If you regularly prepare vegetables at home, you already know that slicing can take more time than expected. Potatoes, cucumbers, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, and other vegetables can be difficult to cut into consistently sized pieces with a kitchen knife. That is where a handheld mandoline slicer can become a useful addition to your kitchen.

In this OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer review, we take a closer look at the design, slicing performance, adjustable thickness settings, safety features, cleaning process, and everyday usability of this compact kitchen tool. The goal is to help you decide whether the OXO handheld mandoline fits your cooking style and whether its features justify adding it to your kitchen collection. “Check today’s price on Amazon”

Quick Overview

The OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer is designed for home cooks who want faster and more consistent vegetable preparation without bringing out a large food processor. Its handheld design makes it relatively compact, while features such as an ergonomic grip, non-slip foot, adjustable slicing settings, and a food holder are intended to make everyday preparation easier.

One of its main attractions is versatility. In addition to standard slicing, the model discussed in this review includes multiple thickness settings and a julienne function. That makes it useful for everything from thin cucumber slices and coleslaw to vegetables prepared for roasting, salads, and other everyday dishes.

Why Use a Mandoline Slicer?

A good kitchen knife remains one of the most important tools for any home cook. However, even experienced cooks can find it difficult to produce dozens of slices that are exactly the same thickness.

That consistency matters.

When vegetables are cut into significantly different sizes, they can cook at different speeds. Thin pieces may become overcooked while thicker pieces still need more time.

A mandoline addresses this problem by creating a controlled path between the food and the blade. Instead of relying entirely on your knife technique, the tool helps produce more consistent slices.

For example, imagine preparing potatoes for a gratin. If some slices are paper-thin while others are considerably thicker, the final dish may not cook evenly.

The same principle applies to vegetables for roasting, cucumber salads, onions, cabbage, and many other foods.

The OXO handheld design aims to provide that consistency while taking up less space than a larger countertop appliance.

OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer: Design and Ergonomics

One of the most important aspects of any handheld kitchen tool is how comfortable and stable it feels during use.

OXO has built its product line around ergonomic design, and the handheld mandoline follows that general approach.

Rather than creating a complicated countertop machine, the design focuses on a relatively simple handheld format with a grip, slicing surface, blade, and support features.

For a home cook, this simplicity can be useful.

You can take the slicer out of a drawer, prepare your vegetables, select the desired setting, and begin slicing without assembling a large appliance.

Comfortable Handle

The handle is one of the most noticeable design elements.

The OXO handheld mandoline uses a soft, non-slip grip designed to make it easier to hold the tool securely while preparing food.

This is particularly useful when your hands are wet or when you are working quickly.

A secure grip is important with any tool containing a sharp blade. You should never rely solely on the handle, however. Proper use of the included food holder and careful handling remain essential.

The ergonomic design also allows the mandoline to be positioned over a cutting board or bowl, depending on how you prefer to prepare your ingredients.

Non-Slip Foot

Stability is another important consideration.

The OXO mandoline includes a rubberized non-slip foot intended to help keep the tool in place during use.

This is especially useful when slicing firmer vegetables that require more pressure.

Instead of constantly repositioning the tool, the non-slip component helps maintain a stable position on the work surface.

For home cooks, this seemingly small feature can make a meaningful difference in everyday usability.

Clear Viewing Area

The design also provides visibility through the slicing area.

This allows you to see the food accumulating beneath the tool as you work.

That can be useful when you are preparing a specific amount of an ingredient and want to monitor your progress without repeatedly lifting the mandoline.

Small design details like this contribute to the overall convenience of a handheld kitchen gadget.

Adjustable Slicing Thickness

One of the most useful reasons to purchase a mandoline is the ability to produce consistent slices at different thicknesses.

According to the product information represented in the original review, the OXO Precision model offers five distinct thickness settings. These settings provide greater control than a basic slicer with only one or two options.

That versatility means you can adapt the tool to different recipes.

For example, thinner settings can be useful for:

Cucumber salads
Coleslaw
Thin potato slices
Radishes
Garnishes

Medium settings can work well for:

Zucchini
Apples
Onions
Certain vegetable preparations

Thicker settings can be useful for:

Eggplant
Root vegetables
Roasting vegetables
Other recipes requiring more substantial slices

The important advantage is consistency.

Once you select the appropriate setting, the mandoline helps reproduce a similar thickness across multiple passes.

Julienne Function

Another feature that expands the usefulness of the OXO handheld mandoline is its julienne capability.

Julienne cuts create thin, matchstick-shaped pieces rather than simple flat slices.

This can be useful when preparing:

Carrots
Potatoes
Zucchini
Salad vegetables
Stir-fry ingredients
Garnishes

The original review describes the julienne function as an integrated feature rather than requiring a separate tool.

For someone who frequently prepares vegetables, having both slicing and julienne capability in one compact tool can make the mandoline more versatile.

It also reduces the number of separate gadgets you need to store.

OXO Mandoline Slicer Performance

A kitchen gadget can have an impressive list of features, but performance is ultimately what matters.

The original review examined the slicer with several common ingredients, including tomatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and cabbage.

Let’s look at each use case more closely.

Slicing Tomatoes

Tomatoes can be surprisingly difficult to slice cleanly.

A dull knife can crush the skin and squeeze the tomato instead of producing a clean slice.

The review describes the OXO’s sharp blade as capable of moving through ripe tomato skin with relatively little effort.

This can make the tool useful for sandwiches, salads, burgers, and other dishes where evenly sliced tomatoes are desirable.

However, as with any sharp kitchen tool, the condition of the tomato and the technique you use can affect the result.

Slicing Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are considerably denser than cucumbers or tomatoes.

That makes them a more demanding ingredient.

According to the original review, the rigid construction and sharp blade allow the OXO model to handle dense vegetables such as sweet potatoes without the body flexing significantly.

The non-slip foot also becomes particularly useful here because firmer vegetables may require more controlled pressure.

When working with dense vegetables, however, there is no reason to rush.

Use smooth movements and let the blade do the cutting.

Slicing Onions

Onions are another everyday ingredient where a mandoline can save preparation time.

The original review highlights the speed of slicing onions and the consistency of the resulting rings.

Evenly sliced onions are useful for:

Burgers
Sandwiches
Salads
Soups
Caramelized onions
Stir-fries

Because the slices can be produced quickly, the tool can be particularly convenient when preparing several ingredients for a meal.

Shredding Cabbage

Cabbage can be tedious to cut by hand.

If you are making coleslaw, for example, you typically want thin, consistent strands.

The original review notes that the OXO mandoline can be used to produce thin cabbage slices suitable for slaw-style preparations.

This is a good example of where a mandoline can provide a practical advantage over a knife.

Safety: An Important Part of Any Mandoline Review

Safety deserves special attention when discussing mandoline slicers.

The blade is designed to be extremely sharp. That sharpness is part of what makes the tool effective, but it also means the user needs to operate it carefully.

The OXO design includes a food holder intended to keep your fingers away from the cutting edge.

The original review describes the food holder as a key component of the product’s safety system.

Always Use the Food Holder

This is one of the most important recommendations for using the product.

Do not treat the handguard as an optional accessory.

As the vegetable becomes smaller, your fingers naturally move closer to the blade if you hold the food directly.

The food holder provides a barrier and helps maintain control of the ingredient.

For that reason, use it throughout the slicing process.

Blade Lock

The original review also describes a locking position intended for storage.

When the adjustment mechanism is placed in the appropriate locked position, the blade is positioned more securely for storage.

This is useful because sharp kitchen tools should always be stored carefully.

If you keep the mandoline in a drawer with other utensils, take extra care when retrieving it.

Never reach blindly into a drawer containing sharp kitchen tools.

Cleaning and Maintenance

Cleaning can determine whether a kitchen gadget becomes a daily favorite or ends up forgotten in a cabinet.

Fortunately, the original review identifies the OXO handheld mandoline as dishwasher safe.

That can make cleanup easier after preparing vegetables.

A quick rinse immediately after use can also help remove food residue before it dries.

However, you should always follow the manufacturer’s current care instructions for your specific model.

Dishwasher or Hand Washing?

Although dishwasher cleaning can be convenient, careful hand cleaning around a sharp blade can also make sense.

If you wash the blade area manually, use an appropriate brush or cleaning method rather than placing your fingers directly near the cutting edge.

Safety should always come before convenience.

The original article also suggests that careful hand washing may help preserve the blade’s performance over time.

OXO Mandoline vs. Chef’s Knife

A common question is whether a mandoline is actually necessary if you already own a good chef’s knife.

The answer depends on what you cook.

A skilled cook can certainly produce excellent slices with a knife.

However, maintaining exactly the same thickness across a large quantity of vegetables takes time and concentration.

The mandoline changes the process.

Instead of manually estimating each cut, you select the desired thickness and move the food across the blade.

That makes the tool particularly useful for recipes requiring a large quantity of uniform slices.

Potato chips are one example.

If you want dozens of potatoes cut to approximately the same thickness, a mandoline can simplify the preparation.

OXO Mandoline vs. Food Processor

Food processors are excellent for large quantities.

However, they can also involve more steps.

You may need to:

Remove the appliance from storage.
Assemble the bowl.
Install the correct blade.
Process the ingredients.
Disassemble the machine.
Wash multiple components.

For a single cucumber or a few potatoes, that may feel unnecessary.

The handheld mandoline takes a much simpler approach.

It is compact, easy to store, and suitable for smaller preparation jobs.

Therefore, the choice depends largely on quantity.

For large-scale meal preparation, a food processor may still be more practical.

For quick everyday slicing, a handheld mandoline can be more convenient.

OXO vs. Benriner Mandoline

The original review also compares the OXO handheld mandoline with Benriner models.

Benriner mandolines have a strong reputation among cooks who appreciate simple Japanese-style designs.

However, the review emphasizes the ergonomic advantages of the OXO, particularly its handle and broader approach to home-kitchen usability.

This distinction is important.

Professional cooks may prioritize different characteristics from the average home cook.

If you value a comfortable grip and straightforward operation, the OXO design may be more appealing.

If you prefer a minimalist professional-style mandoline, you may want to compare the two designs before buying.

How to Use the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer

Getting good results is not just about the product.

Technique matters too.

Here is a practical workflow based on the original article.

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetable

Wash your produce thoroughly.

If the vegetable has an unusually round shape, creating a more stable surface can help.

Step 2: Select the Thickness

Choose the desired thickness setting before you begin.

Start with a less aggressive setting if you’re unfamiliar with the tool.

Step 3: Stabilize the Mandoline

Position the non-slip foot securely on your cutting board or use the appropriate support over a bowl.

Make sure the mandoline is stable before applying pressure.

Step 4: Secure the Food

Place the vegetable into the food holder.

This is one of the most important steps.

Keep your fingers away from the blade.

Step 5: Use Smooth Movements

Move the food holder across the slicing surface with controlled strokes.

Do not force the vegetable through the blade.

A sharp blade should do the work.

Step 6: Lock and Clean

When you finish, move the adjustment mechanism to the appropriate storage position and clean the tool according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

The original review outlines essentially this six-step workflow for everyday use.

Pros and Cons

No kitchen gadget is perfect for every cook.

Here are some of the main strengths and limitations suggested by the review.

Pros

Compact handheld design
Ergonomic grip
Non-slip support
Adjustable slicing thickness
Julienne capability
Sharp stainless-steel blade
Food holder included
Storage lock position
Dishwasher-safe design
Useful for a wide variety of vegetables

Cons

The sharp blade requires careful handling
A handheld mandoline may not be ideal for very large quantities
Users must rely on the food holder for safer operation
It does not replace every function of a food processor
It is not designed to produce every specialized cut, such as waffle cuts

The original article specifically notes that the model discussed is intended for straight slices and julienne cuts rather than waffle-style cuts.

Who Should Buy the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer?

This product makes the most sense for home cooks who frequently prepare fresh vegetables and want more consistent slices without purchasing a large appliance.

It can be especially useful if you regularly make:

Salads
Coleslaw
Potato dishes
Vegetable gratins
Stir-fries
Sandwiches
Burgers
Roasted vegetables
Garnishes
Homemade vegetable chips

It is also worth considering if kitchen storage space is limited.

A handheld tool takes considerably less room than a full-size food processor.

Who May Not Need It?

If you rarely slice vegetables or already own a food processor that handles all of your preparation needs, the OXO mandoline may not add much value.

Likewise, if you prefer doing all preparation with a chef’s knife, purchasing another cutting tool may not be necessary.

The value depends on how often you will actually use it.

A kitchen gadget is worthwhile when it solves a recurring problem.

Is the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer Worth Buying?

The OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer offers a useful combination of convenience, adjustability, compact storage, and slicing consistency.

Its strongest advantage is not that it completely replaces your other kitchen tools.

Instead, it fills a specific gap.

When you need uniform vegetable slices quickly, it can simplify the process.

The adjustable settings give you more control than a basic fixed mandoline, while the julienne function adds another preparation option.

The ergonomic grip and non-slip support also make the tool practical for routine kitchen use.

At the same time, the sharp blade means users should take safety seriously. The included food holder should be used consistently, especially as vegetables become smaller.

Final Thoughts

The OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer is designed for a very practical purpose: making vegetable preparation more consistent and efficient.

It does not need to replace your chef’s knife or food processor.

Instead, it can complement them.

For a quick cucumber salad, evenly sliced potatoes, thin onions, cabbage for coleslaw, or julienne vegetables, a handheld mandoline can reduce repetitive cutting and produce more consistent results.

The combination of multiple thickness settings, a julienne function, ergonomic handling, non-slip support, and a food holder gives the product a useful range of applications.

The biggest consideration is safety.

This is a sharp kitchen tool, and it should be treated accordingly. Use the food holder, maintain a stable position, avoid rushing, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

If you regularly prepare vegetables and want a compact alternative to a full-size food processor, the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer is a product worth considering.

Before purchasing, check the current product specifications, included accessories, available settings, care instructions, and current price because product configurations and retailer information can change.

FAQs

Is the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer dishwasher safe?

The original review identifies the product as dishwasher safe and recommends following appropriate cleaning practices. However, always check the current manufacturer’s care instructions for your specific model before placing it in the dishwasher.

How many thickness settings does the OXO mandoline have?

The model discussed in the original review is described as having five distinct thickness settings, along with a julienne function.

Does the OXO mandoline make julienne cuts?

Yes. The original review describes an integrated julienne capability that can be used to create matchstick-style cuts from suitable vegetables.

Is the OXO mandoline safe for beginners?

The product includes a food holder and storage-lock feature designed to make handling more controlled. However, it still contains a very sharp blade. Beginners should read the manufacturer’s instructions and always use the food holder rather than handling food directly against the blade.

Can the OXO mandoline slice sweet potatoes?

The original review describes using the product with sweet potatoes and other dense vegetables. Because sweet potatoes are firm, use controlled movements and avoid forcing the food through the blade.

Can it make waffle fries?

The original article states that this specific model focuses on straight slices and julienne cuts rather than waffle-style cuts. A specialized wavy blade would be required for that type of preparation.

Can it slice tomatoes?

The original review includes tomatoes among the foods evaluated and describes the sharp blade as capable of producing clean slices from ripe tomatoes.

Is a handheld mandoline better than a food processor?

Neither is universally better. A food processor can be more practical for large quantities, while a handheld mandoline can be convenient for smaller everyday preparation jobs because it requires less setup and storage space.

Is a mandoline better than a chef’s knife?

A mandoline can produce more consistent slices quickly, particularly when preparing large quantities. A chef’s knife remains more versatile because it can perform many different cutting techniques that a mandoline cannot.

Where should the food holder be stored?

The original review states that the food holder snaps onto the underside of the mandoline body, helping keep the accessory together with the main tool during storage.

Can I sharpen the OXO mandoline blade?

The original article states that the blade is not designed to be removed and sharpened by the user. Follow the manufacturer’s current guidance rather than attempting to modify the blade yourself.

What vegetables can I slice with a mandoline?

A mandoline can be useful for many vegetables, including potatoes, cucumbers, onions, cabbage, zucchini, carrots, beets, and other suitable produce. The appropriate setting and technique will depend on the food’s size, firmness, and shape.

OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer: The Bottom Line

If your main goal is consistent vegetable slicing without using a large appliance, the OXO Handheld Mandoline Slicer offers a practical solution.

Its compact design, adjustable slicing options, julienne capability, ergonomic grip, non-slip support, and food holder make it suitable for many everyday kitchen tasks.

It is not a replacement for every kitchen tool, and it requires careful handling because of its sharp blade.

However, for home cooks who regularly prepare vegetables and want to reduce repetitive knife work, it can be a useful addition to the kitchen.

Before buying, compare the current specifications and price and make sure the available configuration matches the features you need.