Holy cow, the world’s gone “chip crazy!” Back in the day, all you could find, chip-wise, were potato chips. And the fanciest that product got was in the thickness and/or seasonings department. I remember when barbecued potato chips came out. My dad was in 7^th heaven!

But today you can get beet chips, zucchini chips, carrot chips, sweet potato chips, and the list goes on. This turn of events would be exciting if it weren’t for the price of these delicacies. Not wanting to pay the hefty price for a bag of alternative chips, but loving the idea of a different kind of chip, I’ve been looking for ways to make my own. Turns out, this is entirely possible!

You need a mandolin, however. Yes, you can slice that beet or sweet potato by hand, but the quality of your end product may suffer. Your veggie chips need to be a consistent thickness so that they fry in the same amount of time. Uneven thicknesses of slices means some chips are done to perfection, but others are under-cooked or over-cooked. Not good. (Ask me how I know this.)

One of my favorite magazines, Mother Earth News, recently had a recipe for homemade potato chips that’s adaptable to any veggie slice. This is a fun project!

HOMEMADE VEGGIE CHIPS (yield: 4-8 servings)

1 pound russet potatoes (or beets or sweet potatoes)

9 to 10 cups rice bran oil, canola oil, or beef tallow, for frying

Fine sea salt, to taste

Thinly slice the vegetables (1/8 inch or thinner). Place the slices in a bowl of cold water. Add a handful of ice cubes to help crisp the slices. These should chill for at least 30 minutes.

In a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed stockpot, heat the oil to 320°F to 350°F. Line a cookie sheet with paper towels. Place sliced vegetables in a colander; allow to drain well. Pat vegetables dry with a clean kitchen towel or paper towels.

Using a blanching basket, stir-fry spider, or slotted spoon, fry batches of vegetables until golden and crisp on both sides, about 5 to 7 minutes. Stirring them gently as you fry will help them crisp evenly and not clump together. Drain off excess oil over the fryer, transfer them to the prepared cookie sheet, and season with salt.

Cool to room temperature. Store any uneaten chips (yeah, like that’s gonna happen) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.

Not only is this a fun project, the end results are so good that it’s worth the time, effort, and cost to a mandolin to suit your budget. To help you out, here are the top 10 of all mandolins available, according to the research experts at wiki.ezvid.com. After 27 hours of in-depth testing, here’s what they found:

#10 is the Nuvita V. It can be nearly impossible to find a good stainless steel mandolin for under $50, but the durable and versatile Nuvita V fits the bill. Plus the kit includes a blade caddy for neat and clean storage. It’s $27.95 on amazon.com.

#9 is the MIU France Professional. It’s a generous 18 inches long, so you can cut items like eggplant and zucchini all the way through. The rotary dial on the side is simple to use, making it a great piece for beginner chefs. BUT, it’s $52.99 on amazon.com. Do we really need to spend that much? Read on.

#8 is the Kitchen Elite V. It has an extremely sharp V-style blade that cuts your prep time in half. It can even cut multi-textured foods, like lemon with the rind on, and it can slice thin enough to make any type of chip (which is what we want). And this one is a little better priced—$ 39.95.

#7 is the PL8 1000. It’s priced for the home cook, but comes with high end features, like a steel slicing deck and teeth that hold food in place while you're slicing. It's also a solid one-piece design, and has a waffle-slice option. Depending on the model, the slicer can be locked for added safety, the feet fold in for compact storage, and integrated blades eliminate loose parts. But this is another expensive tool—$59.95(again, on amazon.com). So let’s keep looking…

#6 is the OXO Good Grips. It has a large rim on the food holder that protects fingers from cuts. It also has a kickstand so that it can be used at an angle or held flat, and a broad top handle so you can get a firm grip on the slicer. It can hang from a wall rack, and it’s easy to set up, but it doesn’t cut the softer vegetables very well. Amazon.com has it for $39.95.

#5 is the Chef's Way Professional. This comes razor sharp and ready to take on tough foods, like dried meat and cabbage. It is also made from food-safe ABS plastic, and has a large bed to handle various food sizes. Its guard has steel prongs to hold food, doesn't get stained by colorful foods, and stays sharp for years. It’s $35.95 on amazon.com.

#4 is the HomeNative Adjustable. It is designed with a container to catch your cuts, so they're all in one place, ready to be poured into a mixing bowl or pot. The slicer can also be removed from the tray, to cut directly over a plate. The thickness adjuster is in the handle, blade changes are quick and easy, and the researchers found it was also terrific for grating cheese. The price is right, too: $24.99 (on amazon.com).

#3 is the Harold Import Co. Bron. It comes in the classic French design, making it a great gift, as well as a staple item for chefs who like an elegant aesthetic in their kitchen. Plus the slope allows for comfortable extended use. It can make shoestring potatoes, food doesn’t get stuck in the crevices, and it’s extremely durable and well made. BUT, the price is my hang-up: $126.40 (even on amazon.com). We’ll keep looking.

#2 is the Super Slicer 5-In-1. It features an ergonomically shaped hat with a comfortable groove for your thumbs, and blades made from surgical grade metal, so you can always count on cuts with smooth edges. It stays firmly in place during use, shreds cabbage and lettuce quickly, and can handle daily use without a problem. Amazon.com has this for $14.95. (I’m wondering how sturdy those plastic stand-up legs are, however.)

Finally, here’s the team’s #1 pick, the DE BUYER Ultra 2.0. It has a stainless steel pusher that protects your hand while you cut lozenges, slices, crinkle cuts, juliennes and more. It also includes three blade sizes so you can design your dish with perfect detail. The testers especially liked it because this professional chef-quality tool (weighing in at almost 5½ pounds) has a rotating thickness control system, and it comes with an instructional DVD. BUT, it’s the price thing again. $179.93 on amazon.com. Holy cow!

To sum up: The testers felt the best mid-range model was #7, the PL8 1000 ($59.95) and the best inexpensive model was #2, the Super Slicer 5-In-1 ($14.95). But whatever model you choose (or if you already have one), here’s a really helpful video on how to safely and creatively use a mandolin. https://youtu.be/oPphy3Kn7nA. And let me know if you attempt to make your own chips—we can compare notes!

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