OXO Good Grips Chef's Mandoline Slicer 2.0

Why it's worth it

The OXO 2.0 pairs a genuinely sharp Japanese stainless blade with the best food holder in this group and a frame that folds flat for storage. It's the mandoline that asks the least of you and gives back the most consistent slices.

The food holder is the reason to buy this one. It's spring-loaded with a wide protective rim and prongs that bite into produce, so you're pushing from behind rather than pressing down from directly above the blade. That distinction matters more than any other spec here. Most mandoline injuries come from hands drifting toward the edge under pressure, and this design keeps yours behind the food instead of over it.

The thickness range covers essentially everything you'd want to slice. An indicator window shows the setting from above in both inches and millimeters, so you're not guessing which click stop you landed on. Dial it thin for translucent potato chips, thicker for gratin layers or steak fries. If you've ever pulled a gratin from the oven with some slices still crunchy, it's usually inconsistent thickness — this fixes that.

From our review of 5 mandoline slicers, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +The food holder is the reason to buy this one
• +The thickness range covers essentially everything you'd want to slice
• +One blade does four jobs
• +Small design choices add up during real prep

What to know

• –It's the most expensive option here, and that's a real barrier
• –The frame is plastic, not full stainless steel
• –The safety design only works if you actually use it