The Best Mandolines

At its best, a mandoline allows cooks to slice fruit and vegetables much more precisely, consistently, and quickly than they could with a chef’s knife. Some models have attachments that allow you to julienne foods or make waffle cuts as well. Used properly—and safely—the mandoline can be a magical device, turning out produce that looks like it’s been cut by a chef from a three-star restaurant, and in record time. But all too often, these tools disappoint us; they cut poorly, skid around, or are just plain dangerous to use. We wanted to know which mandolines were best, so we bought eight models, priced from about $24 to about $200, and put them to the test, using them to slice tomatoes, potatoes, fennel, beets, and eggplant and (where applicable) to julienne celeriac, carrots, and daikon.

Ease of Use and Versatility Vary

Some mandolines were easier to use straight