Handheld mandoline slicers provide the consistency of a traditional mandoline without the size and storage requirements of a full countertop model. They are especially useful for cucumbers, potatoes, onions, carrots, zucchini, apples, radishes, cabbage, and other produce that benefits from repeated slices of similar thickness.
The simplest handheld slicers offer a few fixed thickness settings. More advanced versions add julienne blades, continuously adjustable cutting beds, ceramic blades, food holders, blade locks, and bowl-resting notches.
The six models below balance compact storage with useful slicing capability, making them practical choices for cooks who do not want to dedicate drawer or cabinet space to a large professional mandoline.
Best Handheld Mandoline Slicers at a Glance
| Handheld Mandoline | Adjustment | Special Feature | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| OXO Precision Handheld Mandoline | 5 settings | Built-in julienne | Best Overall |
| Kyocera Ceramic Adjustable Mandoline | 0.5–3.0 mm | Ceramic blade | Best Ceramic Pick |
| Zyliss Easy Control Handheld Slicer | Adjustable | Tracked food holder | Best for Control |
| Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Mandoline | Thin to thick | Reversible slice/julienne deck | Best V-Blade Pick |
| PrepSolutions Adjust-A-Slice Mandoline | 3 settings | Wide angled blade | Best Simple Pick |
| Benriner Mandoline Slicer | Approx. 0.5–3 mm | Continuously adjustable bed | Best Japanese-Style Pick |
1. OXO Precision Handheld Mandoline
The OXO Precision Handheld Mandoline is our best overall pick because it provides much of the versatility associated with a larger mandoline without requiring a folding stand or multiple loose blade cartridges.
Its five positions include julienne, thin, medium, thick, and extra thick. A side-mounted adjustment tab moves between these settings, and returning the control to zero locks the blade for safer storage.
The food holder automatically adjusts in height as the ingredient becomes smaller. That helps keep the food in contact with the cutting surface without forcing your fingers progressively closer to the blade.
A transparent runway lets you monitor food as it passes underneath, while non-slip surfaces on the handle and base improve control when working over a board, bowl, or container.
- Five useful cutting settings.
- Built-in julienne function.
- Automatic food-holder adjustment.
- Blade locks for storage.
- Larger than the simplest handheld slicers.
- No waffle or crinkle-cut function.
2. Kyocera Ceramic Adjustable Mandoline Slicer
Kyocera’s Adjustable Mandoline stands out because it replaces the usual stainless-steel blade with the company’s zirconia ceramic cutting edge.
A dial provides four fixed thicknesses: approximately 0.5, 1.3, 2.0, and 3.0 millimeters. That covers paper-thin ingredients for salads and garnishes through thicker vegetable slices for casseroles and cooking.
Built-in corner notches allow the slicer to rest across bowls, plates, and suitable containers rather than requiring a dedicated stand.
Kyocera also includes a hand guard for holding vegetables and fruit while keeping fingers away from the ceramic cutting edge.
- Four clearly defined thickness settings.
- Lightweight ceramic blade.
- Built-in bowl notches.
- Hand guard included.
- No built-in julienne blade.
- Ceramic blades should not be twisted or subjected to impact.
3. Zyliss Easy Control Handheld Slicer
The Zyliss Easy Control Handheld Slicer places particular emphasis on controlling the ingredient rather than holding food directly in your fingers.
Its tracked food holder follows the slicer’s bed, helping keep fruit or vegetables aligned during repeated passes. The design is useful for potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and other ingredients that may otherwise rotate or move under pressure.
A thickness selector changes the slice size, while a separate control activates the julienne function for matchstick-style vegetables.
The ergonomic handle makes it possible to use the slicer handheld or position it over an appropriate work surface.
- Tracked food holder provides controlled movement.
- Adjustable slicing thickness.
- Built-in julienne function.
- Compact one-piece format.
- Fewer specialty-cut options than a full mandoline.
- Food-holder design adds bulk compared with minimal slicers.
4. Microplane Adjustable V-Blade Mandoline
Microplane uses a V-shaped cutting blade that approaches the ingredient from two directions rather than using a single straight cutting line.
An adjustment dial changes the slicing thickness, while the reversible deck switches between conventional slices and julienne-style cuts without requiring a separate large frame.
A spring-loaded food pusher keeps your hand separated from the blade and maintains downward pressure on the ingredient as it becomes smaller.
At roughly four inches wide and fourteen inches long, it remains compact enough for normal drawer or cabinet storage.
- Sharp V-shaped stainless blade.
- Adjustable slicing thickness.
- Reversible slicing/julienne deck.
- Spring-loaded food pusher.
- No crinkle or waffle-cut option.
- More complex than basic three-setting slicers.
5. PrepSolutions Adjust-A-Slice Mandoline
The PrepSolutions Adjust-A-Slice is designed for people who want consistent slices without a long list of interchangeable blades or accessories.
A sliding control selects thin, medium, or thick slicing. The wider runway accommodates larger produce such as onions, zucchini, tomatoes, apples, and potatoes.
The blade sits at an angle to make the cutting motion more progressive as the ingredient moves along the slicer.
Side grooves allow the tool to rest over compatible bowls, and the control includes a locked position for storage and cleaning.
- Simple three-setting adjustment.
- Wide cutting surface.
- Angled blade.
- Lock setting for storage.
- No julienne setting.
- Only three thickness choices.
6. Benriner Mandoline Slicer
Benriner is one of the classic Japanese mandoline designs and takes a simpler mechanical approach than models built around multiple fixed thickness positions.
Turning the adjustment screw raises or lowers the cutting bed, allowing slice thickness to be changed continuously from roughly 0.5 to 3 millimeters rather than forcing you to choose only from preset steps.
Remove the interchangeable cutting attachment and the straight blade can be used alone for vegetables such as cucumber, cabbage, onion, potato, lotus root, and fruit.
This design is particularly appealing to cooks who value precise manual thickness adjustment and a lightweight Japanese vegetable-slicer format.
- Continuous thickness adjustment.
- Compact traditional Japanese design.
- Suitable for very thin vegetable slicing.
- Made by a dedicated Japanese slicer manufacturer.
- Less feature-integrated than newer one-piece designs.
- Manual adjustment requires more attention than fixed settings.
How to Choose a Handheld Mandoline Slicer
Decide How Many Thickness Settings You Need
Simple slicers may offer three preset positions: thin, medium, and thick. That is enough for many everyday vegetable-prep jobs.
More advanced tools provide five positions or continuously adjustable cutting beds. Extra adjustment is useful if you regularly make chips, gratins, pickles, salads, and other recipes that call for noticeably different slice thicknesses.
Fixed Settings vs Continuous Adjustment
Fixed positions are quick and repeatable. Once you learn what the thin, medium, and thick settings produce, it is easy to return to the same cut.
Continuous adjustment provides greater precision but requires more manual judgment when returning to a previous thickness.
Do You Need Julienne?
A julienne function cuts vegetables into thin strips rather than flat slices. It is useful for carrots, zucchini, potatoes, slaws, stir-fries, salads, and garnishes.
If you mainly want cucumber, onion, potato, or tomato slices, a slicing-only mandoline can be simpler and easier to clean.
For most home cooks, adjustable straight slicing plus one julienne option provides a useful balance of versatility and compact storage.
Ceramic vs Stainless-Steel Blades
Stainless steel is the most common mandoline blade material and allows manufacturers to create straight, angled, and V-shaped cutting edges.
Ceramic blades are rust resistant and lightweight but should be protected from impact, twisting, or other forces that can damage brittle ceramic material.
Food Holder Design
A food holder keeps your hand away from the blade while helping stabilize the ingredient. Designs range from simple guards to tracked and spring-loaded mechanisms.
The holder should remain usable even when the vegetable becomes small. The final portion of the ingredient is precisely when you should avoid switching to bare fingers.
Mandoline blades can cause serious cuts very quickly. Do not remove the food holder simply to use the last piece of a potato, onion, cucumber, or other ingredient.
Using a Handheld Mandoline Over a Bowl
Many handheld slicers can rest on the rim of a bowl or container. This lets sliced vegetables fall directly into the vessel instead of collecting across a cutting board.
Look for a non-slip end, corner notches, or grooves if over-bowl use is important to you.
Handle Comfort
Because a handheld mandoline does not rely on a freestanding frame, one hand may spend considerable time supporting the slicer. A non-slip, ergonomically shaped handle improves control during repetitive use.
Blade Lock
A zero or locked position can lower or cover the cutting edge when the mandoline is not in use. This is particularly useful when storing the slicer in a crowded kitchen drawer.
Cleaning
Small pieces of vegetable can collect around the blade and adjustment mechanism. Never run your fingers directly across the cutting edge while cleaning.
Follow the manufacturer’s dishwasher or hand-washing instructions and use an appropriate brush when necessary to clear food near the blade.
Handheld vs Countertop Mandoline
Choose handheld if storage space, quick setup, and simple everyday slicing are your main priorities.
Choose a countertop mandoline if you frequently process large quantities of vegetables or need waffle cuts, multiple julienne widths, French-fry blades, or other specialty attachments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, especially if you regularly need uniform vegetable slices but do not want to store a large countertop mandoline. They work particularly well for potatoes, cucumber, zucchini, onion, carrots, and fruit.
They can be used safely when you follow the manufacturer’s directions and consistently use the supplied food holder or hand guard. The blade itself is extremely sharp.
Yes. Potatoes are one of the most common foods prepared with a mandoline, particularly for chips, gratins, scalloped potatoes, and even slices for roasting.
Some can. Models such as the OXO Precision, Zyliss Easy Control, and Microplane V-Blade include julienne capability, while simpler models may only produce flat slices.
Neither material is automatically better for every cook. Ceramic is lightweight and corrosion resistant, while stainless steel is common, durable, and used in a wider variety of blade geometries.
You should use the manufacturer’s supplied safety system. Removing the guard places your fingers much closer to an exposed blade and significantly reduces your margin for error.
Some can, including several models in this guide, but care instructions vary. Always verify the cleaning guidance for your exact model.
Final Verdict
The OXO Precision Handheld Mandoline is our best overall handheld option because its five settings, integrated julienne function, adjustable food holder, non-slip surfaces, blade lock, and compact storage design provide unusually broad capability without requiring a full countertop mandoline.
The Kyocera Ceramic Adjustable Mandoline is the strongest choice for buyers who specifically want a lightweight ceramic blade, while the Zyliss Easy Control stands out for its tracked food holder and integrated julienne function.
The Microplane Adjustable V-Blade provides a useful slice-and-julienne reversible design. The PrepSolutions Adjust-A-Slice is the simplest choice for basic thin, medium, and thick slicing, while the Benriner remains an appealing Japanese-style option for cooks who prefer continuously adjustable slicing thickness.