STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Suasoria · Chanel

Mandoline slicer recs and Pampered Chef

HeatherLynn · Gucci

One of my good friends loves her pampered chef mandoline. I have only seen it used at parties, but she swears by it.

NCshopper · Hermes

I have an Oxo mandolin. I like it a lot--it's pretty easy to use and does a great job. The one drawback is that it's a pain in the a** to clean, so I don't use it as often as I should. I think a lot of mandolins are the same way in that they're tough to clean. I'm kind of on the fence as to how necessary a tool they are in one's kitchen.

Suasoria · Chanel

Really, it's hard to clean? Most of the ones I'm looking at just say rinse off to clean, and some go in the dishwasher (though I doubt I'd do that).

I am on the fence also, but we're eating way more raw foods again and are likely to continue through the summer. Lately I've become very obsessed with "paper-thin" sliced fennel, cabbage, sweet potatoes, beets, etc. I can only do so much with a knife, no matter how sharp it is. Plus I have a dehydrator now so I keep thinking I can make potato chips and stuff.

NCshopper · Hermes

Yeah, the Oxo one is hard to clean because it there are slots to hold different blades and little bits of food get caught in it.

It is good for getting veggies cut a consistent width, so if you plan on making stuff like potato chips and whatnot, then it's probably a good thing to have. I think my brother in law got a mandolin at a restaurant supply store and I think he likes his a lot. I just think my Oxo one is a bit more trouble than it's worth.

kmd · Kate Spade

Being an assistant chef for 3 years, we avoided using them like the plague. Not only are that super dangerous, but the are definitely a pain in the ass to clean, especially when you use them for potatoes or squash.

Suasoria · Chanel

It seems like lots of people buy one, cut themselves, and then go 'never again.' I might get one of those metal mesh gloves butchers wear, you know the ones I mean?

clothes_horse · Dooney & Bourke

i don't have a mandoline, but i own a bunch of items from pampered chef and i love them. they're very well made and they last a super long time. plus, they usually have warranties on their products. i know someone who has a mandoline from P.C. and she loves hers. never heard of anyone chopping off a finger from one...

Suasoria · Chanel

Update - I got a good deal on this MIU mandoline on eBay. It's a new/open box from a retailer, and if it sucks I'm only out $40. They are normally around $150. I liked it because it has a dial to control the thickness, versus preset blades.

Normally when I want a new gadget I get something inexpensive because I'm not sure if I'll really use it, but then half the time I kick myself for not getting a good one in the first place. So this is the best of both worlds.

NCshopper · Hermes

Awesome! That looks like it was a great deal! I'd love to hear how you like it once you get it.