Last Updated on March 25, 2024 by Share My Kitchen
A mandoline is a hand-operated device for slicing fruits and vegetables. This culinary instrument includes adjustable blades that cut apples, melons, carrots, cucumbers, eggplants, onions, potatoes, sweet peppers, and zucchini precisely. When slicing or chopping products with high water content, such as tomatoes or citrus fruits, a precise technique may be required. Dense vegetables or fruits may be best sliced with a knife. The Mandoline is one of the greatest methods to cut salads, tarts, appetizers, carmelized or fried onions, and fried or sliced potatoes into thin slices or crinkle-cuts.
Uses of Mandoline
You can use mandolines to prepare all manner of vegetables. For instance, cutting courgette ribbons, slicing potatoes for dauphinoise, and slicing ginger or garlic.
Beetroots are excellent vegetables for slicing since they cut cleanly and hold their shape.
Mandolines are amazing pieces of kitchen equipment and add consistency and finesse to high-end dishes. Vegetables used for a stir-fry may be chopped and prepared in a matter of minutes, and the mandoline also makes it easy to shred cabbage used for coleslaw.
Equipment
Mandolines come in a variety of sizes, from simple models with only one slice thickness to more advanced models that allow you to julienne and dice vegetables. Most mandolines come with at least a few various thickness settings to let you cut depending on the thickness required.
Mandoline blades should be kept razor-sharp to ensure clean cuts. You can sharpen the blade on your own, just like you would a knife.
When used correctly, mandolines can be relatively safe. However, due to the sharpness of the blades, many models include a handguard for added protection.
Reminders when Using a Mandoline
The Mandoline should always be positioned precisely in front of a person’s body so cutting and slicing are straight out from the body and not left or right across the front of the body. When moving food across the blades, push down on the grip and use uniform pressure and/or motion. This will improve cuts and thicknesses. Some food products may need to be cut into smaller or straighter pieces before being sliced. Foods like beets or potatoes may need to be sliced to fit in a Mandoline.
