Most home cooks really feel a mix of love and hate when it comes to mandolines. We’re really into those super thin cucumber slices and awesome potato gratins, but honestly, we’re totally scared of accidentally cutting our fingers.
- Get Just the Right Slice: The handheld mandoline slicer for kitchen easily adjusts to 1 mm, 2.5 mm, or 4 mm so you can p…
- Slice Securely: The large non-slip handle and stable foot are designed for comfort and security while slicing potatoes, …
- Fits Your Routine: Slice directly onto a plate, on a cutting board or hook over a bowl so never have to make awkward mov…
That kind of fear often makes people buy these huge, pricey safety slicers, but then they just sit there gathering dust. Why? Because they’re a pain to set up and use.
The OXO Good Grips Handheld Mandoline Slicer does things a little differently.
It’s a tiny, simple thing, and it just hangs out in your utensil drawer, right there with your spatula. This slicer is wildly popular, with over 19,000 positive ratings and more than 8,000 sold just last month.
But can a basic plastic paddle actually take the place of knowing how to use a knife? We really dug into why this tool has been a bestseller for so long.
Design: Why “Simple” Wins
The really good thing about this tool isn’t about adding more stuff; it’s about taking things away. It doesn’t have a place to sit, a heavy bottom, or extra blades scattered everywhere that you could misplace.
It’s shaped like a paddle, you know? You grab it by its comfy, non-slip handle (you know, the “Good Grips” rubber kind) and just slice right into a bowl, on a plate, or onto a cutting board. The rubber foot on the bottom lets it hook onto a bowl’s rim, so it stays put while you’re doing your thing.
- The Window: The body is made of clear plastic. It’s a tiny thing, but it lets you see just how much you’ve cut without having to pick up the tool. No more having food spill everywhere.
Performance: The “Cabbage Test”
You might think this little gadget is just for dinky stuff like radishes, right? Think about that once more.
User Jones Sheckler told a story that really stuck with us. They gave up on a fancy food processor that took them an hour and a half just to shred cabbage, and just got an OXO.
“I managed to get through a whole head of cabbage in about ten minutes using this. It’s super user-friendly.”
The Adjustment Knob
With the adjustment knob, you just give the handle’s knob a simple roll to change things up. No need to swap out those dangerous blades. It has three settings you can lock it into:
- 1mm: Great for a translucent cucumber salad or radish garnish.
- 2.5mm: That’s the right size for zucchini and peppers.
- 4mm: Really thin slices, like for apple tart or potatoes when you’re making a gratin.
The Truth About Safety
Here is the truth: That blade is super sharp stainless steel. There’s no room for error.
OXO throws in a food holder it’s like a guard that grabs onto your veggie and keeps your fingers safe. It slides nicely on the tracks and fully covers the blade for storage.
- The Downside: Just like with any mandoline, it’s a bit clunky trying to hold onto the very end of a carrot.
Our Advice: Even though the guard is good, for complete peace of mind, grab some cut-resistant gloves to go with it. It makes a scary task mindless.
The Good and Bad of It All
| Pros | Cons |
| Convenient: Grabs from the drawer in seconds. | No Julienne: Can’t make french fries; just regular slices. |
| Cleaning: Easy dishwasher safe; no rusting. | Guard Limits: Always leaves a little veggie untouched. |
| Consistent: Uniform slices every time. | Manual: Tough veggies (sweet potato) need muscle. |
| Storage: No counter space needed. |
The Bottom Line
Okay, so if you’re looking for something that makes french fries, this isn’t going to be the tool you want. It just doesn’t have the right kind of blades for that.
But if you just want to get your cucumbers, onions, potatoes, or cabbage perfectly even, and you don’t feel like pulling out some big machine, the OXO Good Grips Handheld Mandoline is probably the best twenty bucks you’ll spend for your kitchen.
You know, it’s the go-to in the industry for a simple reason: it just works. Cleanup is a breeze, and it doesn’t get in your way.
