We have seen which are the best home slicers of the moment, now let’s see how in detail how to choose among all the one that best meets your needs. First of all, you need to know that there are different types of Kitchenaid meat slicer: electric or manual, vertical, or gravity.
Then we need to evaluate the power of the motor, the type of blade supplied, and the structure of the slicer as a whole. Two elements often are forgotten, but of fundamental importance, are the safety of the appliance and the maintenance necessary for its proper functioning. Finally, don’t forget to choose a product of a known brand, with an excellent quality-price ratio. Let’s see everything in detail.
Right below, we had listed out the best Kitchenaid meat slicers.
Kitchenaid Meat Slicers Buying Guide
Type
The First Element to Evaluate Is the Type of Slicer. Based on The Operation, Two Types Are Distinguished:
- Electric Slicers<span data-preserver-spaces=”true”>, Equipped with A Motor Powered by Electricity. They Have a Cable and A Plug to Attach to The Power Outlet. Those for Home Use Are Generally Small or Medium in Size, Easy to Move Despite the Wire, and Easy to Use Even if You Are Not an Expert. Power and Consumption Depend on The Wattage of The Motor. Since the Blade Moves Automatically, Once the Appliance Has Been Started, It Is Important to Check that There Is a Safety System that Blocks Its Operation in Case of Accidents;
- Manual Slicers, Equipped with A Wheel with Knob (called Flywheel), Which Must Be Turned Manually, Given the Absence of A Motor. Their Main Advantage Is That They Do Not Consume Electricity and Can Be Placed Anywhere in The Kitchen, Not Having the Wire. However, They Are Heavier and More Difficult to Use than Electric Ones, Because They Require Some Effort in Turning the Flywheel. For This Reason, They Are Not Very Common in The Domestic Environment.
In Addition to Their Function, the Slicers Are Also Classified According to The Inclination of The Blade. There Are Two Types:
- Vertical Slicers, with The Blade Positioned Vertically, Perpendicular to The Support Plate. To Collect the Slices, without Injuring Your Fingers with The Blade, You Need to Use Special Pliers, as Do the Butchers. Slicers of This Type Are Unsafe for Those Who Are Not Experts. Therefore They Are Not Recommended for Domestic Use;
- Gravity Slicers, in Which the Blade Is Slightly Inclined and Therefore Not Perpendicular to The Plate. Thanks to This Angle, the Force of Gravity Automatically Causes the Slices to Fall Back onto The Tray. Slicers of This Type Are Safer than Manual Ones Because You Don’t Have to Put Your Hands Close to The Blade. This Is Why They Are the Best for Home Use.
Engine
In the Case of Electric Slicers, It Is Necessary to Evaluate the Power of The Motor, on Which Consumption Depends, but Also the Type of Food that Can Be Sliced and for How Long the Appliance Can Be Kept in Operation.
The Greater the Power of The Motor, the Greater the Force with Which the Blade Turns, Which Is, Therefore, Able to Cut Various Types of Food, from Cold Cuts to Hard Bread. Also, a Slicer with A Powerful Motor Is Easier to Use, Because It Slices with Little Effort and Quickly, and Can Be Used for A Long Time, up To 20 Consecutive Minutes, without Overheating.
The Best Slicers Are Those with Power Ranging Between 140 and 400 W . Even Those with Medium Power, from 100 to 140 W Are Good for Home Use, While Those with Wattage Lower than 100 W Are Decidedly Not Very Functional.
Lama
To Be Effective, a Slicer Must Have Not only a Powerful Motor but Also a Sharp Blade. the Elements to Be Taken Into Consideration to Evaluate the Quality of The Blade Are:
- Diameter, on Which the Size of The Food that Can Be Sliced depends. To Cut Large Cold Cuts Into Slices, Such as A Mortadella or A Shape of Ham, for example, the Blade Must Be Very Large. However, Large Blades Must Be Accompanied by A Powerful Motor to Prevent the Appliance from Overheating. Usually, Home Slicers Have a Blade with A Diameter Ranging from 17 to 30 Cm;
- Profile, Which Can Be Smooth or Wavy. The Blades with A Wavy Profile, Just Like Serrated Knives, Are Used to Cut Bread and Vegetables, While Those with A Smooth Profile Are Used for Meats and Cheeses. the Choice, Therefore, Depends on The Use You Intend to Make of The Slicer. if You Want to Use It to Cut a Bit of Everything, Make Sure It Is Equipped with Both a Serrated Blade and A Smooth Blade;
- The Thickness of The Cut, Which Depends on The Distance Between the Circular Blade and The Sail, I.E., the Part on Which the Product to Be Cut Slips. To Explain It in Simple Words, the Product Is Pushed Into the Space Between the Sail and The Blade, Producing Slices of That Thickness. in Most Home Slicers, the Thickness of The Cut Is Between 15 and 20 Mm. Only Professional Appliances Have Greater Thicknesses.
Structure
After Motor and Blade, the Structure of The Slicer as A Whole Must Be Evaluated. in Particular, Take Into Account:
- Size, Which Depends on The Size of The Appliance. Home Slicers Usually Have Small Dimensions, Which Allow You to Position Them without Too Much Difficulty in The Kitchen Cabinet. The Weight Is Also Very Important, Especially if You Want to Move the Slicer Often, Putting It Away After Each Use. Keep in mind, however, that A Small and Light Slicer Will Most Likely Also Have a Blade with A Diameter of Less than 20 Mm, so You Cannot Use It to Slice Large Meats;
- Trolley, Ie the Sliding Plate on Which the Food to Be Sliced rests. In This Case, You Must Take Into Account Not only The Size of The Trolley but Also the Stroke, I.E., the Horizontal Sliding Space. a Good Slicer Should Have a Stroke of At Least 5-10 Mm Larger than The Blade Diameter, to Be Able to Cut Food Even Slightly Larger than The Plate;
- Additional Accessories, Which Improve the Performance of The Slicer. Usually, only The More Expensive Appliances Are Equipped with Extra Components, Including the Presser, Which Serves to Keep the Product to Be Sliced and Adherent to The Blade, the Tray to Collect the Cut Slices and The Sharpener, to Periodically Sharpen the Blade.
Maintenance
The Maintenance of The Slicer Is Essential, Not only To Prevent the Blade from Being Damaged Over Time, but Also for Hygiene Reasons. The Blade, Sail, and Trolley Should Be Cleaned After Each Use, While the Blade Must Be Sharpened Periodically.
To Make These Operations Easy and Safe, the Slicer Should Be Removable and Possibly Free of Sharp Corners and Edges, Where Dirt and Bacteria Could Accumulate.
Safety
Safety Is Also Very Important, Especially if You Are Unfamiliar with Using the Slicer. First, Check that The Ce Mark Is Present on The Product Packaging, Which Ensures Its Compliance with The Safety Standards Imposed by The European Union.
Make sure, then, that are present a blade guard to cover the blade when the unit is not used, and the security keys, which block the rotation of the edge immediately in case of accidents. The locking functions of the blade and carriage when they are not inserted correctly can also be useful.
