Spiral Slicer and mandolines? Help

[3bigdogs]

Okay, I have been lurking on these boards for awhile, and I am slowly transitioning to RAW. I LOVE to putter in the kitchen, and I am looking forward to learning how to uncook :D So, here is another question for everyone; I am would like to purchase a spiral slicer and a mandoline. I don't want to spend a fortune, but I hate to spend money on cheesy products that will only last a short while. I would far prefer to break the bank and get something of quality. I have looked at the saladacco, but it looks - well - cheap. I have found a mandoline at Cost Plus World Markets for about $60 that looked like it would go the distance. Any thoughts/advice would be appreciated.

[EastCoastie]

I have the saladacco, the spirooli and a mandolin. I got the saladacco from Amazon.com despite some not great reviews. I love it and so far it's been doing fine. The spirooli I ordered from Hallelujah Acres. It gives me more options than the saladacco and it too works great. Finally, I got a European mandolin at BB&B which also works pretty good. The price for each of these was right around $30.

Hope that helps,

EC

[3bigdogs]

Thanks, so would you recommend the spirooli over the saladacco, or do they have different appeals.

[Rawkinlocs]

They have different appeals, IMHO...I don't own a mandelon, but I have both the Spiral Slicer and Spirooli. If you like angel hair "pasta", then the spiral slicer is the way to go...if you prefer a thicker-sized "noodle" then the spirooli. Both the spiral slicer and the spirooli will also make thin slices but I don't think the mandolin will make the spirals for the noodles.

If I had to choose between the two of the items I have, I think I'd go with the spirooli only because I personally prefer the more "spaghetti-sized" noodles as opposed to angel hair. But I do like my spiral slicer better for making the thin slices mainly because I've just become accustomed to using it for that purpose moreso than the spirooli.

[mershwista]

I find the spiral slicers a bit unnecessary. But then again, I have limited time and limited space, and maybe it's just not my thing. If I want something pasta-ish or rice-y, I generally sprout quinoa or buckwheat. I've also found in the produce section bags of pre-cut cole slaw vegetables, one kind using cabbage as is traditional and one kind using broccoli. Both are excellent for salads, stir-unfries, "pasta" dishes, etc.

[Carmella]

Hi there,
We recently were in your position and, like you, although we don't have a great deal of money, we figured that investing in good quality tools would pay off in the long run.

I, too, was not too thrilled with the looks of the spiral slicer and although it does work for some, it's a hit and miss thing for others. I also wanted the flexibility of making different size pasta. So, in the end, I opted for Benriner Cook Help which we found on ebay for $36 (roughly $10 cheaper than in most web stores). You can have a look at it here:

http://www.quickspice.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/cookware-slicer-01.shtml?L+scstore+hbky0463+1163127287

For more info, there's excellent and helpful reviews on Amazon too.

We're totally happy with it and our pasta turns out perfect every time. We know it's just appearances but it has made a world of difference over the grated zucchini pasta we used to make.

As for the mandoline, we thoroughly researched what model would suit us best (and you better believe it: it's a jungle of mandolines out there! lol) In the end, we were hesitating between the Mandoline Plus which is basically the same as the Benriner mandoline you can see just above the Cook Help on the link above only with a container to catch the goodies.

One of our main concerns was safety. As you know, these babies tend to be razor sharp and it wouldn't take much to hurt yourself unless you have a good finger guard. And so, in the end, after reading the raving reviews pretty much everywhere, we fell for the Borner V-Slicer Pro (V-4000) which is the next level above their previous, more common V-Slicer Plus model (V-1000). Eventhough the latter is good, its main limitation is that you can only have thin and thick slices. You can have a better look at it here:

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=6679

Again, we are totally stoked about our choice as this slicer is just awesome! Super quality, well made and with a possibility of 9 different cuts. I can finally make lasagnas, and chips and all the other goodies that I've been lusting after!lol

Happy Hunting!

[3bigdogs]

Thanks for all of the info. I too have this thing with appearance. I don't mind the shaved and or grated zucchini etc. for the pasta, but it just seems like it would be so much more appealing to have it look more like pasta. Besides, although my dh isn't balking at any of this, I think that it will make it easier to transition him if the food looked more traditional. Also, like I said, I love to putter in the kitchen, and as my neice always says, I am the gadget queen. I am looking forward to getting to more people on this forum, and again, thanks for all your advice.

[carolg]

Carmella,
Maybe too early, but please help clear my mind: for the mandolin you got Borner V-Slicer Pro (V-4000)? I have been thinking lasagna for a long time and I know a knife can help or even cheese slicer, but still safety is an issue at all times so just curious if I read you love the Broner V4000. Thanks.
carolg

[Carmella]

carolg,

Yop! The V-4000 is the fancier model. It has more choices of cuts and has a really neat safety storing feature. It comes with a great big food holder so no worries there about safety (unless you don't use it of course! lol) It's sharp, easy to clean and comes with a storing device. I've read stories of people having had the older model for something like 20 years and it still works like a charm!

It came to me highly recommended by Sheryl from Raw Pleasure Australia and I completely trusted her take on it. A quick glimpse at all the gorgeous foods she prepares and you'll now what I mean... lol

[carolg]

Carmella,
Thanks a bunch for your quick reply and clarification. I do appreciate all your posts and always fun to read.
carolg

[Linda1970]

Hi there,
We recently were in your position and, like you, although we don't have a great deal of money, we figured that investing in good quality tools would pay off in the long run.

I, too, was not too thrilled with the looks of the spiral slicer and although it does work for some, it's a hit and miss thing for others. I also wanted the flexibility of making different size pasta. So, in the end, I opted for Benriner Cook Help which we found on ebay for $36 (roughly $10 cheaper than in most web stores). You can have a look at it here:

http://www.quickspice.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/scstore/cookware-slicer-01.shtml?L+scstore+hbky0463+1163127287

For more info, there's excellent and helpful reviews on Amazon too.

We're totally happy with it and our pasta turns out perfect every time. We know it's just appearances but it has made a world of difference over the grated zucchini pasta we used to make.

As for the mandoline, we thoroughly researched what model would suit us best (and you better believe it: it's a jungle of mandolines out there! lol) In the end, we were hesitating between the Mandoline Plus which is basically the same as the Benriner mandoline you can see just above the Cook Help on the link above only with a container to catch the goodies.

One of our main concerns was safety. As you know, these babies tend to be razor sharp and it wouldn't take much to hurt yourself unless you have a good finger guard. And so, in the end, after reading the raving reviews pretty much everywhere, we fell for the Borner V-Slicer Pro (V-4000) which is the next level above their previous, more common V-Slicer Plus model (V-1000). Eventhough the latter is good, its main limitation is that you can only have thin and thick slices. You can have a better look at it here:

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=6679

Again, we are totally stoked about our choice as this slicer is just awesome! Super quality, well made and with a possibility of 9 different cuts. I can finally make lasagnas, and chips and all the other goodies that I've been lusting after!lol

Happy Hunting!

Thanks Carmella. I've been searching for a mandoline for months. I think I will get this.

[Carmella]

You're sooo welcome all of you!

We did our homework and are totally happy with our new tools so I'm glad others get to benefit from the energy and time we've put into researching this.