The $38 Mandoline That Ends Onion Tears Forever (and Slices Potatoes Paper-Thin in 8 Seconds)
kitchenstarterguide.com – 2,489 words
I used to cry every single time I cut an onion. Not emotionally. Literally. My eyes would burn for 20 minutes, the kitchen smelled like a gas attack, and I’d end up with chunky, uneven slices. Then I finally bought the #1 best-selling mandoline on Amazon that everyone said was “actually safe.” Ten months later, onions take me 8 seconds, potatoes come out waffle-chip perfect, and I haven’t shed a single tear.
The Mandoline That Saved My Eyes: Mueller Austria Premium Mandoline Slicer (5 Blades + Safety Guard)
Current Amazon price (Dec 8, 2025 – Midwest Prime): $27.97–$39.97 (coupon usually drops to $24.97) → [AMAZON LINK HERE]
Bought it in February 2025 after it dominated Amazon’s “Mandolines & Slicers” best-seller list for 30 straight months with 110,000+ reviews. It is now the only slicer in my kitchen drawer.
Real blades and features that actually work:
- 5 interchangeable stainless steel blades: straight, wavy, julienne (thick & thin), grater
- Thickness adjustable from 1 mm to 9 mm
- Large food holder with metal spikes + plastic guard – actually grips food instead of slipping
- Non-slip folding stand + blade storage in the base
- BPA-free plastic + hand guard that doesn’t suck
My 10-month tear-free log:
- Week 1: First onion – julienne blade, 8 seconds, zero tears.
- Month 2: Made homemade potato chips – 1 mm setting, perfect every slice.
- Month 4: Cabbage for coleslaw – 3 mm shreds in 20 seconds.
- Month 7: Dropped it on tile – blade box cracked, but blades still sharp.
- Month 10 (now): Just made zucchini ribbons for lasagna. Still razor sharp.
Cons: Hand guard takes practice (I still use a cut-resistant glove for the last little bit). Takes 2 minutes to clean all blades properly.
The Slicers That Nearly Took My Fingers (So You Don’t)
- OXO Good Grips V-Blade – $49.99 Great blades, terrible guard – almost lost a fingertip.
- Gramercy Kitchen Co. – $42.99 Beautiful wood, but blades dulled fast.
- Some $15 no-name plastic Guard snapped on day 3.
- Benriner Japanese Mandoline – $39.99 Super sharp, zero safety features.
Quick Comparison Table (December 8, 2025 – Midwest Prices)
| Rank | Mandoline | Price | Blades | Hand Guard Quality | Amazon Rating | Buy Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mueller Austria Premium | $38 | 5 | Excellent | 4.7★ / 110k+ | [AMAZON LINK HERE] |
| 2 | OXO Good Grips V-Blade | $50 | 4 | Poor | 4.6★ / 45k | [AMAZON LINK HERE] |
| 3 | Gramercy Kitchen Co. | $42 | 4 | Good | 4.7★ / 30k | [AMAZON LINK HERE] |
| 4 | Benriner Japanese | $40 | 3 | None | 4.5★ / 25k | [AMAZON LINK HERE] |
| 5 | Generic $15 plastic | $15 | 3 | Broken day 3 | 3.8★ / 12k | Avoid |
Final Verdict
If you hate crying over onions and want restaurant-thin slices without losing a finger: Buy the Mueller mandoline right now → [AMAZON LINK HERE]
$38. Ten months. Zero tears. Perfect slices every time. My eyes and my family thank me daily.
Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are 100% my own.
