Vegetable cutters are kitchen tools used to quickly and efficiently chop, slice, dice, and cut vegetables and other ingredients. They come in various shapes and sizes and go by different names depending on their specific cutting purpose.
Types of Vegetable Cutters
Some common types of vegetable cutters include:
Food Processors
Food processors are electric appliances with multiple interchangeable blades and discs that can perform various cutting techniques. The spinning blades slice, shred, chop, puree, and more. Food processors are versatile kitchen tools that can cut all kinds of fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, and other ingredients.
Mandolines
Mandolines are manual cutting devices with adjustable blades to slice vegetables and fruits into uniform thin and thick cuts. Many mandoline models have interchangeable straight, wavy, or zig-zag blades to julienne or make crinkle cuts. The vegetables are pushed along the platform over the blade using hand guards to protect the fingers.
Vegetable Choppers
Vegetable choppers, also called salad choppers, are quick chopping tools with internal blades activated by pressing the lid. They finely dice vegetables like onions, carrots, celery, peppers, tomatoes, and more into small, uniform pieces for salads, salsa, relish, etc. Popular brands include Vidalia Chop Wizard and Progressive Prepworks Salad Chopper.
Onion Choppers
Onion choppers function similarly to vegetable choppers but are designed specifically for chopping onions. They efficiently dice onions while containing the vapors released. Some models have containers to catch the chopped onions. Common types are the slap chop with a spring-loaded lever and pull-string choppers.
Egg Slicers
Egg slicers are compact tools with a slotted platform and wire cutters that slice boiled eggs into uniform rounds or wedges. They cut soft-boiled eggs for egg salads and sandwiches or hard-boiled eggs for garnishes and snacks.
Garlic Presses
Garlic presses are devices designed specifically for crushing garlic cloves through small holes into minced garlic. They quickly mince garlic without the need for chopping and peeling. Some presses have removable parts for easy cleaning.
Herb Choppers
Herb choppers consist of a plastic container with an internal spinning blade activated by a pull string or press top. They provide an easy way to make freshly chopped herbs like parsley, cilantro, basil, mint, etc. for recipes without bruising the tender leaves.
Rotary Cheese Graters
Rotary or roller cheese graters efficiently shred or grate hard cheeses like parmesan. Users simply roll a block of cheese over the surface of the grater to get fine shreds or grates of consistent size and minimize waste.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Vegetable Cutter
Here are some key factors to keep in mind when selecting a vegetable cutter:
- Type of vegetables/ingredients you plan to cut – Consider which foods you will use it for most when choosing a cutter.
- Frequency of use – Choose an efficient, durable model if you cook often.
- Manual vs. electric – Manual types like slicers provide more control but require effort. Electric choppers are faster and easier to use.
- Cutting capacity – Size and capacity are important if cooking large batches.
- Storage space – Measure where you will store it to find a compact option if needed.
- Special features – Look for models with multiple blades, thickness settings, containers, etc.
- Ease of cleaning – Removable, dishwasher safe parts make cleaning easier.
- Safety features – Models with hand guards and food pushers improve safety.
- Brands and consumer reviews – Consider reputable brands and user feedback.
- Price – Compare prices for models with the features you need within your budget.
Benefits of Using Vegetable Cutters
There are many benefits that make vegetable cutters worthwhile kitchen investments:
- Saves time – Cutters slice faster than using a knife.
- Results in uniform cuts – Essential for recipes, cook evenly, and look tidy.
- Reduces injury risk – Safer than knives for novice cooks.
- Minimizes waste – Tools like rotary graters reduce leftover scraps.
- Retains nutrients – Thin, quick slicing preserves vitamins.
- Requires less skill – Let the tool do the work, not your knife skills.
- Multipurpose functionality – Models like food processors can do myriad tasks.
- Saves energy – Electrical appliances are easier than manual slicing.
- Adds convenience – Keep frequently used models on your counter ready to go.
- Easy to clean – Removable parts and dishwasher-safe materials.
Popular Vegetable Cutter Brands
Some of the top brands for vegetable cutters are:
| Brand | Known For |
|---|---|
| Cuisinart | Food processors, mandolines |
| KitchenAid | Food processors, slicers, choppers |
| Hamilton Beach | Food processors, choppers |
| OXO | Mandolines, slicers, graters |
| Ninja | Food processors, choppers |
| Progressive | Onion choppers, salad choppers |
| Chef’n | Garlic presses, herb choppers |
| Microplane | Premium graters and zesters |
Care and Maintenance Tips
To keep vegetable cutters performing at their best:
- Disassemble parts and wash after each use.
- Use dish soap and water, do not immerse electric models.
- Rinse and dry blades thoroughly.
- Avoid using abrasive cleaners or scouring pads.
- Check manufacturer instructions for cleaning guidance.
- Lubricate moving parts periodically.
- Sharpen blades as needed.
- Store in a secure, dry place.
- Replace worn or defective parts.
Safety Tips
Observe these safety practices when using vegetable cutters:
- Read instruction manuals thoroughly.
- Keep fingers away from all blades.
- Use hand guards and food pushers properly.
- Don’t overload capacity.
- Operate electric models on stable surfaces.
- Avoid contact with hot or running motors.
- Unplug after use.
- Supervise children using cutters.
- Store sharp blades securely.
- Replace loose, damaged or clogged blades/parts.
Conclusion
Vegetable cutters are available in a wide variety of styles and serve many helpful purposes in the kitchen. Investing in high quality vegetable cutters from reputable brands and caring for them properly improves ease, efficiency, and safety in food preparation. Selecting the right type of cutter with useful features for your needs can save significant time chopping ingredients and lead to delicious, uniform results. With sensible operation, cleaning, and storage habits, vegetable cutters will provide many years of reliable service.