Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer
by Harold Import Company, Inc.
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List Price: Our Price: $21.00 You Save: $49.00 (70%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Kitchen See more product details |
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Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Benriner Japanese Mandoline Slicer
Customer Review: None Better
Summary: 5 Stars
This product is what all the other Mandolins promise but do not deliver. Skip any other options, they aren't even in the same class.Customer Review: love this thing
Summary: 5 Stars
This thing is fantastic. I use it all the time. Keep the band-aids close by for the first few times you use it - it's sharp!Customer Review: Great!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Very easy to use, blades nice and sharp for cutting anything you want but you do have to be careful.Customer Review: If you want a mandolin buy this one first
Summary: 4 Stars
I don't think any kitchen tool is more divisive than the mandoline; cooks either love them or hate them. Additionally, they're either cheaply made and cheap to buy or incredibly complex and expensive. I have both and the "cheap" one is this Benriner. Both are dangerous contraptions that have to be used with care and despite the many comments, they ARE more dangerous than knives because of the speed one uses and the false sense of security one gets. These things will bite you sooner or later either when in use, changing blades or washing up.
My "expensive" mandoline was a xmas gift from my wife almost 35 years ago. It was a french all metal model imported (not made by) by Le Crueset that came with 7 blades and no instructions. Initially I used it quite a bit but cleanup was a pain and unless one was making large quantities of food that required precise thickness control it became overkill for most meals. Additionally, the carbon blades tended to rust if not oiled after washing and getting replacement parts was impossible. It hangs today on my kitchen wall alongside a chinois (another gift) as a kitchen decoration/conversation piece. I mention this only as cautionary tale to customers who might be seduced by the gleaming stainless and incomprehensible adjustment controls of the more complex "professional" mandolines.
The one task that I missed using the mandoline for was for au gratin dishes or "Potatoes Anna" where thickness control is critical to the success of the dish. No matter how carefully one slices the vegetable with a knife there is going to be some disparity.... and nothing is worse than biting into a raw piece of potato. So, after having that experience once too often I purchased a Benriner based on several recommendations. Benriners come in 3 sizes (this is the smallest) and replacement blades are readily available. For the very basic tasks a mandoline is asked to perform (slicing and "match-sticking" hard vegetables) it works great. Not so good for softer fare such as tomatoes. This is because the fruit/vegetable tends to compress when slid down the mandoline's face under the pressure of your hand instinctively wanting to ensure contact with the blade. A lighter touch improves things quite a bit if you persevere. Clean up is easy and, if you're not using one of the interchangeable blades, consists of just a good rinse under the faucet. However, if using one of the interchangeable blades (match stick, thin fries, etc.) it needs to be removed and washed which, fortunately is an easy task. I'm not sure if the Benriner works any better than others in the under $25 category, but for the tasks I mentioned it does the job with a minimum of aggravation. Additionally, for what it's worth, these are found in just about every sushi bar where they get a serious workout prepping the garnishes (never use a mandolin to cut anything other than vegetables). Finally, Judith Jones (Julia Child's long time editor) uses this model and is pictured doing so in her book (The Pleasure of Cooking for One). I should mention that she is pictured using her Benriner without either hand guard of protective glove, so use your best judgment and don't try to get that last sliver of carrot!
Customer Review: Simple, Easy, Sharp!
Summary: 4 Stars
I've hand this slicer for 10-11 years now and still LOVE it! The design is simple yet so versatile and easy to clean. One main blade is secured onto the product (the one at a diagonal) by two screws. It can be removed to be sharpened (as all blades get dull over time). There are then 3 other blades with protruding teeths of varying gap widths that are secured through the two side screws. This allows for the shreds of vegetables. The thickness is controlled by a metal screw under the plastic plate. Together, you can make many cuts with various thicknesses. One drawback is that the gap is slightly thicker on one side than the other on mine (It's really slight though). Cleanup is a breeze. I've always hand washed it because it's so easy. I just push the plastic plate up (so not to get cut by the diagonal blade), wash that, and then wash the bottom plate and blades. Storage is great as it's so slim and easy to store (I still store it in the original box). Of course, as other customers mentioned the hand guard is not that great. I've actually have shaved off some skin and nail in the past, so this product is meant for those who are accustomed with sharp blades. In the 10+ years I've had it, i've never sharpened the blade and it's still sharp. I haven't had much luck with shredding soft stuff. Tried to shred a ripe mango yesterday and it mushed it. Also tried to slice coldcuts, did't work well either. It's really great with more firm stuff (carrots, applies, daikon, radishes, cabbage). Finally, I must say that after using a really cheap chinese made one at a friend's place, I like the quality/price of this item very much. This product has no sharp edges (other than the blades of course) or unwanted plastic remnants from the manufacturer. I guess the reason I gave it a 4 star is because it can't cut softer products as well and because the gap is not perfect across the blade.