Benriner cook's helper--help!

[Emiliana]

Does anyone have a Benriner Cook's Helper?

I can't figure out how to use the darn thing and while I'm sure the Japanese instructions are great the English ones are kinda unclear.

I can't seem to figure out how to make long strips--I'm just getting shredded veggies. The flat blade seems to prevent longer strips.

I'm hoping this makes sense to someone!

[DebB]

Hi ~ I do not have the Benriner, but I do have a spiral slicer. Perhaps this will help. Go here to QVC (http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/view.2/app.detail/params.item.K7702.desc.Fuller-Kitchen-Solutions-Manual-Vegetable-Curler-Slicer.cm_scid.zone) to the slicer I have.

The picture shows the slicer and then 2 blades underneath. The blade on top (on the left) is what I use to make the long spaghetti type strands. I just made a tray full this morning...

Does your Benriner have a blade that looks like that? I hope this helps! *Ü*

[Emiliana]

Deb--I'm beginning to wish I got that one!

The blades on mine look kinda similiar. There's three detachable spiral blades and then a flat blade. The flat blade looks like it doesn't come out without a screwdriver.

I'm not getting long strands--just a pile of grated stuff.

[DebB]

I thought of something else.. ;) (but maybe someone will come along who's got the Benriner)

Here's a John Kohler video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IDlZBwpoTU) demonstrating the Benriner. Perhaps it will help? I hope so - a girl's gotta have her long spiral noodles!

[Emiliana]

Thanks Deb!

I've got it working now and the video helped a lot. I tried it with a piece of yellow squash that was a bit too old and soft so I only got mush.

Tried again with a beet after watching the video and it worked perfectly!

Muchas gracias!

[DebB]

Yay! Mission accomplished! You know - I was impressed with the nice thin, angel hair-like thickness the Benriner gives. You don't get that on the one I have, that's for sure! *Ü*

[Emiliana]

I guess I need to use really fresh veggies with it. And they have to have a certain diameter to them.

But I just made up a bunch of beet, daikon radish, and sweet potato "noodles" and they're great!

[Katterin]

Watch your fingers on these things!

I bought a lurch spirilo and was happily making beet, carrot and zuccini spirals... then decided to try to get rid of some of the build up on the blade... and then there was a bit more protein in the pasta!

Took 2 days to stop bleeding so I'm now going for the caution approach, rather than the idiots one :)