Customer Reviews

Matfer 215001 Mandoline Vegetable Slicer

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

My first mandoline was the Bron which is visually the most serious/macho/cool of the bunch, but its shortcomings were unacceptable - the slicing blade is one-piece stainless, and can't hold a sharp edge; the julienne blades are not sharp and can't be sharpened; and the safety carriage is designed to not go past the cutting edge. I sold it.

I now have a Matfer (the all-stainless model) and it has a 2-piece slicing blade: the cutting edge is high-carbon steel (which can be sharpened and hold its edge) welded to a stainless part. The julienne blades are very sharp (altho can't be resharpened). The safety-gadget thing works well, but can't be used for waffle cuts. I use the Matfer only for waffle cuts and if I have large quantities of slicing. If you want french fry size potatoes or are slicing celeriac, you're better off with a sharp knife. The disadvantage of this machine is that you can't adjust the slicing blade's uniformity of thickness - my slices are thicker on one side (the Bron had more adjustment leeway).

The machine I use the most is the Benriner - the slicing blade is very sharp and is sharpenable. The (unsharpenable) julienne blades are extremely sharp. It can't do waffle cuts and is not good for massive quantities of large cuts. It's best for finer julienne and thin slicing such as potatoes, cucumber or daikon.

Don't even consider using these machines without the safety gadget.

Unless I have a large quantity of slicing to do, I'd opt for a sharp knife, because cleanup time counts too.

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Note: I originally wrote the above review in Nov. 2001, based on the then-current Matfer model 44595. Judging from the photo of the current model 215000, it appears that the slicing blade is now one-piece stainless steel instead of carbon welded to stainless. "... you can sharpen the knives and correct the play of the blades for more precise cuts" refers to the slicing/waffle blade, not the julienne. The julienne blades are not sharpenable.

There is no better tool than this mandoline when you have to do bulk slicing/waffling/julienne-ing of any veggie...or finger! The worst part about it is its VERY dangerous shuttle/food holder. The infinitely-adjustable blade can go from cutting potatoes thinly enough to make home-made potato chips (just fry them 20 or 30 seconds in oil, drain, sprinkle them with salt, and YUM!), to about 3/4". "Infinitely adjustable" means there are no "detents" when adjusting the degree of thickness--you turn a thumbscrew to the thickness you like and leave it at that. JUST BE CAREFUL! If the food shuttle were MUCH better, this would be 5 star mandoline. As many times as I've taken a very good chunk of skin off a thumb (needing stitches once...), though, the rating has to be just 3. It is VERY sharp and stays sharp. You never even know what's happened until it's too late. A few words of advice if you buy this mandoline: Buy a BETTER shuttle for it!

I ordered the Matfer stainless steel mandoline elsewhere. It is 215000 (looks and works exactly same as the 215001). I love it's design. It is so study and simple. The straight blade works great (and hopefully I will be able to sharpen it when necessary). But the julienne blades and waffle blade are worthless. None are sharp enough to cut anything, just chew it up with much force, that would lead to dangerous accidents. Hoping I just got a lemon and most are much better. Because I really love this thing - if it would just work properly.

I was extremely excited to order and receive the Matfer Mandoline and get started cooking and putting up this summers bountiful harvest. I was just as disappointed to learn that this model does not come with the Pusher/Handle/Guard as seen in the picture nor does the posting verbally tell you that the Pusher/Handle/Guard is not included.

On the Matfer website they sell the same Mandoline with or without the Pusher/Handle/Guard and also note that in the text of the Product, It would be great if Amazon did the same.

I couldn't find the Pusher/Handle/Guard on the Amazon website so I had to buy it from a competitor.

Non-the less, I'm very happy with the product.

I'm always fearful of anything that has a warning label showing a hand missing 2 fingers.... This is no toy! I have given the straight blade a huge workout having used it to dry and can over 100 jars of produce, most of it sliced with this mandoline. The pusher, being metal and quite sharp itself, will absolutely destroy the mandoline blade if you use it. I found a pair of rubber palmed gloves and find that does a superior job of protecting your fingers.
I keep mine on the counter since I use it so often during garden season and have found it to be exceedingly sturdy and easy to adjust thicknesses.

Pros: Very sturdy almost industrial. Easy to clean. Sharp blades. I have done lots of pickles, cabbage, onion, potatoes, corn, squash, etc...
Cons: could use little rubber feet so it would not slide at all. The pusher works great but can sometimes not hold the food as sturdy as I would like.

I looked for a mandoline for a long time. I cook constantly and this is a professional piece of equipment that does exactly what it says.

My husband gave me this mandoline for Christmas, I was very excited, until I opened it and realized it didn't have the safety holder for holding whatever you are cutting (the one all the other reviews warn you not to skip using.) I sent it back and ordered a replacement - and got another one with no safety holder! I am really disappointed.

Do not buy this item from Amazon.

They seem to think that the safety guide should not be included in the sale of this item. I ordered it, did not receive what the Amazon review calls the "pusher". I complained and they sent a second shipment. No pusher was shipped again.

This is a very dangerous utinsel to use without the FACTORY SUPPLIED safety guide. But obviously Amazon feels it is not necessary.

After the second shipment, I told Amazon that I would buy the safety guide locally. I was under the assumption that it could be purchased separately at a commercial outfit locally for $25+/-. Amazon was nice enough to refund me the $25 cost. I thank them for that.

Since then, I have not been able to find it locally and will probably have to look on the net for the item.

This mandoline slices like a dream, but don't buy it at the $114 price on Amazon. Go to the off-site sellers. They guarantee that the safety guide is included, but list it around $150. And their shipping people probably know that this is a two piece shipment.

I bought this mandoline for my wife for mothers day as an upgrade to an older one she had. I read all the reviews for all of them that met the standard I was trying to meet and chose this one on a few accounts. Stainless steel beats plastic and everyone said the blades stay sharp. This item would have rated a cool 5 stars except for one thing. The photo and the Amazon review indicate that this potentially dangerous instrument comes as a complete unit with the pusher to hold the food and keep your fingers from becoming part of your meal. Common sense and rationality would have you believe that this tool would come with that part as a matter of reason. IT DOES NOT! It comes sealed in plastic WITHOUT the one part that makes it safe to use. Not to mention that the Amazon review mentions the pusher several times touting its ease of operation and how it works and the mandoline is shown with the pusher as part of the package. I personally could not see a tool like this not coming complete with a pusher nor have I ever bought a mandoline in the past that did not, until now. After recieving my first order from Amazon and realizing a crucial part was missing, I immediately called in and had them send another one. We discussed the missing part and it was noted. They even added next day shipping for free to get it here on time for mothers day. Of course, the new one was identical to the first. After opening one and reading the instruction booklet did I realize that the pusher is actually an optional order item and is not included with the the mandoline. For $100 you would think it would be included, at least as a safety concern for the unaware user. If you read the reviews, most of them mention getting cut using it for the first time but only one other mentions the pusher not being present with the slicer. So, buyer beware, even though it shows the pusher in the picture and it is spoken of in the Amazon review as if it is included, it is NOT and you should avoid this slicer unless you dont mind paying that kind of money for only the main part and then go out and try to find the rest of it or use gloves or just be careful using it without all the necessary components. For all that, I give it a 3 star rating. I haven't used it much since I bought it because I haven't ordered the pusher. I'm trying to find an individual one that might work better. A few reviews have said that the pusher which belongs with this slicer isn't very good. It does seem to slice quite well and cleanup is easy. Use a fork or something to push remaining food through the slicer part to avoid bloodshed. In short, just be extremely careful and don't let your teenaged kids use it without a complete safety briefing and training on how to use it.

Upon initial inspection I managed to draw blood, worse, it was mine. This is not for every day use, it is great for bigger jobs. It requires time and caution to clean up as one may expect. Be sure the job is big enough to justify the clean up time.