Oh, ouch!

You do know that most mandolines come with a holder to stick the food on, yes? I only use my bare hands for the first few slices, and then I poke whatever I'm slicing onto the holder. There are also protective gloves you can buy.

On the bright side, tonight when you give thumbs-up or thumbs-down to the debaters, you'll really be making a very emphatic point!

I hope it heals up fast.

Oh yeah; I'm definitely getting one of those grips!

(And I'm discovering the downside of working with so many witty, vocal people -- who knew there were so many "finger food" and "Thumbelina" jokes? The plus side is my buddy who drove me to the emergency room then went and got me a big plate of green beans, turnip greens and Polish mielowni from my favorite place for dinner. Nothing like Southern/Polish comfort food!)

Owie owie owie!!
And therein lies the reason why I don't own a mandolin....and why I have 8 separate discs for the Cuisinart.
I'm sorry....that's really going to be sore for a long time....
Hope you have big box of disposable plastic gloves, an easy care hair style and a job that doesn't require yout o wear hose.
Linda C

OWIE!

Sheesh, Alison! Hope it heals fast, and be more careful next time! LOL

Linda

I did it too several years ago when I first got my slicer. Mine was a cheap one and you really couldn't use the holder for celery and carrots. Also, I had a couple of glasses of wine.

Will never make that mistake again!!! Heads up when you are using that thing ---- all 10 fingers are very important.

Oh I'm so sorry for you...Did the same thing with my new Cutco knife....

Linda

I'll give you a discount on a manicure~

Sorry you got hurt, really, that looks painful.

Ouch is right! I'm extra careful so I didn't think about warning my novice kitchen maven neighbor when I left my Mandolin with her to make chips with. She returned it with fingers looking like your.

Been there done that...'cept I was slicing lemons!!!
You've been well cared for! Let's hope tomorrows dinner is as wonderful as tonights...

Aww Alison, that looks very painful! I'm so sorry and I hope your thumb isn't giving you too much discomfort. Did they stitch the top of your thumb, or just pressure dress it? Feel better soon and stay away from sharp stuff, okay?
(((Alison)))
DONNA

Ouch! Painful! No fun!

My husband sliced his finger pad off over a year ago (cutting onions with improper knife techniques) and the finger print never did grow back. I sincerely hope you didn't need that thumbprint for security reasons...

If it makes you feel any better, I was boiling water on the big burner just a few minutes ago. No one was around, and I was bothered by some shifting in the foundation garments I'm wearing under the dress I have on. Without thinking, I flipped the dress up to adjust and it landed in the flame on my stove! I heard a horrible (Whoosh!) noise, grabbed my dress front from the open flame, and patted furiously. Thank goodness this dress is flame retardant, or I could have ended up seriously injured! I'm still shaking my head over it: It sounds like the kind of mistake a young child (as opposed to an allegedly grown woman) would do... Sheesh!

Hey, you know about finger cots, right?

Owie is right! That is why I returned my mandoline. I knew I would slice the wrong thing.

Jaz.....sorry, but I had a nice laugh over the shifty undergarments.

I will admit that I did burn a potholder tonight. I just put if down on an open flame. Can I plead stupid due to cold meds?

OK, I'm snickering too over the undergarments and flaming apparel, although that could have been a horrible accident.

Alison, I'm sorry about the thumb, that's gonna hurt for a while I think.

Annie

Well, I'm glad that it wasn't any worse! Sorry it happened at all though.

These stories make me never want to buy a mandolin!

Just yesterday I got to see what my friend's finger looks like, she almost sliced the tip of her middle finger off with a mandolin right through the base of her fingernail almost taking it off. She still has her finger but barely. I'll stick to the Cuisinart. It's been almost 2 months and she can barely use it. Good luck to you.

Oh OUCH!

Take good care of that thumb - you are going to need it! I have a guard for my mandoline and do the same as Maureen, after the first few slices what ever I am working with goes into the holder.

Hope it heals quickly!

Alexa

oooooh Alison! I'm so sorry for you! But thanks for the warning - I am such a kitchen clutz (although I've never lifted my dress up and caught it in a flame - hee hee)

Lyndaluu - oh no! I did the same thing when my cutco's were brand new...right through my thumbnail diagonally...I'm sorry!

And another time, I was using a more traditional type mixer with the stainless steel beater thingies and I was using a spatula while it was running...well, don't do that, either.

It sucked the spatula and my hand right into the beaters - I thought all my fingers were broken - it was a mess. Shoulda known better...

Stacy

Mandolines are evil. I always lose a fingernail or nick a finger when I use mine. It's my own fault because I hate using the food grip.

And I'm always due to cut myself within 24 hours of sharpening my knives.

Ouchie! Finger injuries are the most painful as we have to use them for everything! And I bet it's on your favored hand, right? Zipping up a zipper, tying shoes, TYPING, writing...all are gonna be a pain in the butt for a while.

Hope you feel better soon!

Thanks for the good vibes everyone! I may be "Thumbelina" -- but I've got company.

Went back to the ER this morning to get it checked. It's too big for stitches, but they think it will heal up nicely in a month or so.

And my buddy followed up with another great lunch today -- beef lengua tacos from the taco truck! Mmmmmmm.

Thanks again for the positive thoughts!

Mega Ouch! Been there, done that! I hated using the food grip. DH took my mandoline away. Just couldn't get the hang of it without cutting something so back to using a knife.
Clare

Oooo, ow! My son had the tip (pad) of his finger cut off when he and his brother were chasing each other, and the brother slammed the bedroom door on his finger. The good thing was it was just the pad, but that meant they couldn't put it back on - wasn't enough to work with. His finger is still misshapen, but I don't think it bothers him any at all, and is hardly noticeable any more.

Sally

I was just looking at a mandolin in BBB the other day. I wondered, why don't I hear about more people using these? and what do people use them for?
I guess I know why now!
Hope your finger heals nicely. Take good care of yourself, eat right, plenty of sleep - i.e. keep your immune system healthy.

Oh no! I hope your thumb heals quickly and well! I just got a new chef's knife today and was all set to post pictures of it, but somehow it doesn't seem right! I hope you feel better and you have someone else to cook for you tonight!

Bri

Ouch, that looks awful! I've seen Alton Brown show the best way to use a knife, you curl your fingers so they're protected from the blade.

Owwww! That looks like it hurts.

I have a cheapy mandoline that I pull out when DH is helping and I need juillenne something or some thinly sliced potatoes. He is much better at slicing and dicing than I am.

I was watching "Iron Chef" the other day and Kat was using a mandoline that looked to be older than me. She sliced through potatoes like it was butter! I looked to see if she still had her fingers....