5 Reasons Why You Should Buy a Mandoline

By Mandolines.com Staff

If you have been thinking that you want to buy a mandoline but still aren’t quite sure, then think no more! The decision to buy a mandoline needn’t be a big one, especially since there are many models of mandolines available for less than what it would cost to buy a new knife! Whether you are a professional chef, an amateur chef that loves to spend lots of time cooking in the kitchen, or someone who is just looking to get dinner on the table quickly each night, there are many reasons to buy a mandoline. But if you’re still not sure whether to add a new gadget to your kitchen, then consider some of these five reasons why you should buy a mandoline.

Ease of use. One of the main reasons that many people decide to buy a mandoline is because it is so easy to use for cutting vegetables, fruits and other foods. Rather than trying to steady a piece of food on a cutting board and tying to make uniform cuts of the same size so that the food looks good and cooks evenly, using a mandoline to do the job is a snap. Simply put the food to be cut on the platform under the safety cover that is used to hold the food (so that your fingers aren’t in danger of getting cut) and start slicing away! You can set a mandoline to cut thin slices, thick slices or anything in between. Some mandoline styles even have blade attachments to make fancier cuts, such as crinkle cuts, waffle cuts, and julienne cuts.

Beautiful presentation. If you are looking for restaurant quality presentation in your meal preparation without a lot of hassle, then it pays to buy a mandoline. A mandoline can make salads look like works of art with thinly and evenly sliced vegetables or uniquely cut toppings. Cooked meals come out looking equally as pleasing when the vegetables are sliced using a mandoline, and having all foods cut uniformly ensures that foods are cooked evenly since they are all the same size. If you are looking for a few easy and attractive recipes for your mandoline, check out our article "10 Recipes Using a Mandoline" for more ideas.

Versatility. Mandolines come in a selection of styles and can make a variety of different types of cuts. If you just want an inexpensive model that makes it easy to slice veges quickly and easily, then you can pick up one that does just that. If you are really into cooking and want to be able to make a bunch of fancier cuts or to change around the types of cuts you make often, then there are models that offer lots of blades and attachments to slice, dice, grate, shave, julienne, waffle and more. The versatility of the mandoline is that you can choose just the type of gadget that best suits your needs so you get just what you want. If small and inexpensive is what you prefer, there is a mandoline to meet your needs, and if elaborate and high end is what you desire, you can buy a mandoline that meets that criteria as well.

Blades stay sharp. One of the beauties of using a mandoline rather than a regular kitchen knife is that the blade stays sharper longer. The main reason that this occurs is that the blade on a mandoline slices through a piece of food, rather than slicing down into it and hitting a sharp object at the end to stop its motion (such as a cutting board or counter). By not abruptly hitting an object that the blade cannot cut through, the blade is not dulled as easily and maintains its sharpness for a longer time than most kitchen knives. Some people warn that mandolines can be dangerous because the blade is so sharp, and while this is true, having a sharp blade is important to getting a good cut. Most mandolines come with safety holders to keep hands and fingers away from the cutting blade so that users remain safe during operation. In fact, if used properly, mandolines are safer to use than sharp kitchen knives because there is less likelihood of an accidental cut to the body.

Wide variety of price ranges. If you’re thinking that you can’t afford another kitchen gadget, then think again. Mandolines come in a wide variety of styles and price ranges (link to food slicer selections increase article), so you can buy a mandoline to best suit your needs and your budget. In fact, many mandolines are less expensive than a kitchen knife, some even as low as $10, and they are much easier to use as well.

So, if you have been trying to decide whether to buy a mandoline or not, then consider some of the benefits of owning one of these very versatile kitchen gadgets. With just a bit of work, you will be looking like a professional chef in no time!

Published: October 21, 2009

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