What it is:
A slicer, usually made of strong plastic or metal, that lets you slice tomatoes, onions, carrots, etc, into perfect slices, or potatoes into fries, quickly and without cutting your fingers off.

What it's not:
A musical instrument, or that cheap infomercial product from the 80s.

How to use it:
Take whatever you want to slice and jam it on the prongs on the underside of the hand guard. This keeps the food securely in place and keeps your precious digits away from the blade. Some mandolins have adjustable blades so you can select the thickness of your slices. Some also have julienne blades that cut potatoes into fries or smaller veggies like carrots into matchsticks for salads or for garnishes. Sliding the blade guard back and forth over the blade produces the slices.

Why you should have one:
You can whip through a ton of tomatoes and onions for the tailgate or bbq in a fraction of the time as hand slicing. And without a trip to the ER. You can also make impressive and fancy veggies and garnishes for her salad when she comes over for dinner. (Anything to score extra points.)

What to look for:
Adjustable blades are a must (and make sure the blades are stainless steel so it will last), as are ...More