Electric Slicer Review

In the run-up to the test, we defined practical requirements and the following test criteria:

• Cutting quality
• Handling
• Volume
• Cleaning
• Accessories

In order to be able to evaluate these criteria, we have defined several tests for the Slicer. In these tests, all devices must cut a selection of foods: Bell Pepper, cucumber, meat sausage, Emmentaler, salami and baguette. If a machine has several blades, the ingredients are always chopped with the one recommended by the manufacturer. When cutting, the handling, stability and cut surface or carriage are assessed. Once the cut is finished, the cutting result is evaluated in terms of size and accuracy. In addition, other functions (speed levels) and accessories (collecting containers or additional blades) for the equipment are tested. The volume of the all-knife slicers is measured in an endurance test without cuttings. Finally, the cleaning of the equipment is evaluated.

In order to rule out errors and to ensure the load of everyday use, each test takes place in several rounds.

The test criteria are given percentages depending on their importance. The final score is then objectively calculated from the test criteria using an algorithm.

Product selection

Our product selection is based on an observation of the current market. In addition to popular branded products, we also include insider tips in our selection. Criteria such as price and range of functions are an important factor for us. The test field is also determined by analysis and evaluation of customer reviews and external tests (e.g. Stiftung Warentest).

The devices are purchased anonymously or lent to us by the manufacturer. Dealers and manufacturers have no influence on the tests and our evaluation.

As soon as new relevant products come onto the market, our test field is extended by these. The new products go through the same test as the already tested devices.

If you don't just want to cut bread, but also soft foods like cheese or sausage, then the electric slicer is just right for you. It not only works fast but also convinces with precise cuts. The knife can remain in the drawer. You save a lot of time and energy. The following guide will tell you everything you need to know: What are electric slicers, what can be cut with them, which different variants are there and for whom are these devices suitable?

Who often eats bread knows the annoying problem: What is the best way to cut even, thin slices? Especially in the morning before work, when everything has to be done quickly, this can be very annoying. Many people reach for a kitchen knife and try their luck with it. But the results are usually not that good and satisfactory. Slicing bread and other foods with an all-purpose slicer is much more convenient. This not only makes all bread slices look the same, but it is also done quickly. From a very thin slice of sausage to extra-thick slices of bread, you can precisely determine the thickness of the product to be sliced thanks to the useful adjustment device.

Easy operation of the electric slicer

The handling is simple: The food to be cut is placed on the carriage, brought up to the rotating blade and pushed along with the uniform movement. It can then be removed and the Alless slicer switched off. For larger bread, it is advantageous if the carriage can be completely removed. Safety should also be considered: A finger guard prevents your fingers from getting caught by the sharp, built-in knife. Many models also have a holder for leftovers, which also protects against dangerous contact when cutting smaller items.

Electric slicers work with enormous precision and finish the work within the shortest time. Thanks to the sharpness as well as the high speed of the integrated knife, accurate cuts are possible. This is difficult to do manually with a knife. You can even adjust the thickness of the material to be cut, so that both wafer-thin and very thick slices can be cut. Numbers, which are often located on the rotating element, provide information about the corresponding cutting thickness. If you want to cut large quantities, you benefit from the enormous time saving compared to manual cutting with a knife.

A further advantage is that most foods are more durable in one piece, because the surface is extended by the cutting. Bacteria have an easier time of it. Individual slices lose their aroma more quickly, spoil more quickly and can also dry out. Therefore the slices should always be cut fresh with the electric slicer. In the case of bones and frozen food, however, the electric slicer comes up against its limits, as the overload protection stops the machine in such cases of hardship. An electric knife is better suited for these foods.

You can cut many different foods with this device. These include bread, cheese, sausage, meat, fruit, and vegetables.

Be careful when handling greasy foods. Due to the fat, you can easily slip off and injure yourself.

The knives differ in their hardening, in their grinding, and in the material properties. With more power, you can also cut harder food. 100 to 150 watts are often enough to cut coarser food. In addition to performance, other aspects such as knife sharpness and the type of blade are decisive. The cutting width should be infinitely adjustable to choose the optimum thickness for all foods.

Several electric slicers are equipped with a circular knife. It is the true heart of the machine. But the grinding is different. Here you have the choice between the following variants:

* Serrated edge

Most knives have this sharpening. It is suitable for both hard and soft foods. Wavy knives are perfect all-rounders because they work their way precisely and effortlessly through a wide variety of foods.

* Jagged grinding

You can use this knife for bread. It can also be used to cut crusty bread into slices. But you won't get perfect clean slices with cheese, ham or fruit.

* Smooth cut

Knives with a smooth edge are ideal if you want to cut very fine slices of meat or ham, for example. The fibres remain undamaged with a smooth knife. The slices become very precise. You will find these knives at many meat and sausage counters. With hard crusty bread, however, you will not get good results with a knife with a smooth finish.

In particular, the hardness of the knife and the blade grinding determine how effectively and precisely the food can be sliced. The knife should be made of hardened stainless steel. Otherwise, depending on the consistency of the food, rust could occur. By the way, a good tip is: If you have cut cheese or other sticky food, you should cut a slice of bread afterwards. This way you remove coarse impurities before cleaning.

* Manual or automatic

With the electric all-purpose slicer, the disc rotates automatically at the push of a button, while with hand-operated models you have to turn the disc yourself.

* Which material should it be?

The devices are made of various materials, such as stainless steel or plastic. All slicers made of stainless steel are rustproof and after many years of use, the material hardly shows any significant traces. The metal tools are usually more stable, more durable and easier to clean. They also look much nicer. Plastic, on the other hand, can discolour and become porous over time as a result of liquid- and colour-intensive foodstuffs such as tomatoes.

* Foldable electric slicers

For small kitchens, appliances are suitable which can be folded up and thus stowed away in a space-saving manner. This is of course also an advantage if the slicer is only used occasionally. These models are in no way inferior to the stationary models in terms of performance.

Useful functions of the electric slicer

When making your selection, you should pay attention to various practical functions, for example:

* Moment operation

For devices with torque operation, the slicer is only switched on as long as you press the button. The motor should stop immediately after you have released it and should not run after. These models are also energy efficient.

* Continuous operation

Another possible function is continuous operation. This allows you to leave the slicer for a short time and do other things at the same time. With the permanent button, you don't have to press the button all the time if you want to cut large quantities. This is a great help when cooking, for example. Continuously operating appliances are very comfortable to use.

* Guiding the material to be cut

For left-handed people, the cutting material guide should be on the right so that the left hand can be used to guide the food. This makes working comfortable.

* Switch-on safety device

This function prevents the unit from being switched on accidentally. This is particularly useful in households with children. Some slicer also have a push-button so that the appliance cannot be switched on without its operation.

* Automatic switch-off

On these machines, a timer ensures that the slicer switches itself off automatically after a specified period of operation.

* Thermal protection

If the device overheats, it is automatically switched off. A restart is only possible after a certain time when the slicer has cooled down.

The useful kitchen aid is suitable for all those who regularly want to cut slices of various foods in uniform thickness or who like to buy piece goods to preserve the taste, aroma, and quality longer. The electric slicer can also be found in the catering kitchen and in grocery stores with sausage or cheese counters, where numerous meals are prepared or many slices cut every day. The time saved and the accuracy of the results are of course what counts here.

Some people can probably still remember how their mother or grandma held their homemade bread against their apron and sliced it slice by slice with a knife. The same was true for sausage, cheese, and other food. But cutting a wide variety of foods has changed significantly over the past 100 years. Before the electric universal slicers were developed, there were devices with a hand crank which replaced the various knives for bread, sausage, cheese, etc. in households. Although simple hand-operated devices are still available, electric universal cutters have found their way into most households. Not only does it cut all sorts of things, but it also requires much less power as it is powered by electricity. The first electric universal cutters were already available in the USA in the 1960s. The inventor was Otto Frederick Rohwedder, who revolutionized kitchen work and the food industry.

Conclusion

The special feature of the electric slicer is that it can cut the most different bread sorts, in addition, other food. The range extends from extremely thinly sliced sausage to hard bread, fruit, and vegetables. What a kitchen knife can't do so quickly, the universal slicer does very precisely and evenly within seconds. When bread, cheese, sausage or meat are sliced at home, they stay fresh longer and often taste better. The food is guided along the moving rail and the cut is made by the built-in rotating cutting blade. You can decide for yourself how wide the slices should be.

A serrated knife is ideal, which should be made of stainless steel, just like the universal slicers. With the electric slicers, you achieve very even slices and you save a lot of time compared to cutting by hand. In addition to the cutting function, many electric slicers are equipped with other useful functions that are tailored to your individual needs. The safety standards should not be disregarded at the time of purchase in order to avoid dangerous injuries.

For bread and roasts you can also consider an electric kitchen knife. We have tested these extensively for you and have recorded the results in a test report for you.

We also tested Japan Knives to match our kitchen knives.

• Bread maker