JML Nicer Dicer

...pleased to say that my JML Nicer Dicer isn't one of them. In fact to be honest I use it regularly and it is because of that little gadget that I still have a complete set of digits.

I quite enjoy watching chefs on the TV and I do love to cook but my dexterity with a knife leaves much to be desired. When I watch Jamie Oliver deftly slicing veg I am forced to admire his skill but I doubt I will ever be able to emulate them. I certainly ...
...It is sold by JML for about £15 but if you look around on the internet you can probably find it even cheaper. I find mine really useful but you do need space to store it when it is not in use as it takes up a lot more space than a knife!  ... more

I know I am a bit of a 'gadget freak' by the number of different gadgets that find their way into my house. Some turn out to be a waste of time but I am pleased to say that my JML Nicer Dicer isn't one of them. In fact to be honest I use it regularly and it is because of that little gadget that I still have a complete set of digits.

I quite enjoy watching chefs on the TV and I do love to cook but my dexterity with a knife leaves much to be desired. When I watch Jamie Oliver deftly slicing veg I am forced to admire his skill but I doubt I will ever be able to emulate them. I certainly wouldn't be brave enough to rest a sharp blade against my knuckles as I sliced a carrot or cucumber. I would be far too worried that my next stop would be the Minor Injuries Unit and, as I live a long way out of town, I could easily bleed to death before I made it there.

That means I look for alternative solutions to chopping up ingredients and that was why I was interested in the Nicer Dicer.

What is it?

It is a little gadget that will dice up food for you. It is made out of plastic and the two main components hinge together, one half has a wire grid for cutting and the other has a plastic base against which the cutting is done. In addition there is a little plastic cup that fits on to one half that you can use to collect the diced food.

I must say I was impressed by the design, it is very easy to clean, you just prise the two halves apart having angled them at the right angle to do so and they will go straight into the washing up bowl. The base is cleverly designed to allow you to take out the 'pusher' if you wish or to slide it back to clean it that way. It takes seconds to clean which exactly what I want in a gadget. I hate those which are a nightmare to keep clean.

It comes with two different sizes of blades and two different containers to store the chopped food and a lid to keep the chopped food fresh.

What can you use it for?

You can use it for fruit and vegetables and cheese as well if you are so inclined. I love it for chopped onions when I am cooking. I use the smaller grid and cut the onion into three slices before I put it into the dicer which enables me to flavour the food without having long strips of onion in there which is the way I prefer to do it. The small grid is great for julienne carrots or other veg and it is wonderful for crudites using the larger grid. You can use it for chips although from my experience they would tend to be shortish chips in order to fit them into the machine.

I have used it for chopping apples prior to cooking and it is great for mixed salads, either fruit salad or vegetables.

It makes chopping things really easy and they look very professional when they are done, much better than they do when I try to get the same effect by hand. It is quick and easy to use and simple to clean afterwards.

Would I recommend it?

Well yes I would if you aren't especially good with a knife. If however you have great dexterity like a TV chef you would have no need for it. It is sold by JML for about £15 but if you look around on the internet you can probably find it even cheaper. I find mine really useful but you do need space to store it when it is not in use as it takes up a lot more space than a knife! 

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