Kitchen Elite V Blade Mandoline Slicer-Deluxe Heavy Duty Stainless Steel

Since October of 2012, I'd had the cheapo, plastic *starter* mandolin I bought on Amazon. I felt it was about time for an upgrade, as I was using the mandolin more often... and the plastic was getting stained. NOT unusable…. Just the plastic was staining from the food I was using… and it kind of started looking gross. Ever seen something you KNOW is clean but, being stained, you just don’t wanna use it? Yep, I was there.After reading all the wonderful reviews about the Kitchen Elite, I couldn't wait to order and use this machine. I was ESPECIALLY overjoyed at finding a reviewer who said this would be good for slicing veggies for pickles!This is just not the case. I am in total dismay at just how poorly this mandolin actually worked for me. Or should I say, DIDN'T work.(NOTE: I ONLY USED THE 2.5mm GUIDE, SO REVIEW IS BASED ON THE MACHINE USING THAT GUIDE)OUT OF THE BOX, I used the 2.5mm guide for 7 cucumbers and 2 red onions for a cucumber salad I make often (BIG batch once a week, or smaller batches 3-5 times a week, depending on the *looks* of the cucumbers available). The cucumber slices from this machine were SO off..... chunky on sides, some half sliced and the majority of them uneven. Also, half of them turned out just so THIN. There was no uniformity at all.Every other *push* of the cucumber would get stuck on the blade, so it wouldn't go completely through without pulling it back and pushing it through again. I'd try to push it through a second time, but with less pressure, and I'd end up with a TON of *grated* veggie pulp on top of the mandolin.The onion slices literally turned into strings. Super thin and, like the cucumber, some half cut (not like a full moon, but half-moon slices). I am used to having sturdy onion slices that *wilt* some over time while in the cucumber salad. The onions looked *sad* once they were cut. Limp.I washed the machine and let it dry. Then, I sliced about 7 regular sized zucchini to make Spicy Zucchini Pickles. Again... the 2.5mm guide made the slices thin, or turned them into half slices that I can't see being able to use for pickles. I fear how thin the 1.5mm would make things...... probably see through.I used the hand guard on the onion, and on the cucumber and zucchini ENDS. For long veggies, there is NO WAY you can use the hand guard as the veggies don't stay stable. You will have to push through by hand until they are short enough to stabilize in the hand guard but, by then, you're pretty much through slicing. You MAY get another 3-5 slices.... then there is *over* waste in the hand guard. I would suggest you do what I did... invest in the cut resistant gloves and just do the slicing *by hand*. No hand guard needed....damn near no waste.The product itself has a HUGE design flaw in my opinion. I tend to slice my veggies directly into a bowl and, with this mandolin, it was near impossible. If the mandolin moves too far forward, your slices completely miss the bowl and fly out the end. Plus, the machine would slide around on top of the bowl. My old, cheapo plastic one had a couple of notches in the bottom that would rest on the lip of a bowl, keeping it steady(er).One last complaint: On the old, cheapo mandolin, I could slice up to 50 vegetables straight with barely any fatigue. With the Kitchen Elite, slicing approximately 17 vegetables in total, I literally had to rest my arm in between veggies as it was that difficult to use it!Before anyone comments, here is what I tried: I tried slicing slow. I tried slicing fast. I tried using barely any pressure at all, letting the veggie *glide* over the blade (which is what would leave the *grated* veggie pulp on top of the mandolin). I rinsed the machine in between some veggies. I kept the machine dry for some. Some were locally grown veggies, picked and used within a week. Some were store bought, and who knows how old, but used the same day they were purchased.The machine itself is beautiful, as my entire kitchen *theme* is black and stainless steel. The insert guides themselves are plastic, but not flimsy in the least. I believe this machine will last someone a good, long time... however, I am returning mine and going to try for an upgrade or go back to el cheapo (wish I hadn't given it away!)My last point: I am left handed. This MAY or MAY NOT have caused/added to the problems. YMMV no matter what.

I looked at about 25 V blade mandolines for one WITH A 1/4 INCH SLICE,,,,THIS ONE SAID IT DID BUT IT REALLY HAS 1/16,, 1/12,,1/8TH inch SLICE.. THE ONLY 1/4 IS THE FRENCH FRY AS SEEN IN PIC,, PLUS TOOK 7 DAYS WITH PRIME, NOT A BIG DEAL BUT I WISH PEOPLE WOULD TELL THE TRUTH ABOUT THEIR PRODUCT,,, TO MUCH OF A HASSEL TO SEND BACK SO I GUESS I'LL HAVE TO MODIFY THE 1/12 INCH PLATE.... SHAME SHAME ON YOU,, MEKBOK

Ok. I like my french fries. I like my tomatoes and onions sliced just the proper width. But most of all, I like the machine that does this, and lasts.Have tried 4 of these slicers, and have found that this is without doubt, the best bang for your dollar. Works like a dream, sturdy, easy to use, clean, and store. Very versatile, with 5 different blades to use for different items and cuttingAnd, in addition, available at a very reasonable priceNo real negatives that I can think of except for being cautious when you use it. Of course, you will always find someone who does not use the safety holder to slice whatever, and end up cutting themselves.I am sure if you have lots of spare money, you can find another, much more expensive slicer, on the market, however it will be hard to top this one. Yes...I have the experience...have been using a slicer for almost 20 years now, so I do know what I am talking about

At its price point it is not one of the cheapest mandoline slicers available. Yet perhaps I set my expectations too high. I found the product hard to use. The plastic inserts are very flimsy and have a tendency to catch food as they bend back and forth. The blades are not that sharp and require a decent amount of pressure to slice anything firmer than a zucchini. The slicer itself is not dishwasher safe. I sliced some onions with it and it saved a little bit of time but it felt unsafe due to the amount of pressure needed and the slices were not even due to the bending of the plastic insert. Then I wasted as much time as I saved by having to hand-wash the thing. The gripper was not great and I usually had to handle the products by hand instead (I'm not sure if it's the gripper's fault, or the fact that the blades fail to slice the veggies easily). I returned it after 2 weeks. I have used a Cuisinart mandoline at a friend's house and that one worked great even though it was plastic, I am going to try and find a good deal for that one.I do like the looks of it so I'll give it a star for that.

I bought this after an extensive review of mandolins on Amazon. (I am fascinated by the reviews that warn that the mandolin blades are sharp - I sure as h*ll hope so!!). Yes, the blades are sharp; the exchanges between blades are easy to change and use (and I hate anything hard to use). So, very sharp (as a mandolin should be!!!) and easy to exchange blades. My ONLY complaint is that it is not easy for me to see what the differences are in the blades so I kept the box to refer to. I admit I am challenged with any "machinery" so maybe this is just my issue. If I was designing this product I would make it easier to see which blades make which cut (and to what thickness). I see this as minor as the mandolin does the perfect job - once you know what you want and put the appropriate blade in there.

This is really well built for the price. I've used it on potatoes, mango, and onions so far and it slices right through them. Only bad thing I didn't really like is how unclear the attachments are marked. You have to look really close to a small number to choose which one you want in regards to the size of Julienne cuts. Would be nice to have an attachment that covers the blade when in storage so you don't accidentally cut yourself. I keep it in the box because I know I have a tendency to be clumsy sometimes.

I receive cheap China product. Not kitchen elite v blade mandoline.