I have the benriner mandolin that Geo mentioned above. It comes in two sizes (regular & super) and is sharp, easy-to-use, tiny-to-store, and inexpensive.

jamison22—if you're still listening!— I want to thank you again for that tip about using the kevlar glove on the mandoline. Last night I made a Banh Mi pickle which required julienne-ing a bunch of carrots, a very dangerous job without the glove. But it went painlessly and I ended up with a nice supply of pickle.

Just a great call!

Geo

I bought this Kyocera ceramic blade slicer one day on impulse when I saw it hanging in the aisle at Whole foods. It is crazy sharp and I love it - it is a million times better than the Oxo-like knock-off I got at Linens & Things a while ago (which is not sharp and is a pain to clean). Mine is not adjustable and doesn't julienne or waffle-cut, but it seems like those options are available if you shop around.

What's the recent forum consensus on good mandolines? I have an old cheapish one that has gone dull from decades of use and am willing to invest in a serious one if you guys are behind it!

Annak--

Buy yourself a Benriner (<$30) and a Kevlar glove. Play around with it. I think you'll find it surprisingly versatile. And, at that price, you can buy yourself a new one every couple of yrs!

Geo

I have a similar Genius product that I bought from QVC and am happy with it. You'll notice that it has a V blade which I believe makes it easier to slice than a straight blade. The large grip also eliminates the need for special protective gloves. My fingers or hands have never come anywhere near the blade.
Genius Gourmet Mandolin Slicers Set of 2

Product I own from QVC: Genius Speed Slicer Plus with Storage Container

Geo wrote:Annak--

Buy yourself a Benriner (<$30) and a Kevlar glove. Play around with it. I think you'll find it surprisingly versatile. And, at that price, you can buy yourself a new one every couple of yrs!

Geo

This is definitely still the way to go - I use my Benriner all the time and have never had any problems with it. The funny thing is that I have family members who see me using it and decide that a "nice " mandoline would make a great Xmas or birthday present for me - I have a box in the attic full of expensive mandolines that were simply a pain to use.

Has anyone ever seen kevlar gloves in larger than human? One size fits all is a very bad joke.

JoelF,take a look at Duluth Tradings website for kevlar gloves..

jerryg wrote:JoelF,take a look at Duluth Tradings website for kevlar gloves..

Noop. Kevlar boot laces, but no gloves.

Not Kevlar, but I like these from Northwest.

I was given a MATFER 44595 STAINLESS MANDOLINE some 20 years ago and it has been wonderful
there are a bunch on Ebay for $60 or so.

TheSweethome.com recently updated their comprehensive review of mandolines.

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-mandoline/

The ones highlighted were the KitchenAid V-Slicer (top pick), Swissmar Börner VPower (for those who need more than straight cuts), and the Super Benriner (for pros and more experienced chefs).

--
edc

edc wrote:TheSweethome.com recently updated their comprehensive review of mandolines.

http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-mandoline/

The ones highlighted were the KitchenAid V-Slicer (top pick), Swissmar Börner VPower (for those who need more than straight cuts), and the Super Benriner (for pros and more experienced chefs).

--
edc

I've been very happy with my Swissmar Börner VPower; used it to make hash browns this morning. It's easy to use and clean and it is SAFE. The hand guard is large and stable in operation and it holds food securely.

I love my V-Slicer but after about 20 years of pretty regular use the blades started to become ineffective, so I just plunked down $35 for a new one.

=R=

I love my Oxo mandoline. It's easy to clean, sturdy, and fairly easy to switch blades.

I've had a Benriner Mandoline for about a year, maybe a little more, highly functional and well worth the $30 I paid. Used it tonight for an Alice Waters inspired salad. Fresh fennel/mushroom on the mandoline. Salt, pepper, good olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and Parmigiano curls.



Fennel/mushroom salad, count me a Fan!

I'm also happy with my OXO. I picked it up at Bloomingdale's a few years ago when we had a credit that we were having a hard time finding something to use it on.

It stays sharp, blade changing is easy, cleaning is no problem. I know it isn't top of the line, but it works for what we need.

G Wiv wrote:I've had a Benriner Mandoline for about a year, maybe a little more, highly functional and well worth the $30 I paid. Used it tonight for an Alice Waters inspired salad. Fresh fennel/mushroom on the mandoline. Salt, pepper, good olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest and Parmigiano curls.

Fennel/mushroom salad, count me a Fan!

Other than the fact that I'm not a fan of fennel, that salad looks great, Gary.

I've had an ultra-cheap V-Slicer for at least 30 years (greatest infomercial ever?) and it's still going strong. It's not particularly versatile or tough but what it does, it does pretty well. I also have a fancier mandoline that I received as a gift some years back and it's still in a drawer, bnib.

=R=

chicagojim wrote:I'm also happy with my OXO. I picked it up at Bloomingdale's a few years ago when we had a credit that we were having a hard time finding something to use it on.

It stays sharp, blade changing is easy, cleaning is no problem. I know it isn't top of the line, but it works for what we need.

I had a Benriner Mandoline forever, think I even replaced it once. Now have an OXO and like it at least as well, probably more, especially that it is steel over plastic. Still don't use it that often, but enjoy using it when I do.

I used a Frugal Gourmet mandoline, purchased at Marshall Field's, for 25+ years it got so dull I couldn't even cut myself with it. I'm digging the Benriner, works great and is sharp sharp sharp. Couple of uses ago I nipped a bit of my finger. I now use the guard. Call me a wimp but I detest cutting myself.

My old V slicer needed replacing and I bought an inexpensive Mueller/Austria ($30 and 4,400 5-star reviews). Extremely, almost dangerously, sharp. Do not use without the guard. Has 2 sets of blades that rotate up for narrow/wide julienne - like razor wire. I warned my wife away from using it, she's injured herself several times on the old dull one.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CT ... UTF8&psc=1

chicagojim wrote:I'm also happy with my OXO. I picked it up at Bloomingdale's a few years ago when we had a credit that we were having a hard time finding something to use it on.

It stays sharp, blade changing is easy, cleaning is no problem. I know it isn't top of the line, but it works for what we need.

I recently through my Oxo away. I could never remember how to set it up and had to call my daughter every time I used it ( obviously not that often). Also hate the guard. Shallots are the thing I most want to slice on the mandolin and the Oxo guard will not hold them. Will the Benriner guard hold a shallot?

G Wiv wrote:I used a Frugal Gourmet mandoline, purchased at Marshall Field's, for 25+ years it got so dull I couldn't even cut myself with it. I'm digging the Benriner, works great and is sharp sharp sharp. Couple of uses ago I nipped a bit of my finger. I now use the guard. Call me a wimp but I detest cutting myself.

After almost losing a couple of digits, I invested in an oyster shucking glove to use with the mandoline and it works great. Better than the guard for me.

Great idea. Thank you.

lougord99 wrote:Will the Benriner guard hold a shallot?

Yes. Which leads me to a confession. When I read this I thought no as, just last night, I had trouble getting the last third of mushroom to slice with the guard. I thought about this today and realized I was using the guard wrong, or at least not taking advantage of both positions offered. I am not the sharpest Mandoline blade in the bunch.

I'll post two pictures, one in which the guard rides on the sides, the other where it fits in the slicing groove for smaller items. I thought about not posting this but hopefully my stupidity will help another, that is if anyone else is as dense as me.