I actually had a request for a Kitchen Collection item - wooo hooo ! And here it is : the mandoline.
This is a very recent addition to our kitchen collection. We've never had one, but lately thought it might be a good tool for doing things like potatoes for gratin dauphinois, thinly sliced fennel bulbs, and similar things.
Ours was a gift (thanks C. !) and comes from the US. It's an OXO and is pretty hefty and stable and we use it a lot. The blade on this model is perfectly perpendicular to the food. I don't know if it would make a big difference, but I've seen mandolines with the blade set at an angle; it seems that might make for more efficient slicing. If you have thoughts or opinions on that, I'd love to hear them.
Good morning! I just got one of these and have been playing around with it. Have not lost any fingers yet!
ReplyDeleteHave a good one!
I have the Matfer mandoline, a traditional, French, stainless-steel version of the one you have. I also have a Benriner which has the angled blade. Besides being less expensive, the Benriner cuts more efficiently and with less force. It's like comparing cutting with knife: pushing straight down versus sawing back and forth.
ReplyDeleteLousy cook that I am, I had never seen or even heard of a mandoline, except as a musical instrument ;)
ReplyDeleteLOL @ Claude.... mandoline as instrument. That's what I thought, too, when you put it on your XMas list. If Peter thinks it's better to have an angular one, you can put it on this year's XMas list....
ReplyDeleteGrosses bises,
Cheryl
Kitchen collection suggestions....
ReplyDeletecordial glasses
friteuse (with all due credits)
dutch oven (C'est quoi en francais?)
cutting boards
I hope this isn't posted twice... google is messing with my mind...
Cheryl, I think the one we've got works well ;)
ReplyDeleteClaude, when Ken and I go to Paris, we usually stop into la Bovida or Dehillerin just to window shop (and sometimes buy). Look at what you're missing !
Peter, that's what I suspected about the angled blade, but the horizontal one works fine for household use.
mpabner, congrats on keeping your digits ! I still don't trust myself to use the mandoline without the food holder.
I have a cheap, plastic Mandoline from an Asian market which works fine for most things (and I always use the finger guard thing to keep my fingertips intact) but I love OXO's products so I might have to upgrade!
ReplyDeleteI always use the finger guard, hence, still having my fingers. I was wondering how well the angled blades work. I may look at those at a later date.
ReplyDelete