Another compact handheld option, the OXO Good Grips Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer is simplicity at its best, and the most ergonomic product we reviewed. Most mandolines come with a food holder or safety guard. This functions like a handle that clips onto the food, so you can slide your ingredients along the ramp without putting your fingers too close to the blade.

The Fullstar Mandoline and Spiral Slicer 6-in-1 is an inexpensive gadget. It consists of a rectangular plastic bin with a surface on top into which you snap one of two slicing blades, a julienne blade, a grater, a ribbon blade, or a spiralizer. When it came to slicing fries, results were all over the place. Some were too thin, others were ragged, and only two mandolines sliced near-perfect fries. The small julienne blade will create small strips, and the large julienne blade is ideal for making batonnet-size cuts. The straight blade will create simple slices, and the wavy blade makes crinkle cuts.Ask any chef and they’re likely to say a Benriner mandoline is in their knife kit. They like this Japanese mandoline for its convenient size and sharp blade. As it doesn’t have legs, it’s not bulky but it has a wider runway than other handheld models which makes it possible to slice large vegetables like Vidalia onions or eggplants. In general, with so many parts, slicers with small grids or lots of moving parts will be tougher to clean. Stainless steel models require more maintenance but can last longer. They must be cleaned after every use and dried completely, and some may even require oil to keep it in great shape.

One major safety issue with this model is that snapping the blades in and out of place requires your fingers to work dangerously close to the sharp edges. In addition, the blade clip leaves a small divot in the runway that can catch food as it slides down. The majority of mandoline bases are made mostly out of plastic. This material is lightweight, very easy to clean and maintain, and also a less expensive option than metal slicers. As you’re shopping and researching, be on the lookout for BPA-free plastic to avoid any chemical contamination. We’ve researched dozens of models to help you discern which brands to buy. But our help can only go so far – there are still some essential questions you need to ask yourself first!

This design also helps you slice every last bit of food. A small container sits under the mandoline to catch the slices as they fall off the blade. However, the chute is only about 2 ½ inches in diameter so you need to halve or quarter many foods before you slice them. If you don’t tread carefully, the sharp blade can slice through a finger as swiftly as it does a potato. For this reason, it is vital to look for a high-quality product, one that slices with minimal force and provides proficient safety mechanisms. However, you do have to learn which lever controls what blade – it’s best to have a practice round before you start slicing so you know how to raise and lower each portion! To help ensure you don't have any accidents, our experts say that one of the most important things is to always use the food holder or safety guard. They also note you should toss the small pieces of the produce or use a regular knife, as it's not worth slicing down to the very end and risking your safety. Make sure the ingredient and mandoline are dry and clear out the sliced product often so it doesn't cause buildup. If you’re making eggplant rollatini you can get beautiful planks of eggplant. When you have an urge to make a waffle fry or julienned carrot salad, the specialty blades can come to your aid.

Dull blades, like those on the OXO Chef's SteeL Mandoline 2.0, tore at potatoes and created ragged cuts. Well this is one where I can really say I am bit disappointed in myself, because I still do not have a mandoline. I know that I would use one, to, because I love using them for potatoes to make the homemade au gratin, but it just hasn’t been the same without one. With that said, I can certainly use this as a little guide to go off of, but I am not really looking forward to spending a lot, so I guess we’ll see. Thanks for sharing. Reply The handheld models typically have a handle to hold while resting the base against a counter or bowl. This allows the user to choose the angle at which they slice, and also gives more of a feeling of control. Additionally, this makes it simple to slice straight over a bowl or plate. Two notches at the base corners of the ramp make it easy to secure and slice straight over a bowl. A handle at the other end provides you with the ergonomic stability you need to firmly hold on while you use it. In all fairness, it has a sharp blade and a runway that’s wide enough for an oversized eggplant. And if you slice without the handguard (carefully, please) you can get good results.The mandoline is 12.6 inches long, 4.72 inches wide, and 1.57 inches tall. It weighs 0.8 pounds (12.8 ounces). Its dimensions are 15.43 inches long, 8.9 inches wide, and 2.56 inches high. It weighs 9.9 ounces, or about 0.6 pounds, another lightweight in the kitchen that’s easy to move around as needed to keep up with a busy professional and home cook. We found that our slicing motion was not seamless because of a slight ridge in the mandoline—you’ll want to watch out for this to avoid accidents. Looking for a great way to achieve those perfectly thin-sliced tomatoes or scalloped potatoes even if you don't have expert knife skills (or the best knives)? Try a mandoline. Currently, The Swissmar Borner V-Power is available in an array of fun and bright colors including orange, green, purple, red, and white.

Having said that, perhaps this model would in fact be a better fit among the basic models recommended above. Nonetheless, for its basic function, this slicer is a standout with countless fans and dedicated users.The straight blade does require the use of some extra force in slicing, and the hand guard can feel bulky and awkward to use at first, compared to the more ergonomic plastic guards we’ve seen.