Mandoline/V-Slicer?

[ncage1974]

Hi everyone. Been looking at v-slicers/mandolines for a few days and maybe interested in getting something. I would like to start out with a lower end unit (no $150 SS Unit) to see how i like it and to see how usefull they are. Don't want something that just sits in the basement and i never use. I've been trying to look at the difference between a madoline and a v-slicer and it looks like the mandoline will just give you must finder adjustments on cut depth and maybe you can't get the ultra thin slices for potato chips on a v-slicer that you could get with a mandoline. Am i correct?

Ive been looking at this unit:
Amazon.com: Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus: Home & Garden rates pretty high.

Its hard to find a descent price mandoline that rates high. Ive been pretty happy with most of my oxo stuff but the oxo mandoline doesn't rate very high on amazon:
Amazon.com: OXO Good Grips Mandoline Slicer: Home & Garden

What do you guys think. I think i'm going to go with the swissmar v-slicer but trying to decide if there is any reason i should reconsider.

thanks,
Ncage

 

[Andy M.]

I have the V slicer you linked. I paid about $30 for it years ago. It's limited to two slice thiknesses and two fries sizes. What it can do it does very well. The diff vs a mandoline is the versatility as you said. I'd recommend buying the V slicer to see if you'd actually use it.

I don't use mine often. Just when I have a lot of same thing slicing to do such as onions for onion soup or cukes for cuke salad, etc.

 

[ncage1974]

I have the V slicer you linked. I paid about $30 for it years ago. It's limited to two slice thiknesses and two fries sizes. What it can do it does very well. The diff vs a mandoline is the versatility as you said. I'd recommend buying the V slicer to see if you'd actually use it.

I don't use mine often. Just when I have a lot of same thing slicing to do such as onions for onion soup or cukes for cuke salad, etc.

Great Andy i am glad to know you have the v-slicer so i can ask some questions about it. On the thinest settings....are they pretty thin? Potato Chip thin? Can it do julienne? I seen this blog and would try the following recipe:
http://steamykitchen.com/blog/2007/06/29/garlic-truffle-fries/

Do you think i could do this?

thanks,
Ncage

 

[Andy M.]

I like thin potato chips like Lay's and the V cannot slice that thin. The fries cutter is in two widths. Neither is as wide as 1/2 which is how thick I like my fries. The food in the picture you show is thinner than the V's capabilities.