Meat slicers aren’t typically appliances you’ll find in a home but some of us could use a good one. The commercial ones that we’ve all seen at the local deli or sandwich shop aren’t cheap and usually cost thousands of dollars. Obviously one of these isn’t going to be the best slicer for the money for a home cook. That just isn’t realistic. The good news is that there are some inexpensive meat slicers on the market specifically for the home cook.
We reviewed the majority of the reasonably priced slicers for home use available for sale today and have picked the best home food slicer for the money along with a couple other options. We read the online reviews, reseller ratings, and customer feedback to narrow down our selection. In our opinion, the Chef’sChoice 615 Food Slicer is the best for your dollar. Continue reading to learn why we picked these and more about meat slicers.
Our Number One Pick:
Chef'sChoice 615 Food Slicer
The Chef’sChoice 615 Food Slicer is a bargain meat slicer and we consider it to be the best meat slicer for the home cook for the money based on online reviews, popularity, and customer feedback. For a little over one hundred dollars you can get a reasonably powerful meat slicer. Keeping in mind the fact that commercial meat slicers can easily cost thousands of dollars, it’s amazing how well this slicer performs. Customers claim an amazing ability to power through an amazing array of meats, cheeses, and other foods. If you’re looking for good bang for the buck, this is it.
Runner Up:
Elite Gourmet EMT-503B Maxi-Matic Food Slicer
The Elite Gourmet EMT-503B is a shockingly inexpensive meat slicer. Way cheaper than our number one pick. It can do an admirable job if you keep your expectations in line with the cost. It’s not the most powerful but it can do a pretty good job for the money. If you’re looking to save the most money possible and you’re not planning to use it heavily it’s a good pick. We think most people would be better served stepping up slightly to the Chef’sChoice 615 but it’s hard to pass up this bargain.
Worth Considering:
Best Choice Products Food Slicer
The Best Choice Products Food Slicer is our upgrade pick. Think of it as a mini, lite duty, commercial grade-like food slicer. It’s more rugged and durable than our other two picks but it’s twice as expensive as our number one pick. It’s not quite a steal when compared to the other picks but when comparing it to real commercial meat slicers it most certainly is. If you’re going to be doing some heavy home slicing this is probably worth the upgrade.
Additional Information:
Things To Keep In Mind
Can you use a meat slicer to slice cheese?
Lite duty meat slicers are not ideal for slicing blocks of cheese. Cheeses can be very dense and can also grab the blade of the slicer causing the blade to bog down and overheat the electric motor. If your slicer is powerful enough you may be able to slice a block of cheese but it’s advised if you want to try it to use a spray bottle of water to keep the blade wet to keep it lubricated and prevent the cheese from grabbing the blade.
How often should you clean a meat slicer?
The FDA states that food slicers used in restaurants should be completely broken down and cleaned every 4 hours of use. For home use you should thoroughly clean your meat slicer after each use with a disinfectant. You may not need to break it down depending on how dirty it has gotten and how heavily you have used it. Always err on the side of caution.
What do you use to clean a meat slicer?
Hot water and a towel are used to start and then follow up with a sanitizing spray.
Who is the inventor of the meat slicer?
Wilhelm van Berkel invented the meat slicer in 1898.
Other Resources:
Helpful Links
Wrapping Up:
Best Meat Slicers
The best meat slicer for home use for the money will depend upon your specific needs. We think the best meat slicer for most people is the Chef’sChoice 615 Food Slicer. It’s very reasonably priced and gets glowing reviews from customers. If you don’t have a much need for a meat slicer but just enough to consider buying one then the Elite Gourmet EMT-503B is a good pick. It’s super cheap and can get the job done. For those that are looking for something with a bit more horsepower but don’t want to break the bank, the Best Choice Products Food Slicer is a great alternative. It’s more durable and rugged in it’s design and uses a non-serrated blade as opposed to the others that need to rely on one to get the job done. Any of these can be a great addition for a home chef. Good luck and happy slicing.
