You love making meat sandwiches out of that leftover brisket or like to buy food in bulk and slice it yourself, but you don’t want to spend all day slicing and dicing it. That’s when a meat and food slicer is a good tool to have around the house.
With a meat electric slicer in your kitchen, you can prepare food for parties or get creative with your meals but what I like doing the most, slicing smoked meat.
Meat slicers vary in their slicing capabilities, quality, and power. So in this article, we will show you five great options, tell you why and how we chose these food slicers, and teach you what to look for in a good one.
Three Meat Slicer Categories
Not all meat slicers are built the same, nor are all designed for the same workloads. Even a good meat slicer will succumb to use that is not rated for.
Meats slicers are categorized into three duty levels.
Light duty meat slicer
A light-duty slider or sometimes referred to as a deli food slicer is meant for slicing deli meats, cheese, and vegetables. The slicing time is rated and expected to be about one hour.
Most of your home slicers will fall within this category, as would most of the cheapo slicers you find on Amazon. However, many purchasers frequently buy primarily on price rather than usage type and wind up with a damaged slicer after only a few hours of use.
Any slicer with a wattage output of 300 watts and below is considered a light-duty slicer.
Standard Duty meat slicer
A standard-duty slicer can handle everything a light-duty does including deli meat but it can also deal better with tough meats. These slicers will have a higher wattage output than the light-duty models, typically between 300 and 500 watts.
The duty cycle on these types of slicers is between one and four hours. If you think you’ll be using your meat slicer for more than an hour at a time, then this would be the type of slicer you’d want to purchase.
Heavy Duty meat slicer
A commercial slicer is intended for usage in a grocery shop, meat market, or restaurant. Consider a heavy-duty slicer if you want to use your slicer for more than a few hours at a time for continuous slicing or if you want to slice frozen meat, cut raw meat, or frozen items.
For most people, a heavy-duty slicer for home use can be overkill but if your budget allows it and you want to slice frozen foods, cut frozen meat and not have to wait for the machine to cool down or break it, well this might be the level you need to look into.
The wattage output on these types of electric slicers is between 500 and 1,000 watts. The duty cycle on a heavy-duty slicer is eight hours or more.
Things you need to consider When Buying a meat Slicer
Let’s get something out of the way. If you are looking for a premium electric meat slicer, don’t think for a second that a cheap Amazon meat slicer is going to last years. There are hundreds of options and models, and all look the same and have similar specifications.
Well here are three things you need to focus on to find a good slicer you can use at home.
The Meat Slicer electric motor – Power Rating
The electric motor in a food slicer has the tough job of turning the blade. Most brands list the wattage of the motor in their product descriptions. As a general rule, the greater the wattage or horsepower, the more powerful the motor, and the more capable it is of cutting larger and tougher cuts of meat while also lasting longer due to the ability to cut with less stress on the motor and gear.
A strong and durable motor will be able to handle tougher cuts of meat without bogging down or overloading. So when you’re looking at these appliances, make output and/or horsepower a priority when making your decision.
So, if you want to use the slicer for fruits, vegetables, or cheese, smaller meats like sausages, or light-duty applications, a lower wattage slicer is suitable.
A lower wattage slicer will be less expensive, but if you intend on cutting frozen meats or difficult cuts, a low wattage machine is more affordable, but do not expect it to endure the test of time.
Did you know that one electric horsepower is exactly 746 watts? Well, now you know! [1]
Material and Size of the meat slicer Blade
The blade is the workhorse of the meat slicer and does the cutting. Most food slicers come with a stainless steel blade that can range from 6 or 10 or more inches in diameter. Some models have larger 10-inch blades, but these are mostly commercial.
The blade is affixed to the gears run by the electric motor and is held in place by a series of screws or other lockable systems like plastic locks.
Blades come in two varieties: a serrated-edge blade and a smooth blade. A serrated blade is excellent for cutting because the teeth grasp the meat better and cut through fat and muscle more effortlessly. Smooth blades are preferable for slicing cheese and other softer foods. A smooth blade is also used when needing very thin slices.
The size of the blade is something you want to look at because it will determine the maximum size of meat that can be cut. A slicer with a large blade can handle big chunks of meat, while a smaller slicer is better for smaller pieces.
Here are some important points to remember about blades:
Blades made out of 304 stainless steel will be better than a carbon steel blade. 304 stainless will combat rust and corrosion better especially if coated with materials like Teflon.
The meat carriage
The meat slicer carriage is the platform that the meat rests on while being sliced. The meat slicer carriage moves back and forth on rails, wheels, or ball bearings and is attached to the blade frame.
The carriage should be large enough to accommodate the size of meat that you want to slice. A larger meat carriage can accommodate a roast or large ham, while a smaller carriage is better for slicing smaller pieces of meat or fruits, cheese, and vegetables.
Some slicers have an adjustable meat carriage that may be adjusted up and down to suit various meat sizes. When you’re looking at meat slicers, pay attention to the size of the meat carriage because it will determine the maximum size of meat that can be cut.
Adjustment of meat cutting and Slicing thickness
Lastly, you want to be able to adjust the meat cutting thickness on your slicer. Most meat slicers have a knob or lever that adjusts the blade to change the thickness of the meat slices. Some have a fixed blade that does not adjust, while others may have an adjustable blade that can be moved up and down to change the thickness.
The adjustability of the cutting thickness will not impact the quality of the appliance but you want to make sure it can cut at the thickness you want.
Other Electric Meat Slicer Features worth considering
Belt or Gear Drives
An electric food slicer has some sort of drive turning the blade and there are two types of drivetrain, belt-driven, and gear-driven drives. A meat slicer with a belt drive is quieter than one with a gear drive. However, a gear-driven lasts longer and applies more torque to the blade.
Now, there is a catch, although gear-driven meat slicing machines can be more durable, we are talking about commercial-grade, heavy-duty, couple of thousand dollar food slicers. Most slicers you see online, especially the cheap ones are not built like commercial slicers, so the gears on those bargain slicers will not last long if you overwhelm the slicer.
One of the biggest problems with cheap gear-driven slicers is that the main drive screw turns a plastic gear. This means that if you put a lot of force on that plastic gear, that metal screw will eat the gear’s teeth and there goes your slice.
Repairing a gear-driven slicer is harder and more expensive than repairing a belt-driven one. For this reason, we recommend belt-driven slicers for home use unless you are spending the money on a high-quality gear-driven one. Replacing a belt is cheaper and easier.
Blade Sharpener – A built-in blade sharpener is a nice feature to have because it will keep the blade sharp and slicing meat efficiently.
Safety features – A safety guard is a good feature to have because it will keep your fingers safe while you’re slicing meat. Some have a child safety lock that will prevent the meat slicer from being turned on if there is no key in the lock.
So by what measures do we rate these meat slicers?
We use and evaluate three complements of each appliance to put them on our list. First, we look at the electric more, second the blade, and lastly the meat carrier and pusher. We also take into consideration safety and other features that can help you use and enjoy the product.
Our top picks and meat slicer reviews for use at home
1. The KWS MS-10NT Electric Meat Slicer – Best Overall
Why our top choice?
We chose the KWS MS10-NT as our top pick because, for home use, this electric meat slicer offers a powerful 320-watt motor and a 304 stainless steel blade. These are both characteristics of a good slicer and a standard-duty machine.
The KWS MS-10NT is a great option for those who are looking for a quality, borderline commercial-grade.
This model has a number of features that make it stand out from other brands and are found in commercial appliances, including a large 10 Teflon-coated 304 stainless steel blade, a robust pusher with a safety guard, and a built-in blade sharpener.
This meat slicer is also ETL and NSF certified, meaning that it has been safety tested and approved by two independent organizations. The ETL certification is particularly important as it means that the device has been tested to meet US safety standards, and the NSF is a well-respected food safety certification.
The KWS also has a number of features that make it user-friendly, including a blade cover and an adjustable slicing thickness lever that can be moved up and down to change the thickness. The adjustability of the cutting thickness will not impact the quality of the appliance, but you will want to take it into consideration.
This electric slicer is great for those who want fast and efficient slicing, a sharp blade for cutting raw meat or cooked meat.
- Category: Standard duty
- Motor: 320 Watts
- Blade: Teflon coated 304 stainless steel
- Drive: Belt drive
- Key Features: Comercial standard duty, 304 stainless steel sharp blade.
Pros
- A powerful motor means it can be used for longer periods and handle tough cuts of meat. including semi-frozen meat.
- A 10-inch Teflon-coated 304 stainless steel blade can handle larger cuts of meat.
- The built-in blade sharpener.
- Standard benefits:
- ETL and NSF certification are traits of commercial quality.
- Robust pusher with safety guard
Cons
- Everything good comes at a price.
2. Anescra Electric Meat Slicer – Our Runner up
Why did we choose the Anescra as our Runner-up?
Although the Anescra has a smaller blade than the KMS and a less powerful motor, it still offers features great for the average homeowner, including a 304 stainless steel blade, a large food carrier, two blades, and an easy locking mechanism to remove the blades.
The Anescra meat slicer is an affordable product but includes great features. It has a 200-watt electric motor and a 7.5 inch 304 stainless steel blade. The meat carriage is also made from stainless steel, and the frame is cast aluminum. It’s easy to change the blade with the blade locking system, and it comes with suction rubber feet to keep it in place.
The meat carrier on this unit is large, and the food pusher grabs the meat well.
- Category: Light to standard duty
- Motor: 200 Watts
- Blade: 304 stainless steel
- Drive: Gear drive
- Key Features: Light duty, TWO 304 stainless steel sharp blade.
Pros:
200 watts motor powerful enough for light-duty, soft meat slicing, deli food, cheese, and veggies.
Two 7.5 inches blades 304 stainless steel blades, one smooth and one serrated ( so you get a blade for razor-thin slices and small things like cheese and veggies and one for meats )
Easy to change the blade with a locking mechanism ( not screws ).
Suction cup feet to keep it in place.
The Stainless steel food carrier is easy to clean.
String cast aluminum frame.
Cons:
The suction cup feet are great but will not work on certain surfaces, like on a porous top plastic table.
3. BESWOOD 10″ Premium electric meat Slicer – Good Choice
BESWOOD electric slicers have a 10-inch chromium-plated carbon steel blade to protect the meat from rust and other damage, an electric motor with 240 watts of power.
BESWOOD slicers are good for home and light duty. They’re also easy to operate and clean.
- Category: Light duty
- Motor: 240 Watts
- Blade: Chrome plated carbon stainless steel
- Drive: Gear drive
- Key Features: large machine
Pros
- It has a 10-inch chromium-plated carbon steel blade to protect it from rust.
- The 240-watt electric motor is good for light duty.
- This machine is easy to operate and clean.
- A chromium-plated steel blade for corrosion protection
- It has a 240-watt electric motor.
- Their website offers parts and cleaning tools for this machine, making it easy to keep in top shape.
Cons
- For a large machine, it lacks the power offered by our top choice.
4. SUPER DEAL PRO Commercial Meat Slicer
The SUPER DEAL PRO Commercial has a lot of great features that are good for the average home user. However, do let the “commercial” word in this product’s name mislead you. Is it not commercial but rather a light-duty machine.
The blade is made our of stainless steel, and it comes with a blade cover, which makes it safer. It also has a 1-year warranty and a 6.5-inch meat carrier.
It also has a built-in blade sharpener, which is a great feature if you plan on using the meat slicer regularly. It’s also dishwasher safe, so you can easily clean it after each use.
- Category: Light duty
- Motor: 200 Watts
- Blade: Carbon stainless steel
- Drive: Gear drive
- Key Features: large machine
Pros
- A 10-inch blade can handle larger cuts of meats
- Built-in blade sharpener
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Removing the blade is not as easy, and three screens have to be removed.
- Hard to Clean
- Small food carrier – this makes it hard to cut large cuts
5. Chef’s Choice 615A Electric Meat – Value Choice
The Chef’s Choice meat slicer 615A is a good value machine. The 7-inch stainless blade is serrated and can slice through meat, cheese, and other food items. The slice thickness can be easily adjusted by turning a knob. This electric slicer also features a safety lock to prevent accidental slicing.
The cord storage compartment is a great feature to keep the cords organized and out of the way. The protective fuse prevents the motor from overheating, and it also features a 120-watt motor for powerful slicing.
The feature I like best is the great wide platform, which has enough room for a small food tray to gather your slices. Keep in mind that this is a light-duty budget machine; if you push it past its design limits, it will break.
- Category: Light duty
- Motor: 200 Watts
- Blade: Carbon stainless steel
- Drive: Gear drive
- Key Features: inexpensive
Pros
- Affordable entry-level price
- Easy to adjust
- The fuse prevents the motor from overheating
Cons
This is an inexpensive machine, which means it is meant for very light duty.
6. Meat Slicer 200W Deli Meat Slicer
If you are looking for an inexpensive slicer for your home, the Meat Slicer 200W is another great option. It has a 7.5 removable stainless steel blade and a 200-watt electric motor. The child lock power button ensures that your children cannot accidentally turn on the machine.
- Category: Light duty
- Motor: 200 Watts
- Blade: Carbon stainless
- Drive: Gear drive
- Key Features: inexpensive
Pros
- 7.5-inch removable stainless steel blade.
- One serrated blade and a smooth blade.
- 200 watts electric motor, good for light-duty use.
- Child lock power button is a nice safety feature.
Cons
- This is a light-duty machine, so don’t expect it to last long under heavy use.
Conclusion
We found the KWS MS-10NT meets all our classifications for a top meat slicer. It can cut tough and lean meat, but it is also a good cheese food slicer and great for slicing deli food. Overall, it can handle standard-duty slicing with ease.
The most important factor to consider when purchasing a meat slicer is the blade and the motor. The blade is the part of the slicer that does the actual slicing. It’s important to choose a model with a sharp, durable blade. The blade should also be easy to remove so that you can clean it properly.
Another factor to consider is the motor. The motor powers the machine and determines how fast the meat slicer can slice meat. If you plan on slicing a lot of meat, we recommend choosing a machine with a powerful motor.
References:
[1] https://www.britannica.com/science/horsepower
