There are many kitchen appliances that are a necessity in the average American home. Toasters, blenders, even coffee makers are all examples of these. However, there is one appliance that is often overlooked; a meat slicer. One who hasn’t experienced the many perks of a meat slicer may not recognize its importance and the vast convenience it brings to every day meals. In this article I will very basically describe why you may enjoy the addition of a meat slicer to your kitchen.

What is a meat slicer?

Meat slicers are commonly used commercially in delis or by professionals. However, there are less expensive meat slicers available for home use. There are two kinds of meat slicers, a manual slicer, or an electric slicer. Electric slicers are the most common simply because they are more user friendly. Because electric slicers are most prevalent, that is the kind of slicer I will be describing in my article. The price of a meat slicer is dependent upon a variety of factors. Commercial deli slicers tend to be thousands of dollars, whereas a meat slicer for home use can cost from $50 to $500.

How would I use a meat slicer?

A meat slicer has many uses; most obvious would be its ability to slice a variety of different meats to the desirable thickness or shape. This includes jerky, roasts, salami, hams, or anything in bulk. But beyond this, your meat slicer can also slice vegetables, fruits, breads, and cheeses. This provides for more colorful and creative meal and snack ideas for a family, as well as for any party dishes.

How (electric) meat slicers work

Meat slicers are hefty machines, typically weighing up to 30 lbs or more. These machines are powered by an electric motor. The motor spins a circular knife, which can be a smooth or serrated edge. The food of choice is placed on what is called the carriage (a sliding tray), and pushed by hand towards the spinning blade. There is a backplate that aligns the food with the blade, as well as an adjustment knob that alters the thickness of the slice by moving the backplate.

Important features to look for

• Power of the motor. If you plan on using your meat slicer often for hefty jobs and tough meats, make sure to purchase a slicer with a more powerful motor, that is sufficient for your needs. Otherwise, a simple meat slicer will work wonderfully.
• Size of the blade. Blades typically run from 6 to 9 inches. The larger the blade, the larger pieces of food you can cut. However, this also means you’ll need a more powerful motor.
• Built-in sharpener.
• Rigid backplate. If the backplate is more flimsy, the size of the slices will not be even.
• Continuous-running motor. These machines can run for long periods of time without overheating the motor. Otherwise, you’ll have to switch it off to cool for about an hour after 10 minutes of use.
• Non-slip feet to stop the slicer from sliding around.

How to Know if it’s the Right Meat Slicer For You

The two major concerns of meat slicer users are difficulty of cleaning or lack of power. Those who are looking for a cheap and simple meat slicer should be content with a small-diameter blade and low power motor. Those who are going to use their slicer often with tougher meats might want to look into a more powerful meat slicer. Also, it is always wise to take note of user reviews before making a purchase.