Chopping, grating, cutting, and even slicing your ingredients into even cuts during a food prep can be an arduous task that seems impossible even with a high-quality, sharp knife. A sharp knife will enable you to cut your food without pressure, but you need to be skilled to cut with it perfectly and achieve uniform shapes.
But you don’t have to go through the stress with a mandoline slicer. It is a perfect kitchen utensil to get the job done faster with less effort and pressure.
Mandoline slicers are valuable when you need to cook a meal that requires thinly sliced ingredients or even consistent cuts for your salad. It is ideal for all kinds of food, both delicate and tough foods.
In this post, we’ll consider the top 7 best mandoline slicers America’s Test Kitchen & Cook’s Illustrated, The Wirecutter, and Food & Wine, Consumer Reports that will cut through soft foods like tomatoes without ripping them.
What Is A Mandoline Slicer?
A mandoline slicer is a kitchen appliance with a flat, sharp surface and adjustable blades that cut your veggies and fruit into thick or thin cuts. It is mostly utilized when preparing meals that require uniformly and evenly cuts such as salad, potatoes chips, plantain chips, and coleslaw for many people.
So without further ado, let’s look at the top 7 best mandoline slicers from renowned brands.
Reviews of Best Mandoline Slicer Brand To Buy
#1- Mueller Austria Premium Quality V-Pro Multi Blade Adjustable Mandoline Slicer: Consumer Reports
Mueller Austria V-pro slicer is made of heavy-duty ABS plastic that is free of toxic chemicals and easy to clean. The knobs regulate this model at the side. These v-shaped blades are made from a German food-grade stainless steel that is super sharp, easy to install, remove, and adjust. This is a great gift item for any occasion. The thickness of the blades is adjustable within the range of 1mm to 9mm.
The finger slot at the base of the blade allows you to lift the blade with your hands. This mandoline slicer cut through any ingredients into the shape you want with any of the 5 blades. This set includes a wavy blade, slicer blade, shredder, coarse shredder, and a grater.
Pros
- Extremely sharp blades
- High-quality construction
- Versatile
- Durable
Cons
- Needs to be handled with ultra care
#2- Swissmar Borner V-1001 V-Slicer Plus Mandoline: America’s Test Kitchen & Cook’s Illustrated
The next option from Borner comes with 3 different blades for slicing, shredding, and also for julienne cuts. The thickness of the blades is 3.5mm and 7mm. The reversible slicer will cut your vegetables into thin or thick slices.
This product features a patented food safety holder that protects your hand from the sharp blades as you slice and a protective storage box. You have no fear of hurting yourself when using this mandoline. It is fabricated from durable ABS plastic that is BPA free and German grade stainless steel blades. The serrated edge of the holder allows you to push the ingredients off the slicer with minimal force. This mandoline is easy to maintain manually by rinsing it under running water after each use.
Pros
- Patented safety holder
- Durable plastic
- Easy to use
- Affordable
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
- Slippery safety holder
#3- DASH Safe Slice Mandoline
With this exceptional mandoline from Dash, you get 30 various cuts and shapes of your food. It offers you with a paper-thin slice, match stick, julienne, small cuts, and more. There are different knobs on the unit to control the different cuts and offer precision. The julienne knob differs from the match stick knob. The slicing dial is rotated to choose the thickness or thinness that you want.
Your fingers will never come in contact with the blades because they are well covered.
You push the spring-loaded handle to cut your food within seconds. This product includes extra accessories such as a cleaning brush, chute, pusher, container.
Cleaning is as swift with the aid of the cleaning brush. It takes little storage space in your drawer. The thickness of your cuts is adjustable between 0.5 mm to 8 mm.
Pros
- Thickness adjuster dial
- Built-in blades
- 30 different cuts
- Cleaning brush
Cons
- The feeder is too small for large food
#4- Progressive International, White PL8 Mandoline Slicer
This mandoline comes with non skid feet for superior safety when in use. The feet are foldable for compact storage. Fabricated from high-quality stainless steel blades and durable food-grade plastic that resist wear and safe for a dishwasher. The built-in blades can slice both tough and delicate foods with accuracy. The slicing surface is wider than other mandoline slicers. This allows the food to move smoothly when you hold with the handguard.
The safety handguard has prongs that help you secure longer foods such as carrot, cucumber. The adjustment knob at the side allows you to change the thickness without stress. When cutting julienne with this mandoline, you need to push the tab forward. For the thicker slice, you click once; for the thinner slice, you click twice.
Pros
- Advanced adjustable knob
- Extra-wide slicing deck
- Non Skid feet
- Versatile
- Built-in blades
Cons
- The blades tend to get blunt after a while
#5- OXO Good Grips Chef’s Japanese Mandoline Slicer 2.0
Without being a pro in slicing, this option offers you 21 unique cuts, including julienne, straight cuts, French fry, crinkle cut, waffle cut, and small cuts. Oxo good grips slicer is made with Japanese stainless steel blades that are inclined to cut delicate food with precision and ease. It comes with a nonslip handle that is comfortable to hold as you slice your foods. The safety food holder has a wide edge that protects you from cutting your fingers.
It features an indicator slot that displays the various thickness settings, ranging from 1mm to 9mm, with a 0.5mm adjustment. The textured slicing deck prevents food from sticking to the blade. The feet are sturdy and can withstand pressure when slicing tough foods such as carrot. It is easy to maintain with fewer detachable parts.
Pros
- Nonslip handle
- Adjustable thickness settings
- Offers 21 different cuts
- Sturdy feet
Cons
- Flimsy blades
#6- Bron Coucke Stainless Steel Classic Chef’s Mandoline
This made in France slicer is ideal for home use and is used in accomplishing different slicing jobs. It is well suited for cutting delicate and tough foods such as veggies, fruits, meat, cheese, ginger. This modern mandoline slicer from bron is made with durable stainless steel and features three unique blades that are manually operated to adjust the thickness. It is built to last for years and has sturdy feet that hold the slicer at a comfortable angle while slicing. For prolonged use, it is best to wash manually than using a dishwasher.
The stainless steel guard with a plastic handle protects the user’s finger from getting injured. The straight blade is suited for smaller slicing jobs, and the julienne blades are suited for more challenging slicing tasks. The angle of the mandolin is well designed to offer comfort and stability.
Pros
- Multiple slicing options
- Dishwasher safe
- Versatile
- Quality steel construction
Cons
- Not suited for daily use
- Costly
#7- Benriner BR1 Mandoline Slicer
The last product on this list is an upgraded version of a mandoline slicer from Benriner. It includes four blades, which are straight, coarse, fine, and medium. The blades are incredibly sharp and easy to install on the slicer with knobs to secure them safely. It is easy to store and takes little space on your counter or in your kitchen drawer.
This handheld slicer is adjustable with the rivets at the side. The finger guard is not as sturdy as others, but it offers safety when cutting smaller veggies. The handle is easy to grip with any hand and offers comfort when you slice food in a rapid motion. This model can be laid flat atop a bowl or cutting board when in use.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Simple design
- Easy to storage
- Versatile
- Super sharp
Cons
- Too small
The Wirecutter
- Almond Wide Slicer
- KitchenAid Adjustable Hand-Held V-Blade Mandoline Slicer, Black
- Swissmar Borner V Power Mandoline, V-7000, White (V-7000WH)
Food & Wine
- OXO Good Grips Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer,White
How To Choose A Best Mandoline Slicer
Before you select a mandoline slicer, there are a couple of factors to consider. Aside from the price and design, here are some of the essential features to consider when picking.
Thickness Settings
Most mandoline slicers come with different thickness settings that are adjustable with a dial, and sometimes there are some options with thickness indicators. The thickness settings offer you with different textures for your dish, from paper-thin to thicker slices. You will find options with over 30 unique cuts.
The thickness indicator shows the thickness level of the slicer when in use. The settings are manually controlled with either a dial or knob.
Handles
Look out for models with large non slip handles that can fit into any size of hands with ease and also offer maximum comfort. Secure hold on the handle reduces the risk of your fingers getting cut and other possible injuries.
Non Slip Feet or Leg
Most hands-free models have a non slip base or non skid feet that ensures the slicer sits securely on the counter. The feet ensure the slicer does not slide or slip when in use. The handheld models come with a base that sits comfortably atop a bowl for convenience and safety. Some of the legs are foldable for easy storage.
Safety Guard
Opt for products with either a food guard or a hand protector of both. A hand protector prevents your hands from accidentally getting cut by the blades. The food guard ensures your food is secured as you slice. It is advisable to use a metal mesh glove if the model doesn’t include a safety handguard.
Type Of Mandoline
There are three types of mandoline based on blade design and construction. They are V-shaped mandoline, French mandoline, and Japanese mandoline.
A V-shaped mandoline features a V-shaped blade that slashes the food on both sides and requires less drag.
French mandolines feature many thickness adjustment settings and detachable blades. They are bulky and require more time to install. French mandoline slicers include extra blades for different cuts such as waffle cuts, small cuts, vegetable slicer.
A Japanese mandoline is slimmer than others and comes with fewer accessories. They are portable and easy to carry around. Japanese mandoline is simply designed with integrated blades and fewer adjustment settings.
How To Use A Mandoline Slicer
A mandoline slicer is very easy and safe to utilize when appropriately handled. You can use this slice to create fine cuts. It is essential always to read the manual that comes with the slicer before use because every model comes with a different feature. The manual provides information on how to install, use, change, and wash.
To use a mandoline slicer, you need to know what the different blades are for and how to adjust the blade’s thickness. The dish you want to prepare will determine the types of blade you use, and it’s thickness. All you have to do is fix the food to the safety holder and slide it on the cutting surface of the slicer. The blade on the surface cut your ingredients into your desired shape. Repeat this process until you slice through all the food.
(Instructions For Zucchini & Julienne)
Zucchini is dark green fruit with a lot of nutrients and is mostly used as a vegetable. It is used to prepare different kinds of dishes such as zoodles, salads, bread, zucchini rice, and zucchini lasagna. Zucchini can be eaten raw, baked, or cooked.
Julienne cuts are a unique kind of cut that is not as thin as others. The thickness of this cut is adjustable with the thickness setting to suit your personal preference. They are perfect for cutting veggies, peppers, potatoes, cucumber, and carrot for salad and various stir fry meals.
To slice zucchini with a julienne blade, you need to cut the fruit into two halves then install the blade into the mandoline slicer. You can use the safety guard or the food holder to hold the fruit to avoid hurting your fingers. Slide the zucchini across the stainless steel blade to cut it into thin slices. Continue sliding the zucchini to and fro the blade till you finish slicing, then you pick the second half and follow the same procedure.
After using the slicer, make sure you wash it immediately before storing it.
Conclusion
Cutting your vegetables into thin slices is often not an easy task, except one is skilled at handling a knife. If you engage in cooking for a large group of people daily, you need a best mandoline slicer to help you perform most of the cutting tasks.
When using a mandoline slicer, you need to be extremely careful when handling, removing, inserting, and even washing the slicer to avoid injuring yourself because of the sharp blades. Ensure you read through this review and buying guide to help you make a better choice that will be well suited for your kitchen needs.
