Egg Slicer Hacks: 12 Foods It Slices Better Than a Knife, From Mushrooms to Strawberries

These egg slicer hacks turn the cheapest gadget in your kitchen drawer into one of the most useful. That little wire slicer you pull out twice a year is really a mini mandoline, and one egg slicer video on Instagram has more than 2 million likes and 89 million views, so a lot of people are just finding out. Mushrooms, strawberries, kiwi, soft mozzarella and even butter come out in perfect, even slices with one press. Below are the foods it handles best, each with a quick recipe to use them in, plus safety tips for slicing food for little kids. Go find that slicer in the back of the drawer..

Egg Slicer Hacks: The Mini Mandoline in Your Drawer

That little wire egg slicer you use twice a year is really a mini mandoline. Mushrooms, strawberries, soft cheese and even butter come out in perfect even slices with one press, which makes holiday prep and lunchboxes much faster. The rule is simple: only soft or cooked foods, never anything hard like raw carrots or apples, which can snap the wires. Have you ever used yours for anything but eggs: A: yes, B: no or C: what egg slicer?..

You will need: 1 plain wire egg slicer, soft or cooked foods to slice, a small bowl of warm water for rinsing, a cutting board.

How to make it: 1. Check that the wires are tight and straight. 2. Set the food in the cradle with the flat side down. 3. Press the wire frame down in one smooth motion. 4. Lift the slices out with your fingers or a small knife. 5. For dice, turn the food 90 degrees and press again. 6. Rinse the wires right after use.

Hard-Boiled Eggs: Slices, Wedges or Dice

Let us start with the job it was made for. Press once for perfect slices for sandwiches and salads. Turn the sliced egg 90 degrees in the cradle and press again for diced egg in seconds, perfect for egg salad. Tip: chill boiled eggs first so the yolks do not crumble. Do you like your egg salad A: chunky or B: smooth?

You will need: 6 chilled hard-boiled eggs, 1/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tsp mustard, 2 tbsp chopped celery, 1 tbsp chopped chives, salt and pepper, bread or lettuce cups.

How to make it: 1. Peel the chilled eggs. 2. Press each egg through the slicer. 3. Turn the slices 90 degrees and press again to dice. 4. Mix the mayonnaise, mustard, celery and chives. 5. Fold in the eggs and season. 6. Serve on bread or in lettuce cups.

Egg Slicer Hacks for Mushrooms

This is the hack everyone loves most. Set a whole white or brown mushroom stem side down and press. You get even slices in a second, which means a whole pound is done in minutes. It is perfect for the green bean casserole, pizzas and omelets. Tip: wipe mushrooms with a damp towel instead of soaking them. How do you use mushrooms most?

You will need: 1 lb white or cremini mushrooms, 2 tbsp butter, 1 clove garlic, salt and pepper, fresh thyme.

How to make it: 1. Wipe the mushrooms clean. 2. Trim the stem ends. 3. Set each mushroom stem side down in the slicer and press. 4. Melt the butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. 5. Add the mushrooms in one layer and cook 6 to 8 minutes until browned. 6. Add the garlic, thyme, salt and pepper for 1 minute.

Egg Slicer Hacks for Strawberries

Hull a strawberry, set it on its side and press for pretty, even slices for trifles, shortcake and yogurt bowls. It is one of the fastest egg slicer hacks for holiday desserts, and the slices look like they came from a bakery. Tip: use firm berries, because very soft ones squish. Strawberry shortcake or trifle?

You will need: 1 lb fresh strawberries, 2 tbsp sugar. Quick shortcake: 4 store-bought shortcakes or biscuits, 1 cup heavy cream whipped with 2 tbsp powdered sugar.

How to make it: 1. Wash and hull the strawberries. 2. Slice each one in the egg slicer. 3. Toss the slices with sugar. 4. Let them sit 15 minutes to get juicy. 5. Split the shortcakes and spoon the berries over. 6. Top with whipped cream.

Kiwi Rounds in Seconds

Peel a kiwi, set it in the slicer and press for even rounds that look beautiful on fruit platters, pavlova and holiday cheese boards. Ripe but not mushy kiwi works best. Kids think it looks like magic. Tip: a spoon slipped under the skin peels a kiwi faster than a peeler. Have you tried golden kiwi?

You will need: 3 ripe kiwis, 1 cup sliced strawberries, 1 cup pineapple chunks, 1 cup grapes, 1 tbsp honey, 1 tbsp lime juice, mint.

How to make it: 1. Peel the kiwis with a spoon. 2. Slice them in the egg slicer. 3. Arrange the kiwi, strawberries, pineapple and grapes on a platter. 4. Whisk the honey and lime juice. 5. Drizzle over the fruit. 6. Garnish with mint and serve cold.

Banana Coins for Kids and Oatmeal

Busy parents love these egg slicer hacks. Cut a peeled banana in half to fit, then press for neat coins in one go. Perfect for oatmeal, cereal, banana pudding and little snack plates. Tip: for small children, cut coins into quarters to make them easier to eat. Do you add bananas to A: oatmeal or B: pancakes?

You will need: 2 bananas. Quick banana oatmeal: 1 cup old-fashioned oats, 2 cups milk, pinch of salt, 1 tbsp maple syrup, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, chopped walnuts.

How to make it: 1. Simmer the oats, milk and salt 5 minutes, stirring. 2. Stir in the maple syrup and cinnamon. 3. Peel the bananas and cut them in half. 4. Press each half through the egg slicer. 5. Spoon the oatmeal into bowls. 6. Top with banana coins and walnuts.

Soft Mozzarella for Caprese

A ball of fresh mozzarella slips right into the slicer and comes out in even rounds for caprese salad, sandwiches and pizza. It is one of the egg slicer hacks that saves you from squashed, uneven cheese. Tip: chill the mozzarella first so it slices cleanly. Do you add balsamic glaze or just olive oil?

You will need: 8 oz fresh mozzarella ball, 2 large ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, 2 tbsp olive oil, flaky salt, black pepper, balsamic glaze (optional).

How to make it: 1. Chill the mozzarella for 30 minutes. 2. Press it through the egg slicer. 3. Slice the tomatoes with a knife. 4. Alternate tomato, mozzarella and basil on a platter. 5. Drizzle with olive oil. 6. Season with salt and pepper and add balsamic glaze.

Butter Pats for the Holiday Table

Want restaurant-style butter pats for the dinner rolls? This is one of the fanciest egg slicer hacks. Cut a cold stick of butter into short pieces and press each through the slicer. You get neat, even pats that look elegant on a plate. Chill them again on parchment until serving. Tip: dip the wires in warm water first. Salted or unsalted butter at your table?

You will need: 1 stick cold butter. Honey butter option: 1 stick soft butter, 2 tbsp honey, pinch of cinnamon, flaky salt.

How to make it: 1. Cut the cold stick into 2 inch pieces. 2. Dip the slicer wires in warm water. 3. Press each piece through the slicer. 4. Lay the pats on parchment. 5. Chill 15 minutes until firm. 6. Serve on a small plate next to the bread basket.

Black and Green Olives

Pitted olives slice quickly in an egg slicer, a few at a time, for pizza, salads, pasta and nachos. Line them up in the cradle and press. You will never chase rolling olives across a board again. It is one of those egg slicer hacks that saves a surprising amount of time. Black or green?

You will need: 1 cup pitted black or green olives. Quick olive tapenade topping: 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 clove garlic minced, 1 tbsp chopped parsley.

How to make it: 1. Drain the olives and pat them dry. 2. Set 3 or 4 in the cradle at a time. 3. Press to slice. 4. Mix with the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and parsley. 5. Spoon over toasted bread or crackers. 6. Or scatter the slices over pizza and salads.

Cooked Potatoes for Potato Salad

Small cooked potatoes slice perfectly in an egg slicer once they cool. Press once for slices, or turn and press again for cubes. Then slice the eggs for the same salad with the same tool. It is a two-for-one shortcut for picnics and potlucks. Is potato salad a must at your family gatherings?

You will need: 2 lb small Yukon Gold potatoes, 3 hard-boiled eggs, 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1 tbsp mustard, 1 tbsp pickle relish, 2 celery ribs diced, 2 green onions, salt, pepper, paprika.

How to make it: 1. Boil the potatoes until fork tender, about 15 minutes. 2. Cool them completely. 3. Slice and dice them in the egg slicer. 4. Slice the eggs the same way. 5. Mix the mayonnaise, mustard and relish and fold in everything else. 6. Chill 1 hour and dust with paprika.

Hot Dog Coins for Little Kids

Hot dogs are a choking risk for small children when served in round coins, so experts recommend cutting them lengthwise as well. Halve a cooked hot dog lengthwise, lay the halves flat in the slicer and press for small half-moons. It is fast and much safer for toddlers. Tip: do the same with whole grapes, cutting them into quarters.

You will need: 2 cooked hot dogs, kitchen knife. Toddler plate: 1/4 cup cooked macaroni and cheese, a few steamed peas, quartered grapes.

How to make it: 1. Cook the hot dogs and let them cool a little. 2. Cut each one in half lengthwise. 3. Lay the halves flat side down in the slicer. 4. Press to make small half-moon pieces. 5. Serve with the mac and cheese and peas. 6. Always sit with small children while they eat.

Egg Slicer Hacks for Cleaning and Care

Rinse the wires right after use, before food dries on them. A soft brush gets into the gaps, and many slicers are top-rack dishwasher safe, so check yours. Never slice hard foods like raw carrots or apples, which can snap the wires. Want more clever kitchen tricks? See our egg hacks. Which of these egg slicer hacks will you try first?

You will need: Warm soapy water, a soft brush or old toothbrush, a dish towel.

How to make it: 1. Rinse the slicer under warm water right after using it. 2. Scrub between the wires with a soft brush. 3. Wash the cradle in warm soapy water. 4. Dry it completely. 5. Check that all wires are tight. 6. Store it flat so the wires do not bend.