Mandolin Question
Posted by closeyoureyestosee on Sep 16, 2007 · Member since Jan 2007 · 1218 posts
I just want everything now!
For those who have mandolins, where did you get them, what brand do you have, and how do you clean them? Are there any features you recommend? I want to buy one for myself and one for my brother for Christmas but there are tons of different types out there and I don't want to get a junky one.
Thanks!
I got mine recently at the second hand store for $5. I have always wanted one. I have used it some and it is not hard to clean. I just don't care for it. Keep in mind, however, that I own a great many other food processing items that, while more difficult to clean, are faster and do a better job in my opinion.
I think if I didn't have a Change-A-Bowl and a Kitchen-aid food processor I would love mine. Honestly, I tend to chop most veggies by hand!
I don't mean to discourage you in the least. If you don't have lots of kitchen toys I would start with a mandolin because they are a relatively inexpensive way to lessen your work and do a several things, like make fries, shred, slice and some even crinkle cut.
I love mine.
I use it for getting really nice uniformly thin slices. Mostly potatoes and cucumbers. I don't use it daily though, mostly just when I'm cooking for a large group of people. Which I do at least every couple of weeks. I have a slicing option for my food processor but the chute isn't big enough to feed cucs or potatoes. I usually just rinse it with nice hot water immediately after I am finished and that is sufficient.
I love mine.
I use it for getting really nice uniformly thin slices. Mostly potatoes and cucumbers. I don't use it daily though, mostly just when I'm cooking for a large group of people. Which I do at least every couple of weeks. I have a slicing option for my food processor but the chute isn't big enough to feed cucs or potatoes. I usually just rinse it with nice hot water immediately after I am finished and that is sufficient.
What kind do you have?
Sorry, I'm not sure what brand it is. I bought it a few years ago and there is no name on it.
I think I got it on sale for around twenty dollars.
I'm pretty sure this is it.
http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/602-5634091-2839824?asin=B0009HHZ20&AFID=Nextag&LNM=B0009HHZ20|Oneida_Stainless_Steel_and_Plastic_Mandolin_Slicer&ref=tgt_adv_XSN10001
i have a borner v slice and its flipping great. unfortunately its in another country :( . i've been bought/used a few mandolins on the spur of the moment, trying to replace it, and they're all completely rubbish in comparism- things stick, they don't slide smoothly, the holders wobble, are the wrong size, they're fiddly to take to part (to change the blades), the feet/legs make them unstable, they're cumbersome and heavy, etc etc etc.
i really miss my v-slice, and when i've got the money, i'll be replacing it- it makes otherwise fiddly and time consuming jobs a breeze- you can slice a rock hard carrot into chips or wedges, or a squishy tomato into 1/16th of an inch thick slices, both incredibly easily and in about 5 seconds, if you get your technique right.
my parents bought the v-slice about 15 years ago. ours is orange, not white, cos its an old one, but its otherwise exactly the same as these ones on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Borner-V-1001-Swissmar-V-Slicer-Plus/dp/B0000632QE
its been used pretty much daily since we got it. the blades are still perfectly sharp and smooth, and it doesn't screw stuff up. the flat bladeless insert flips over for thick or thin slices, and the two other blades do jullienne or chips- they slot in very easily but securely, and come out the same way. if you cut horizontal slices in your fruit/veggie, you get diced stuff. they're just the right measurements. its incredibly easy to clean- just run under the hot tap, or dunk into the sink when you do the dishes and let it drip dry. you could spray it with disinfectant if you felt the need too,no doubt. no metal parts apart from the blades and the prongs on the veggie holder, no hinges, stupid legs, lids, springs, or random screws, so nothing technical to go wrong. it comes with a little caddy, so you don't have to worry about hurting yourself with the spare blades or working out storage. its really light weight, so you don't have to lug it out of a drawer like you're trying out for iron man.
this thing is worth having, if only for onions- they're done in seconds, and quicker than the juice can float towards your eyes and make em sting, they're in the pan. the amazon reviews on this product speak for themselves.
one thing- ALWAYS use the guard. it'll slice off pretty much anything you run past the blades- which my little bro's finger -with the missing tip- will attest too (fiddling about, cutting 1/16th of an inch thick strawberry slices, holding the strawberries sideways- but by the stalk (genius!?!). if you use the guard, and hold it and the slicer properly, its really hard to hurt yourself- i've never managed it- and i'm a skilled kitchen-injury-obtainer.
I have this kind:
http://www.beallsflorida.com/page?name=page-department-style&styleid=4263&cm_mmc=CI-_-CSE-_-CSE-_-CSE&srccode=cii_9324560&cpncode=12-28195866-2
While it's super awesome and I love it, it doesnt make super paper thin slices. If you have some extra money to spend, I would buy the kind where you can set the degree of thinness. This model you just select from a set of inter-changeable plates. (you can only have kinda thin, medium and thickish) It does have some plates for julienning and grating.
I spent too much on a metal, "restaurant" type mandoline and I'm not pleased with it. It's heavy and clunky and the guard isn't terribly useful. I could have gotten a plastic cheapo for half the money I spent and it would have been better; I had the cheapo before and it lasted a long time with hard use, so I just thought the "restaurant quality" one would be so much better. They saw me coming.
My first experience with one was a Japanese slicer my mother bought in the 70s and it lasted for ruddy ever. As far as I know in the 90's it was still going strong but I can't remember the brand.
i have a borner v slice and its flipping great. unfortunately its in another country :( . i've been bought/used a few mandolins on the spur of the moment, trying to replace it, and they're all completely rubbish in comparism- things stick, they don't slide smoothly, the holders wobble, are the wrong size, they're fiddly to take to part (to change the blades), the feet/legs make them unstable, they're cumbersome and heavy, etc etc etc.
i really miss my v-slice, and when i've got the money, i'll be replacing it- it makes otherwise fiddly and time consuming jobs a breeze- you can slice a rock hard carrot into chips or wedges, or a squishy tomato into 1/16th of an inch thick slices, both incredibly easily and in about 5 seconds, if you get your technique right.
my parents bought the v-slice about 15 years ago. ours is orange, not white, cos its an old one, but its otherwise exactly the same as these ones on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Borner-V-1001-Swissmar-V-Slicer-Plus/dp/B0000632QE
its been used pretty much daily since we got it. the blades are still perfectly sharp and smooth, and it doesn't screw stuff up. the flat bladeless insert flips over for thick or thin slices, and the two other blades do jullienne or chips- they slot in very easily but securely, and come out the same way. if you cut horizontal slices in your fruit/veggie, you get diced stuff. they're just the right measurements. its incredibly easy to clean- just run under the hot tap, or dunk into the sink when you do the dishes and let it drip dry. you could spray it with disinfectant if you felt the need too,no doubt. no metal parts apart from the blades and the prongs on the veggie holder, no hinges, stupid legs, lids, springs, or random screws, so nothing technical to go wrong. it comes with a little caddy, so you don't have to worry about hurting yourself with the spare blades or working out storage. its really light weight, so you don't have to lug it out of a drawer like you're trying out for iron man.
this thing is worth having, if only for onions- they're done in seconds, and quicker than the juice can float towards your eyes and make em sting, they're in the pan. the amazon reviews on this product speak for themselves.
one thing- ALWAYS use the guard. it'll slice off pretty much anything you run past the blades- which my little bro's finger -with the missing tip- will attest too (fiddling about, cutting 1/16th of an inch thick strawberry slices, holding the strawberries sideways- but by the stalk (genius!?!). if you use the guard, and hold it and the slicer properly, its really hard to hurt yourself- i've never managed it- and i'm a skilled kitchen-injury-obtainer.
I think you sold me!
yey!!! though i kinda wish i was on commission or sommit, hehehe. :D if for some unimaginable reason you find that you don't like your smashing new v-slice 110% ...remember, you can always donate it to a worthy cause like "hoodedclawjens' canadian kitchen utensil fund" ;) 8) :-X
yey!!! though i kinda wish i was on commission or sommit, hehehe. :D if for some unimaginable reason you find that you don't like your smashing new v-slice 110% ...remember, you can always donate it to a worthy cause like "hoodedclawjens' canadian kitchen utensil fund" ;) 8) :-X
Heh heh, I'll keep that in mind. But I'm hoping I like it as much as you do!! ;)
i dont have one now, but my mother used to have one which she called the "fatal femster" ;D...it WAS deadly...no protection and a VERY sharp blade....so we were not aloud to touch it at all. however, it was hung over our heads on a pot rack...?!!! :-\
but, i might actually get tomorrow! like this one:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail.jsp?select=C81&byCategory=C450&id=6908
is 50$ too much?
i dont have one now, but my mother used to have one which she called the "fatal femster" ;D...it WAS deadly...no protection and a VERY sharp blade....so we were not aloud to touch it at all. however, it was hung over our heads on a pot rack...?!!! :-\
but, i might actually get tomorrow! like this one:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/detail.jsp?select=C81&byCategory=C450&id=6908
is 50$ too much?
The one Hoodedclawjen mentioned is $35...