Equipment Review: Mandolines

A mandoline allows you to slice fruit and vegetables much more precisely, consistently, and quickly than you could with a chef’s knife. Which one is our favorite?

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[elizabethkizzar]

Before getting a mandoline get a cut resist glove like have in the testing kitchen. I was using a mandoline and I looked in the bowl and was puzzled for a few seconds thinking "I'm not slicing tomatoes". I had sliced a chunk off the side of my pinkie the blade was so sharp I didn't notice.

[suzannes]

I have been a longtime mandolin user. I agree on your top performer - I love my Super Benriner. I also love the Kyocera hand slicers/graters, they do have a matchstick version with an adjustable thickness. (I also have the flat cut version you showed.) I pull one of these out to do quick garnishes and other small jobs. They clean very easily, although, as you said, the hand guard is not sufficient. I recently bought the Rosle food grip with hand guard. It stabilizes the food well for safe mandolin slicing and it can be flipped over at the end to grab and push food to slice flush to the slicing plane in order to avoid food waste - and you don't have to do that "pushing the pin while slicing thing" that the one you showed requires.

I recently found two items that I never knew I needed, that work fantastically, that I had sent from Japan from a place called Bento & Co. Along with my Miyabi Black knives they now make me feel like my "slicing arsenol" (lol) is now complete. One is a "waffle cut multipurpose peeler" that makes beautiful, paper thin waffle cuts on hard items like daikon radishes, carrots, etc. The other is a "thin julienne peeler" that also cuts beautifully and easily, and is great for making lovely pickles, salads and classic Asian style garnishes with zero food waste. Both are very sturdy and less than $20 USD each.

Thanks for yet another great video ATK team!

[fuzzykuma]

This channel is my life saver. Cooking isn’t my forte and learning what tools help save time and space has been life changing. Thank you all so much for your work in bringing us all this helpful info!

[francinecorry]

One important safety tip, do not operate when impaired! Took a trip to the ER while operating under the influence, bled like crazy.Dr. had difficulty stopping the bleeding.I now deploy the cut resistant glove when using my old green Benriner that is still plenty sharp.

[JackieDannenberg]

I bought the Oxo and used it to make onion rings. I LOVE it ! Can’t wait to do more with it ! Much better than one I owned a few years ago. Much less cumbersome and this is SO easy to use ! Thanks for your reviews ! Money well spent ! Thanks again !

[MrQuestful]

I second the Benriner choice, I’ve bought 3 different mandolins (v-blade, oxo mini like the Kyocera, Benriner) and have found of the three, the Benriner is the hands down best. It’s ability to dial in the height of the blade is second to none, whereas the other two use set intervals that aren’t always ideal. Best of all, you can sharpen and even order replacement blades for the Benriner. If you want ratatouille like the movie, this is the tool to cut it.

[Fuskobot]

I was just slicing on my mandolin thinking what a great tool it was. Not only did this video just plop up, but my benriner was also the test winner xD
Such a practical and well worth tool!

[claranumberone]

Today is January 26/2022 and the price for the OXO mandolin is $78.35
And for the Benriner Super Slicer, with 4 Japanese Stainless Steel Blades, Beige $89

[ZainxIqbal]

So glad you guys updated this. I've been waiting for your previous winner to come back in stock, but it's never available. Glad I watched this before shelling out the $50 for it, too, only for it to no longer be your top pick.

[ranysaab]

After working in a kitchen for many years a while back I’ve seen some absolute horror stories from people using mandolins. Just looking at a mandolin makes me a bit queasy.

[jrkorman]

I'll stick with my De Buyer Mandoline that I bought well over 20 years ago. Still looks and cuts like new. Note they did mention the spring cutting attachment but not the name. Not cheap, but nearly all stainless steel, very easy to keep clean, and I'm willing to bet, still usable decades after the plastic ones are in the trash.

[TheRepublicOfJohn]

OXO earned themselves brand loyalty from me based on my purchases of the OXO products recommended by ATK/Cooks Illustrated. I have the V-blade model with easily removable blades and the plunger-style hand-guard. Mine is white plastic and only has 4 depth-of-cut settings in 1/8" increments but I use it multiple times a week and haven't had any problems in the year since I bought it.

[tlsnana]

I don’t like to switch around with gadgets unless I have a “bad” design, etc. I bought the Swissmar V-prep, based on your last mandolin review and I’m still very happy. I like the small footprint and large safety guard.

[SighMN]

I've had the Swissmar Borner V-Slicer for 20 years without any problems. I agree the plastic platform is not exactly stable so if you don't put consistent pressure you may get some inconsistent cuts, but it isn't hard to adjust to that. I'm sure you recommended the Borner V-Slicer before. Why did you guys change your mind? I never had a problem with the sharpness of the blade.

[gelwood]

I am surprised they didn't test the Kitchen Aide Mandoline. I got one for work, deli prep, and using the cut-proof glove it was a dream. I did modify the blade guard by removing it and I got one for home. It has extras and is adjustable from thin slices to thick slices, costing around $50 or less. My favorite by far and I have used several over 19 years at my job.

[Shelsight]

I took the top of my forefinger off just trying to switch blades on the previous OXO. Crazy dangerous. Thankfully they've changed it now.

[miniair]

Yay back to the old school equipment reviews

[JenniferSmith-jwdw]

I recently purchased the OXO chef 2.0 in stainless. My first impression was good as I've never been disappointedby an OXO product before. It was heavy duty. Seemed well built and stored nicely. After using it the first time I quickly realized a major design flaw. There is absolutely no way to completely clean the the blade area where the Julian blades pop up from. I tried using high water pressure and small brushes. Nothing worked to get the food particles out. I'm super bummed and am returning it. I can't believe the manufacturer overlooked something so basic and important.

[cozyvamp]

I still have my mom's Benriner from back when they were bamboo rather than plastic. Still sharp. Still works great, especially the specialty blade which don't get a lot of use.

[squidben]

Excellent video and reviews, will probably go wit the Benriner !!!