How to Safely Use and Clean a Mandoline Slicer

Slicing with a Mandoline

Place the mandoline perpendicular to your body. Fold out the mandoline's legs and place it on a dry, sturdy cutting board. Keep the mandoline perpendicular to your shoulders so the raised end is closest to you to get the most control while you’re slicing. Make sure to use a clean cutting board since the food you’re slicing will drop down onto it. Some mandolines have a container under the blade to catch the food as well. Avoid setting the mandoline parallel to your body because it’s more likely to slip or sit unevenly while you use it.

Trim large or uneven foods into small pieces with flat edges. If the food you’re cutting is oblong or round, cut it into smaller pieces that have a flat edge. That way, you have better control of the food while you’re slicing it and ensure the pieces are cut to a uniform size. Keep one end of the food rounded so it’s easier to hold onto.

Place the food inside the mandoline’s hand guard. Almost all mandolines come with a hand guard shaped like a bell or cylinder so you’re less likely to cut yourself. Place the food inside of the hand guard so the flat side faces down. If your mandoline doesn’t come with a hand guard, private chef Andrea Lawson Gray recommends wearing a mesh cut-resistant glove to protect yourself from cuts. Even if your mandoline has a hand guard, she suggests putting on a glove for added protection. Avoid using your mandoline if you don’t have a hand guard or safety glove because the blades are extremely sharp and could easily cut your finger.

Slide the food back and forth across the blade. Hold onto the top of the hand guard with your dominant hand and hold the mandoline’s legs down with your other. Set the food at the top of the mandoline and push it down toward the blade to start slicing. Slide the food back up to the top and repeat the up and down motion until you’re finished slicing. Keep the food pressed against the side of the mandoline for extra support. If you’re cutting dry, starchy foods like potatoes, lightly wet the mandoline with some water to help the food slide more easily. Apply light and even pressure as you’re using your mandoline slicer so the pieces all have the same consistent size. When the piece of food is too small to run through the mandoline, finish slicing it with a knife so you don’t risk hurting yourself.

Change the blade or its depth to make different types of cuts. If you want your slices to be thinner or thicker, private chef Andrea Lawson Gray says to look for an adjustment dial on the side or bottom of the mandolin. Turn it and test a few slices of food to see how thick they are. Many mandolines also come with different blades to swap out if you want to cut your food into different shapes. If you want to make straight cuts and even slices, then the original straight blade works best. To cut your food into thin strips or matchsticks, use the julienne blade. If you want to make crinkle or waffle cuts in your slices, install the crinkle blade. How you remove and change the blade on a mandoline depends on the brand and style, so refer to your model’s instruction manual.

Cleaning and Storage

Remove and hand-wash the slicing blade. Adjust the blade to the lowest height setting so you’re able to remove it. Carefully pull it out and wipe it slowly from the base of the blade to the tip. Scrub any stubborn food off the blade with a scrub brush. When you’re finished, rinse off the soap under running water and pat the blade dry with a towel. Always make sure to dry the blade before putting it away so it doesn’t start to rust.

Wash the hand guard and mandoline body in your dishwasher. Most mandoline bodies and hand guards are safe to put in the top rack of your dishwasher. Double-check if your mandoline is dishwasher-safe in the instruction manual, and wash it normally on a regular cycle. Alternatively, just wash the body and hand guard with soapy water by hand.

Clean your mandoline after each time you use it. Washing your mandoline every time helps keep the blade sharp and in good condition. Take some time to clean up right away when you finish slicing your food so it’s easier to clean.

Reassemble and store the mandoline away from children and pets. Slide the blade back into your mandoline following your model’s instructions. Since mandolines are significantly more dangerous than knives, place it in a cabinet where children and animals aren’t able to reach it. Avoid keeping your mandoline loose in a drawer or on a high shelf where someone might put their hand without looking.

What can you cut with a mandoline?

Mandolines work great for slicing fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. Whenever you want to quickly slice your food and ensure the pieces are the same size, a mandoline is the perfect tool. Use a mandoline to slice potatoes into thin pieces to make homemade potato chips or to use in scalloped potatoes. Put a julienne blade into your mandoline to cut matchstick carrots, make french fries, and shredding lettuce or cabbage for coleslaw. Slice and dry apples in the oven to make delicious fruit chips. Use either a grater or small julienne blade to grate cheeses that you can sprinkle on top of dishes.