Mandolines: liked by salad eaters, feared by fingers. With what have to be the best physique depend of any kitchen device after knives, mandoline slicers are instruments that demand warning, reverence, and respect.
However, for those who use a mandoline fastidiously, the rewards are immense. The most effective mandoline will enable you to velocity by way of produce prep work, make paper-thin slices of cucumber, chop grillable cash of zucchini, and even reduce potatoes into excellent steak fries. I notably like shredding cabbage with mine, which reduces a complete head to the thinnest shreds in a couple of minute for slaws and pasta salads
The most effective mandoline slicers
“I take advantage of my mandoline continuously. It’s a good way to shave greens into elegant ribbons and whisper skinny slices,” says Jess Damuck, a lot of whose recipes in her cookbooks Salad Freak and Well being Nut make frequent use of the kitchen gadget. “My knife expertise are okay—however the mandoline makes fast work of exact uniform cuts.”
In the event you’re intrigued by the chances a mandoline presents, however aren’t fairly certain what to search for—or are afraid you would possibly lose some digits within the course of—we’re right here to assist. Under you will see our prime picks for one of the best mandolines to grace your countertop, in addition to some security suggestions and extra gear you should buy that may be certain that your mounds of freshly shaved greens stay carnage-free.
What’s a Mandoline Slicer
A mandoline slicer is a handheld vegetable slicer that may produce uniform and constant cuts at an environment friendly velocity in comparison with dicing on a reducing board. Consider it because the midway level between a knife and meals processor. They encompass a plank bisected by a straight or V-shaped blade, with a small hole for vegetable slices to fall by way of. Generally they’re adjustable to permit for various widths, however many are mounted to a regular slice thickness.
Most fashions include stainless-steel blades, however you may as well discover others, like this Kyocera, with a ceramic blade as a substitute. Greater finish fashions usually include a variety of slicing attachments, like a blade for waffle cuts or a julienne blade.
Finest Mandoline: Benriner Mandoline
The Good: Sharp, exact, and straightforward to make use of.
The Dangerous: Does are inclined to stain a little bit.
You’d have to look excessive and low to discover a culinary skilled who recommends something in addition to the Benriner mandoline. Damuck loves it. Meals editor Shilpa Uskokovic makes use of it within the take a look at kitchen on a regular basis, as do numerous different skilled kitchens and residential cooks
A lot of that love has to do with the Benriner’s design. “The plastic makes it lighter and extra nimble than unwieldy, old style stainless-steel fashions, tucking away neatly right into a tiny kitchen drawer,” Shilpa says. “It’s spare and environment friendly in its industrial design—no clunky knobs, flimsy handles, imprinted numbers certain to put on off, or bizarre V-shaped blades.” The plastic crank on the underside of the Benriner additionally lets you choose a thickness setting to an exacting diploma. “You may reduce kohlrabi skinny sufficient to learn a paper by way of or thick planks of potato for a gratin,” she says.
Within the product checks from our sister model Epicurious, the Benriner’s extremely sharp blade was unmatched by another adjustable mandoline. It’s as agile and exact as a chef’s knife in knowledgeable arms, and comes with three interchangeable blade types for matchstick and julienne cuts of various widths.
However the Benriner isn’t with out shortcomings. The hand guard, a separate plastic piece you should utilize to carry down objects like onions or cucumbers, is clunky and considerably uncomfortable to carry. It’s not precisely what you need in a product’s major security characteristic, which is why we advise one thing higher down beneath for individuals who are nonetheless nervous about accidents. It’s additionally not dishwasher-safe, although it is easy sufficient to hand-wash. As Uskokovic notes although, the plastic tends to stain, particularly when slicing carrots or beets.
Finest Mandoline If You Are Afraid of Full-Measurement Mandolines
The Good: Takes up little area, handy, and protected(r)
