Shun Pro Mandolin User manual

Mandolin
Operating Manual

Congratulations on your purchase of a Shun Pro Mandolin Food Slicer. It is the ideal tool
for swiftly slicing firm fruits and vegetables, as well as producing shoestring, julienne,
French fry, and plank fry cuts more quickly and easily than ever. What’s more, your new
Shun Pro Mandolin is the only one that can turn a big, two-pound potato into perfect
French fries with no additional prep time needed to first cut the potato into smaller
pieces. Just place your full-sized potato in the food caddy and go.
A Revolutionary Design
While chefs have been using this versatile kitchen tool for a very long time, the Shun
mandolin is the first to be completely safe to use. With previous mandolins, serious
cuts and scrapes were commonplace—even expected. Some cookbook authors even
recommended against the use of a mandolin by the average home cook simply because
of the risks. But when you use the Shun Pro Mandolin according to these simple
directions, it is completely safe and easy to use—no special protective gear needed.
The secret to your mandolin’s superior cutting performance is its Shun Pro blade, the
same blade used in premium Shun Pro cutlery. This single-bevel blade design is inspired
by the 700-year-old yanagiba blade preferred by Japanese chefs for producing the
cleanest, most precise slices possible. Keeping your Shun Pro blade sharp is easy, too.
Simply remove it from the mandolin and resharpen on a whetstone.
ShunPro Mandolin
Congratulations!
1.

Getting to Know Your Shun Pro Mandolin
with all stainless-steel construction
Removable back
legs with premium
Pakkawood®inserts
Infinitely adjustable
deck height knob
with deck lock knob
on opposing side
(not visible)
Food spike locking cap
Guide rail
Main deck Powder-coated Caddy handle
cast aluminum
food caddy
Blade-mounting slot
Genuine Shun Pro
slicing blade
Specialty blades:
1/8" shoestring
1/4" julienne
3/8" french fry
Fiberglass food spike
Blade storage case 2.

Special Features of Your Shun Pro Mandolin
Your Shun Pro Mandolin is the safest mandolin you can buy.
Here are its key safety features:
• Food carriage attached to guide rail—so your hand can’t slip
• Removable main blade—so mandolin can be stored safely
Infinitely Adjustable Main Deck
The Shun Pro Mandolin is the only mandolin that lets you custom-adjust the thickness of
the slice. Most mandolins only offer a specific selection of thicknesses.
Dishwasher Safe Main Deck
Just remove the blades, legs, and food caddy from the Shun Pro Mandolin and you can
place the main deck in the dishwasher. Please wash the rest of this high-quality tool by
hand.
Shun Pro Removable Main Blade
The Shun Pro Mandolin is the only mandolin with a removable main blade to make
cleaning and storage easier. It also enables the main blade to be resharpened again and
again. This is the same premium-quality blade found in Shun Pro cutlery—a one-sided,
beveled edge with a hollow-ground back, called a yanagiba blade. This single-bevel de-
sign provides an incredibly sharp edge that is simple to maintain. Further, the hollow-
ground back creates an air pocket between the blade and the food being cut. The result
is less sticking to the blade and less friction damage to the food.
Safety
3.

Setting Up the Shun Pro Mandolin for Use
3. & 4. Loosen the deck lock knob and turn
the deck height adjustment knob until the
deck is at your desired height. Lowering the
deck will make the slices thicker; raising
the deck will make the slices thinner. The
Shun Pro Mandolin enables you to choose
any thickness instead of just incremental
steps. When you have the desired height,
tighten the deck lock knob until the deck is
secure. Always check the first slice to make
sure it is the desired thickness. Make sure
the mandolin is seated on a stable surface.
1. Place a few drops of cooking oil on the
guide rail. This will ensure that the food
caddy slides back and forth on the guide
rail without sticking.
2. Insert main cutting blade into the main
blade-mounting slot. The blade will only fit
into the main blade-mounting slot one way.
You will feel a slight “click” as the blade
locks into place.
1.
2.
3.
4.
4.

The correct way to grasp the cutting handle. Keep thumb and fingers around
the ball-shaped handle and clear of the mandolin blades at all times.
5.

Using Your Shun Pro Mandolin
1. Wash the food item to be cut, then place it on the main cutting deck towards the rear.
Grasp the food caddy by its handle, slide it all the way to the back of the main cutting
deck, and lower it over the item. The food spike will automatically be raised as the caddy
is lowered onto the food. It is important to make sure that the food is as far back against
the back of the food caddy chamber. Lightly press the top of the food spike into the
vegetable to secure it. The spring will automatically maintain the proper tension on the
food.
TIP: When making thin gratin slices from very round vegetables (such as red or Yukon
gold potatoes), you’ll get best results by first cutting the item in half. Very round
vegetables could roll out from under the food spike on the first slice, causing damage
to the spike and locking cap. This is not a concern with julienne, shoestring, or French
fry cuts.
2. Place your left hand on the bar between the legs of the mandolin to hold it steady.
3. With your right hand, grasp the ball-shaped handle on the right side of the food caddy
and push forward on the food caddy using medium pressure. Slide it up and down along
the guide rail until the vegetable is sliced. You will know you are finished when the food
spike shaft has lowered all the way down to the locking cap on top of the food caddy.
You will have a small bit of food left on the food spike. Simply discard this; do not
attempt to slice it by hand without the food caddy.
Basic Cutting
6.

Julienne and Shoestring Fry's
For French fry, julienne and shoestring cuts, follow the same basic instructions as page
5, but with the addition of the appropriate specialty cutting blade. Here’s how to use the
specialty blades of your Shun Pro Mandolin:
1. Loosen the deck lock knob and turn the deck height adjustment knob until the deck
is as high as it will go. Tighten the deck lock knob to secure the deck in place. Slide your
selected specialty blade into the curved slot on the left side of the mandolin. Click the
blade into position. You will now have two blades in place: the main Shun Pro blade and
the specialty blade.
IMPORTANT: Always make sure all blades click into position. Please be aware that food
can build up in the specialty blade-mounting slot and prevent blades from locking into
place as they should. So that you will not cut yourself, it is very important to remove
the main cutting blade before attempting to clean out this specialty-blade slot.
2. Lower the deck all the way and tighten the deck lock knob.
3. To change blades, simply reverse this procedure. Slightly raise the main deck with
the deck height adjustment knob, remove the specialty blade and replace it with the
specialty blade of your choice. Lower the deck and secure it.
TIP: If you are cutting round or oddly shaped vegetables, your specialty-cut strips will
be uneven due to the vegetable’s curve. For completely consistent results, before slicing,
cut off the sides of the vegetable to make it roughly square or rectangular. If consistent
size isn’t necessary, then this additional prep work is not required.
Cutting French,

8.

Before using your mandolin for the first time, wash the mandolin in hot soapy water.
Then wash it thoroughly after every use. The main deck can be washed in the dishwasher.
Simply remove the legs, blades, and food spike. These parts must be washed by hand
using plenty of soap and hot running water to flush out any food debris. The food caddy
should be disassembled for washing. From the inside of the food caddy, use the vinyl pad
that came with your mandolin to gently press the food spike up about a 1/4” inch. Unlock
the food spike locking cap by turning it counter-clockwise. Then, from the inside of the
caddy, gently pull the food spike out.
If kept clean, your Shun Pro Mandolin will be largely maintenance-free. The premium
cutlery steel used in your Shun Pro Mandolin is designed to retain its edge for a long
time. However, from time to time, you will want to resharpen the main cutting blade. It
may be sharpened on a Japanese whetstone, just as you would sharpen any other
Shun blade.
When not in use, remove all cutting blades and store in the convenient storage
case provided.
Caution: Blades are Extremely Sharp
Never use the Shun Pro Mandolin without the food caddy. The Shun Pro Mandolin’s blades
are extremely sharp. Please exercise caution anytime you are using or handling them.
Always store them in the provided storage case. Keep the mandolin out of the hands of
children or people who are unfamiliar with its use.
Cleaning & Maintenance
9.

The purchase, use, and ownership of knives are subject to a wide variety of local laws and
regulations. Certain knife styles, blade designs, and blade lengths are not allowed in specific areas.
In light of recent events involving national security, knives may not be permitted in government
buildings or on government property (such as court houses, federal offices, national monuments,
and airports), and government officials may take the position that knives are “weapons” under
applicable laws. Due to the complexity and constantly changing nature of these laws and
regulations, it is impossible for Kai USA, ltd., and Shun Cutlery to be aware of every restriction
in every location in which our knives may be sold or carried. It is the responsibility of the buyer
to investigate and comply with the laws and regulations that apply in his or her specific area.
You, and not Kai USA ltd., are solely responsible for any claims resulting from violation of these
laws and/or regulations.
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Each of these quality knives and cutlery products are guaranteed for the lifetime of the original
owner to be free of defects when received from the factory. Any product we find to be defective in
its original material, construction, or workmanship will be repaired or replaced with the same item
or one of equal value at no charge. (Of course, normal wear, abuse such as prying with the knife,
or neglect are excluded from this non-transferable warranty.) For warranty service, please return
product via UPS or insured mail. Include your name, address, telephone number, proof of purchase
(sales slip), and a short explanation of the warranty service requested to the address below.
Kai USA ltd.
WARRANTY DEPARTMENT
18600 SW Teton Avenue
Tualatin, OR 97062
Liability Disclaimer
10.

KAI USA Ltd.
18600 SW Teton Avenue • Tualatin, Oregon 97062
Toll Free: 1.800.325.2891 • Fax: [phone] • www.shuncutlery.com
Product of Japan and China • Printed in China
We reserve the right to change specifications or materials at any time without notice • ©2007 Kai USA ltd.