"Andy" <q> ha scritto nel messaggio
...
> Blinky the Shark said...
>
>>
>> Does anyone have a mandolin that they can recommend in the, say, $80US
>> range? I'm thinking about giving one as a gift and have never had or
> used
>> one, so I could use your experience.
>
>
> Blinky,
>
> I have the old "as seen on TV" mandolin. A cheap-o plastic one that I
> still
> use. I'll suggest you buy one that has an under cylinder that has four or
> so blade arrangements that you can dial that will protrude up through
> slits
> so you can dice not just slice. The different blade arrangements are to
> select a desired dice.
>
> Also look for one that comes with a vegetable holder/guard that you sweep
> along the mandolin's side rails to keep your hand protected from the
> blades
> at all times. I'd be willing to bet I'd've diced a few fingers without
> one.
>
> And lastly, stability and position. Some come with legs and others can lay
> flat in certain size bowls, then can both be difficult to handle if
> they're
> not firmly held in place.
>
> Giusi mentioned blade sharpening, so if they have a removable blade (or
> blades) that would be desirable.
>
> My cheap-o unit came with a separate spiral slicer and a cute fruit design
> thingy that went straight out of the box into the trash.
>
> Best,
> Andy

Andy, real mandolins have screw on blades because those barrel and dial
things don't hold up to pro use and mandolins are much more used by pros
than home cooks.