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Cut bread, sausage and cheese into even slices

You’ve invited your family to Sunday brunch. The table is set, the coffee machine is running – now all that’s missing is the food on the table. With the bread, there’s Gouda, carpaccio and a hearty potato salad with cucumber. You’ve cut the ingredients for the salad as well as the bread, sausage and cheese into even slices with your food slicer. In this guide, you’ll find out which types of food slicers there are and what you should look out for when buying one.

Space-saving machines for precisely cut food

With a food slicer, you can cut all kinds of food into precise slices. The machines can handle bread, ham and sausage, cheese, vegetables and fruit, even hard crusts or firm cheese. They have a rotating round blade, which is usually powered by a motor. This makes the work much faster than if you were to use a kitchen knife . You set the thickness of the slices using a rotary wheel: the knife then moves closer to or further away from the cutting surface. You can cut precise slices in a short time with a food slicer, because the blades rotate very quickly and are very sharp. It is best to place the device on the worktop when cutting. Many models can be easily folded up after use, so they take up hardly any space in the kitchen.

What you should pay attention to when buying a cutting machine

The different models are often fundamentally constructed in a similar way. However, they differ in their performance, material and functions. The following overview will help you to find your way around.

Performance

The machines are usually powered by a motor that, depending on the device, has an output of between 65 and 180 W. However, this number alone does not say anything about how high the actual output is, as this depends primarily on the interaction of the individual components. Devices with an eco-motor use fewer watts because they automatically adjust the energy consumption to the food being processed. For carrots or hard crusts, the wattage and power consumption increase so that the motor does not overheat. For soft foods such as brawn or sausage, they use less. In addition to electric devices, there are also models with a hand crank that do not use any electricity.

Knife

All-purpose slicers usually come with a serrated universal knife that is suitable for all types of food. It is usually made of stainless steel. Versions made of hardened steel are even more robust and can also handle particularly hard foods. Sometimes manufacturers include additional knives for replacement, for example with a smooth blade, which is particularly suitable for softer foods such as smoked salmon or slices of sausage. These knives are often coated so that the corresponding foods do not stick to them. You can also buy special knives, for example for ham, or spiral cutting knives for vegetables. The size of the knife can also vary. The diameter is usually 17 cm, but there are also versions with 19 or 22 cm. The knives can only be used for the device of one manufacturer; they are not compatible with each other.

Tip: Fatty foods are easier to cut when they are cool, as fat is more solid at low temperatures. You can get wafer-thin slices of cheese, sausage or ham by briefly placing the food in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator beforehand .

Housing

The housings of the cutting machines are made of either stainless steel or plastic. Both materials have advantages: stainless steel is stable and easy to clean. Foods that stain heavily, such as beetroot, do not leave permanent marks on it. Devices made of plastic do not weigh much and are therefore easier to move. Many food slicers combine both materials. Some models also have a shatter-proof glass washer.

Disc thickness

You can use a dial on the side of the machine to set how thick the slices should be. All devices can cut slices that are almost 0 mm thick . Many models allow a thickness of up to 15 mm, others up to 23 mm. This means you can also cut bread into even slices, for example. Most devices allow you to adjust the thickness continuously.

Security

Since the rotating disk of a food slicer is very sharp, you should make sure that there are certain safety features . These include a thumb guard, which you can use to safely push the food you are cutting along the blade. Many models can only be switched on with a safety switch and only with two different fingers at the same time. This means that the device cannot be activated accidentally. There is also often a switch-on protection that prevents the blade from starting to rotate immediately. This is particularly recommended for households with children. Suction cups or screws that can be used to attach the device to the kitchen worktop so that it cannot slip away provide additional support. A blade cover is also practical.

Comfort and special functions

For greater convenience, many models have a leftover holder that allows you to safely push even very small pieces towards the knife. There is usually also a collecting container for the cuttings and crumbs. The option to switch between short-term and continuous operation is also practical. With a tilting cutter, the cutting device can be tilted. This means that the weight of the cuttings presses the cuttings onto the knife, making the cutting process easier. Some models have a special setting for cheese. The knife rotates more slowly so that the cheese does not become too soft due to the frictional heat.

Tip: There are special slicers available for left-handed people where everything is arranged in mirror image.

cleaning

You should clean the device thoroughly after each use, especially when cutting soft material. Many models have different components such as the collecting container, blades or carriage that can be removed, and the individual elements can often be easily put in the dishwasher. Pay attention to the manufacturer’s instructions in the product description.

The right all-purpose slicer for your household

The choice of a food slicer depends on how often you use it and what foods you want to cut with it. This will determine which models are suitable for you.

Rarely used mainly for cutting bread

In your kitchen, you want to cut bread evenly. When you have visitors or at small parties, you also like to serve cold cuts and cheese in thin slices. However, you don’t have much space on your work surface. A simple all-purpose slicer with a serrated universal blade that folds in is suitable for you. A maximum slice thickness of 15 mm is sufficient. Make sure that the small kitchen appliance has safety features such as suction cup feet, thumb protection and a safety switch. You will pay between €40 and €100 for such a model.

Daily use for various foods

Bread, cheese and ham are often on the dinner table in your family . So you want to slice a lot of food in a short space of time. To do this, get a food slicer with interchangeable blades and an eco-motor that adjusts its performance to the food being sliced. If you use the device every day, it doesn’t necessarily have to be foldable. However, it is practical and safe if it can be firmly attached to the surface. If you have children in your household, make sure that the device has a switch-on protection feature. Food slicers with several blades cost between €90 and €200.

For frequent use and for amateur cooks or professionals

As a hobby cook, you often find yourself in the kitchen preparing different dishes, even in large quantities. These include carpaccios, but also cheese platters with spiral-cut vegetables as decoration. A food slicer with a hardened steel blade, robust stainless steel housing and various special blades that can be replaced is suitable for you. A powerful motor that also allows high speeds and a function for continuous operation are helpful for you. The price for models in this category is between €200 and €800.

Conclusion: automatically cut food

Bread, cheese, sausage or fruit and vegetables: With a food slicer, you can cut food precisely and quickly into slices of the thickness you want. Which device is right for you depends on how often you use it and what you want to cut with it:

• If you mainly cut bread and occasionally other foods, you should choose a slicer with a folding universal blade. A maximum slice thickness of 15 mm is sufficient.
• If you cut food every day, a food slicer with interchangeable blades and an eco-motor is a good choice. This adjusts the power to the food. If you have children in your household, the device should have a switch-on protection.
• If you often cut different types of food, get a food slicer with a hardened steel blade and interchangeable blades. The housing should be made of robust stainless steel and the motor powerful. Continuous operation is also practical.