[Updated 1 June 2020]A meat slicer, which is also known as a deli slicer or slicing machine is an easy to use and amazing appliance used by sandwich parlors, deli cafes, supermarkets, etc. to slice your favorite meat, cheese, vegetables. It doesn’t matter how big or small the meat slicer is, they all have similar functionality and work for the same purpose, i.e., to slice meat. Operating the meat slicer can be dangerous as you have to deal with a large and sharp rotating blade. Using this wonderful kitchen appliance is no rocket science, anyone can learn and operate it efficiently.
What type of food should you avoid using in a meat slicer?
Before you start using a meat slicer, it becomes very important for you to understand what type of food you cannot slice with this appliance.
Avoid using foods that have seeds
It is recommended that you avoid using fruits like peaches, apple, avocado, etc. as the seeds and pits can damage the machine. Tomatoes are an exception, but as a rule, it is advisable to avoid using foods that have seeds.
Avoid using frozen meat
You definitely should not use frozen meat with the meat slicer, and you should even be careful when looking to cut frozen vegetables, fish, and even fruits. This is because the frozen foods have lost the moistness, thus making it difficult for the blade to cut or slice them. Excess pressure on the blade can damage it to a great extent, which can undeniably hamper the functionality of the machine.
Avoid using meat with bone
While slicing the meat with a meat slicer, ensure that the meat is boneless; otherwise, the fragments of the bones can damage the slicer.
Avoid slicing meat which is oversized
If the meat is oversized, don’t try to squeeze it in the meat slicer; cut the meat into an appropriate size as you may not get the desired cut, and it can even damage the machine.
What type of food can you slice with a meat slicer?
As we have already discussed what type of food should be avoided while using a food slicer, let’s discuss the food which can be used with the slicer.
Vegetables & Fruits
Meat slicers not only useful to cut meats, but you can cut various vegetables and fruits as well. This machine is extremely great if you want to cut something really very thin, which can be difficult to do with a knife.
If you want uniform onion (or pepper) rings for your salad, burger, etc. then you can use a meat slicer. Besides this, you can even slice vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, lettuce, and lots more. Using a meat slicer can make your cutting task easier and allow you to assemble your food within a few seconds. This easy to use and efficient kitchen appliance also allows you to cut fruits like banana, pineapple, kiwi, and lots more.
Bread
Meat slicers can also help you to cut bread which allows you to get a nice and even cut every time. If you have a batch of home bread sandwich bread or an Italian loaf, just place it on a sliding tray and let the machine do what it does the best.
Cheese
Yes, a meat slicer can even be used to cut cheese. But remember one important thing that if you are looking to get a nice and even cut from a lump of mozzarella cheese, then it is not going to happen. You can only use firmer cheese like American, Mimolette, Queso Anejo, provolone, and lots more.
Meat
The primary purpose of the meat slicer is to cut or slice meat, and that’s how the name ‘Meat Slicer’ was derived. You can cut or slice your favorite meat like turkey, pork, red meat, etc. with the help of a meat slicer. Such a type of kitchen appliance allows you to cut raw as well as cooked meat. So, if you are planning to cut raw meat more frequently, then it is recommended that you buy an industrial or commercial meat slicer.
If your use of the meat slicer is strictly limited to the household, then you can consider buying a mandolin slicer, as it is great if you want to cut or slice meat in small batches.
But in terms of a catering business, deli café, supermarket, etc. it is advisable to invest in a commercial slicer which can manage larger quantities with great ease, with precision, and also very quickly.
What type of blade should you use in your meat slicer?
Meat slicers normally come with a serrated edge blade or a fine edged blade. So if it comes with either of the one, then you’ll have to purchase the other blade. Outlined below are few uses of both the blades, that can help you understand which one you’ll need the most.
Serrated Edge Blade
This kind of blades has grooves on the cutting surface, just like you can find on a saw or a knife bread. With the serrated edge blade, you can easily cut loaves of bread and tough meat. Such blades are best for cutting hard crust meat like venison without damaging its crust. If you are considering to cut vegetables with a serrated edge, you won’t get the desired results as they can leave them with pointed or sharp edges.
Fine Edged Blade
The fine edged blades have a smooth and sharp edge which allows you to cut the meat, sushi, cheese, vegetables, fruits, etc. very smoothly. You can expect a very thin and precise cut every time while using the fine-edged blade. The sharpness of this blade doesn’t even damage the meat or other food products, but don’t expect it to give you efficient results while slicing hard crust meat.
How to use a meat slicer
Now when you know what kind of food products to use or avoid, let’s understand how to use a meat slicer.
- Before you start using the meat slicer, don a pair of plastic gloves on your hand to ensure food sanitary.
- Lift the clamp arm and move it away from the meat slicer as it will allow you to place the meat on the sliding tray or the carriage surface.
- Once the meat is in place, you can pull back the clamp arm back over the surface of the meat slicer.
- You can find the adjuster known nearby the power on/off button, which allows you to choose the desired thickness of the slice.
- Before you power on the meat slicer place a piece of deli tissue or wax paper on the surface of the meat slicer as you don’t want your sliced meat to roll down on the kitchen platform.
- Once everything is in place, power on the meat slicer and push the sliding tray in order to move the meat and bring it in contact with the rotating blade to start the slicing process. In order to check the thickness of the cut, just slice one sample and see. You can adjust the knob or dial if you feel that your sample slice is either too thick or too thin.
- Turn off the machine once you’re done with slicing the meat. If you are not going to use the sliced meat immediately then store it in a cool place.
- It is really very important to clean the meat slicer after every use in order to avoid food contamination which can be a prime reason for foodborne diseases.
Safety tips when using a meat slicer
Important safety tips to keep in mind while using this helpful kitchen appliance
Only to use by adults:
It is important that you keep your children away from the slicer as the blades are extremely sharp and can cause grievous injuries if proper precaution is not taken.
Turn off the power button and unplug the appliance when not in use:
It will be a good habit to power off and unplug the device while it is not in use, this is because the machine can be turned on accidentally while wiping it or with a bump from a nearby object which can cause mishaps.
Use cut-resistant gloves
The blades of the meat slicer are sharp and seriously injure you if you are not attentive while cleaning or using it. Therefore it is advisable that you don a food-grade as well as cut resistant gloves in order to avoid unwanted mishaps.
Always keep the thickness adjustor on Zero
The blades of the meat slicer are brutal and show no mercy. There is a possibility that you can injure yourself while cleaning the machine, therefore it is advisable to keep or set the thickness adjustor on zero which ensures that the blades recede or retract inside thus protecting you from harmful injuries.
Follow the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer
Before you start using this machine, it is advisable that you read and understand the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer. The instruction manual provides the necessary tips on how to use the meat slicer and how to efficiently clean and maintain it after use.
If you are looking forward to buying a new meat slicer for your home or commercial establishment, it becomes extremely important to decide your budget, measure the size of the countertop, and define your exact use. This will allow you to zero in on a slicing machining that can meet your needs and requirements.
HowToUseA MeatSlicer