Just discovered: Life can be easier. Really.
It will cost you, just not as much as you might think. I thought it would be wildly expensive, an extravagance I could do without. And so I made a sort-of martyr of myself anytime I wanted to, you know, slice potatoes.
Or julienne carrots. Or any of those prep tasks that require the precision of a trained chef or engineer or at the very least someone who actually cares whether all the cucumber slices are paper thin. (Me, I’m good if maybe a third of my cucumber slices are as flimsy as the recipe requires. In my house, who’s gonna complain about thick-ish cucumber slices on little tea sandwiches? We are not that evolved yet.)
As I’ve not yet mastered the knife skills necessary for paper-thin anything, I caved and bought a tool. I try to steer clear of kitchen tools that promise much but then just contribute to life’s clutter. (Similarly, I try to steer clear of people who do the same thing.) But a mandoline has always been the object of my kitchen-tool coveting, even though I tried to do the quasi-philosophical thing and go without.
Besides, mandolines, in my shopping experience, tend to be pricey. They can be cool-espresso-machine pricey. “It”-hair-dryer pricey. Even pretty-clutch-from-ShopBop-I-must-have-you-for-Fall pricey.
Except for this one — the Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer (yes, all you language people, we’ve got some serious redundant phrasing going on there). I first saw it on Michael Ruhlman’s blog, and then kept running into it everywhere, as though it were saying, pick me! At around $23, how could I not?
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Sara @ Our Best Bites said,
August 13, 2009 @ 8:13 am
I’m so happy to read this. I share your thoughts on mandolines. I’ve always wanted one, but they’re so dang expensive and I figured it would be something I’d spend money on and then never use. I think I might have to grab one of these though- thanks!
Adelina said,
August 13, 2009 @ 8:27 am
My mother and sisters have been using this Japanese mandoline for years. It does the job very well and at such a price, it is so well-worth it to own one. It is, like you said, sold everywhere. I also agree that although we need a mandoline to help us with nice cutting jobs, I would never want to spend more than $50 for one. I’ve seen mandolines that were sold for about $125 or so. To me, that is ridiculous!
Glad you finally decided to own one!
Linda Simon @ Kitchen Therapy said,
August 13, 2009 @ 10:10 am
This is a great mandoline, no need to thinnk twice about buying it. I’ve had one for years (7? 8?), and got it for about $15 at an Asian market. A reviewer on Amazon said the blade rusts. I have not had any rust. Just rinse and air dry. Watch the finger tips though, those blades are sharp!
tianne said,
August 13, 2009 @ 1:43 pm
i’ve been wanting to buy one for a while… i will totally look out for this one! i’m in canada though,… so it might be tough to find. awesome price!
ziabaki said,
August 13, 2009 @ 4:15 pm
Yippee! I’ve been looking for the right one. Thanks for the heads up!
Trisha said,
August 13, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Sarah: Give it a try — I promise this is one kitchen tool that won’t languish in a drawer. It’s easy to use and clean!
Trisha said,
August 13, 2009 @ 4:57 pm
Adelina: Isn’t it great that there are options out there that don’t cost an arm and a leg?
Linda: Those blades are amazingly sharp! Thanks for letting us know you’ve been happy with yours over the years.
tianne: I wonder if it’s available on Amazon.ca? Good luck!
ziabaki: You’re welcome! : )
honeyandjam said,
August 13, 2009 @ 6:21 pm
I’ve been looking for one of these for ages! I’ll have to check this one out. Thanks for the tip!
Brittney Walker said,
August 16, 2009 @ 2:03 pm
I am so sold! I’ve also entertained the idea but I end up relying on my culinary trained husband for lots of tiny cutting. He’s also taught me pretty well. But my mom had a mandoline growing up and they truly are invaluable. I think it’s time!
Bill Bartmann- said,
September 11, 2009 @ 12:42 pm
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