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The Perfect Mandoline
By Meredith Arthur, Eric Slatkin, and Blake Smith
It’s high drama at OXO headquarters when the perfect slicing tool is the goal, and cheap blades with nonadjustable heights are the norm. Here, Dean DiPietro, who spearheaded the design of OXO’s v-blade mandoline, explains the process, from diced soup to sliced nuts.
Why am I watching a commercial for a Prius in order to see what is basically an infomercial for the OXO mandaline?
I have purchased many OXO products and I generally feel that they make great tools. From measuring cups to microplanes, I've never been disappointed. That was, until, I picked up one of their mandolines on sale.
I can honestly say that I heave never encountered such an utter piece of junk in my life. THe overall construction is fine. It's very sturdy and durable. The big problem is the blade....+READ
I have purchased many OXO products and I generally feel that they make great tools. From measuring cups to microplanes, I've never been disappointed. That was, until, I picked up one of their mandolines on sale.
I can honestly say that I heave never encountered such an utter piece of junk in my life. THe overall construction is fine. It's very sturdy and durable. The big problem is the blade. I don't think it was ever sharpened!!!!!!!!
It is virtually impossible to clice anything without the vegetables tearing. It can't slice anything evenly. The julienne blade? Forget about it....I end up pulling the "sticks" apart because nothing is sliced through all of the way!!!!!
It's what I get for buying something on impulse without doing my research. I replaced it with a Shun Pro SLiceer and while it cost a little more than six times what the OXO slicer cost....It's amazing. $300 for something that will last a life a time or $50 for something I threw away after the first use? It's a no brainer!!!!!!!!-COLLAPSE
If this V-slicer is as terrible as OXO's straight-blade mandoline, then it's a no-brainer. OXO makes great, great stuff, but their regular mandoline is the most dangerous, expensive piece of junk I've ever used. Its blade is literally as blunt as a butter knife. You cannot in a million years cut anything with a skin on it. It smooshes everything into pulp. Mine went back to the store the evening...+READ
If this V-slicer is as terrible as OXO's straight-blade mandoline, then it's a no-brainer. OXO makes great, great stuff, but their regular mandoline is the most dangerous, expensive piece of junk I've ever used. Its blade is literally as blunt as a butter knife. You cannot in a million years cut anything with a skin on it. It smooshes everything into pulp. Mine went back to the store the evening after I bought it at noon.
I absolutely can't imagine how a product such as this made it to market. It's absolutely useless for anything other than soft butter.-COLLAPSE
I concur with httpmom about Swissmar Borner V Slicer Plus. I bought one over a decade ago, and still use it today. It's V blave is starting to get a little dull and might be a challenge to sharpen, but I have certainly gotten my money's worth out of it (many times).
The device does not do waffle cuts, but they have a cheap additional slicer with the waffle blade in it. Also two thumbs up.
I wore out a Martha Stewart (cheapo) and a Pampered Chef before finally getting the V-Slicer. So far, so good, but I've only had it for about 8 months. It's pretty fearsome-looking and everyone is afraid to use it except me. As far as I'm concerned, they all make you bleed. My solution is when you get to the end, either 1) finish it with your santoku knife, 2) eat it yourself, it's probably good...+READ
I wore out a Martha Stewart (cheapo) and a Pampered Chef before finally getting the V-Slicer. So far, so good, but I've only had it for about 8 months. It's pretty fearsome-looking and everyone is afraid to use it except me. As far as I'm concerned, they all make you bleed. My solution is when you get to the end, either 1) finish it with your santoku knife, 2) eat it yourself, it's probably good for you, 3) give it to your dog. My dog loves to eat the ends of carrots and cucumbers.-COLLAPSE
Another (chef's) vote for the benriner here. Simple, rugged, cheap.
I bought this OXO model from williams sonoma, and I am so glad I am not the only one who thought it sucked! I returned it after one use; it couldn't slice a carrot! I am still on the lookout for a better mandoline (though I really think a food processor has moved to the top of my gadget list).
I'm surprised that the solid stainless French Matfer has not been mentioned here. The julienne blades pop out for quick changing and there is a hefty s/s slicing holder that have spared my finger tips. Twelve years of going in the d/w and its as sharp as ever. This is one piece of quality kitchen equipment.
Really? A commercial masquerading as a helpful video? I've used the Oxo mandolines and they're all terrible. A real French one, or even more practical, the Japanese Benriner, is a much better choice.
You folks are crazy, brun is the bomb, and it takes about 30 seconds to clean. look, if you are little too gung ho when using a mandoline and tend to slice your hand to bits then the solution is simple, get one of those gloves, and viola, no more cuts. bottom line, plastic absorbs flavors and when I want carrots I don't want to taste onions.
Bought one of these yesterday and boy is the blade dull. It made a mushy mess of a firm tomato, a cucumber, and failed to julienne a carrot. Wish I had read the thread before buying...
I also have a Professional Brun mandoline, but 99 times out of 100 I reach for my cheap-plastic no-name straight blade POS for my cutting and slicing needs. The set-up, adjustment and especially the clean up time for the Brun is longer than doing all but the largest jobs by hand. I also really detest the food holder/hand guard of the Brun. It doesn't hold very large pieces and does not allow a...+READ
I also have a Professional Brun mandoline, but 99 times out of 100 I reach for my cheap-plastic no-name straight blade POS for my cutting and slicing needs. The set-up, adjustment and especially the clean up time for the Brun is longer than doing all but the largest jobs by hand. I also really detest the food holder/hand guard of the Brun. It doesn't hold very large pieces and does not allow a long enough 'stroke' past the blade. One of these days I'll buy the Alton and Cooks Illustrated recommended OXO and you'll find my Brun on E-bay.-COLLAPSE
I'm a chef and I swear by the Benriner that they dissed on here. Several posters above mentioned their use of them too... they are portable, inexpensive, straight-forward, durable and get the job done. The japanese know a bit when it comes to culinary. I am weary of all these moving parts, and the cheap plastic. I am almost positive that this OXO product wouldn't last a month in a commercial...+READ
I'm a chef and I swear by the Benriner that they dissed on here. Several posters above mentioned their use of them too... they are portable, inexpensive, straight-forward, durable and get the job done. The japanese know a bit when it comes to culinary. I am weary of all these moving parts, and the cheap plastic. I am almost positive that this OXO product wouldn't last a month in a commercial kitchen,-COLLAPSE
I am in the market for a mandoline and I believe that the version that they showcase in the video is available at Tags Hardware in Porter Square, Cambridge... hard to tell if it is the exact model, though.
I'm pretty happy...especially for the price($30.00) with my Swissmar Borner V Slicer Plus, I was told a lot of student chefs use it in San Francisco, so I bought one. Cheap and cheerful...but VERY sharp so you must use with proper caution. Available on line and on eBay.
I am 99% sure that this is the right mandoline: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QJIU6G , but will double check with Dean from the video and make sure. The key is that this is the V Blade Mandoline from OXO.
Walterbode from Harcourt?
Cook's Illustrated just reviewed several types of mandolines and rated the OXO one the best -- particularly for its safety features. So I guess Caroline1 is right. What they're showing here and giving to Cook's Illustrated and other places to rate isn't available for the rest of us yet.
Well, I've just been all over the web looking for the exact OXO mandoline shown in the video. It ain't there! When will this be available? Unless, of course, the ads on the web don't show the thing the way the video does.
I ended up with 7 beautiful 1/8" incisions on my PALM after trying to force a carrot through the OXO. They are just so dull. After the hand healed I picked up a benriner and it's been a dream. I recommend getting the 'super' version as it's wider. The trade-off is that it's harder to adjust the blade height but it's still worth it I think.
I own a professional quality Brun mandoline... the big stainless steel restaurant model, but I reach for my Benriner 99 times out of 100. I picked up a Benriner after I saw it being used by our line cooks. Every one of them swore by theirs, and I love using mine at home. The clear OXO prototype looks good, but I am worried about the cheap sound of thin plastic that I heard in the video. I'll try...+READ
I own a professional quality Brun mandoline... the big stainless steel restaurant model, but I reach for my Benriner 99 times out of 100. I picked up a Benriner after I saw it being used by our line cooks. Every one of them swore by theirs, and I love using mine at home. The clear OXO prototype looks good, but I am worried about the cheap sound of thin plastic that I heard in the video. I'll try one out for my own curiosity.-COLLAPSE
I've used Oxo mandolines -- they're not that sharp. They can't even slice lemons for a shaker pie. I find it amusing that the advertisement -- oops, "video" -- belittles the ultra-sharp, very efficient Benriner. Moreover, the Benriner is made of a plastic that stands up to commercial use, not the brittle plastic of Oxo's Chinese manufacturer.
Depending on what you are cutting, there's usually a lot of force involved. Why make the parts and locking mechanism out of plastic?
Zyliss has a home mandolin that I recently purchased and tried out yesterday to make potato, leek, and fennel au gratin. Although all mandolins are pretty dangerous, the ones bought for home use generally stink. Mine was no exception. It did come with 2 grater attachments so I guess I will just replace my former one since I cannot return it.
It's appeal was a "grabber" of sorts that kept your...+READ
Zyliss has a home mandolin that I recently purchased and tried out yesterday to make potato, leek, and fennel au gratin. Although all mandolins are pretty dangerous, the ones bought for home use generally stink. Mine was no exception. It did come with 2 grater attachments so I guess I will just replace my former one since I cannot return it.
It's appeal was a "grabber" of sorts that kept your fingers from the slicer. But it couldn't even keep hold of a red potato.-COLLAPSE
yeah amazon customers rated this pretty bad
OxO forgot to make it safe. I bought this "device" on Amazon.com and tried using it for simple slicing; nearly lost my thumb. Had a few neighbor "test drive" it and none were impressed or felt is was designed for a home user. SAFETY flaws really show. I was intrigued by the design, the level dial and was willing to give this "perfect" mandoline a test drive BUT I'm thankful I could return it.
So, how much did Oxo pay for this advertisement?