Mandolines are sturdy, hand-operated, stainless-steel, wood, or heavy plastic tools that rapidly slice, shred, and julienne vegetables. Straight and forked cutting blades are firmly set at either end of a frame; some models include a folding stand that holds the frame at roughly a 45-degree angle. To slice vegetables quickly, repeatedly slide them down and up the frame across the blade of choice-a flat edge for slices or a forked edge for julienne. Select a model with detachable blades that offer a choice of cutting surfaces and enable easy cleaning.