5 Best Mandoline Slicers, Tested by Food Network Kitchen
We sliced pounds of potatoes, tomatoes and carrots to find the best mandoline slicers.
Our Top Mandoline Picks
- Best Overall: Mueller Multiblade Slicer
- Best Handheld: Kyocera Adjustable Ceramic Slicer
- Best for Beginners: Dash Safe Slice Mandoline Slicer
- Best Budget: OXO Handheld Mandoline
- Best Splurge: OXO Chef’s Mandoline Slicer 2.0
Tested by Taylor Murray for Food Network Kitchen
The mandoline is a special tool used for slicing ingredients to a uniform thickness. Typically, a flat surface features a sharp blade that can slice or julienne. Some mandolines are handheld, and others have a footing that swings out to provide stability during use. Mandolines are great for recipes that require lots of precise slicing. Think: scalloped potatoes, homemade coleslaw, eggplant Parmesan. We tested top-rated mandolines on the market to find the best mandolines for every kind of home cook.
Taylor Murray
What to Know About Mandolines
When it comes to choosing the best mandoline for you, consider what you are most likely to use it for. If you only want to slice the odd cucumber or potato, then the width of the cutting surface might not matter too much. If you plan to shred huge batches of cabbage, however, it might be worth investing in one of the larger options. That option may not be as easy to store, however, so think about how much space you have in your kitchen.
Another thing to consider is versatility. Some models offer a wide range of thicknesses and shapes, such as wavy. Some can shred or grate, or even julienne. When it comes to thickness, some are freely adjustable, while others have pre-set thicknesses. For those who want complete control, the freely adjustable models offer much more flexibility.
Think about whether you want handheld or a countertop model. A handheld model might be a bit smaller and easier to store, but requires a level of expertise for using it. A countertop model probably has a foot that swings out for stability making it easy to concentrate on the cutting process.
How to Use a Mandoline Safely
In general, best practice when it comes to knife and blade safety is to cut away from yourself. With a mandoline, you have to push food (and your fingers) towards the blade. So how can you do this without sacrificing some skin? Most, if not all, mandolines on the market today come with a guard. This is a piece of plastic with teeth meant to grab onto food and protect your hand as you move the food across the blade. The guard can have a little bit of a learning curve, however. First, you need to cut a flat surface on either end of the food with a regular knife to start out, or else the rounded ends of something like a potato or a zucchini will just roll around uselessly. Next, most guards work best if the ingredient you are working with is cut down to 2-3 inches in length. Each guard is designed slightly differently, so you’ll have to experiment to find out what works.
For certain projects or ingredients, the plastic guard might be more work than it’s worth. Luckily, cut-resistant gloves are on the market that are made with a certain fabric and weave and specialized to prevent cuts. Put one of these gloves on and you can slice away on the mandoline without worrying about injury.
Another way to protect yourself is to mind your blade’s sharpness. Dull blades cause more accidents because the more force it takes to cut the food, the less control you have. If you find yourself struggling to get your mandoline to cut ingredients, consider switching to a new one or sharpening the blade, if possible.
Taylor Murray
How We Tested
With hundreds of mandolines on the market, we first narrowed our testing pool down to a group of eight of the most popular models on the market. We made sure to include a range of types, considering everything from range of functions to price and size.
Once we had our testing pool, we gave each model a thorough inspection and took measurements of size and shape. We read each manual cover to cover to determine if it was easy or difficult to understand. Some mandolines came with special safety features, which we noted if applicable. Everyone appreciates a dishwasher-safe tool, so we checked which ones were (or weren’t).
Once we had our testing pool, we gave each model a thorough inspection and took measurements of size and shape. We read each manual cover to cover to determine if it was easy or difficult to understand. Some mandolines came with special safety features, which we noted if applicable. Everyone appreciates a dishwasher-safe tool, so we checked which ones were (or weren’t).
To wrap it up, we gave each mandoline a thorough hand-wash to find out if there were any hard-to-reach spots. We also sent them on a round through the dishwasher, if the manufacturer allowed it, to see if they were really safe after a cycle.
This article has been reviewed since its original publish date for accuracy, pricing and availability. We stand by our list of top mandoline slicer picks.
The Mueller Multiblade won our tests for its impressive range of features and easy-to-use design. This model comes with a straight slicer, a wavy slicer, a shredder (coarse and fine), and a grater, as well as a julienne option for each. The thickness is freely adjustable and ranges from paper thin to almost 1/2-inch thick. The super sharp V-shaped blade grabs onto food and cuts through tough skin without ripping. It was one of the only mandolines to cut through the stem of the beefsteak tomato without issue. It’s dishwasher-safe and includes a convenient box for storing the extra stainless-steel blades. For the most versatile option at a great price, this is the best choice.
Some of the most compact mandolines utilize a small handle for grip while your other hand guides the food. The best handheld option of this kind we tested was the Kyocera. It features a ceramic blade that’s super sharp and won’t dull or rust the way metal can. The small, thin size is great for small-space storage. The thickness isn’t freely adjustable but the four sizes it comes with should be enough for basic projects.
The innovative design of the Dash Safe Slice features a chute where you place the food and a plunger that pushes the blade across the food. Your hand never goes near the blade and from a safety standpoint, that makes this model great for beginners and those unsure or unable to safely use. This design does limit the types of foods you can use. For example, we had to cut down the tomato to a 3-inch square before it would fit in the chute. But for those who are mostly looking to cut skinnier items, such as cucumber, zucchini, carrot, or potato, this model works perfectly. The Dash also comes with options for dicing and julienne, plus folds flat for convenient storage.
Some basic models still offer great functions at a low price. At less than $20 at the time of this article’s publishing, the OXO handheld mandoline gets the job done. While it didn’t work great with some of the tougher items like tomato and eggplant, it cut the potato quickly and easily. For those wanting to just cut basic thin slices without needing a bunch of extra features (and without a large cost investment), this mandoline could be a good option.
For its top-dollar price tag, the OXO Chef’s mandoline brings a lot to the table. A stainless steel blade and cutting surface deters rust and ensures longevity. It boasts an impressive twenty-one unique cuts between four styles: straight, wavy, julienne, and “French fry”. Of all the guards we used, this one worked the best and grabbed onto food securely. It takes the guesswork out of choosing a thickness and each is clearly labeled.
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