Vegetable Slicer Medium (Old Version)

First, let me say that I have used numerous mandolins and while most work well for the average everyday slicing...all have failed me when I am trying to do very thin slicing. All the other units have preset thickness choices. For my needs, none have every been able to slice thin enough. I saw a Benriner in our local kitchen fixture store and laughed, once again, at the claims made on the package. OH WELL...what is one more slicer in the cupboard. While looking on Amazon, I noted there was also the Wide-Body version...a bit more money but probably more useful...so I ordered it.This is a simple machine with infinite thickness adjustments from it max thickness all the way down to zero; note I said infinite! No presets...just turn two adjusting knobs on the bottom to the desired thickness. In my case...thinness is what I'm looking for. I do a dish with sweet potatoes and they must be sliced very thin; about the equivalent of a couple of sheets of printing paper...thin! Since the two knobs work independent of each other, each controlling each side of tray, it takes a little looking to get both of them adjusted evenly; once you know they are even, just turn both knobs the same amount and all is well.As my confidence increased...I kept cutting thinner and thinner; to the point of being able to see through the sweet potato. OK... I'm sold! I played with the julienne attachments and found them to work well. Other reviews have mentioned the poor design of the blade guard/food holder; I have to agree that it is below par compared to the unit itself. But, that is not a deal breaker since I seldom use a guard anyway. Please note...the blade is SHARP and I like the fact that I can remove the blade and touch it up on my steel to maintain that razor sharp edge.There is no built in stand or anything to help old the unit up. I found it worked best over a silicone rimmed bowl (the silicone kept it from sliding around while in use). There is no place, internally to store the accessory blades. This unit is not burdened with a lot of junk features and the basic design and easy cleaning is just what I was looking for...plus that super thin slicing capability!This past weekend I used it to shred some cabbage for cole-slaw. It worked well and again i was pleased. It took me about 2 minutes to shred the entire head. Very pleased!A maintenance note. When washing...habit would dictate to scrub up and down the cutting ramp with your brush or sponge. Please don't do this! Only stroke it backward over the cutting edge. This will keep you from causing any unnecessary damage to the edge as well as your cleaning tool.I like it, I'm sold on it and am happy to say it is the best lightweight mandolin I have ever used! Highly recommended!====================================================UPDATE 11/02/15Our Benriner has been used a lot. I knew the day would come when the cutting edge would begin to lose it sharpness. Rubbing my finger across the edge, it was obvious the edge had curled a bit (this is normal and what happens to knives). I use a steel to clean up the edges on all my knives (If you don't know what a steel is, please read below). I removed the cutting blade and using my honing steel removed the burr or curl from the edge. In less than a minute, my cutting edge was, once again, super sharp. We have started dehydrating fruits and slicing through the core and seeds of apples and pears does cause damage to the cutting edge. I do wish that it would slice a bit thicker than it does, BUT...I originally purchased this because of its ability to be able to slice very thin...which it does amazingly well. I remain very happy with my purchase.What is a steel?A honing steel, sometimes referred to as sharpening steel, sharpening stick, sharpening rod, butcher's steel, and chef's steel is a rod of steel, ceramic or diamond coated steel used to realign blade edges. They are flat, oval, or round in cross-section and up to one foot long.

Very sharp, easy to use and quality materials used in the manufacture. I bought the one with the tray because it was cheaper than the same one without the tray, but i didn’t think I would use it. But I do, it has rubber on the bottom so it doesn’t slide around on the counter, it holds everything nicely, and it’s easy to clean because the corners are rounded. And the plastic is not the cheap, flimsy stuff like the other mandolines I’ve used, it is sturdy and high quality. The three blades that come with it are easy to install and use, and make strips of different widths depending on the blade used. I’ve had big bulky mandolines in the past and have only used them on special occasions, when I had a lot of veggies to slice. But this one hangs on the wall next to my knives and cutting board (I haven’t figured out yet where to store the container), and I use it several times a week and am cooking and eating more veggies because of it. It does not slice very thick slices so if you want that, keep looking. But otherwise I highly recommend this because of it’s ease of use and compact size.

Benriner Wide-Body Large Slicer BN1This seems to go by several different names depending on the seller. I began researching and purchasing mandolines to make uniformly thin slices of vegetables to dehydrate.I first tried the Swissmar Borner V-Slicer from my local kitchen store. Slices were eithertoo thick or too thin. When trying to make thinner slices - and being not very coordinated... I read all the reviews first and so many do love their V-slicers!... - it was very difficult for me to get an entire slice; most slices were only partial, misshapen slices. On the thinner adjustment, I would go through entire sweet potatoes, beets and jicama without a single entire round slice, just a mass of pieces..(which we would eat, but a waste of time and effort for my dehydrating project.).... Very frustrating. I would try different techniques: 'wafting' across strokes; using the slightest of pressure with each stroke; using slight pressure; using increasing pressure; making strokes away from me; making strokes from side to side... etc. to no avail. Thicker slices worked well, but were too thick for my chip tastes. (It's amazing how swiftly and effortlessly these mandolines slice! - which is also why it is paramount to pay attention..you get down to the end way you expect.) Many root vegetables would often stick/jam/catch..not enough to be truly stuck, but enough to ruin the slice and be a bit dangerous.I also tried the Kitchen King Pro Complete Food Preparation Station. The blade is sharp, but left a roughness and thickness at the end instead of a clean flat/level cut.I next ordered what I thought to be the wide-body Benriner, but upon arrival discovered it was the regular model, which would be fine for many needs, but I want to be able to slice up the large beets and sweet potatoes.... Back to amazon and made sure what I was ordering was in fact the Wide-Body Slicer.Pros:- Yes! The Benriner Wide-Body Slicer adjusts beautifully from transparent paper-thin slices (which is actually too thin for my needs) to just the right adjustment for thin veggies chips or a bit thicker for sturdier chips that can stand up to spreads and dips.- Love that you can replace the blades.Cons:- I do not care for the veggie holder. I handhold and use a fork impaled in the side of the veggie for to help at the end. BUT I strongly recommend using a protective glove made from actual stainless mesh, not the 'cut resistant' fabric gloves.- As others have noted, vegetables colors do stain the plastic a bit.For the price, adjustable thickness of slices; the fact that you can get new blades if need be, ease of use and how well this mandoline slices, for me this is a definite keeper that makes dehydrating veggie chips a snap. I can definitely see why so many restaurant chefs use the Benriner. I have not yet tried to julienne, or use the other blades. Will update later on after having tried them.

I love it so much. This was a replacement for my old benriner. I needed to replace the blades after 20 years. It was basically the same price to get this new one. My old one didn't come with the tray.I will buy it again... and again.

Buen precio y la calidad es suprema

Nothing else to add.

I wanted this slicer for doing cabbage for sauerkraut, coleslaw etc. It does a great job!!It took me a minute to figure out the blade adjustment (then I read the instructions, duh)Beautiful, clean, thin slices, very sharp blade. The slot fits nicely on a bowl to catch the veg. Or not, you pick.I agree the blades are very sharp but I've used a mandoline for years and a little common safety sense goes a long way.Very easy clean up. I had a KA slicer that held water in a covered trough on the bottom, every time I washed it, I had to let it drain for a while before putting it away. Also, you could not remove the blade for sharpening, therefore, dull useless blade, new slicer. This slicer has a removable blade. The Benriner I got does not have Julliene blades, but I never used the ones I had, so no loss.I had never seen/noticed this brand before although there were many comments about it being used commercially.The day I got it I was watching a cooking video and behold, someone using a Benriner slicer. How about that!

Great we'll made product which will last a long time. I like the tray to catch things your slicing