Welcome to Steamy Kitchen, where we rigorously test countless kitchen gadgets to separate the wheat from the chaff. Over the years, only a select few have earned a permanent, coveted spot in our culinary arsenal, truly revolutionizing how we approach meal preparation. Today, we’re thrilled to introduce you to two such game-changers from Surpahs: the ingenious Surpahs Drum Grater and the exceptionally versatile Surpahs V-Mandoline Slicer. These aren’t just tools; they’re investments in efficiency, safety, and delicious results. We’ll delve into each product individually, offering an honest assessment of their unique strengths and minor drawbacks, helping you decide if they’re the right fit for your kitchen.
Surpahs Drum Grater Review: Revolutionizing Your Grating Experience
Cauliflower has undeniably taken the culinary world by storm, and for good reason. This cruciferous superstar is a truly versatile vegetable, capable of transforming into a healthy substitute for rice in dishes like Cauliflower Fried Rice with Bacon, or standing in for mashed potatoes with our Cauliflower Mashed “Potatoes”. For lighter, nutrient-packed meals, it can be finely grated for salads, such as my son Andrew’s favorite Kale & Cauliflower Salad. However, anyone who’s attempted to grate or finely chop cauliflower by hand knows the struggle. The crumbly florets scatter everywhere – across your countertops, onto your clothes, and all over your hands. Beyond the mess, using a traditional box grater poses a significant risk to your knuckles and fingertips. This is precisely where the Surpahs Drum Grater, an incredibly affordable gadget at just around $29.00, proves to be an invaluable asset, making quick work of prep while safeguarding your digits.
The Surpahs Drum Grater excels at achieving the perfect texture for dishes like our Kale & Cauliflower Salad, where a finely grated consistency is key. The result is so remarkably uniform and delicate, it often resembles grated cheese.
Unpacking the Surpahs Drum Grater: Features and Functionality
This efficient kitchen tool arrives with a sturdy base and a set of three interchangeable, razor-sharp blades, each designed for a specific task: a fine grater, a large grater, and a slicer. This versatility means it’s not just a one-trick pony; it’s equipped to handle a variety of ingredients and preparations.
One of the most critical features of any countertop kitchen tool is stability. The Surpahs Drum Grater addresses this with a powerful suction cup base that securely locks onto your countertop. A simple clockwise turn of the lever engages the suction, providing an incredibly stable platform. To release, a counter-clockwise turn easily disengages it, even with wet hands after a busy cooking session.
PRO: Lightweight Design and Superior Suction. The unit’s plastic construction makes it remarkably lightweight, facilitating easy handling, movement, and cleaning. Unlike many kitchen gadgets that slide around, the suction cup on this grater is truly impressive. During our tests, it remained firmly in place, not budging an inch even during vigorous grating. This stability significantly enhances safety and efficiency. Releasing the suction is also remarkably simple and smooth.
For processing cauliflower, we typically opt for the large grater attachment. It pops into place effortlessly, making assembly a breeze.
The next step is to add your ingredients. We simply placed substantial chunks of cauliflower into the generously sized chute.
PRO: Large Chute for Less Pre-Chopping. The wide chute is a definite advantage, allowing you to feed larger pieces of vegetables, hard cheeses, or nuts without extensive pre-chopping. This saves precious time and effort in your meal prep routine.
CON: Plastic Handle Durability. While functional and easy to assemble with its snap-in design, the handle, also made of plastic, raises some questions about long-term durability. However, considering the affordable price point of this ~$30 gadget, this is a minor concern, and careful use should ensure its longevity.
Once your ingredients are loaded, simply pop the lid on top, secure it, and begin turning the handle. The process is remarkably straightforward and requires minimal effort.
PRO: Effortless Operation. The grating process is incredibly easy and efficient. In a mere 20 seconds, we were able to process half a head of cauliflower, a task that would have taken significantly longer and created far more mess with a traditional box grater.
PRO: Easy Cleanup. Cleaning this drum grater is as simple as using it. All detachable parts – the blade, handle, and top – are dishwasher-safe, allowing for quick and hygienic cleaning. For the base, particularly the suction mechanism, we recommend hand washing to preserve the integrity of the suction cup, as the high heat of a dishwasher could potentially warp it and reduce its effectiveness over time.
CON: Challenging Storage for Multiple Parts. Storing a gadget with an unconventional shape and multiple sharp components can be a bit tricky. To keep everything organized and safe, we highly recommend retaining the original packaging or investing in a clear, plastic shoebox. This ensures that all parts are together and prevents accidental cuts when reaching into a drawer.
Beyond cauliflower, the Surpahs Drum Grater is incredibly versatile, effortlessly grating hard cheeses, chocolate, nuts, zucchini, and carrots. With the slicer attachment, you can even achieve perfect cucumber slices. While we didn’t have as much success with cheese slicing as some Amazon photos suggest, for its primary function of grating and shredding, particularly for challenging items like cauliflower, it’s an excellent investment. For under $30, this kitchen gadget offers exceptional value and performance. You can find it available for sale on Amazon here.
Surpahs V-Blade Mandoline Slicer Review: Precision Slicing Made Safe and Simple
For years, the quest for the perfect mandoline slicer felt like a never-ending journey. We’ve tested numerous models, each with its own set of frustrations. The popular Oxo Mandoline, while generally well-regarded, proved too expensive at around $70, lacked the crucial V-shaped blade (making it harder to push vegetables through), and offered no integrated grater or shredder options. The Pampered Chef Mandoline had commendable safety features, but its awkward angle could lead to discomfort, resembling “tennis elbow” after extended use. Finally, the search ends with the Surpahs V-Blade Mandoline Slicer, a kitchen workhorse that delivers nearly every feature we’ve longed for in a mandoline.
This comprehensive mandoline system comes equipped with five distinct blades, neatly organized within a dedicated plastic storage box, ensuring safety and easy access:
- Regular Slicing Blade: For perfectly uniform slices of various thicknesses.
- Waffle Fry Blade: To create fun, restaurant-style waffle-cut vegetables and potatoes.
- Coarse Shredder: Ideal for thicker shreds of cabbage, carrots, or cheese.
- Fine Shredder: Perfect for delicate shreds suitable for salads, slaws, or garnishes.
- Grater Blade: Offers another option for finely grated ingredients.
Beyond the interchangeable blades, the Surpahs Mandoline features intuitive knobs on the side for adjusting slicing styles and thicknesses. One knob, when turned, reveals the blades for thick julienne cuts, perfect for sturdy vegetables. Turn it again, and thinner julienne blades pop out, ideal for creating delicate shoestring fries or fine matchsticks. The other knob specifically controls the thickness of the main V-blade, offering precise control over your slices.
Safety and Performance: A Closer Look
PRO: Integrated Blade Safety Case. What truly sets this product apart is its ingenious safety design. Beneath the mandoline’s main slicing surface, the integrated blades are securely housed within a plastic case. This thoughtful design eliminates the common fear of accidentally cutting yourself when handling or storing the mandoline, providing peace of mind during setup and cleanup.
Upon opening the protective door, you’re presented with a range of incredibly sharp blades, ready for action.
The mandoline includes a dedicated vegetable holder designed with pockets for your fingers, intended to keep your hands safely away from the razor-sharp blades.
CON: Ergonomics of the Food Holder. While essential for safety, the finger pockets on the vegetable holder aren’t the most comfortable. Using three fingers and a thumb to grip in these holes can feel somewhat awkward, potentially reducing the control, grip, and downward pressure you can exert. It’s a trade-off for safety, but something to be aware of.
On the reverse side, the vegetable holder features sturdy spikes designed to pierce and securely hold your produce in place during slicing, preventing slips and ensuring uniform cuts.
PRO: Excellent Slicing Performance. Despite the minor comfort issue with the holder, the mandoline performs exceptionally well. It effortlessly creates perfectly uniform slices, such as these crisp apple slices, ideal for a refreshing salad.
It also excels at delicate tasks like producing elegant fennel shavings for the same salad, demonstrating its versatility and precision.
PRO: The V-Blade Advantage. The V-shaped blade is a game-changer, making slicing feel incredibly effortless. Its design allows the outer edges of the “V” to engage with the food first, gripping it securely. This initial contact enables the rest of the blade to glide through with remarkable ease and precision. This is a significant improvement over the straight-wedge blade found in models like the OXO mandoline, which often requires more force and can be harder to operate.
CON: Limited Blade Storage. A minor but noticeable drawback is that the plastic blade storage box only accommodates four of the five included blades. It would be ideal if the box were designed to be just a little larger, allowing for the convenient and safe storage of all blades in one place, minimizing clutter and risk.
This means the primary V-slicing blade must be reattached to the mandoline body itself for storage, taking up more space.
CON: General Storage Concerns. Speaking of storage, we recommend keeping the original box or acquiring a clear shoebox to store the entire unit, including the mandoline with its V-blade attached. Even with the option to adjust the knob to level the V-blade, storing it haphazardly in a drawer presents a safety risk. The vegetable holder’s sharp spikes could also lead to accidental pokes if you blindly reach into a cluttered drawer.
PRO: Outstanding Performance and Value. Despite these minor storage considerations, the Surpahs V-Blade Mandoline Slicer is a phenomenal kitchen tool. Its performance is fantastic, the angle of its stand is perfectly optimized for ease of use, and the clever, hidden julienne blades are a true jackpot feature, offering immense versatility. At less than $20, this mandoline is an absolute steal and a must-have for anyone serious about efficient and precise vegetable preparation. Don’t hesitate – buy this incredible gadget today!
Surpahs Drum Grater and V-Blade Mandoline: Elevate Your Kitchen Today!
We believe so strongly in the utility and efficiency of these two Surpahs kitchen staples that we’re giving away one of each to a lucky winner! However, even if you don’t happen to win our giveaway, we wholeheartedly recommend investing in these tools. The Surpahs Drum Grater transforms tedious grating tasks into swift, mess-free operations, protecting your fingers and expanding your culinary possibilities with its versatile blades. The Surpahs V-Blade Mandoline Slicer redefines precision slicing, offering unparalleled ease of use, superior safety features, and a comprehensive range of cutting options all for an unbeatable price.
Both products address common kitchen frustrations, turning laborious meal prep into an enjoyable and efficient experience. They are testaments to thoughtful design, robust functionality, and exceptional value. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a home cook looking to streamline your cooking process, these Surpahs gadgets are poised to become indispensable allies in your kitchen. Make meal preparation safer, faster, and more enjoyable – add the Surpahs Drum Grater and V-Blade Mandoline Slicer to your collection today!