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Mandoline

daniefondaniefon Raw Newbie

Can anyone recommend a brand of mandoline? I am going to buy one soon and there are many available. I am afraid to buy a cheap one that I won't be happy with.

Comments

  • They have som very nice ones at Williams Sonoma, they are stainless steel. Don't remember the brand. Just be very careful of your fingers. I was careful, and still sliced off part of my little finger, and thumb. Those things that are supposed to protect your fingers make it hard to use all of your veggies. I now use a food processor (sp?) that has a blade that shredds, and slices, can't get my fingers in it! Good luck

  • William sonoma has the all stainless La Mandoline for 169.95, if money isn't an issue, then I would opt for this one. However, I love my OXO Mandoline and I got it at Macys for around $70. There was a thread on this topic about a year ago and I said how much I love my OXO and everyone beat me down for it, ha. I don't know, I think it's great. Im sure It's not as good as the La Mandoline, but then again, why would it be!? It's only half the price.

  • Oh and like Felinacat said, watch out for your fingers! my worst cuts have come from my mandoline... it seems like once a week I'm contemplating the ER room, ha.

  • I have one from Bed, Bath and Beyond but I HATE it! I've sliced off my fingernails a couple of times.

    Just bought one from Pampered Chef this week but I don't have it yet. It seemed idiot-proof at the demo. Also, it has grooves that allow it to sit neatly over a pot or bowl to catch the sliced stuff. This is a big deal because if you're doing a big batch of something to dehydrate, the catch area under the slope keeps filling up and spillng off the cutting board or jamming up the underside of the blade.

    I usually use my Food Processor, but that doens't get things uniform enough for dehydrating easily, nor does it allow much control over the thickness of the cut.

    BE CAREFUL when you use it. Great tool, great big risk IMHO!!!

  • daniefondaniefon Raw Newbie

    Thank you! I am going to start looking for one and I'll be careful!

  • randommararandommara Raw Newbie

    I like my Pampered Chef one better than my Japanese one but let me warn you that no matter how careful you are, you will eventually cut yourself. I mean serious amounts of gushing blood. I use my food processor when ever possible.

  • joannabananajoannabanana Raw Newbie

    i love hearing about how dangerous the mandoline is!!! i don't have one, and i'm starting to think that's a good thing.

  • vegan2rawvegan2raw Raw Newbie

    I have never cut myself and I have a crappy plastic one. I would opt for the spendy one if you can they are so wonderful for so many things. There is a lot the food processor cant do like paper thin zuchini noodles for lasagna just be aware while cutting and you should be ok.

  • SuasoriaSuasoria Raw Newbie

    I just ordered a Miu from eBay ($40 instead of $150+) and it arrives Tuesday. Can I get back to you?

    I am also going to get a metal mesh butcher glove from my local restaurant supply. Someone here recommended that and it's a brilliant idea.

  • They are dangerous! I haven't cut myself yet, but use it with fear a trepidation. I have a cheapo model and don't recommend it! Spend the money and get one that won't rust, and that has sturdy blades!!

  • daniefondaniefon Raw Newbie

    Thank you so much! I have been looking around, but haven't commited. I will spend the money to get a good one.

    Suasoria, I will be interested in how you like yours. Please let me know.

    I used my spiralizer yesterday to make potato chips, while I would like strips for some things, like lasagne, the donut shapes will work in the meantime.

  • ZemphiraZemphira Raw Newbie

    Jenoz, I had the same exact experience! When I went to return my OXO mandoline at Bed, Bath and Beyond and the lady asked why I was returning it....I slipped off my gloves and showed her all of my bandaged fingers, plus a few more cuts that weren't bandaged (I believe it was 6 total lacerations). Plus, I really wasn't impressed with the thing, it didn't seem to slice my peppers all that well...or maybe I just didn't know how to use it right.

    My food processor has a blade that slices but unfortunately, it died after a little over a month so I'm back to using my trusty knife and cutting board and both of those tools have yet to fail me.

  • I would never get one because ofthe price. But went to a Pampered Chef party and theirs was cheap. I got it years ago so i don't know what the price is now, but I love it.

  • germin8germin8 Raw Master

    Pampered Chef sells it for $60. Yikes, way too much. We found one at an International market for $20 but didn't buy it because I think they should be cheaper. Hmmmm....

  • SuasoriaSuasoria Raw Newbie

    Update:

    Here is the eBay one I bought - a great deal for $25 ($40 with shipping). It is brand new and did come with the case despite what the description said (or perhaps I got lucky).

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=270277234217

    I just used it for the first time on eggplant (for eggplant bacon) and it worked very, very well. The end cut of course was raggedy, but the rest of it was very smooth. It rinsed clean, just like my spiralizer (also a MIU). What I really like about it is:

    - It's all one piece. All the blades, including two julienne sizes and the criss-cross cutter, are integrated.

    - The dial on the side moves the blade up and down so you get exactly the thickness you want. You're not stuck with their preset sizes like 1/8 and 1/4.

    - It's a heavy, solid piece of equipment, not at all flimsy or rickety. It's stainless steel with very little plastic.

    - The main cutting blade is removable and can be sharpened or replaced in the future.

    At my local restaurant supply store I got a cut-resistant glove like this

    http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=14642&src=GoogleBase&cam=Products&kw=14642

    Which I feel was a very wise investment since I'm not sure I've figured out the food holder thing, and I don't fancy going to the ER in the middle of dinner.

    I understand about price, believe me. In my research I found one low-priced model that was VERY highly rated on Amazon - the Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus. It is about $40 new. It is of course mostly plastic and the blades aren't removable and it isn't adjustable, but more than 300 reviewers gave it 4.5 out of 5 stars, so it looks like an excellent value option.

    Normally when I want a new gadget I get something inexpensive because I'm not sure if I'll really use it or if it will end up in the appliance graveyard cabinet, but then half the time I kick myself for not getting a good one in the first place. So this is the best of both worlds - it's an awesome professional quality item for a ridiculously low price.

    There are many Pampered Chef mandolines on eBay as well. I've heard good things, but because it's a home party brand, it's impossible to find real-world reviews online. On the other hand, the reviews of the one I got were only so-so - people either said the blade wasn't sharp enough or it was so sharp they injured themselves. Ya can't win.

  • Zemphira-- Good call, my oxo mandoline doesn't cut peppers and I think it has to do with not being as sharp as say the le mandoline line... however, any sharper and I'll be less a finger or two!

    When it comes to soft things though, such as peppers and tomatoes, I've found it better to just use a knife.

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