Mandolines: Reviews

Updated October 2009

Mandolines are similar to graters, but they have a single cutting plane, and most can cut slices of various thicknesses. Some can also make crinkle and waffle cuts, dice and julienne. The best mandolines are simple to operate, and they allow you to make dozens of uniform slices in a matter of minutes, cutting down the time it takes to prepare gratins, stir-fried meals, ratatouille, apple tarts and other dishes.

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Best mandoline overall

Benriner Mandoline Slicer

*Est. $50 for Super size Learn More

A favorite of professional chefs and consumers alike, the Benriner mandoline turns out even slices, fine julienne cuts and thick batons of all kinds of vegetables and fruits. It comes in three sizes; the Standard and… expandSuper sizes are easiest to find (most reviewers prefer the Super size, which has a 3.5-inch blade). The Benriner mandolines can't dice or create crinkle or waffle cuts, however, and it doesn't have a stand, so it must be set over a bowl or cutting board. Owners say it's easy to use and clean, although some reviewers do note that the Benriner's finger guard is rather insubstantial, a potential safety hazard if you're careless. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: At Cook's Illustrated magazine, editors test 10 mandolines, rating them on their straight, julienne and waffle cuts, as well as safety features, design and user friendliness.

Amazon.com: The Benriner mandoline earns an average rating of four stars out of five in more than 30 reviews here.

Chow.com: Food writer and chef Louisa Chu discusses one mandoline, one turning slicer and one cut-resistant glove.

Tibesti.com: It's unclear whether reviewer Scott Liebfried, a professional chef, bases his picks for the best mandolines on personal use or not.

Chow.com: Editors at Chow.com list their top-10 inexpensive kitchen tools in this non-comparative review.

Cooking.com: Among mandolines that garner more than 10 reviews here, the Benriner earns an overall rating of 4.1 stars out of five from about 20 users.

TheKitchn.com: Editor Sara Kate Gillingham-Ryan offers a rave review of the Benriner mandoline.

The New York Times: Denise Landis says that the Jumbo Benriner is "worth keeping on a kitchen hook" if you need to slice at lot of vegetables at a time.

Budget mandoline slicer

Kyocera Adjustable Mandoline Slicer

*Est. $25 Compare Prices

The handheld Kyocera slicer can only slice -- it can't make julienne, waffle or crinkle cuts -- but reviews say it's an excellent value. It has the same size cutting surface as the Benriner Super, and, like the Benriner,… expandthe Kyocera lacks a stand, but it adjusts easily to produce perfectly even slices in four different widths. The rust-free ceramic blade holds its edge longer than metal blades. If you don't want to julienne, the Kyocera slicer is the way to go, but if you do want that option, the Benriner Super is better. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Amazon.com: At Amazon.com, the Kyocera Adjustable Mandoline Slicer gets 4.5 stars out of five from about three dozen reviewers.

Cooking.com: The Kyocera Adjustable Mandoline Slicer earns a rating that's well above-average in more than two-dozen reviews.

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Buy from Amazon for $17.91
MetroKitche- n.com for $22.95	CHEFS Catalog for $24.95	eBay for $32.99

Professional mandoline slicer

De Buyer La Mandoline V Professionnelle

*Est. $180 Compare Prices

If you want to make crinkle and waffle cuts in addition to slicing and julienne, this versatility sets the stainless-steel De Buyer La Mandoline V Professionnelle apart from the pack. Reviewers say well built, safe and… expandeasy to use, and the food pusher/hand guard is well designed. Unlike cheaper mandolines, the De Buyer La Mandoline V Professionnelle also has a stand, making it easier to use. The De Buyer La Mandoline V Professionnelle turns out paper-thin slices, julienne, crinkle and waffle cuts with minimal effort. Not only is this model dishwasher-safe, it comes with an unusual extra: an instructional DVD. This mandoline does, however, cost four times as much as the Benriner, and it weighs 9 pounds. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Fine Cooking: Editors at Fine Cooking magazine put 12 mandolines through their paces, rating them on ease of use, construction, performance and safety, as they slice through pounds of vegetables such as fennel, potatoes, tomatoes and onions.

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: At Cook's Illustrated magazine, editors test 10 mandolines, rating them on their straight, julienne and waffle cuts, as well as safety features, design and ease of use.

Amazon.com: The De Buyer La Mandoline V Professionnelle earns an average rating of four stars out of five in about a half-dozen reviews.

ChefsCatalog.com: ChefsCatalog.com, a cookware retailer, allows users to sort mandoline reviews by price, brand and rating, but you can't see at a glance how many reviews of a particular product have been posted.

Tibesti.com: Reviewer Scott Liebfried, a professional chef, briefly reviews 10 mandoline slicers.

Buzzillions.com: Only one consumer had posted a review of the De Buyer La Mandoline V Professionnelle at the time of this writing, and it's a lukewarm one at that.

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Buy from Amazon for $279.95
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Oxo Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer *Est. $40

2 picks by top review sites.