Manual vegetable cutters: types and rules of choice

Throughout the year, especially in the summer-autumn season, vegetable dishes are popular, the ingredients for which often have to be crushed by hand. To this process was not troublesome, you should take care of purchasing a suitable device for cutting vegetables. Since manual vegetable cutters are presented in stores in a rather large assortment, it becomes difficult for many to make the choice of a suitable device.

Therefore, before buying such a tool, it is necessary to find out what are the principles of their work, purpose (for which vegetables or fruits are suitable), and what criteria should be followed in choosing. All these nuances will be described in detail in this article.

Manual vegetable cutter is usually a small-sized unit, the main element of which are the blades for chopping fruit. The design can be mechanically controlled or consist only of a section with replaceable chopping blades.

As a rule, the area where chopped vegetables fall into is separated by a vegetable cutter body, or even is a separate compartment. Many designs are equipped with special nozzles, allowing you to adjust the size of the resulting pieces. All cut parts will have approximately the same size and shape.

This time-tested mechanical device has many advantages compared with modern electrical counterparts.

• Such a tool does not consume electricity, which does not entail additional financial costs.
• Blades products have a rather long service life and can grind products of different hardness.
• Mechanical devices for cutting vegetables have a compact body, they are conveniently stored in kitchen drawers, and also easy to wash in dishwashers. In addition, compactness allows you to easily transport the device by public transport, for example to the country, which is not the case with a food processor.
• The useful shredding feature allows you to chop vegetables much faster than it can be done with a knife.
• Mechanical graters can be purchased at any home goods store at affordable prices, unlike home appliances that work on the network.

However, such a device has a number of disadvantages compared to an electrical analog.

• In the process of grinding you need to put physical effort, especially if the vegetables are tough. Electric models allow this to be avoided.
• The grinding process in a blender or combine occurs many times faster than using mechanical models. Especially this difference is palpable, if you need to cut a large number of vegetables.
• Electrical engineering can be equipped with a large number of grinding modes.

Manual type vegetable cutters may differ from each other in some ways. On this basis, it is possible to distinguish several types of such devices, each of which has a specific set of characteristics and principle of operation.

• Metal Vegetable Cutter, Made of metal, most often has a round or square shape, and is inserted into a plastic groove.Vegetables are ground on such a device by pressing on them and turning the grater mechanism. Finished devices of this type are usually sold complete with several interchangeable nozzles so that the products can be crushed into pieces of various sizes and shapes.

• Grater called V-knife designed in such a way that knives of various shapes can be inserted into its flat plastic case. Using such a device it is quite convenient to chop vegetables, for example, cabbage, and also to cut products into strips or to give chopped pieces a different shape.

• One of the convenient mechanical universal vegetable cutters is such a variety as manual combine. In appearance, it is similar to the electrical analog, but does not require connection to the network. Inside the container, blades of the required shape and size are installed, vegetables are placed inside through holes. Then you need to twist the knob located at the top of the case so that the blades chop the products located inside.

• Vegetable cutter type slicer resembles a peeler by design. It is able to cut vegetables in fairly large, flat pieces, as well as straws.

• Spiral device reminds on the principle of action sharpener for pencils. It is capable of chopping vegetables, giving them the shape of a circle or spiral.

• There are also vegetable cutters type alligator. They are intended for boiled vegetables and other products. Like a crocodile's mouth, the design opens, the product itself is placed inside it, and then it is necessary to push the lid with effort — the chopped food moves into a special container.

It is worth looking at the manufacturers of such devices. Some of them have already proven themselves in the market of home appliances for cooking and can rightfully be included in the list of the best models:

The French brand offers the K1011114 vegetable chopper model. This device is a stable structure on three legs, in the upper part of the body of which there is an opening for products, and in the middle there are chopping blades made in the form of round plates. A rather impressive handle, due to the turnover of which the whole mechanism works, makes the operation of this vegetable cutter very convenient.

Among the shortcomings of this model can be noted only lack of container for chopped vegetables in the composition of components. However, instead of it, you can place a regular plate under the device. The price of a vegetable cutter is about 600 rubles.

Swedish models are presented in the modern market in a wide range of devices that differ from each other in nozzles. Among this easy-to-use tool, there are models that cut vegetables into strips, thin plates, and small slices. Some devices even peel vegetables.

Model "Lux" should be considered separately, because it is characterized by increased wear resistance and sharpness of the blades. Its body is mounted on comfortable rubberized legs that prevent the tool from slipping during operation. The price of this model is 8000 rubles.More simple counterparts "Alligator" without boxing and some other components cost about 2500 rubles.

Germany is another country producing manual vegetable cutters. The basic material for the grater is food polystyrene, which has a high level of strength. The case of the device is made in the form of a V-shaped frame, and three nozzles are attached to it. The design is equipped with a special fruit holder, which helps minimize the likelihood of cuts in the process of chopping vegetables.

The first nozzle of this tool is designed for chopping cabbage and slicing other vegetables in the form of slices. The second type of nozzle is used mainly for cutting potatoes for the purpose of its subsequent preparation in deep fat. The shape of the pieces is similar to the bars. With the help of the third nozzle you can cut the remaining vegetables for salad in the form of rings, as well as half-rings. With all its versatility and sharpness of the blades, the device has an affordable price - 2500 rubles.

Very interesting and one of the safest options for a vegetable cutter will be German model. In appearance, such a product rather resembles a vegetable peeler, but only one of the three nozzles is responsible for this function, which has small notches that allow you to remove a thin layer of skin from vegetables and fruits. The second - ceramic - nozzle performs the function of cutting vegetables and other products into slices of desired thickness. The third blade is designed to cut vegetables into thin strips.

The advantage of this model is easy operation. It is quite easy to replace the nozzle with a suitable one. The device is easy to clean, and thanks to its compactness it will become indispensable in campaigns on nature. The price of such a vegetable cutter is about 1,400 rubles.

Is an unusual model of the device for cutting vegetables. The design, consisting of a cassette with knives and the main body, operates on the principle of a pencil sharpener: the vegetable is fixed on the handle of the device, then you need to start rotating this handle, so that the product will be cut like spaghetti.

The process of operating such a product is quite safe. It is convenient to wash it - just substitute a stream of water. The cost of the unit is 1500 rubles.

In order not to be mistaken in choosing a device for manual chopping vegetables, You need to pay attention to a number of signs before buying it.

• The material from which the tool is made plays an important role and affects its service life.. It is better that metal parts predominate over plastic, since they are significantly stronger and less susceptible to damage. Well, if such items are made of stainless steel. Plastic is also best removed for safety reasons, as it may contain toxic substances.
• Pay attention to the number of nozzles in the kit. The more of them, the more functional the device itself. This is especially useful for those who like to cook and experiment with vegetable salads.
• Be sure to check out the selection of devices on the Internet and read reviews about the models that interest you. It so happens that when you collect such a vegetable cutter at home, you only get a beautiful-looking device that actually turns out to be completely unsuitable for use.

Those who have already tried a unit such as a manual-type vegetable cutter during the cooking process provide a number of recommendations. taking into account which the device will use much easier and safer.

• Slicing too large raw vegetables for salads, you can feel the strong resistance of the device. In order not to damage the mechanism, it is better to cut the large fruits into smaller pieces. This will significantly reduce the load on the machine and speed up the grinding process.
• For the purpose of more accurate operation in the process of long cutting should give the tool at least a five-minute break.This can reduce the risk of breakage and defects in some models.
• It is necessary to clean the mechanism in a timely manner, not allowing drying of vegetable residues on its surface. This is especially true of the shredder nozzle, whose openings are rather small and the risk of product particles entering them is greater.

Review of the vegetable cutter, see the following video.