I Want to Buy a Mandoline

[capres]

Does anyone have one? Do you get a lot of use out of it? Which brand? I've been looking at the Bron - which seems to do everything without having to change out the blades. I really like that feature.

Over the years, I've had 2 or 3 inexpensive ones - right now using one from Pampered Chef - but I just can't get the really thin slices I'm looking for.

Any thoughts? Comments? Suggestions?

TIA

Carol

[gperls]

My only experience with them is the Chinese Benriner I have. It cuts as thin as I'd ever want, and has extra blades for shredding. About all it can't do that the expensive ones can is make a waffle cut potato.

It's plastic, and easy to clean. It only cost me about $30.

[Aubergine]

capres, we had a long discussion about mandolines within the past month or so. i'll see if i can find the thread and bump it up for you.

[sharhamm]

Originally posted by gperls
My only experience with them is the Chinese Benriner I have. It cuts as thin as I'd ever want, and has extra blades for shredding. About all it can't do that the expensive ones can is make a waffle cut potato.

It's plastic, and easy to clean. It only cost me about $30.

I have also had this one for over 10 years. Still sharp and cuts really thin. No need to spend a lot of money on a mandoline (save the rest to buy more gadgets!)

[blazedog]

The LA Times had a long article on mandolines several weeks ago and the OXO was the most highly rated in terms of functionality and safety.

[annagins]

Originally posted by blazedog
The LA Times had a long article on mandolines several weeks ago and the OXO was the most highly rated in terms of functionality and safety.

Good. I just ordered one. Don't quite know what I'm going to do with it besides making potatoes anna and potato chips, but I'm sure it will be a fun toy.

[green1]

I have the OXO....I purchased mine at Williams-Sonoma. Love it.

[gabbyh]

Bringing up this old thread, as I just rec'd my Zyliss mandoline, now what the heck do I use it for???

~Gail

[Beth]

:D LOL

I've been wanting one for a long time, but I wonder if I'd have the same reaction since I've lived without it all these years.

[blazedog]

I had started a thread awhile ago when I got an itch to buy a mandoline and basically most of the people were using it to slice potatoes for dishes like potatoes Anna which I would never make so my itch subsided. :)

[JenniferDV]

I have an OXO, and it's great. I used it for onions and fennel slices to go on top of a salmon fillet that I put on the grill. It was so fast! And even!!

[JLCS]

Set it to very thin, almost paper thin, and shave small zuchini and yellow squash, set a little bigger and shave some mushrooms, I like crimini mushrooms but whatever you have will work, toss with some lemon juice and a little olive oil, then add some capers and salt and pepper, let sit for about 20 minutes to wilt a little or for a crunchy salad, serve right away.

Thinly slice some european cucumber, add some diced or thinly sliced red bell pepper and toss with some mirin. let sit for about 1/2 hr or up to 4 hrs. Drain and serve.

[JRM24]

I love the pampered chef one but Gourmet magazine just rated the OXO as the best one for the money. If you are not satisfied with the pampered chef, you might try returning it to the home office if it is w/in the guarantee period. they are normally excellent with the gurarantees and would probably just send you a new one!

[Barrie]

I have the OXO and really like it. I've used it a couple times (for potatoes :p ) and it does a good job. Very easy to clean. I got it at Bed Bath & Beyond with a 20% off coupon.

[gardenmom]

I have a Benriner and some fancy stainless one I got as a gift from mom from Cook's Catalogue.

I prefer the Benriner, easier to clean, less scary (The heavy one looks like a greater hazard around the kids. I take the blade off quickly after use with the Benriner).

I made a nice thin shaved fennel salad with the Benriner this fall, and the slices were paper thin.

[Lrimerman]

Does the Oxo one do small Julienne (matchstick size). I have the pampered chef one, but it only does like french fry size sticks. We took a Thai cooking class in June and they used an inexpensive one from an oriental market (about $30) and it did really nice shredded cabbage and julienned veges.

I don't particularly like the pampered chef one, I used to have the plastic Benrenier one that my mom bought me, but after years of use the blades were dull and we pitched it.

I have a BBB coupon if the oxo is a good one with julienne, I will get it next time I am there.

Thanks

Lisa

I looked at amazon, but it doesn't really show how small the julienned setting is. Also, it got several poor reviews. Do you guys who have it like it?

[JenniferDV]

The Oxo mandoline has 2 sizes of julienne. A larger one for fries, and a matchstick size. I haven't used them yet, though, so I can't comment on the julienne. However, I have had success slicing onions and fennel for salmon, as well as yellow summer squash (paper thin) for a salad. Sure beats trying to do it by hand! There is no way I'd be able to get it that thin and even without using the mandoline. I got mine at Williams-Sonoma with a gift certificate, and they said that I could try it and if I didn't like it, bring it back and get the other one they sell (way more expensive!!) but so far I have found that the Oxo works fine for what I use it for. I am interested in seeing how it will handle harder vegetables, like a carrot, for example.

[ShowMe-inMO.]

I've always wanted one...Now it seems a trip to BBandB with the 20%off coupon might be just the time for the OXO one.