Benriner Mandoline Slicers

A hand-operated Japanese vegetable slicer that produces consistent slices quickly. Instead of choosing from a few fixed positions, most Benriner models use a dial that raises or lowers the whole cutting bed, which gives finer control over thickness than a stepped mandoline allows. The slicers are made in Japan and turn up in home and professional kitchens alike. Depending on the model you can cut straight slices, fine julienne, medium matchsticks or thicker strips.

In Japan. Benriner Co., Ltd. runs manufacturing in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and in Hiroshima Prefecture. Plastic molding, blade production, assembly and inspection all happen inside those Japanese operations, and the final finishing of each blade still involves manual work by skilled staff.

Since 1934, when the business began producing wooden vegetable preparation tools. Benriner Co., Ltd. was incorporated in 1955. Wooden bodies gave way to plastic over the following decades, and by the late 1960s the adjustable mandoline design that current models still resemble was in place.

Cutting width, mostly. The No. 64 gives about 64 mm of bed, which suits cucumbers, carrots, potatoes, zucchini and smaller onions. The Super Benriner No. 95 opens that up to roughly 95 mm and takes larger potatoes, whole onions, eggplant and cabbage sections with far less trimming. The Jumbo No. 120 offers around 120 mm for large ingredients and wide slices. It also eats more storage room, so wider is not automatically better.

Current models set down to about 0.5 mm, though the slice you actually get shifts a little with the ingredient, your pressure, the blade condition and the exact dial position. Maximum thickness depends on the model: roughly 5 mm on a current No. 64, 8 mm on the Super No. 95 and 9 mm on the Jumbo No. 120. Because the adjustment runs continuously rather than in clicks, anything in between is available too.

Four-blade sets hold one flat blade plus three removable comb blades. The flat blade makes ordinary slices. A comb insert divides the ingredient into narrow strips as it passes the main blade, which is what produces julienne and matchstick cuts. Current No. 64 sets commonly use roughly 1 mm, 3 mm and 7 mm combs. The Super No. 95 uses roughly 1 mm, 3 mm and 11 mm. Specifications have changed between generations, so match a replacement insert to the exact model.

Not always. Many Jumbo No. 120 packages are sold as wide straight-blade slicers with no comb inserts at all. Read the package contents before ordering if you need fine, medium or coarse julienne. Do not count on the Jumbo carrying the four-blade configuration that usually ships with the No. 64 and the Super No. 95.

Vegetables and firm fruits that travel steadily across the bed. Potatoes for gratins or chips, cucumber for salads and pickles, cabbage for slaw, onions, radishes, daikon, zucchini, eggplant, carrots, turnips, apples, pears and beets all work. Very soft or irregular produce is harder to control, and anything wider than the model you own has to be cut down before it fits.

A four-blade Benriner produces several widths of strip by pairing the flat blade with one of the comb inserts. Fine combs make narrow threads, medium combs give matchsticks for salads and stir fries, coarse combs cut thicker strips. The result will not match every style of restaurant fry, because the available strip dimensions depend on the model and the blade set. Check the stated comb width if you need a specific size.

It is safe used correctly, and the exposed blade is extremely sharp, so treat it the way you treat a kitchen knife. Use the supplied finger guard whenever it can grip the food securely. Stop slicing before the remaining piece gets too small to control. A cut-resistant glove adds real protection on small, round or slippery vegetables. Never push fingertips toward the blade to use up the last of an ingredient; finish it with a knife or discard it.

No. Hand washing is the safe method, because high dishwasher temperatures can deform or damage the plastic components on current models. Wash the body and the removable parts in warm water with mild dish detergent, keeping fingers clear of the edge around the blade. Strongly pigmented vegetables such as carrots and beets stain light-colored plastic, so rinsing soon after use is worth the minute it takes.

Yes. Replacement blades exist for many current models, which lets a slicer body stay in service after its original edge wears out or gets damaged. Compatibility matters. The No. 64 takes parts sized for its narrower body, and wider models use different blade dimensions. Current Super No. 95 and Jumbo No. 120 models can share certain flat replacement blades, though older versions may not. Check the model number rather than choosing a blade by appearance.

Green Benriner slicers belong to earlier generations. The slicing principle is identical, but dimensions, adjustment mechanisms, guards and replacement-blade compatibility can all differ from a current No. 64, No. 95 or No. 120. Color alone does not identify a version. Confirm the measurements or the markings on the body before ordering a blade or an accessory. A well-maintained older Benriner still works fine; current parts simply may not fit it.

Start with the width of what you actually prepare. The No. 64 is the most compact and covers the majority of everyday vegetables. The Super No. 95 gives onions, potatoes, eggplant and cabbage sections room to sit flat. The Jumbo No. 120 suits large ingredients and recipes that need broad, uninterrupted slices. Then check the maximum thickness you need and whether julienne blades are included. Buying the largest model without a reason mostly adds storage bulk.

Yes. Benriner Co., Ltd. is a Japanese kitchen-tool manufacturer with roots going back to 1934. Vegetable preparation tools remain its primary product category and the slicers are still manufactured in Japan. The brand is associated with lightweight adjustable mandolines built around replaceable Japanese stainless steel blades rather than complicated mechanical systems. Products ship internationally, and manufacturing and product development stay in Japan.