Gadget for chopping /shredding vegetables (especially cabbage!)

[candycane222]

I have quite a small cramped kitchen so I need something small. I think ideally something hand-powered that can be taken apart and rinsed/put in dishwasher, so its put away fully clean.

I make a lot of coleslaw and grating is messy and the bits are too small. I suppose I could get a coarser grater but I do like the idea of confining the bits.

So hit me with your gadgets 😁

You can shred cabbage with a big knife. Maybe a box grater for the carrots. Love home made coleslaw!
Or are you looking for a mandoline https://www.procook.co.uk/product/procook-5-in-1-mandolin-slicer-green-5497c

I've got a mandoline I got in Lidl. Several different blades, and it sits on it's own box to catch the veg. Watch the fingertips though!

A sharp bread knife for the cabbage & onion, and a julienne peeler for the carrots.

Edited to add: I love making coleslaw, and that's all I use.

I have something similar to this. It works with a pull string. Mine is quite small but it's excellent for chopping garlic etc. You can probably get bigger ones but you'll still have to chop the cabbage into chunks first.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Processor-Vegetables-Stainless-Removable-Non-Slip/dp/B08Y8L5G5G?th=1

Thanks all! This last one looks like what I imagined - containing the bits. Is it fairly effective or do you end up with "missed" bits @Mochudubh ? ( I don't need large quantities at a time as its just me who eats it usually.)

Ah i see you don't use it for coleslaw

Recommended by Rev Richard coles from Nigella. I bought one and now bought one for all my family! Brilliant gadget
Zyliss E910015 Easy Pull Food Processor, 75cl Capacity, Plastic/Stainless Steel, White/Red, Manual Handheld Food Chopper/Slicer/Blender with Pull Cord, Dishwasher Safe https://amzn.eu/d/07ycnkQ

Ooh thank you @Sodndashitall - that might be just what im looking for!

@candycane222 It's very effective, the blades are REALLY sharp (be careful washing it). You just keep pulling the string till the bits are the size you want. No danger of ending up with puree as you might with an electric blitzer.

The link I posted isn't the one I have, I bought mine in Poundstretcher but I think they're pretty much as effective as each other. Just check out reviews and that you pick one big enough for your needs.

I have my mum’s Robot chef , must be 40 odd years old. Got it out to do the coleslaw for Christmas and checked Amazon in case it didn’t work ( it did !) they sell the, for £40. - a kenwood one

I used to have a huge kitchenaid gadget that did everything. God rid of it years ago as I hardly used it and never to its full potential.

got a tiny little blender thingy that chops too. It's perfect, I make coleslaw lots and use it to chop the onion, carrots, cabbage. It has a balloon whisk, a blending stick and a mini chopper. Fits in my tiny kitchen and gets used nearly every day.

I do like the one above with the pull string. It gets great reviews.

Great! Thanks all especially @Mochudubh - perfect to spend the Christmas money from my aunt, too 👍👍👍

I've got a tiny kitchen too and I bought one of these a few years ago

https://www.marksandspencer.com/good-grips-hand-held-mandolin/p/hbp60191063

They're sold everywhere and the price will vary. It only slices but you can vary the thickness.

I am going to take a look at one of these. I saw it recommended in a Telegraph article earlier today.

https://www.kenwoodworld.com/en-gb/multipro-go-fdp22-130gy/p/FDP22.130GY

We use mandolin with box under and changeable blades (grater, icer etc). Cheap and effective because we usually do 2kg of cabbage on it at once for (surprise!) sauerkraut...

I've seen people use peelers but that was quite a pita when we tried

I have something like this, and it's brilliant for chopping things small (eg for coleslaw). Mine isn't identical - perhaps this is the current version.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chopper-Shredder-Processor-Vegetable-Chopping/dp/B0BGDCD1RH/ref=sr11_5?crid=A97TSFSMLQCY&keywords=hand%2Bvegetable%2Bchopper&qid=1703954431&sprefix=Hand%2Bpowered%2Bvegetable%2Bch%2Caps%2C75&sr=8-5&th=1

I have this and it is very good for the price (and small size) Good Grips Hand-Held Mandolin | Oxo | M&S (marksandspencer.com)

There are shredders for making sauerkraut, like large mandolins.

Piranha food processor

We have a mini Piranha food processor which we use way more than we thought we would! Chops things really finely and by hand! Easy to wash and small to store.

We also have a pull string model and it is the best thing to use for onion, cabbage, carrots etc. Very easy to clean also!

Thanks everyone, ordered myself a pull-string processor, so very excited for my new year's healthy salads 😃

If you do get a mandolin please please watch your fingers. I was stupid and sliced the top of two fingers off! Then realised it came with a hand guard! Great gadget just needed to read instructions first 😂

My SIL has form for chopping her fingers whenever she tries to prep food. We buy her a cheap kitchen prep item just for a laugh every Christmas. Most have been fails.

This year her daughter found a vertical mandoline by Cook's Essentials from QVC. Item number 818808 £10.50 on sale plus P&P.

She's used it, loved it and hasn't needed plasters. Now we all want one!

That looks great too - especially for slices like courgette etc I should think. Maybe ill get one for my airfryer-mad SE-Asian-food-loving son!

I have this, which is really good, but the aperture is quite small so getting veg the right size and shape can be tricky but once you've got that it takes seconds.

Might be a bit bulky though.

I can't see how the chopping devices would make long strips like you'd want for coleslaw. I have one of those and mainly use it for chopping onions for the freezer. It doesn't make long strips.

EA ARENA Electric Grater, Electric Cheese Grater, Salad Maker Multi Grater with 5 Cones, 150W Electric Slicer for Fruit and Vegtables, Easy to Clean,Stainless Steel (Black) (EA-EFS001) https://amzn.eu/d/48j1Nh0

DM has an extra wide peeler for cabbage. Bit like a spud peeler but the blade is narrower iirc. Cut the cabbage in half or quarters and then peel. Doesn't take much time at all.