A mandoline isn’t just another kitchen gadget; it’s your secret weapon for transforming everyday dishes into restaurant-quality meals. Ever wished you could achieve those perfectly uniform, paper-thin slices of fruits and vegetables that elevate a dish from good to gourmet? That’s precisely what a mandoline does, and it does it with an ease that makes you look like a professional chef.
To get the thinnest of radish slices in my mouth-watering 5-minute baby gem salad, grab a trusty mandoline. It’s ideal for perfectly shaved onions that won’t overwhelm a smash burger taco. And it’s the key to getting a piquant punch in my potato salad for people who don’t like potato salad.
Beyond salads and sides, a mandoline opens up a world of possibilities for stir-fries, gratins, and even elegant garnishes. Picture beautifully shaved asparagus effortlessly integrated into your next stir-fry, or uniformly sliced potatoes for an impressive gratin.
While it might not be a daily grab, the mandoline is an indispensable tool for those moments when precision and presentation truly matter. It makes quick work of tedious slicing, saving you time and ensuring your ingredients are always perfectly prepared.
Ready to unlock a new level of precision in your kitchen? Let’s see which one is the best of the competition!
Our Top Picks: The Best Mandoline Slicers of 2026
- Best Overall Mandoline: The Microplane V-Blade Mandoline ($39)
- Best Safe Mandoline for Beginners: The Dash Safe Slice ($42)
The Full Mandoline Product Test
I gathered a couple of different sturdy fruits and vegetables, like carrots, radishes, and apples, and added some softer tomatoes, cucumbers, and hard-boiled eggs to round out the test. I based my score on how sharp the blades were, how evenly the mandolines cut the produce, and how easy they were to use. On to the testing!
Cuisinart Precision Slice Upright Mandoline – $57
First impressions: This mandoline has grippers at the bottom which is helpful. Key note: You do NOT want your mandoline to move around! Getting it set up was a little tricky—I felt like I was going to break something.
Slicing test: It cuts fine on carrots, but doesn’t get slices as thin as I’d like it on softer items. On the plus side, your hand is completely protected. While it comes with a container to collect the sliced produce, things were kind of flying everywhere. It failed completely on the egg—it got stuck immediately.
Overall review: If you’re someone who’s really scared of cutting your fingers, this is a solid choice. You’ll be fully protected.
The Dash Mandoline – $42
First impressions: This has a look in a similar vein. It kind of pumps up and down. A bit of a learning curve getting it set up. It also has the suction so it won’t slide around.
Slicing test: The cucumber did fine and radishes would be great in this. Now, it is smaller than the Cuisinart above, so an apple or potato won’t fit. It still didn’t do great with the egg, but it does catch the slices better as the basket is tucked closer. Because of how it’s protecting your hand, everything you slice is going to be on a bias angle, if that matters to you.
Overall review: This one wins over the Cuisinart for sure. It’s smaller, so it stores better, and it functions nearly the same—if not slightly better.
Benriner Super Standard Mandoline – $41
First impressions: This one makes me nervous with that large open gap. There’s nothing really holding it to the countertop, and it has to be manually elevated or put over a plate to allow pieces to slide through.
Slicing test: You can make the slices very thin. But the blade isn’t sharp enough, so you’re putting too much pressure…which spells disaster.
Overall review: Not going to cut it. Literally and figuratively.
Microplane Mandoline – $39
First impressions: This is my beloved Microplane mandoline I’ve used for years. You can get very precise with the dial on your desired output. The blade cuts very evenly. There is a plate that you can flip over to do julienne cuts. The blade is in a V-shape, which centers what you’re cutting and helps it slice better.
Slicing test: Because it’s “open” and small, I don’t even use the hand guard most of the time, but don’t try this at home if you’re new. The Microplane mandoline actually sliced the egg the best: the yolk stayed intact. I’ve been going slow and slightly rotating the egg, and it held together the best. It did great on cucumbers and tomatoes.
Overall review: Even after a few years, it is still really sharp. It washes well and has a comfortable grip. I don’t use it for shredding things or julienning, even though it has that setting. It’s a mandoline that does thinly sliced produce with a consistent size, it stores well, and the blade is still sharp. It’s still my best buy.
PrepWorks Adjust-a-Slice Mandoline – $17
First impressions: This mandoline is very simple. There aren’t a lot of options or settings. That can be good. Or it can mean cheap.
Slicing test: The setting to number 1 thickness is probably the size of a potato chip, but it’s hard to consistently get the slice even all the way across—one side is thinner. On the thinnest setting, it half-shredded the cucumber. It actually did OK with the egg on the thicker setting.
Overall review: It stores small; that’s about the best thing I can say. It doesn’t slice consistently, and you can’t get really thin slices because the blades are duller.
OXO Good Grips Chef’s Mandoline – $106
First impressions: This mandoline has some feet to make it more sturdy. It has a crinkle-cut blade too. Look forward to trying that. Lots of settings on the dial. Folds up, but still a little bulky even flat.
Slicing test: The blade is dull, right off the bat. I have to really push into it. It does cut evenly, which is good. But the tomato is getting more smushed than sliced. You would have to use this only on harder things, and if you’re off the mark based on how much pressure you’re applying, you might get hurt.
Overall review: I don’t care for this one at all. The blade is so dull. Steer clear.
De Buyer Swing Plus Mandoline – $199
First impressions: This one is made in France, which automatically counts for something. It’s very substantial (read: bigger than the others) and has an easy dial to change the settings. There’s a waffle cut setting! Not many had that.
Slicing test: This mandoline slices quite evenly, and on the thicker setting it did nicely. However, the blade is a little serrated, so you have to kind of maneuver softer things back and forth in addition to forward and back. The tomato didn’t fare as well. It did actually do a julienne cut the best of all on the apples, but the waffle setting is way too dull. I can run my finger on it, and it doesn’t do anything.
Overall review: It feels sturdy, and it’s well made. But the blade just isn’t the sharpest. Also there’s no cover for storage so the blade is just…out. Not the safest.
MuellerLiving Mandoline – $40
First impressions: This mandolin makes me feel safe. I see julienne and crinkle cut options, which you know I’m gonna try out. The hand guard flips open and you can take it off for washing or if you want it out of your way, which is great.
Slicing test: It did fine thin-slicing a cucumber and ok slicing the egg—it kind of crumbles. Felt a little clunky on the carrot. I flipped the blade over to do the waffle cut, and….I don’t like it. That’s terrifying. It actually did ok on the julienne on cucumber, though it did leave some scratches on the pieces (the blades are a bit too high). Trying an apple on the julienne cut was rough—it just annihilates it. Crinkle cut was not any better.
Overall review: This mandoline stores well and has a nice range of options. You can actually get a decent julienne cut from this one, so it could be a 2-in-1 pick. I feel secure that this is going to get the job done without injury, which is key.
Sur La Table Mandoline – $60
First impressions: This one looks so similar to the Mueller with the classy stainless steel look. Adjusting the dial is easy, and there’s a julienne option.
Slicing test: The pros are that this mandoline slices really well, it’s very consistent, and gets things super thin. On the thin julienne setting, well, actually don’t even do that setting. It was just bad. On the large julienne option, you have to push really hard. So maybe just avoid julienning altogether.
Overall review: Between this and the Mueller, this one is slightly better just for storage, since it folds a little flatter, and the legs seem to be higher quality. Might be worth the extra $5.
The Best Mandoline Slicer of 2026
The best mandoline I tested has to be the Microplane Mandoline, and it’s one of the most affordable on the list. Listen, I see what these other mandolines are trying to do. They want to get fancy with lots of settings. Impress with their safety contraptions and collection bins. But to me, that overcomplicates what’s supposed to be something I quickly grab to garnish a dish. I don’t want to have to wash 6 pieces of a single-use kitchen tool that takes up a lot of room. What I want is a sharp blade, a small footprint on the kitchen shelves, and an even cut. And the Microplane mandoline delivers on all of those requirements.
What I did learn is to avoid thinking of a mandoline as a multitool. None of these mandolines were great at julienne cuts or waffle cuts, no matter how fun they look. Just stick to the script here, and get a dedicated tool for those other options—for example, I have a fry cutter for potatoes since I do them a lot. That’s your safest and best bet!
Do you use a mandoline in the kitchen or did I convince you it’s worth trying out? Drop me a comment and let me know!
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I have a mandolin slicer and have to change the blades for the various cuts, rather than a dial. It is in storage. Hard to clean, hard to use, doesn’t give consistent cuts. I agree that these are marketed as multi-tool and they are just not.
I had one like yours. Hated the vee. Jammed stuff in it multiple times. Tried an expensive option and sliced off the heel of my hand. Best option, a cheap, straight cut. Not fancy.
Gosh, thank you so much for being honest and letting us know which one you love! I’ve been wanting one but didn’t know where to start!