Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus Mandoline

The Verdict

If you’ve ever watched a cooking show and wondered how the chef gets those perfect, uniform matchstick carrots or paper-thin cucumber ribbons, the Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus is the answer. This German-engineered mandoline has been a professional kitchen staple for decades, and the Plus version adds enough versatility to replace several single-purpose gadgets on your counter.

What You Actually Get

The V-Slicer Plus arrives with the main unit, five cutting inserts, and a safety food holder. The inserts break down as: fine shred, medium shred, coarse shred, thick slice (about 6mm), and thin slice (about 2mm). The frame itself is a compact 13 inches long and 4 inches wide, so it tucks easily into a drawer — assuming you can find room for the inserts, which brings me to a gripe I’ll get to shortly.

The build quality is immediately apparent. The food-grade plastic frame feels dense and substantial, not flimsy like budget mandolines. The blades are Swiss-made and mounted in a V configuration, which is the secret to why this thing slices so cleanly. Instead of a flat blade crushing the food as it cuts, the V-shape allows for a precise, guillotine-style action.

Real-World Performance

I tested this for three weeks making everything from coleslaw to potato gratin. The thin slice insert produced consistently even 2mm rounds that cooked uniformly — no thick edges, no burnt centers. The coarse shred made quick work of a pound of carrots for a salad, producing strips that actually held their shape instead of turning to mush.

The safety holder deserves special mention. The spikes grip firmly, and the guard’s design lets you use nearly the entire vegetable before you’re left with a small nub. That said, you’ll still waste the last inch or so of any item — that’s physics, not a design flaw.

What surprised me most was the noise level. Or rather, the lack of it. The V-blade slices with a satisfying, quiet “shick” rather than the grinding sound you get from cheaper rotary-style mandolines. It’s a small thing, but if you’re prepping a lot of food, it makes the experience more pleasant.

What Buyers Consistently Praise

The Amazon reviews (4.5 stars across 225 ratings) repeatedly highlight the blade sharpness and longevity. One reviewer wrote, “I’ve had mine for three years and it still slices like day one. My old cheap mandoline went dull in six months.” Another noted, “The safety guard actually works — I’ve never cut myself, and I’m clumsy.”

The versatility also gets consistent love. A verified purchaser mentioned, “I use the coarse shred for hash browns and the thin slice for cucumber salads. It’s replaced three other gadgets in my drawer.”

Where It Falls Short

The lack of insert storage is my biggest frustration. The five inserts are relatively small and easy to lose. I keep mine in a zip-top bag in the same drawer, but that feels like a design oversight for a product at this quality level.

The suction base is functional but occasionally finicky. On my granite countertop it holds fine, but on a textured cutting board or slightly damp surface, it can release mid-slice. You’ll learn to press it down firmly before each session, but it’s worth knowing going in.

Who Should Buy This

Buy it if: You cook regularly and want restaurant-quality prep without spending $200 on an electric food processor. The V-Slicer Plus is ideal for home cooks who make salads, gratins, stir-fries, or anything requiring uniform cuts. It’s also a smart purchase for meal preppers who need consistent portions.

Skip it if: You’re looking for something to toss in the dishwasher, or you only slice vegetables a few times a month — a basic box grater might suffice. Also skip if you have limited drawer space and no tolerance for storing separate inserts.

FAQ

Is the V-Slicer Plus dishwasher safe? No. The manufacturer explicitly recommends hand-washing. The harsh detergent and water pressure of dishwashers will dull the blades significantly faster. Rinse immediately after use and dry with a towel.

Can it handle hard vegetables like sweet potatoes or butternut squash? Yes, but with a caveat. The blades handle them fine, but you’ll need to apply firm, steady pressure. For very dense squash, cut it into manageable sections first rather than trying to force a whole half through.

Does it come with a cleaning brush? No, but a soft dish brush works fine. Just be careful not to run your fingers along the blade edges when cleaning.

The Verdict

Rating: 4.6/5

The Swissmar Borner V-Slicer Plus is a workhorse that justifies its price through blade quality and versatility alone. The storage issue and finicky suction base keep it from a perfect score, but for anyone serious about kitchen prep, this is the mandoline to beat. It’s the last one you’ll need to buy — which is exactly what you want from a tool you’ll use for years.

Where to Buy

👉 Check Price on Amazon →

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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.