Equipment Expert’s Guide to Mandolines
A good, sharp mandoline can slice food beautifully. Which is the best—and safest? Equipment expert Adam Ried shares with Julia his top picks for mandolines.
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My 70s Börner still works fine.
In what key are those played?
The Benriner Mandoline was $101.97 when I looked just now. The OXO version is $99.99…
An Equipment expert uses a Bron.
I've been using my Zyliss mandoline for the best part of 20 years now. After 10 years' use, I touched up the blades with a Swiss iStor sharpener. Mostly I use the mandoline for potatoes and leeks for making gratin. If you press the vegetable too hard against the bed of the mandoline, you'll produce uneven slices. I acquired mine on the advice of a professional chef who had two in the kitchen where he worked. V-shaped blades create less drag and chances for slippage, so they're the best for most home cooks who don't use them on a regular basis.
Hmm, I’m fairly certain I bought the V-slicer A few years ago based on the recommendation at that time. Probably should mention that since their last review of mandolins, that has changed just to be upfront about it.
The Benriner is $109 on Amazon, not $51.
The Oxo Is $99.99 at Amazon, $112 at Williams-Sonoma.
The Benriner is $106, not $51.
What about details on all the others?
I have a 20-year-old Matfer Bourgeat mandoline. Its blade can be taken out and sharpened. Totally worth the investment I made way back then!
Why didn't you talk about the standing one?
Don't buy any of these. They recommended a totally different last time. I think it depends on who's paying them what
Hog puffer
Their conversation was so unnatural. It would have been better if the man did the presentation on his own 🙄
I understand you're point about the size of the hand guard but something that large is just silly and it severely limits what you can cut if you use the guard on everything.
generally dont use a guard, which can sometimes end up in the food. just stop well short and discard the rest. the guards themselves can cause you to slip in all sorts of ways. i have that cream colored mandoline, but still cant work out how to adjust cut depth. i also cut over a large bowl, so stability on a bowl is important to me.
Starting to think OXO watches this channel. Nothing I've got from them is subpar.
I wish that u guys would of talked about the other bad or not so good ones
Hey Adam, Was just looking through your archives and I did NOT see anything on "meat slicers," like the ones you see at the butchers or at the deli meat counters. I have been interested in getting one for the longest time and think that your other viewers would also appreciate seeing what they do. Food storage machines and bags are nothing without a decent "meat slicer!" You know its cost effective when buying in bulk!
I purchased the winning oxo mandoline for $120 and I was very unhappy with the results it took chunks out of the end of every kind of vegetable that I tried to slice with it. I thought maybe it was a defect from the factory so I had also send me a new one and the same thing happens with the new one I agree that the food holder is a good size but if it’s not gonna slice a vegetable cleanly then it doesn’t matter. I have used several different brands and types and the Benriner is definitely a great choice but it doesn’t have a wide enough slicing bed
I have that small handheld mandolins and it is best thing ever. I cook for one mostly and just use it to quickly cut over pot or for a salad then into dish washer or quickly hand wash. Use it daily or multiple times a day. I have a bigger one, but that one's so quick and easy, it's the one I grab for
First mandoline I ever used was a v-slicer made in Sweden, I think, in a small café I was working in. Probably made in the 90's and rarely used. Super sharp and extremely sturdy, very easy breezy to cut through anything – including carrots. NEVER left those goofy v-cuts shown here on anything. Went to buy one for myself and the newer models looked flimsy. Lucked out and found the older style, rarely -if ever – used. $5 at a thrift store. I am not a clutzy person at all, very comfortable with sharp knives. Definitely use a glove with any mandoline!
I've been using the same inexpensive Progressive mandoline for many years and it is still very sharp and easy to use. The only time I cut myself is when I get lazy about using the guard.