan.

If you have an abundance of garden zucchini, then you may be looking for new ways to use it up. Making zucchini noodles takes just a little bit of prep and is an easy way to add more veggies to your meals.

Use spiralized zucchini to make recipes like zucchini noodle alfredo. Wide zucchini noodles are perfect for zucchini ribbon salad, a raw salad made with simple, refreshing ingredients.

Today I'm sharing five different methods to make a variety of zucchini noodle shapes. I'll be using a spiralizer, julienne peeler, vegetable peeler, mandoline slicer, and a knife.

Jump to:
  • Spiralizer
  • Julienne peeler
  • Vegetable peeler
  • Mandoline slicer
  • Mandoline and/or knife
  • Does zucchini need to be cooked?
  • How long to cook zucchini noodles
  • How to prevent soggy zoodles
  • Comments

Spiralizer

Spiralized zucchini noodles laying on a white plate.

A spiralizer is a tool that slices your zucchini into thin, curly noodles. Handheld versions are usually inexpensive and easy to find, but to require a bit of elbow grease to use. Electric or hand crank options are also available, which may be ideal if you plan to spiralize lots of veggies.

To use a spiralizer: First, trim bottom end of your zucchini, creating a flat surface to make contact with the spiralizer. Align the zucchini with the center of the spiralizer and make contact. Then, slowly turn the zucchini by hand using light pressure, or use the hand crank to spin your zucchini (depending on the type of spiralizer you have on hand).

  • Handheld: OXO Good Grips Handheld Spiralizer (pictured above)
  • Hand crank: Spiralizer Vegetable Slicer (4-in-1 Rotating Blades) Heavy Duty Veggie Spiralizer
  • Electric: Hamilton Beach 3-in-1 Electric Vegetable Spiralizer & Slicer
  • Stand mixer attachment: KitchenAid Spiralizer Attachment, 1", Silver

Julienne peeler

A julienne peeler and zucchini noodles laying on a white plate.

A julienne peeler is a small handheld tool, much like a vegetable or potato peeler, that turns your vegetable into long, thin strips. Some mandoline slicers also include a julienne blade that will produce the same result. Use a julienne peeler for vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and zucchini. Julienned veggies can be peeled long (like pictured) to make noodles, or shorter for slaws and salads.

To use a julienne peeler: Place your zucchini down longways on a flat surface. Holding the zucchini by one end, carefully drag the peeler from one end to the other, creating long, thin strands.

  • OXO Stainless Steel Good Grips Prep Julienne Y-Peeler (pictured above)
  • OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set - Swivel and Julienne

Vegetable peeler

A vegetable peeler and zucchini noodles laying on a white plate.

While a vegetable peeler is commonly used to peel the skin off potatoes, it's also great at making thin, wide zucchini noodles. Most home kitchens will have this type of tool on hand.

To use a vegetable peeler: Just like the julienne peeler, place your zucchini down longways on a sturdy surface. Holding the zucchini by one end, carefully drag the peeler from one end to the other, creating long, wide strands.

  • OXO Good Grips Swivel Vegetable Peeler
  • OXO Good Grips 2-Piece Peeler Set - Swivel and Julienne

Mandoline slicer

Wide zucchini noodles laying on a white plate.

A mandoline slicer is commonly used to thin-slice vegetables like potatoes for an au gratin or cucumbers for pickles. It also makes excellent wide, long zucchini noodles for zucchini lasagna or zucchini ribbon salad. While this effect can also be achieved by using a sharp chef's knife, a mandoline slicer is quicker and more precise.

To use a mandoline slicer - Slice off both ends of your zucchini. Then, gently glide the zucchini over the mandoline blade, creating thin, wide ribbons. Take care to keep your fingers clear of the blade or use the included food safety holder.

  • Mueller Stainless Steel Mandoline Slicer
  • Prepworks by Progressive Adjust-A-Slice Mandoline

Mandoline and/or knife

Long thin zucchini noodles laying on a white plate.

The wide, thin noodles made using a mandoline slicer (above) can also be achieved using a sharp chef's knife. Those wide, thin noodles can also be further sliced down to create noodles about the thickness of fettuccine.

To use a knife: Slice both ends off the zucchini. Either using a mandoline slicer or a knife, slice your zucchini into long, wide noodles. Lay the noodles flat on a cutting board, then carefully slice lengthwise into three or four long, thin noodles, about fettuccine thickness.

  • HENCKELS Classic Razor-Sharp 8-inch Chef Knife

Does zucchini need to be cooked?

No! It's perfectly safe to eat zucchini raw if desired. Here are a few of my favorite raw zucchini recipes:

  • Zucchini ribbon salad
  • Bread and butter zucchini pickles
  • Summer vegetable pasta salad

How long to cook zucchini noodles

Zucchini noodles are thin and cook very quickly, so they only need a quick sauté for about 2-3 minutes in a pan on the stovetop before they're ready to serve. Any longer and your noodles will start to get soggy and limp.

How to prevent soggy zoodles

Zucchini are about 90% water, so it's very easy for zucchini noodles to become watery. Here are a few tips to help prevent soggy noodles.

  • Once sliced, your zucchini begins to 'sweat' and release water. After slicing, but before cooking, pat your zoodles dry with a paper towel.
  • After cooking, transfer your zucchini noodles into a colander and allow to drain while preparing any other ingredients, like a sauce.
  • Take care not to overcook your zucchini noodles. Make sure they still feel a little firm when moving them around in the pan. Zucchini cooks quickly, and noodles only take about 2-3 minutes to cook through.
  • Give your noodles another pat with a paper towel or kitchen towel before adding to a sauce. Adding wet noodles to a sauce will make it watery.

More How-To

  • A metal sheet pan filled with thick slices of zucchini.
    How To Keep Zucchini From Getting Soggy
  • Large yellow zucchini flowers on a zucchini plant.
    The Difference Between Male and Female Zucchini Flowers
  • A butterfly on an orange marigold.
    Zucchini Companion Plants for the Home Garden
  • Four zucchini on a countertop with a kitchen towel.
    Benefits of Zucchini

Share this post:

Subscribe

for your weekly recipe fix.

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I'm Heather, and I'm here to share my recipes for all that backyard garden zucchini.

More about me →

Popular posts

  • A pan of pasta and vegetables with sliced chicken breast on top.
    Chicken Primavera
  • Cheesy zucchini bites stacked on a plate.
    Cheesy Zucchini Bites
  • A slice of frosted chocolate cake on a plate.
    Chocolate Zucchini Cake
  • A decorative collage of vegetable smoothie recipes.
    15 Vegetable Smoothie Recipes

Summer Recipes

  • Slices of tomato basil zucchini bread on a wooden serving board.
    Tomato Basil Zucchini Bread
  • A decorative collage of various grilled vegetables.
    21 Best Vegetables for Grilling
  • Slices of pineapple zucchini bread on a wooden cutting board.
    Pineapple Zucchini Bread
  • Grilled chicken kabobs on a white serving plate.
    Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Footer

Explore

  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2025 Zucchini Zone