LoL, Goodwill and their “blade taping”. They tape scrapers and butter knives as if they’ve got a blade worth worrying about. I guess that simplifies stuff for staff, though - if it’s got a blade, just tape it.
Good finds, overall, though. My local GW is really weak on kitchen stuff.
I’m most excited about the mandoline. It’s quite sturdy and simple in design. Look forward to using it sometime soon. My v-blade mandoline is great for thin slices but can’t do anything fancy. I’m looking forward to trying waffle fries and zucchini fries.
That mandoline slicer does look like a fun purchase.
I have one of those ceramic Emile Henry pie dishes like the ones you scored, and use it as a casserole type dish for smaller quantities of food. Of course I intended to use it for pie, but honestly never have. Useful to me though.
And I’m vicariously excited to hear how well the mandolinr works. Having owned 3 of the fancy, adjustable, interchangeable-bladed, heavy, 90-degree units (all from the best brands), I can’t say I liked any of them. The blades feel dull to the touch, and the food slams into them rather than being easily cut. For one of the machines (maybe a $$$ Bron) I even bought a new set of blades, and it made zero difference. Based on my experience, the perpendicular blade orientation is a serious design defect. OTOH, my centenarian cabbage cutter’s angled blades are shudderingly sharp, and glide through cabbage.
Although I hope your experience is different, I think this “slam” effect is why we find so many nice mandolines in thrift shops. That and its scary effect on the stability–it can be janky.
Be careful. A year ago, a mandoline bit me in my group’s kitchen, and the wound took a long time to heal.
I’ve never owned one except the de Buyer Kobra v-slicer style mandoline. I’ve probably used it 4 times total in 10 years. It works fine. I actually saw another one just like the one I have for $5 thrifting today, but passed on it even though I originally bought mine for $40. It’s super sharp and slices nicely with no slam effect, but it can’t do anything fancy.
I got the French fry cutter you recommended a while back so I don’t need a mandoline for fries, but I couldn’t pass on the Matfer because it felt sturdy and had all the parts. The blades feel sharp to the touch to me. I think this example has seen little use.
In all my thrifting I’ve never come across a Bron or other super expensive mandoline. I saw a Miu brand once that was sturdy but it was missing all blades and attachments so I passed on it. If I see a Bron I’d buy it immediately just to try it.
Now to learn about cabbage cutters…
I went down to the basement this evening and realized I never posted the ice cream maker I found earlier in the summer. It was at a small boutique thrift store I’d never heard of that donates all proceeds to autism research. They also had a nice book of ice cream recipes from a well known shop in San Francisco that I’ve yet to try called Bi-Rite Creamery. I’ve made a few of the recipes and they’re delicious. I’ve wanted a unit with a built in compressor for a while. I’ve been looking at the Lello Musso Lussino but could never find a used one for $400, which was my limit. This Cuisinart for $15 is plenty for my purposes. It looked unused by whoever donated it. I felt guilty buying it at that price.
I have found that specialty charity thrifts (autism, animal shelters, people shelters😪) are where the real gems are found, as are the shops for small churches.
Different locations of the same charity are also different…my local St Vincent is meh, but the one 20 mi down the road almost always yields treasure (like my like new Pfaff serger for $75…a $450 machine)
Could we see it plz?
Now you’re just showing off.
Yeah, I’ll take a pic. I know exactly where it is. And now you and the weather have me thinking of making kraut.
So that’s what that is! I’ll keep my eyes out for one of those.
my goodness, what a find!
Beautiful slaw cutter!
This type of cutter is pretty common in western “country” themed junk shops. Most are not in great shape. I think Lehman’s may carry some new versions.
They can be found in antique shops all around New England.
Very nice finds, price be damned.
Not thrifting per se but taking advantage of eBay, Bron mandolines can be had for about $50. There is a learning curve, but it is worthwhile. It makes slices, ridge and waffle cuts, and julienne cuts. Once mastered, it is wonderful.
As a flea market and garage sale junkie, I have always been on the lookout for “sellers’ mistakes” which I offload on a friend who sells used kitchen stuffs. Hefty European mandolines were golden. I often picked them up for around $5, she resold them for around $50.
Personally, I rely on several grab and use hand-held ceramic mandolines.
I have a love/hate relationship with mandolines. I go years without owning one, then I spot one and lie to myself about how much I will use it.
I use it a few times, put it in the cupboard and spend a few years moving it around but never using it, the donate it and start the cycle again.
