That $120 Japanese mandoline was a total trap

I dropped cash on one of those fancy mandolines with the replaceable blades last month after a buddy swore by it. First week it shredded lemons and cucumbers like a dream but then the hand guard slipped and I took a chunk off my thumb, blood everywhere in the walk-in. The blades dulled way faster than my old $30 plastic one and replacements are impossible to find locally here in Portland. Meanwhile my line cook just uses a sharp knife and gets cleaner cuts in half the time... honestly I feel like a fool for chasing the hype. Anyone else have a pricey tool that ended up more hassle than help?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

margaret_williams52mo ago

Is it just me, or do fancy kitchen tools always show their true colors right when you're already stressed? I bought a $90 pepper grinder once, the kind with the little gears inside, and it worked great for like a week. Then it started spitting out pepper chunks and the adjustment knob just spun free, so I'd have to whack it on the counter to get it to grip again. Ended up using the cheap salt-and-pepper shaker from the dollar store more than that thing. My thumb still hurts reading about your cut, though. Hope it heals up clean.

6

dakotawood2mo ago

Is this thing secretly made of lies and weak plastic?

2