Potatoes are the hardest everyday job for a mandoline. They are dense, starchy and often big, so the slicer has to cut cleanly without dragging, make even fry-size sticks and keep your hand safe as the potato gets smaller. Even slices and even fries matter because they cook evenly: one thick piece stays raw while a thin one browns.
Our best mandoline slicer guide covers general slicing. This one is narrower: mandolines for potatoes, chips and fries, plus one lever fry cutter for cooks who only want fries. We left out the slicers already reviewed there and looked at eight others, each showing in stock on Amazon when we checked. All safety advice below comes from the makers’ own instructions or the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which potato slicer to buy
The best mandoline potato slicer for most kitchens is the OXO Steel Chef’s Mandoline 2.0: straight, crinkle and waffle slices, julienne and French fries from one stainless frame, with a thickness dial in half-millimeter steps. For fries from a steel French classic, choose the Bron Coucke. If open blades worry you, the Fullstar Safer Mandoline feeds potatoes through a chute, and if fries are all you want, the New Star lever cutter is faster than any mandoline.
Five potato slicers compared
Our five standout picks by the potato cuts they make and how they protect your hand, as each maker, a retailer or the Amazon listing gives them.
| Potato slicer | Best for | Potato cuts | Hand protection | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
OXO Steel Chef’s Mandoline Slicer 2.0Best overall
|
Every potato cut from one tool | Slices, fries, julienne, crinkle, waffle | Food holder | View on Amazon |
Bron Coucke Stainless Steel MandolineBest for French fries
|
Frequent homemade fries | Slices, 1/8 and 3/8 in fries, waffle | Steel carriage | View on Amazon |
Börner V3 TrendLine Mandoline Starter SetBest V-slicer
|
Small kitchens | Slices, 3.5 and 7 mm sticks | Safety holder | View on Amazon |
Fullstar Safer Mandoline SlicerBest guarded design
|
Cooks wary of open blades | 1–8 mm slices, julienne, dice | Chute and pusher | View on Amazon |
New Star Foodservice Commercial French Fry CutterBest fry cutter
|
Fries and wedges in quantity | 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in fries; wedges | Lever and push block | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Specifications as stated by each maker, a retailer page or the Amazon listing; check the listing before you buy.
Our picks for the best mandoline potato slicer
Seven mandolines and one lever fry cutter, from a drawer-size V-slicer to an all-steel French mandoline. Each review covers which potato cuts it makes, what protects your hand and one honest reason to pass on it.
1. OXO Steel Chef’s Mandoline Slicer 2.0 – Fries, Crinkles and Waffles
For potatoes, a mandoline has to do three things well: cut firm, starchy slices without dragging, make fry-size sticks, and keep your hand away from the blade while it does. The OXO Steel Chef’s Mandoline 2.0 covers all three on one stainless frame. According to the listing, it makes up to 21 cuts, including straight, crinkle and waffle slices, thin julienne strips and French fries, and the thickness dial moves in 0.5-millimeter steps.
The blade has two sides. The listing says the straight edge cuts firm produce such as apples and potatoes, while the serrated edge handles soft and layered foods like tomatoes and onions; the unused side is hidden for safety. The julienne and fry teeth sit inside a cylinder that you turn to bring them up or hide them. In OXO’s instructions for its Chef’s Mandoline, the close-set row makes 1/8-inch julienne and the wider row 3/8-inch French fries; those are the earlier model’s instructions, so check the sheet in your box for the 2.0.
The same OXO instructions say the blades are very sharp, to handle them with care when using and cleaning the slicer, and to always use the food holder. For waffle cuts, OXO says to turn the food holder 90 degrees between each stroke. That instruction sheet has the blade and cylinder washed by hand and the body and food holder in the top rack of the dishwasher. This is the one to buy if you want gratin slices, shoestrings, fries and waffle chips from a single tool.
Why we like it
- Straight, crinkle, waffle, julienne and fry cuts (listing)
- Thickness dial in 0.5 mm steps (listing)
- Unused blade side hidden for safety (listing)
- Food holder included (listing)
Key specifications
| Model | 3114000 |
|---|---|
| Style | Folding-leg mandoline, stainless frame |
| Blades | Two-sided straight and serrated, plus julienne row |
| Slice thickness | Dial in 0.5 mm steps (listing) |
| Fry and julienne cuts | Thin julienne and French fries (listing) |
| Wavy cuts | Crinkle and waffle (listing) |
| Hand protection | Food holder |
| Cleaning | Blade by hand; body top rack (OXO instructions, Chef’s Mandoline) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a home cook who makes fries, chips and potato gratin and wants one well-documented mandoline that does all of it.
Skip it if you only ever cut fries; a dedicated fry cutter is quicker and has no slicing blade at all.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest choice of potato cuts here
- Fine thickness control
- Known maker with clear instructions
Cons
- Many parts to wash and store
- Blade and cylinder are hand-wash
- Fry sizes are stated in the earlier model’s sheet
2. Bron Coucke Stainless Steel Mandoline – French-Built for Fries
Bron Coucke makes this all-steel mandoline in France, and the listing says it is built for daily use in restaurant kitchens and by serious home cooks. It comes with a straight blade for slices, a waffle blade for crinkle and gaufrette cuts, and two julienne combs, 1/8 inch and 3/8 inch, which the listing says are for shoestring fries, French fries and julienne vegetables.
An adjustment lever sets the thickness from paper-thin to thick slices, according to the listing. A stainless-steel carriage holds the potato and keeps your fingers away from the blades, and rubber feet and a table-edge support steady it while you slice. The legs fold out to use and fold flat to store.
The listing includes two instructions worth following: use the carriage with the upper blade, and keep the waffle blade fully lowered when you use the straight blade. It is dishwasher-safe, according to the listing. With a steel frame and carriage, it is the most solidly built mandoline on this list, and a good match for a bag of russets on a Saturday.
Why we like it
- 1/8-inch and 3/8-inch julienne combs for fries (listing)
- Straight and waffle blades (listing)
- Steel safety carriage included (listing)
- Made in France (listing)
Key specifications
| Model | 20638CHB |
|---|---|
| Style | Folding-leg French mandoline, all stainless |
| Blades | Straight blade, waffle blade, two julienne combs |
| Slice thickness | Lever, paper-thin to thick (listing) |
| Fry and julienne cuts | 1/8 in and 3/8 in combs (listing) |
| Wavy cuts | Waffle and crinkle (listing) |
| Hand protection | Steel safety carriage |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher-safe (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who makes fries from scratch often and wants a steel tool built for daily restaurant-style use.
Skip it if you want a slicer that tucks into a drawer; this is a full-size steel mandoline.
Pros and cons
Pros
- All-steel build
- Two fry sizes plus waffle
- Dishwasher-safe
Cons
- Big and heavy to store
- Thickness lever has no printed steps in the listing
- Carriage takes practice
3. PL8 Professional Mandoline – Built-In Blades, Wide Deck
Loose blades are where many mandoline cuts happen, during swapping and washing. The PL8 Professional, from Progressive’s PL8 line, keeps its blades built in. A dial switches between the straight and waffle blades, and the listing says there are four slicing thicknesses for anything from garnishes to French fries.
US and Australian retailers list the four thicknesses as about 1, 3.5, 5.5 and 7.5 millimeters, with a slide button that brings up the julienne or French fry teeth. The slicing deck is extra-wide stainless steel, so a large baking potato fits, and the safety hand guard holds the food while your fingers stay clear of the blade, according to the listing.
It has non-skid feet and is dishwasher safe, according to the listing. One buyer report on a retailer page says the guard occasionally catches on the ramp on the return stroke, so go slowly at first. Four fixed thicknesses are fewer than the OXO offers, but for potatoes they cover thin chips, gratin slices and fries.
Why we like it
- Integrated blades, no loose parts (listing)
- Straight, waffle and julienne cuts (listing)
- Extra-wide stainless deck (listing)
- Dishwasher safe (listing)
Key specifications
| Model | PL8-1000 |
|---|---|
| Style | Folding mandoline, stainless deck |
| Blades | Built-in straight, waffle and julienne |
| Slice thickness | Four settings, about 1–7.5 mm (retailer) |
| Fry and julienne cuts | Julienne and French fry (retailer) |
| Wavy cuts | Waffle (listing) |
| Hand protection | Safety hand guard |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who wants waffle fries and regular fries without handling separate blades.
Skip it if you want fine control over thickness; four steps is the limit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No blades to swap
- Wide deck for big potatoes
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Only four thicknesses
- Guard can catch on the return stroke, per one buyer
- Bulky
4. Börner V3 TrendLine Mandoline Starter Set – German V-Blade, Compact Kit
A V-slicer has a blade shaped like a V, so each stroke cuts from two angles. Börner, which says it has made slicers in its factory in Germany’s Eifel mountains for over 60 years, is the name most cooks think of for this style. The V3 TrendLine starter set comes with the slicer, a safety holder, a slicing insert, 3.5-millimeter and 7-millimeter julienne inserts, a collection tray that fits under the slicer and a Multibox that stores it all.
For potatoes, the 7-millimeter insert makes fry-size sticks and the 3.5-millimeter insert makes shoestrings. The slicing insert gives two thicknesses, according to the listing. That is fewer settings than a dial, but the inserts are simple and there is no mechanism to clog with starch.
The listing says the safety guard protects your fingers, the feet are non-slip, and all parts clean under running water. It is the most compact pick here and stores in a drawer inside its Multibox. Börner says the warranty covers manufacturer’s defects.
Why we like it
- 3.5 mm and 7 mm julienne inserts (listing)
- Safety holder and collection tray included (listing)
- Made in Germany (listing)
- Stores in its own Multibox (listing)
Key specifications
| Model | V-1001 |
|---|---|
| Style | Handheld V-slicer with tray |
| Blades | V-blade, slicing insert, two julienne inserts |
| Slice thickness | Two thicknesses (listing) |
| Fry and julienne cuts | 3.5 mm and 7 mm (listing) |
| Wavy cuts | None |
| Hand protection | Safety holder |
| Cleaning | Rinse under running water (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a small kitchen that wants fries and shoestrings from a slicer that fits in a drawer.
Skip it if you want waffle or crinkle cuts; it does not make them.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Compact and well organized
- Simple inserts, no dial
- Long-running German maker
Cons
- Only two slice thicknesses
- No wavy cuts
- Plastic body
5. Fullstar Safer Mandoline Slicer – Food Chute Keeps Hands Clear
If the open blade of a classic mandoline makes you nervous, a chute-style slicer is the answer. On the Fullstar Safer Mandoline, you drop the potato into a food chute and push it down with a pusher, while a hand guard covers the blade. The listing says this keeps your fingers away from the blade and gives you more control.
Thickness adjusts from 1 to 8 millimeters, according to the listing, and it switches between straight slices, thin or thick julienne strips and diced cuts. Thin julienne gives you shoestrings; thick julienne gets close to a standard fry. A catch container under the slicer collects the cut potato.
The removable parts are top-rack dishwasher safe, and a cleaning brush comes in the box. The stand folds and the handle locks for storage, according to the listing. The trade-off with any chute slicer is size: a large russet may need trimming to fit, and the listing does not give the chute dimensions.
Why we like it
- Chute, pusher and hand guard (listing)
- 1–8 mm thickness (listing)
- Slices, julienne and dice (listing)
- Top-rack dishwasher-safe parts (listing)
Key specifications
| Model | FUL-FGS-T006-01-AC1US |
|---|---|
| Style | Chute-fed, folding stand |
| Blades | Straight, julienne and dicing |
| Slice thickness | 1–8 mm (listing) |
| Fry and julienne cuts | Thin and thick julienne (listing) |
| Wavy cuts | None |
| Hand protection | Chute, pusher, hand guard |
| Cleaning | Removable parts top rack (listing) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who is wary of open blades, or a household where more than one person will be using the slicer.
Skip it if you slice big baking potatoes whole; the chute may be too small, and the listing does not say how big it is.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Chute, pusher and guard, per Fullstar
- Wide thickness range
- Easy cleanup
Cons
- Chute size not stated
- No wavy cuts
- Plastic build
6. Cuisinart V-Blade Mandoline – Safe Setting Covers Blades
Cuisinart’s V-Blade Mandoline is a simple folding slicer with a stainless V-blade and a feature worth having in a busy kitchen: a SAFE position. According to Cuisinart’s product guide, the control knob runs from 1, thin, to 4, thick, and position 0 covers all the blades.
It makes two cuts: straight slices and julienne. The guide says you push a switch to bring up the julienne blades, set the thickness and slide the food across with the food holder, which has prongs to grip a potato. Four thickness settings cover chips through thick slices.
Cuisinart’s guide recommends washing all parts by hand in warm, soapy water, even though at least one retailer lists it as dishwasher safe. Retailer listings put it at 4.9 by 11.2 by 4.1 inches and 1.23 pounds, and Cuisinart’s page gives a lifetime warranty in the US and Canada.
Why we like it
- SAFE position covers the blades (Cuisinart guide)
- Straight and julienne cuts (listing)
- Pronged food holder (Cuisinart guide)
- Lifetime warranty, US and Canada (Cuisinart)
Key specifications
| Model | CTG-00-VMAN |
|---|---|
| Style | Folding V-blade mandoline |
| Blades | Stainless V-blade, julienne blades |
| Slice thickness | 4 settings plus SAFE (Cuisinart guide) |
| Fry and julienne cuts | Julienne (listing) |
| Wavy cuts | None |
| Hand protection | Pronged food holder |
| Cleaning | Hand wash (Cuisinart guide) |
Why we recommend it
It suits a kitchen with children around, or anyone who wants the blades covered whenever the slicer is not in use.
Skip it if you want waffle fries or a choice of fry sizes; it has one julienne setting and no wavy blade.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Blades covered in SAFE mode
- Simple four-step dial
- Long warranty
Cons
- Hand wash recommended
- No wavy cuts
- Sparse Amazon listing
7. Swissmar Börner PowerLine Wave Waffle Cutter – Crinkle and Waffle Potatoes
This is a single-purpose tool: a Börner slicer with a wavy blade for crinkle and waffle cuts, sold in the US by Swissmar. Crinkle-cut chips and waffle fries have ridges that catch seasoning, and this is a straightforward way to make them.
The listing says the blades are German stainless steel, the handle is extended for control, and it slices potatoes, carrots, zucchini, apples and other firm produce. The body is BPA-free plastic. For a waffle cut, you slice once, turn the potato a quarter turn and slice again, as with other wavy-blade mandolines.
The important catch: the side rails fit the Börner Safety Holder, which is sold separately. Buy the holder with it. The listing does not state thickness settings or cleaning instructions, so treat it as a crinkle-cut specialist next to a regular slicer, not as your only mandoline.
Why we like it
- German stainless wavy blade (listing)
- Crinkle and waffle cuts (listing)
- Fits the Börner Safety Holder (listing)
- Light and easy to store
Key specifications
| Model | V-2052 |
|---|---|
| Style | Handheld wavy-blade slicer |
| Blades | German stainless wave blade |
| Slice thickness | Not stated |
| Fry and julienne cuts | None |
| Wavy cuts | Crinkle and waffle (listing) |
| Hand protection | Safety Holder sold separately (listing) |
| Cleaning | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a cook who already owns a slicer and wants crinkle-cut chips or waffle fries.
Skip it if you want one tool for everything, or you do not want to buy the safety holder separately.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Does wavy cuts well, by design
- Small and light
- Pairs with Börner accessories
Cons
- Safety holder not included
- Single purpose
- No stated thickness or care
8. New Star Foodservice Commercial French Fry Cutter – Fries in One Pull
If fries are the only reason you are shopping, skip the mandoline. A lever fry cutter pushes a whole peeled potato through a grid of blades in one pull: you work a lever and a push block rather than sliding the potato by hand. New Star Foodservice sells commercial kitchen equipment, and this is its restaurant-style cutter.
The combo set comes with 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch blades plus 6-wedge and 8-wedge blades, each with a matching pushing block, according to the listing. That covers shoestrings, standard fries, steak fries and potato wedges. The body is die-cast iron with 18/8 stainless-steel parts.
You can screw it to a table or wall, or set it on the included suction feet. It takes up counter space and does nothing but fries and wedges, but for a family that eats fries every week, or a backyard cookout, nothing on this list is faster. The listing does not state cleaning instructions or a warranty.
Why we like it
- Five blade grids: 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in, 6 and 8 wedges (listing)
- Die-cast iron body, 18/8 stainless parts (listing)
- Table, wall or suction-foot mounting (listing)
- Push block included for each blade grid (listing)
Key specifications
| Model | 38408 |
|---|---|
| Style | Lever fry cutter |
| Blades | Interchangeable blade grids |
| Slice thickness | Not applicable |
| Fry and julienne cuts | 1/4, 3/8, 1/2 in; 6 and 8 wedges (listing) |
| Wavy cuts | None |
| Hand protection | Lever and push block |
| Cleaning | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
It suits a household or cook who makes fries or wedges in quantity and wants them all the same size.
Skip it if you want potato slices or chips; it only makes sticks and wedges.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fastest way to cut fries
- Several fry and wedge sizes
- Heavy, stable body
Cons
- Fries and wedges only
- Takes up counter or wall space
- No cleaning or warranty info in the listing
How to choose a mandoline for potatoes
Any mandoline will slice a cucumber. Potatoes separate the good ones from the rest.
The cuts you actually make
Thin, even slices for chips and gratins, sticks for fries, and maybe crinkle or waffle cuts. The OXO does all of them; the Börner and Fullstar skip wavy cuts; the Swissmar Börner wave cutter does only wavy cuts. Buy for the potato dishes you cook most.
Fry sizes
Fries need a julienne or fry setting, not just a slicing blade. The Bron Coucke gives 1/8-inch and 3/8-inch combs, the Börner 3.5 and 7 millimeters, and the New Star 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch plus wedges. If you like more than one size, check the numbers before you buy.
Hand protection
Every pick here comes with a holder, carriage, chute or push block except the Swissmar Börner wave cutter, whose safety holder is sold separately. OXO’s instructions say to always use the food holder. Fullstar says its chute, pusher and hand guard keep fingers away from the blade, and a lever fry cutter uses a push block instead of your hand.
Deck width
A big russet needs a wide deck or a large chute. The PL8 lists an extra-wide stainless deck; the Fullstar listing does not give its chute size, so a large potato may need trimming.
Cleaning and storage
Potato starch dries hard, so rinse right after slicing. Some picks are dishwasher safe according to their listings (Bron Coucke, PL8, Fullstar’s removable parts); OXO’s instructions and Cuisinart’s guide call for hand washing the blades. Small kits like the Börner store in a drawer; steel mandolines and the fry cutter need cupboard or wall space.
Using a mandoline safely: what the makers say
We do not give our own safety rules here; the points below come from the makers’ instructions and listings and from the CPSC.
- Always use the holder. OXO’s Chef’s Mandoline instructions say to always use the food holder to prevent injury, and that the blades are very sharp, including when you clean the parts.
- Follow the blade order. Bron Coucke’s listing says to use the carriage with the upper blade and keep the waffle blade fully lowered when using the straight blade.
- Cover the blades when done. Cuisinart’s guide describes a SAFE position, 0 on the dial, that covers all the blades.
- Check for recalls. The CPSC has recalled Sharper Image and Frigidaire mandoline slicers whose small julienne blades could separate from the plastic, and Grand Gourmet French fry cutters whose blade could detach. Neither is on this list, but if you own an older slicer, the CPSC website is worth a search.
Potatoes from a Mexican kitchen
A good slicer makes quick work of the potato dishes that turn up all over Mexican home cooking. Diced potato goes into papas con chorizo and picadillo; even sticks become papas fritas for a plate of street-style fries with lime and chile; thin slices fry into chips. For frying, see our best deep fryer and best air fryer guides, and start with a sharp vegetable peeler.
How we chose these eight potato slicers
We started from what a kitchen wants for potatoes: a blade that cuts dense, starchy produce cleanly, fry and julienne settings in sizes people use, a holder or guard that keeps working as the potato shrinks, and cleaning that does not leave starch in the corners. We then looked at slicers from identifiable makers sold on Amazon in the United States, avoided the ones in our main mandoline guide, and kept only those showing as in stock when we checked.
Specifications come from the Amazon listings, OXO’s instruction sheet for its Chef’s Mandoline, Cuisinart’s product guide and page, and US and Australian retailers where the maker gave no figure, labelled “retailer.” We searched the CPSC recall list for every brand here and for mandolines and fry cutters in general; none of our eight picks appears on it. We left out a Mueller mandoline because Mueller Austria’s Onion Chopper Pro was recalled in 2020 over a locking tab that could let hands slide into the blades; that was a different product, but we preferred makers without a recall for the same kind of hazard. We have not used these slicers for this guide, and we did not draw on outside equipment reviews.
Potato mandoline questions, answered
What is the best mandoline slicer for potatoes?
The OXO Steel Chef’s Mandoline 2.0, because it makes slices, julienne, French fries, crinkle and waffle cuts with fine thickness control. For an all-steel alternative built around fries, the Bron Coucke.
Can a mandoline cut French fries?
Yes, if it has a julienne or fry setting. The OXO, Bron Coucke, PL8, Börner, Fullstar and Cuisinart all make sticks; check the sizes, since the Bron Coucke’s 3/8-inch comb is closer to a standard fry than a thin julienne.
Is a fry cutter better than a mandoline for fries?
For fries alone, yes: a lever cutter like the New Star cuts a whole potato in one pull, in sizes from 1/4 to 1/2 inch. A mandoline is the better buy if you also want chips, gratin slices or waffle cuts.
How do I make waffle fries with a mandoline?
Use a wavy blade, slice, then turn the potato 90 degrees before the next stroke. OXO’s instructions describe exactly this for its Chef’s Mandoline. The PL8, Bron Coucke and Swissmar Börner wave cutter also make waffle cuts.
Why not the Benriner or the OXO Simple Mandoline?
Both are good slicers, and we review them in our best mandoline slicer guide. This page covers different models chosen for potatoes, so you have more to compare.
Our pick for potato night
Buy the OXO Steel Chef’s Mandoline 2.0 if you want every potato cut from one tool. Choose the Bron Coucke for an all-steel fry maker, the PL8 for built-in blades, the Börner V3 for a compact drawer kit, the Fullstar or Cuisinart if safety comes first, the Swissmar Börner for waffle cuts and the New Star if you only want fries.
When you would rather someone else did the slicing and frying, see the menu or call to order.