Get The Perfect Cut With These Best Mandoline Slicers

Best Mandoline Slicers Buying Guide

If you know how to follow a recipe or two, you’ll know how tedious chopping vegetables can be after a while. Does anybody enjoy slicing through carrot after carrot, broccoli after broccoli, until their arm gets tired? Of course not! That’s where mandoline slicers come in really handy. These nifty devices let you chop lots of vegetables with relative ease, giving your arms a break.

There are so many mandoline slicers to choose from, it can be quite overwhelming to decide which is the right slicer for you… at least, overwhelming as far as kitchen utensils are concerned!

If you want to know more about the things you should be looking out for, check out the rest of our buying guide below!

What is a mandoline slicer?

Mandoline slicers are an excellent tool to have in the kitchen as they can be used to slice a whole range of foodstuff with ease. However, you’ll most likely use them to cut vegetables, fruit, and cheese. If you’re the sort of person who enjoys making salads and fries, a mandoline slicer will undoubtedly form an integral part of your food prep lineup.

What are the benefits of using a mandoline slicer?

Mandoline slicers are always going to come in handy. Less taxing than a knife and capable of slicing food quickly, the uses and benefits of these nifty tools are numerous.

Great for cutting vegetables

As you may have already gathered, the mandoline slicer is most commonly used to cut up vegetables and fruit. While it can also be used for other types of food, the mandoline slicer should be your tool of choice if you are preparing a hearty salad or making homemade french fries.

Provides a variety of slicing options

Whereas you can only slice one way with a kitchen knife, you can actually use your mandoline slicer in a variety of ways, each one providing a different style of cut than the last. Most mandoline slicers will come with five different slicing options: slice, crinkle, waffle, julienne, and matchstick. While these are purely for aesthetic reasons, you may want to experiment with meal presentation from time to time - a mandoline slicer lets you get creative.

Great for large families

If you are the predominant chef in a large household, you’ll understand just how difficult mealtimes can be, especially if you don’t want to rely on microwave meals and convenience food every night of the week. If you want your children to get enough vegetables in their diet, you want a tool that is going to help you prepare them as quickly and easily as possible.

Things to consider before buying a mandoline slicer?

Before purchasing your mandoline slicer, it is important to arm yourself with plenty of knowledge to ensure you pick the right one for you. Keep the following advice in mind when making your choice.

Cutting plate or cutting blade

Most modern mandoline slicers come with a host of blades that are interchangeable and capable of chopping food in a number of cool ways. Keep in mind that you’ll probably have to replace these blades as they wear down over time. Therefore, you should keep an eye out for a mandoline slicer that has replacement parts readily available to buy.

Stainless steel or plastic

Obviously, there is going to be a price difference between stainless steel and plastic mandoline slicers, but there are a number of other variables between them both - the biggest being is lifespan. As you may expect, stainless steel mandoline slicers are usually a lot sturdier than their plastic counterparts. However, you should also expect to perform a lot more maintenance in order to keep them operating to the best of their ability. Sure, stainless steel mandoline slicers may be hard work to maintain, but they are definitely a sound investment compared to flimsy plastic ones.

Dishwasher safe

If you wash your dishes in a dishwasher, you need to make sure your mandoline slicer is compatible. For example, if you buy a stainless steel mandoline slicer with various components, you’re going to need to be able to disassemble it in order to fit inside the dishwasher drawer. Then you need to be able to put it back together afterward. Plastic mandoline slicers are much more compatible with dishwashers and less likely to break any glassware or dishes while inside.

Adjustability

In this day and age, it is very easy to find mandoline slicers that are fully adjustable. Usually, they come with two platforms, one of which is stationary, while the other can be altered depending on your desired cut thickness. You can usually cut things paper-thin or up to one inch thick if you’re making chunky fries. You can also find platform insert mandoline slicers which do the same job but are nowhere near as versatile.

If you’re working with a budget, you can always purchase a flat board mandoline slicer, but this can only cut food to one set thickness.

Mandoline slicers price range

If you’re tempted to purchase your first mandoline slicer, you’ll be happy to hear that most products are relatively inexpensive. You can find the cheapest mandoline slicers for as little as $15. A top-end mandoline slicer with a variety of features is going to cost extra, but you should still only have to fork out around $25.

Mandoline Slicer FAQ

How should I clean my mandoline slicer?

You can clean your mandoline slicer in the same way you clean every other utensil in your kitchen. Most are dishwasher safe, although you should always double-check first. If you prefer washing by hand, we recommend doing so as soon as you’ve finished using the slicer.

How can I stay safe when using my mandoline slicer?

A mandoline slicer usually comes with a protective handguard to stop you from cutting yourself when holding it. However, it’s still easy to catch your fingers on the blade. We recommend using a mandoline slicer without distractions. Also, keep your slicer away from children and pets at all times.