Slicing Tomatoes: Mandolin vs. Food Processor

[N2Q]

Looking for opinions on using a mandolin vs. food processor for slicing tomatoes...or is a knife best?

[knet]

Serrated knife. Anything else is overkill

[escondido123]

I would say any tomato that is firm enough to cut with a mandoline is not ripe enough to eat. Give me slightly soft ones so I get all the flavor and the juice and I'll happily cut them with a knife.

[Bada Bing]

I second escondido123. If you're making less than a dozen sandwiches at a go, a serrated knife would be the best tool, especially for fully ripened tomatoes.

The mandoline will earn its keep when you want to do a galette/gratin, or for many other things.

[N2Q]

Great point and sharp answer (no pun intended). I really appreciate all these replies!

[srsone]

what are u slicing them for?
when i want consistent size slices for a sandwich or a salad or if the presentation matters my mandolin is pretty good for that...

pretty much anything else i use tomatoes for i use a knife

dont have a food processor

[N2Q]

Mainly wanted thin slices for sandwiches and presentation. Plus, I must confess that I bought the mandolin on impulse to get that "perfect garnish" look. Thinking a knife is much easier!

[petek]

A mandolin is great for that perfect garnish look,zucchini,carrots cucumber etc.You can always try it on tomatoes,what have you got to lose?

[Chemicalkinetics]

Honor? (Answer to: what have you got to lose)

P.S.: This is a joke.

[Chemicalkinetics]

A knife (for most home cooks)

[ipsedixit]

Knife.

And, food processor? Really? That's an option? Even mandolin would be sort of, I don't know, inappropriate overkill.

[ferret]

I'd totally go with the mandoline, but it really depends on the mandoline (and the tomato).. If the blade isn't ultra-sharp or the tomato is less than firm it's a headache. However, with the right equipment/tomato you can get perfectly even (and thin) slices.

[amitys]

At the country club and also a small deli I worked at, we used the deli meat slicers. I always thought it was a bit much.

[scubadoo97]

When had a party and ordered a platter of lox it was al ao accompanied by a plate of verybthin slices of tomatoes. There was no question they were sliced on the deli slicer. The only way I can cut them as thin is with a freshly sharpened knife or one which has just been stroped. I can not match the consistency of the deli slicer but at least they are sliced well.

[petek]

A serrated or very sharp knife will do the best job on tomatoes.