I got all excited

[Vinca]

when I found a Zyiss mandoline in a half price bin at the grocery store for $15.00, but I'm having a hard time getting it to work the way I expected. Does anyone else own one and have an opinion on whether they're worthless or I'm an impatient idiot?

[Warpy]

1. Amazon is a great place for customer reviews

http://www.amazon.com/Zyliss-Easy-Slice-Mandolin-White/dp/B00008TAG7

You can see whether other people have had your particular issue.

People either love it or hate it. It seems to take a bit of effort to make it work at all, let alone well.

[The empressof all]

2. That particular brand of mandolin is a PITA

I got one cheap too a few months back and didn't like it at all. I thought since the brand was "good" the product would be too. Stuck it back in the box and brought it to St Vincent De Paul. With Mandolins I think you need to shell out the bucks. I had a wonderful one that broke around Christmas and since I don't cook that much anymore I haven't really felt pressured to shell out the bucks to replace it. I understand the inexpensive "Japanese style" ones are pretty good....but this is one of those items that you get what you pay for. The idea of checking it out on Amazon is a good one

[Warpy]

3. This is the one I use

http://www.epinions.com/review/Pampered_Chef_Cutting_Edge_Ultimate_Slice_and_Grate_1085/content_232006585988

I have a steel one but the cheap one does a better job.

[Tektonik]

4. I only use a mandolin for thin sliced cucumbers, etc

So I chose to get one of the plastic Kyocera ones with the ceramic blade, and that fucker is sharp and does its job.

[Vinca]

5. I gave it another shot today. Apparently I hadn't snapped

a part on properly. I used it on an onion and it worked fine, so apparently I really was being an impatient idiot yesterday. It should be handy for soups and salads.