Fancy a Mandolin - useful or gadget?

Fancy a Mandolin - useful or gadget?

Author
Discussion

Turn7

Original Poster:

23,504 posts

220 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
More than happy using knives (have Globals) to chop stuff up, but have been using the bit on the side of our grater quite a lot lately and started thinking about getting a mandolin.

Who has one and do you still use it ?
Do you have all your fingers left still ? wink

Any recommendations ?

TIA


edited for spellings

Edited by Turn7 on Sunday 26th April 17:47

Wadeski

8,132 posts

212 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
Benriner, a japanese brand. Inexpensive and works well. Very good for asian salads.

scottri

950 posts

181 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
I use mine for making 'slaw it gets the onion/cabbage nice and thin.

jogon

2,971 posts

157 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
I got one and ate dauphinois and boulangere potatoes for a month solid then got a bit fat and bored of them and not used it since.

Makes it a lot easier to prepare though but make sure you get one with a finger guard.

I found my cheap in TK Maxx.

mattdaniels

7,353 posts

281 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
Turn7 said:
Who has one and do you still use it ?
Me, yes.

Turn7 said:
Do you have all your fingers left still ? wink
Just about.

Turn7 said:
Any recommendations ?
Don't try to be a hero - use the guard! laugh

Mine's from Lakeland, does the job.

21TonyK

11,494 posts

208 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
All joking aside I echo Matt.

Don't use it after few glass of wine and always use some sort of safety guard.

I use mine for specific jobs. Game chips for example or doing special dauphs.

And no, I don't have all my finger tips.

And no, they don't sow back on.

Three lost on one hand in two indcidents.

Yes, should have learned.

Some Gump

12,671 posts

185 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
Captain corelli swears by his.

maturin23

586 posts

221 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
I bought mine in Japan 20 years ago and still probably use it once a week.

NordicCrankShaft

1,721 posts

114 months

Sunday 26th April 2015
quotequote all
As a professional chef the mandolin is an absolute must as part of our daily tool kit.

Pretty much every chef and kitchen I've worked in has this one from Nisbets, it's strong and durable without being fancy and expensive. I still have one that's 5 years old and get's used nearly every day!

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/Japanese-Mandoline/D445/P...

Just watch you fingers!

jmorgan

36,010 posts

283 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Bought one with a very good safety holder save your finger tips type holder. Used it a few times now it is earning its keep preventing dust getting to the shelf. Nice results though. Depends on your commitment I suppose (speaking as not as a pro, only for home use).

Suppose it is something you will have to find out yourself.

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Another Benrinner advocate.

We live in multiple locations and have one in each. They are pretty much an indispensable tool if you are thinly slicing anything. A food processor is no where near as efficient.

It was a recommend from a local chef in France. I doubt there is anything better.

manic47

734 posts

164 months

Monday 27th April 2015
quotequote all
Used mine quite regularly - it still scares me even when using the guard.

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
quotequote all
Reminds me of that episode where Rick Stein sliced the end of his finger off whilst filming.

Pferdestarke

7,179 posts

186 months

Tuesday 28th April 2015
quotequote all
They are very good for precision dishes.

The issue with slicing your fingers comes when you're unwilling to waste a little potato to save your fingers.

I've made this recipe with mine and it is utterly superb. http://youtu.be/cIAkxh7cn3g

Turbodiesel1976

1,957 posts

169 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
quotequote all
Some Gump said:
Captain corelli swears by his.
Surely that deserves a hehe

HarryFlatters

4,203 posts

211 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
quotequote all
KungFuPanda said:
Reminds me of that episode where Rick Stein sliced the end of his finger off whilst filming.
Gives me the heebie jeebies just thinking about it hehe

dazco

4,280 posts

188 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
quotequote all
KungFuPanda said:
Reminds me of that episode where Rick Stein sliced the end of his finger off whilst filming.
Fish fingers?

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
quotequote all
The mandolin scares me. Perhaps that's because I'm left handed? scratchchin
I feel quite clumsy with the mandolin...

The food processor makes messier slices, but is quicker. Feels safer too... wink

Foliage

3,861 posts

121 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
quotequote all
I guess you guys are talking about a MandolinE
I was expecting a thread about Lute's

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 29th April 14:06

dazco

4,280 posts

188 months

Wednesday 29th April 2015
quotequote all
Foliage said:
I guess you guys are talking about a MandolinE
I was expecting a thread about Lute's

Edited by Foliage on Wednesday 29th April 14:06
Guess you are talking about lutes. wink