Best Mandoline Slicers of 2026 — Tested & Ranked
Last updated: January 2026 · By KitchenRankings Staff
A mandoline slicer makes quick work of tasks that take forever with a knife — thin potato slices for gratin, perfectly even cucumber rounds, paper-thin fennel for salads. The challenge is safety: mandoline blades are razor-sharp and have sent more home cooks to the ER than any other kitchen tool. We tested five mandolines prioritizing both performance AND safety features to find the best options for 2026.
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⚠️ Mandoline Safety — Read This First
Mandoline slicers injure more home cooks than any other kitchen tool. The blade is razor-sharp and cuts finger tips in an instant if your hand gets near it. Before using any mandoline:
- Always use the hand guard or food holder provided. Never use your bare hand to push food over the blade.
- Wear a cut-resistant glove — a $10 investment that can prevent an ER visit.
- Keep blades covered when not in use and store safely away from children.
- Use a stable cutting surface — mandolines with non-slip feet are significantly safer.
- When the food gets small, stop. Once the food is too small to hold safely with the guard, switch to a knife for the remaining piece.
Quick Comparison Table
| Model | Thickness Settings | Blade | Safety | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OXO V-Blade Mandoline Top Pick | 3 settings + julienne | Stainless steel | Best hand guard | $39.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 |
| Benriner Japanese | Adjustable dial | Stainless (extremely sharp) | Basic guard | $44.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 |
| Mueller Mandoline | 5 settings | Stainless | Food holder | $24.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 |
| Kyocera Ceramic Adjustable | Adjustable (mm dial) | Ceramic | Hand guard | $39.95 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 |
| Swissmar Borner V-Power | 5 inserts | Stainless + multiple blades | Food lifter | $59.99 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ 4.5 |
OXO Good Grips V-Blade Mandoline Slicer — Best Overall (and Safest)
The OXO V-Blade Mandoline wins our top spot for combining the best safety features with genuinely good slicing performance. The hand guard has a spring mechanism that grips even round or awkward vegetables securely, preventing the most common cause of mandoline injuries (losing grip on the food). Three thickness settings cover thin, medium, and thick slices, plus a julienne function. The non-slip feet and comfortable handle add to the excellent overall safety design.
✅ Pros
- Best safety hand guard of any mandoline tested
- Spring-grip holds round vegetables securely
- V-blade produces clean, even slices
- Non-slip feet for stability
- Julienne function for matchstick cuts
- OXO's ergonomic handle design
❌ Cons
- Only 3 thickness settings (less adjustable than Benriner)
- Not for extremely thin paper-thin slices like the Benriner
- Hand guard can struggle with very small pieces (stop before that point)
Benriner No. 64 Japanese Mandoline — Best for Precision Slicing
The Benriner is the mandoline of choice in professional kitchens. The Japanese stainless steel blade is extraordinarily sharp — producing thinner, more precise slices than any other mandoline we tested. The adjustable dial allows any thickness from paper-thin to 5mm. The safety guard is basic (a thin plastic holder), so this is NOT for beginners. Use it with cut-resistant gloves.
✅ Pros
- The sharpest blade of any mandoline tested
- Continuously adjustable thickness
- 3 julienne blades included
- Used in professional kitchens worldwide
- Compact, easy to store
❌ Cons
- Basic safety guard — requires cut-resistant gloves
- Not beginner-friendly
- Narrower slicing surface than wider mandolines
Mueller Austria Mandoline Slicer — Best Budget Value
The Mueller at $24.99 punches well above its price. Five thickness settings, a julienne blade, and a food holder that actually grips vegetables reasonably well. Results are good for everyday slicing tasks — not as precise as the Benriner, but perfectly adequate for potato gratins, cucumber salads, and sliced onions. A great entry point into mandoline slicing without a significant investment.
✅ Pros
- $24.99 — best price in roundup
- 5 thickness settings
- Suction feet for stability
- Includes julienne blade
❌ Cons
- Less precise than premium options
- Food holder less secure than OXO spring-grip
- Blade dulls faster than Japanese steel
Kyocera Adjustable Ceramic Mandoline — Best Ceramic Blade
The Kyocera uses a zirconia ceramic blade instead of stainless steel. Ceramic blades stay sharp longer between sharpening sessions and don't react with acidic foods the way metal can. The adjustable thickness dial is intuitive, and the hand guard is adequate. Great for fruit and vegetables, though ceramic blades can chip if dropped on hard surfaces.
✅ Pros
- Ceramic blade stays sharp longer
- Doesn't react with acidic fruits/vegetables
- Smooth adjustable dial
- Easy to clean
❌ Cons
- Ceramic blade chips if dropped
- Cannot be resharpened at home
- Narrower width limits large vegetable slicing
Swissmar Borner V-Power Mandoline — Best Multi-Blade System
The Borner V-Power is the most versatile mandoline in this roundup — it comes with 5 interchangeable inserts covering different julienne sizes, wavy cuts, and fine/coarse slicing. The food lifter safely transports sliced food directly from the mandoline to a bowl. At $59.99 it's the priciest, but the additional blade variety is genuinely useful for anyone who does diverse vegetable prep.
✅ Pros
- 5 blade inserts for diverse cutting
- German-made quality
- Food lifter safely transports sliced food
- Wavy cut for decorative slicing
- 2 julienne sizes for different recipes
❌ Cons
- $59.99 — most expensive here
- Multiple inserts to store and track
- Learning curve for switching inserts
Frequently Asked Questions
Are mandoline slicers dangerous?
They can be — mandoline blades are extremely sharp and cause more home kitchen injuries than any other tool. However, with proper safety practices (always use the hand guard or food holder, wear cut-resistant gloves, use a stable surface, stop when food gets small), mandolines are safe and effective. Never use a mandoline without the included hand guard.
What vegetables are best for mandoline slicing?
Cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, beets, fennel, carrots, onions, radishes, apples, and firm tomatoes all work beautifully. Very soft or irregularly shaped vegetables (overripe tomatoes, mushrooms) are better sliced by knife. Hard vegetables like butternut squash may require more force than is safe.
Should I get a hand mandoline or a V-blade mandoline?
V-blade mandolines (like the OXO and Swissmar Borner) pull food from both sides of the blade simultaneously, producing cleaner cuts and requiring less force. Flat-blade mandolines cut on the down stroke only. Most modern mandolines use V-blades — they produce better results and are generally safer.
How do I clean a mandoline slicer?
Rinse immediately after use (before food dries). Use a dedicated vegetable brush — never scrub toward the blade with your fingers. Many mandolines are dishwasher safe (top rack only). Always store with the blade in the retracted or covered position, and keep out of reach of children.
Are cut-resistant gloves worth buying for mandoline use?
Yes, 100%. A cut-resistant (level 5 ANSI) kitchen glove costs $10–20 and can prevent a serious injury. Given that mandolines send thousands of people to the ER annually, it's one of the most cost-effective safety purchases in your kitchen. Buy a pair when you buy any mandoline.