The Greatest Mandolines of 2023, Examined by Critical Eats

A mandoline (to not be confused with the instrument of the same identify) is a type of kitchen instruments that residence cooks typically keep away from. They’re sharp and scary, and who actually must slice up paper-thin items of radish to brighten a plate of crudo at residence? Depart it to the cooks, you may assume. However a very good mandoline does have its sensible at-home makes use of, too: slicing cucumbers or julienning carrots for salad; shaving skinny items of potato for gratin; slicing radishes for tea sandwiches; or slicing up zucchini for a provincial tian. 

In past testing, we focused on mandolines under $50 (give or take a couple of bucks). This time, we expanded the lineup to see if the mandolines promoting for greater costs have been any higher. We reviewed a collection of eight mandolines, starting from $19 to $113, and included handheld fashions in addition to these with stands. We sliced potatoes, lemons, and tomatoes (and an extraneous cucumber as a result of, why not?) to discover a mandoline that was sharp, simple to make use of, and a cinch to scrub. 

The Winners, at a Look

This was our winner in our earlier testing, and it is stood the take a look at of time. It cleanly and effortlessly sliced (nearly) the whole lot, and we by no means felt like we’d lower ourselves utilizing it. The one time it struggled slightly bit was with slicing potatoes into french fries, however it nonetheless produced excellent batons. 

This security mandoline regarded like fairly the sophisticated contraption, however it was really simple to make use of (even when it did form of work like a guillotine!). We had no points slicing tomatoes, lemons, and potatoes into paper-thin slices—and we felt secure doing so. It additionally did a stable job of slicing potatoes for fries, although they have been a bit stumpy. 

This was a pointy, no-frills mandoline that received the job finished, simply slicing potatoes, tomatoes, and lemons. And, if you have to julienne produce into skinny matchsticks, it does that, and it does it properly. 

The Assessments

• Slice Potato Take a look at: We sliced Yukon gold potatoes into skinny, medium, and thick slices utilizing every mandoline (half the time we used a cut-resistant glove, and the opposite half we used the mandolines’ hand guards if that they had them). If the mandolines have been scary to make use of (learn: the potatoes received caught on the blade) throughout this take a look at, we discounted them from additional testing. 
• Slice Tomato Take a look at: Since tomatoes are difficult to slice thinly with a knife, we wished to see how the mandolines fared when slicing them into skinny rounds. We solely used mandolines that made it by means of the primary spherical of testing. 
• Slice Lemon Take a look at (Winners-Solely): We used every of our favourite mandolines to thinly slice lemons into rounds. 
• Slicing French Fries Take a look at (Winners-Solely): After swapping out the blades or turning the adjustment knob to the thick julienne setting on our favourite mandolines, we used them to slice up potatoes into french fries. 
• Cleansing and Usability Assessments: We examined how simple every mandoline was to assemble (together with switching out blades) and use, in addition to if it was tough to scrub. We additionally washed relevant mandolines within the dishwasher and famous any harm. 

What We Discovered 

A Sharp Blade Was Key

As with a pointy knife, a pointy mandoline blade made slicing meals easy, with no meals catching on the blade edge. This was additionally true for slicing french fries, which provides vertical blades to the combo (i.e. extra issues in your meals to catch and get caught on). What was scary was when no matter meals we have been making an attempt to slice (principally onerous meals, like potatoes) received caught on the blade—this places you in a harmful scenario the place you need to determine whether or not to proceed to push the meals by means of, or attempt to wiggle it again up out of the blade. We had this subject with half of the mandolines, particularly the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer, OXO Chef’s SteeL Mandoline 2.0, OXO Good Grips Chef’s Mandoline Slicer 2.0, and Börner V Power Mandoline. Since they felt unsafe to make use of—and likewise produced raggedly lower potatoes—we disqualified them from additional testing. 

We Preferred Mandolines with Minimal Components

Whereas this wasn’t a dealbreaker, two of our winners—the OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer and Dash Safe Slice Mandoline—had plenty of components and have been a tad difficult to reassemble after dismantling for cleansing. The OXO V-Blade, whereas an ideal mandoline, proved notably puzzling; we had points reattaching the a number of components, and the person guide wasn’t useful (we wound up watching a video on YouTube to determine it out). The Sprint mandoline was simpler to assemble but in addition had a number of components, together with a tube the place you place your meals, a dish the place lower meals fell into, and an insert to push meals in opposition to the blade. Alternatively, our favourite handheld decide from Microplane was uber easy to assemble; for instance, to modify to a julienne setting, you simply flip the straight-edged blade over to the julienne aspect and slot it in. 

Folding Stands Had been a Good Function

The OXO V-Blade Mandoline featured a stand that swung out, so you possibly can place the mandoline over a bowl or on a slicing board. We tended to desire mandolines with stands because it made it simpler to give attention to evenly slicing your components, although we did discover the hand held providing from Microplane (which was sans stand) nonetheless comparatively comfy to carry whereas utilizing, because of its grippy deal with. 

Clearly Marked Measurements Had been Useful

Whereas having the ability to make micro-adjustments on the Benriner was helpful, we didn’t actually know what we have been getting with every flip of the knob. As an alternative, we most well-liked mandolines with clearly marked measurements or markers, which gave us a greater thought of how thick the outcomes could be with out losing meals. Our winner, the OXO V-blade, had clearly marked lock, unlock, 1/16″ (1.5mm), 1/8″ (3mm), 3/16″ (4mm), and 1/4″ (5mm) markings, making it simple to know what outcomes we might get. Whereas the Sprint didn’t have measurements on the adjusting knob, it did function numbers (one to eight) that gave you a common thought of thickness, with one being the thinnest and eight the thickest. 

Slicing Fries Was Difficult

Our favourite mandolines made slicing simple, however slicing potatoes into fries was slightly more difficult. Whereas our winner from OXO lower completely proportioned fries, we did wrestle slightly bit to push the spuds by means of the vertical blades. The Sprint lower fries fairly simply, although they have been slightly bit on the thick and brief aspect because the chute the place you place the potatoes was small, and we needed to trim the potatoes to suit. The Microplane created extra of a shoe-string fry lower, which wasn’t what we have been in search of.

Whereas we prevented making fries with mandolines knocked out in the course of the first spherical of testing, we have been curious and tried an errant go at slicing fries with the OXO Chef’s SteeL Mandoline 2.0 and Benriner—each have been disappointing. The potatoes instantly received caught on the vertical blades of each mandolines, making it harmful to push the spuds by means of, so we needed to take away the potatoes with out ending slicing them. 

The Standards: What to Search for in a Mandoline

Our favourite mandolines have been sharp, deftly slicing hardy and delicate components. In addition they have been simple to regulate, with clear markers indicating thickness. Lastly, whereas we appreciated mandolines that have been easy to assemble and clear, this wasn’t a dealbreaker. 

What we appreciated: This was a really sharp mandoline that lower potatoes, tomatoes, and lemons cleanly and effectively—there was no resistance when slicing. Whereas we did face extra resistance when slicing fries, the outcomes have been the proper thickness and had good, clear edges. We additionally appreciated the non-compulsory fold-out stand, which made it simple to prop the mandoline up on a slicing board or over a bowl. 

What we didn’t like: The largest peeve we had with this mandoline was that it was tough to place collectively after taking it aside for cleansing; for instance, to fit the blade in, you need to deal with it uncomfortably near the tip of its blade. We additionally discovered it barely tough to chop french fries, although the outcomes have been near-perfect. 

Value at time of publish: $46.

Key Specs 

• Thickness settings: 4
• Blade type: V-blade
• Equipment/Options: Fold-out stand, handguard
• Dimensions: 15.25 inches lengthy; 3.13-inch-wide blade part; 1.13 inches thick
• Care directions: Hand-wash

What we appreciated: This mandoline had a guillotine-like setup which we have been skeptical of at first, however we have been shocked with how properly it labored. To make use of it, place your meals into the chute, press the insert in opposition to it, and pump the white deal with hooked up to the blade downwards to slice. It was simple to make use of, and there was no likelihood of slicing your self, to not point out each slice (even the thinnest) was completely even. It additionally did a surprisingly good job of slicing fries (although they have been only a hair thicker than desired).

What we didn’t like: The chute and slicing areas are fairly small, so you need to lower meals down to suit it inside, which makes for some odd-shaped outcomes. And whereas they supply slightly brush so that you can clear your blade, we nonetheless discovered it barely tough to scrub all of the nooks and crannies. 

Value at time of publish: $50.

Key Specs: 

• Thickness Settings: 8
• Blade Type: Angled
• Equipment/Options: Fold-out stand
• Dimensions: 12 inches lengthy; 3-inch broad blade part; 1.75 inches thick
• Care directions: Hand-wash

Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Mandoline Slicer

What we appreciated: This handheld blade was sharp, sturdy, and shaved constant outcomes. It’s an ideal possibility for somebody who may not want an entire mandoline getup and simply needs to thinly slice a number of issues every now and then. 

What we didn’t like: The thickest setting isn’t very thick, which means if you wish to use this mandoline to make french fries, you’ll get shoestring fries. The adjustment knob can be unmarked, so that you’re extra in the dead of night on what thickness your outcomes shall be. 

Value at time of publish: $40.

Key Specs: 

• Thickness settings: NA (repeatedly adjustable)
• Blade type: V-blade
• Equipment/Options: Handguard
• Dimensions: 14.25 inches lengthy; 3.8-inch broad blade part; 0.8 inches thick
• Care directions: Dishwasher-safe (although we advocate hand-washing something with a blade)

The Competitors

• OXO Good Grips Handheld Mandoline Slicer: Whereas this handheld mandoline lower cleanly and with none resistance, the underside plastic half wasn’t flush with the underside of the blade. So, each time we sliced, no matter we have been slicing hit that ridge. 
• Benriner Mandoline Slicer: Whereas this was a implausible mandoline for slicing paper-thin slices of, properly, something, it wasn’t simple to regulate; typically the plastic half that strikes up and down received caught. It additionally did terribly when making an attempt to chop potatoes into fries—the potato received caught, and the ensuing fries had frayed edges.
• OXO SteeL Chef’s Mandoline 2.0: This dear mandoline carried out poorly, and it took a number of effort (and nerves of metal) to push a potato totally by means of the blade. The identical factor occurred once we gave a go at making fries with it. 
• Börner V Power Mandoline: This was a clunky mandoline that couldn’t lower potatoes with out them getting caught on the blade. 
• OXO Good Grips Chef’s Mandoline Slicer 2.0: Nearly similar to the OXO Chef’s SteeL Mandoline, this one carried out simply as badly; it was scary to make use of, and potatoes received caught on the blade. 

FAQs

Are you able to sharpen the blades on a mandoline?

Among the mandolines we examined do supply the choice of sharpening their blades, particularly the Benriner. When you’ve got this mandoline and are curious about sharpening the blades, we advocate getting it finished by an expert sharpener. Our profitable providing from OXO doesn’t supply the choice to sharpen its blades, however you possibly can buy replacements. 

What’s a mandoline good for?

Mandolines make slicing quick and correct, and so they’re nice for protecting your cuts constant. We like utilizing them to slice up greens for salads, fruits for desserts (assume thinly sliced apples for invisible apple cake), and eggplants for eggplant parm. To not point out they’re nice for slicing up potatoes to make selfmade potato chips or potato gratin. 

What’s the greatest mandoline?

Our favourite mandoline was the OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer, which was sharp, simple to make use of, and constant (it additionally did an ideal job slicing potatoes into fries). We additionally appreciated the Dash Safe Slice Mandoline, which saved our hand distant from the blade whereas nonetheless producing constant slices, and the hand held, no-frills Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Mandoline Slicer. 

What’s the most secure manner to make use of a mandoline?

For those who’re new to utilizing a mandoline, we advocate investing in a cut-resistant glove—it might’t harm to be further secure as you study. Another choice for secure slicing is utilizing the guard that always accompanies a mandoline, although we frequently discovered them a bit clunky. Throughout our testing, we additionally discovered {that a} sharp blade makes slicing much less harmful—uninteresting blades brought on meals to get caught, which meant we needed to apply extra strain to push meals by means of the blade, growing the possibility of our hand slipping and slicing ourselves.

What’s one of the best ways to scrub a mandoline?

A lot of the mandolines we examined weren’t dishwasher-safe, and we advocate cautious hand washing (you don’t wish to lower your self!) with heat, soapy water earlier than drying. In case your mandoline is dishwasher-safe, you possibly can go that route, although we advocate washing any components with blades by hand to make sure their longevity.