Mandolin anyone?

[GezFox]

Fancy a crack at dauphinois potatoes but would I really need a mandolin? if I buy one will I get good use out of it?

[princessvikki]

You don't really need a mandolin, I've made dauphinois lots of times without one, it just takes a longer to cut the potatoes thinly

[JamNan]

Have you got a box grater that cuts larger slices?

[GezFox]

Great ideas and will check the grater. Is it worth making? Some people say it can be quite bland

[princessvikki]

I sprinkle a bit of garlic and thyme between the layers of potatoes. It's yummy but heavy, I use quite a lot of milk to dilute the heavy cream a bit

[antimatter]

What do you use to cut thinly sweet potato Tattersail?

[maamalady]

We have a mandolin, it makes slicing potatoes so quickly and easy. If you have a food processor it might have a slice-grate thing?

Dauphinoise potatoes are delicious, alternate layers of potato and onion, don't use too much cream/milk. The bottom layer becomes a wonderful gluey sheet of potato that I would cheerfully kill for :)

[BlueKarou]

Don't buy one!!!

I have one; tried to use it to slice up some apples. The suction thing I was supposed to use to hole the apple being sliced just wasn't holding it, so I decided to do it by hand.

Spent 2 hours in A&E after slicing a fair portion of my little finger off.

Or, y'know, get one... but don't do what I did!

[BrassicaBabe]

I've cut my fingers more times than I can remember on mine! The guard is shite. I once prepped for a dinner party with my hands in food bags as the blood kept seeping through dressings!!

[cdtaylornats]

My sister has one and wears the chainmail glove she uses with her industrial sewing machine.

[Ohwhatfuckeryisthis]

They are evil bastards. Oh, thought I, don't need this stupid potato holder thingy. Turns out I did, as I re-enacted the Texas chainsaw massacre.
But worth it for lovely dauphinois, shed loads of butter, salt and pepper. I use a knife.

[KipT77]

Ive also lost a bit of finger to mine. Haven't used it since. Evil items.

[KipT77]

Ive also lost a bit of finger to mine. Haven't used it since. Evil items.

[whois]

I have this - it's amazing. Easy to use and easy to clean (dishwasher) and take up hardly any kitchen space. I don't think I would use one that required setting up and stuff.

www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Grips-Hand-Mandoline-Slicer/dp/B000YDO2LG?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

You can buy gloves which are basically metal and protect your fingers from accidents. I haven't got one, and have so far been ok. I use it a lot.