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 Kyocera’s Least Inspiring Hand-Held Slicer
Summary
We felt that as a single-purpose tool, the Kyocera was not adequately designed for the task in mind. This model shares the same plastic frame and hand guard with Kyocera’s two hand held slicers. For Julienning, the frame seemed too small and lightweight: the hand guard–essential for julienning–was often ineffective. The julienne produced by the Kyocera was judged inferior to that created on multipurpose mandolines, making it an all-around disappointment.
 Quick and Effective Special Purpose Slicer
Summary
The Kyocera Double Edge Mandoline Slicer makes clean 2mm slices of fruits and vegetables like cucumber, fennel, and zucchini, and its double-sided blade works twice as fast as conventional (single-edged) mandolines. At $20, this Kyocera will likely be appreciated by those who prepare lots of salads with thinly sliced produce. However, the application for this device is fairly narrow: its non-adjustable blade–set at 2mm–did not perform well on some of our standard mandoline tests.
A Mostly Successful Update of the V-Slicer Plus
Summary
The Borner V-Slicer Pro Mandoline is intended as an upgrade to the popular V-Slicer Plus model. In many respects it is just that: the Pro offers 3 thickness settings (the Plus has 2), a more rational storage system, and performs an impressive dice without the need for pre-cutting. However, some changes to the older design were not as successful: in particular, the Pro does not perform julienning operations as well as the older Plus. Also, while three depth settings are better than two, this Borner is also not as versatile a slicer as mandolines with full control over depth adjustment.
 Six Degrees of Separation
Summary
When we received the Super Benriner Mandoline our initial impression was that it was simply a larger version of the smaller (usually green) Benriner, a potentially valuable upgrade considering that the narrow cutting deck of the smaller Benriner can be a limitation. We found that, indeed, the wide cutting of this model was a valuable asset when slicing bulky produce like cabbage or large potatoes. Unfortunately, we found that the Super Benriner performed poorly in both our tomato and lemon tests, something we attributed to the shallower blade angle (about 50° vs. 44° for the smaller Benriner). We also did not care for the depth adjustment mechanism, which requires that two screws be dialed to exactly the same height.
 User-Friendly Design, but Produced Uneven Results
Summary
OXO’s entry into this category is clearly the most user-friendly of the hand held slicers currently available, giving users the ability to make quick changes in depth by clicking a side-mounted switch. It also boasts copious amounts of rubberized surface, contributing to a secure grip. In contrast to OXO’s full-sized mandolines, we were impressed by the sharp blade on this small $20 unit which sliced through all of our test produce with great efficiency. Unfortunately, this model was hampered by its limited depth options and its tendency to produce slanted slices.
 Excellent Performer with Minor Usability Caveats
Summary
The Microplane performed flawlessly on all of our tests, including lemons and tomatoes which give many similar devices trouble. However, we disliked the unit’s depth adjustment wheel, which did not rotate smoothly, and made the Microplane harder to clean up. We also felt that the model’s large size and weight relative to some competing models detracted from its ‘grab and go’ convenience.
 An Effective Slicer: Serrated Blade Mars Some Produce
Summary
At nearly $60 the de Buyer is the most expensive hand-held slicer we have tested to date. The model is definitely well-constructed and has a sharp, serrated blade capable of slicing through all kinds of fruits and vegetables with ease. However, the serrated teeth leave telltale grooves on softer vegetables such as potatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini, marring the finished appearance of slices. Considering that there is cheaper and equally effective competition in this product category, this was deemed a fatal flaw for the de Buyer.
 User-Friendly and Feature Rich, but an Uneven Performer
Summary
Like OXO’s more expensive straight-bladed mandoline, the V-blade model is enticing at first glance. This version features a user-friendly control knob and boasts the ability to slice, julienne, as well as create decorative crinkle cuts. Unfortunately, we found that the blade was not as effective in creating smooth, clean cuts as competing models and that more force was required to feed ingredients. The OXO’s clever on-board part storage helps organize the potentially dangerous blades, but we found that it made clean up more time consuming.
 A Great Performer for Under $25, but “Watch Your Fingers”
Summary
The Benriner design has been around for a long time, long before the mandoline was marketed to and designed for the average home cook. Its lack of safety features and user-friendly adjustability attest to this fact. However, the Benriner is a superb slicer capable of producing incredibly clean, consistent cuts with very little force required by the user. Julienning, on the other hand, was harder work, and highlighted the inadequacy of the Benriner’s food pusher.
 Ingenious Design Hampered by Ineffective Blade
Summary
The OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer looks great on paper, and impresses with its solid build quality. The clever design of the OXO enables the user to slice, julienne, or create decorative waffle and crinkle cuts in seconds. Unfortunately, the OXO didn’t do any of these very well during the course of our testing, and ranked consistently at the bottom of the mandoline pack.
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