A blade and assembly provides for a blade that has a front beveled cutting edge and at least two recesses defined within the back, or non-cutting edge, of the blade. A substantially cylindrical cavity or bore extends inwardly into the blade from each recess, the bores being defined in planes that are parallel to the top and bottom surfaces of the blade. A plurality of “T-shaped” legs is provided, each leg having a cross bar or “foot” that is secured at one end of a rod. In the preferred embodiment, three such legs are used, although the present invention is not limited to that number. The rod of each leg is used for insertion into a blade bore. Means for fixing the position of the rod within the blade bore is also provided. This allows the blade to be properly positioned within the holder thereby compensating for blade wear.

A mandoline slicer includes a slicing blade between a runout ramp and a platen defining an adjustable slicing ramp. A set of cubing blades is selectively movable between extended and retracted positions, extendable through slots formed in the runout ramp. A pusher is configured for 90 degree rotational movement to allow perpendicular cutting by the cubing blades before slicing by a main blade.

The present invention provides a method and apparatus of reducing current requirements by increasing resistance of the blade structure by reducing the cross sectional area of at least one section of the blade so that the electrical current requirements for heating of the blade to cutting temperature are reduced wherein the power supply and substantially entire unit may be mounted within a hand held unit. Methods of shaping blades to perform various heat distributions for specialty blades for custom cutting are disclosed. Further, an improved blade mounting structure is provided which includes structure for maintaining the legs of the blade parallel to the direction of cut and provides for easy insertion of new blades by maintaining a slotted blade cradle stable and in alignment with the blades and a clamp member away from the blade when the clamp mounting structure is loosened.

A mandoline slicer includes a slicing blade and an adjustable slicing ramp. A series of julienne blades is selectively movable between a stowed and a deployed position above the ramp. At a distal end of the ramp, a blade support is positionable to select either of a plurality of slicing blades.