The T-fal Infrared Air Fryer stands out in a crowded air fryer market because it approaches cooking a little differently. After using it regularly for everything from frozen snacks to chicken, vegetables, and reheated leftovers, the biggest thing I noticed was how quickly it gets food cooking. Unlike many traditional air fryers that need a few minutes to fully heat up, this model feels ready almost immediately, which makes weeknight meals noticeably more convenient. The infrared heating system is the feature that sets it apart. In practical terms, it means food starts receiving heat faster instead of waiting for a heating element to gradually warm the cooking chamber. The result isn't necessarily a dramatic reduction in total cooking time for every recipe, but foods like chicken wings, fries, and breaded items definitely brown faster and develop a crisp exterior more consistently. I found myself checking food earlier than expected during the first few uses because it cooked quick...
OXO Good Grips Large Adjustable Handheld Mandoline Slicer Review: Reliable, Sharp, and Surprisingly Practical for Everyday Cooking
The OXO Good Grips Large Adjustable Handheld Mandoline Slicer feels like a kitchen tool designed by people who actually cook during busy weekdays. After regular use for potatoes, cucumbers, onions, apples, and cabbage, it stands out less because of flashy features and more because it simply does its job consistently.
The blade is sharp — genuinely sharp. Slicing potatoes for gratins or cucumbers for salads takes very little effort, and the cuts come out surprisingly even without needing professional knife skills. The adjustable thickness setting is simple to use and practical in real cooking. Thin slices for chips, thicker slices for roasted vegetables, quick adjustments without swapping blades or reading instructions — that’s where this slicer earns points.
Compared with cheaper plastic mandolines, the OXO feels noticeably more refined.
The handle is comfortable, the non-slip grip actually helps, and the overall balance feels stable during use. Budget mandolines often work well for a month and then start feeling flimsy or awkward. The OXO has a more “grab it and use it without thinking” quality that matters more over time than extra attachments you rarely touch.
That said, this is still a handheld mandoline — which means safety depends heavily on attention.
The included hand guard helps, but like many guards in this category, it’s functional rather than perfect. Smaller vegetables become awkward near the end, and there’s always that moment where you decide whether the last inch of potato is worth risking your knuckles. Compared with enclosed “safe mandoline” designs, this one is faster and more precise, but definitely less beginner-friendly.
The slicing quality is excellent for the size. Potatoes, zucchini, onions, radishes, and apples glide through cleanly. Softer ingredients can still be tricky — tomatoes, for example, require a delicate touch unless they’re firm. But compared with most handheld slicers in the same price range, consistency is genuinely better.
Cleaning is refreshingly uncomplicated. No pile of interchangeable blades, no complicated assembly. Rinse, brush carefully around the blade, and you’re mostly done. That simplicity gives it an advantage over bulky multi-function vegetable choppers that promise everything but become annoying to clean after a week.
Who should buy this? Home cooks who want fast, uniform slices without dedicating cabinet space to a giant prep machine. It’s especially good for people making salads, potato dishes, pickles, or meal-prep vegetables regularly. Who should avoid it? Nervous beginners, families wanting maximum safety features, or anyone expecting food-processor-level versatility.
After long-term use, my honest recommendation is this: the OXO Good Grips Large Adjustable Handheld Mandoline Slicer is one of those kitchen tools that doesn’t try to do ten different jobs — and benefits from that focus. If you want a dependable slicer that’s fast, compact, and genuinely useful in daily cooking, it’s worth buying. Just respect the blade, because it absolutely means business.
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