Hello kitchenFact lover. My toddy’s issue is how to use a meat slicer perfectly.
A meat slicer, also known as a food slicer, deli slicer, or slicing machine is one of the most convenient tools in supermarkets, grocery stores, and restaurants. Meat slicers make accurate and precise slices of meat, cheese, and vegetables, etc.
Operating this tool can pose danger as you have to operate on an extremely sharp and high speed rotating blade. Believe me, the blade is still risky to handle even when the machine is powered off. So how do you cut your meat and cheese without compromising your safety? Read on to understand how to properly use the meat slicer.
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Table of Contents
The Procedure of Using a Meat Slicer
Using a meat slicer is not ahard task! You don’t have to worry about where to start, at least not anymore, for I am going to teach you how to get the finest cuts from your deli slicer. Let’s begin: –
Read The Manufacturers Manual
All meat slicers come with an instructions manual on how to operate them. Read it carefully to avoid missing a step.
Check the Guards and the Machine Parts are Working.
Check to ensure that guards are intact on the machine to ease the usability and operation health of the slicer. On checking whether all parts are working, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to disassemble the whole machine. Just do the inspection by yourself and follow the instructions manual to understand better.
Check Power Cord
It is necessary to observe your safety with power cords. Check to ensure that the cord is not damaged. If you suspect that the cord is damaged, leave the machine and call a technician to repair it.
Ensure the Slicer is Clean
Wipe off the machine after every use, adhering to the manual procedures.
Wear Gloves
Sanitation in the kitchen is very important to avoid risking the health of your loved ones. So, the first thing is to wear a plastic glove on your hands.
Pull the Meat Carriage Tray Outwards
Ensure that the carriage is completely pulled towards you and lift the last slice device. This prevents obstruction of the meat tray and holds it in place.
Loading the Tray
Load the carriage tray with your meat or cheese ensuring the Last Slice device is behind the meat, to hold it in place. Ensure also that the meat is in place and not moving around.
Set the Slicing Thickness
Turn the desired thickness on the knob. The knob will offer micrometric precision.
Power the Machine
When you power the machine on, the carriage tray will move away and towards you repeatedly in the direction of the rotating blade to start slicing. Ensure your hands are placed on the handles provided when the machine is on. Avoid also forcing the meat against the blade as it will result to unevenly cut meat.
The people around you and objects should be at a safe distance.
Turn the Machine off
Once you are done slicing your meat, turn the machine off and set the slicing thickness knob to zero. After use, you can clean the meat slicer.
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Other Safety Tips When Operating a Meat Slicer
- The machine is to be used by adults only. Keep children away from the slicer. The slicer’s blades are extremely sharp and it’s best to avoid injuries.
- Lock out the power when the machine is not in use. The machine can be turned on accidentally when you cleaning it and cause injuries.
- Always adjust the thickness knob to zero. There are possibilities of injuries when cleaning your meat slicer and keeping the thickness knob to zero ensures you safe from any deep cuts.
- Use cut-resistant gloves: Due to the sharp blades, the machine can cut you even when it is powered off. It is necessary to purchase food-grade and cut resistant gloves to keep you safe.
- Follow the instructions manual to understand the necessary tips on how to operate, clean, and maintain the slicer.
- Keep your working area clutter-free for safe and quicker operations.
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Safety Guidelines When Using a Meat Slicer
Follow these guidelines for safety and to ensure you produce evenly sliced meat, vegetables, cheese, etc.
Know the Foods That you can use With a Meat Slicer
Before you learn to start a meat slicer, it’s necessary to understand what types of foods are friendly with the slicer and those that aren’t. Here are some foods you can slice with the slicer:
Foods Safe With Slicer:
As mentioned earlier, cheese is one of the foods you can slice with a meat slicer. You however might not expect an evenly cut piece of cheese unless the type of cheese you cutting is firm.
The name ”meat slicer” is enough to help you understand that the tool’s sole purpose is to cut meat into slices. You can cut your raw or cooked turkey, red meat, etc. with a deli slicer.
Placing your bread on a sliding tray and letting the slicer do its thing can get you the perfect slices of bread. You should at least try this hack.
if you require very thin slices that cannot be cut well with a knife, then the meat slicer will do it for you! The machine will cut uniform onion rings for your salads, slice your lettuce, eggplants, banana, pineapple, and many more.
Foods to Avoid Using on a Meat Slicer
Fruits with seeds like avocadoes, peaches can damage your appliance. Avoid slicing them with the meat slicer. The only exception here is tomatoes.
You cannot slice frozen meat on your slicer. You should also avoid frozen fruits, vegetables, fish, etc.
The bone can cause harm to your slicer. You do not to your warranty claim nullified because you tried bonny meat on the machine.
You should avoid oversized meat by cutting it to size first. Not only can it damage your machine but you also end up with undesired sizes.
Know the Type of Blades to be Used on the Slicer
Meat slicers can come with a serrated or a fine blade. Most slicers come with only one blade and it’s necessary to purchase the other blade if you so need.
Serrated Edge Blade:
The serrated blade has grooves on its cutting surface, just like those in a saw blade. The edges are best for cutting hard crust meat without damaging the crust. These edges are not good with vegetables as they can leave pointed edges on them.
Fine Edged Blade:
Just like the name suggests, these blades feature a smooth, sharp edge that helps you cut through your meat smoothly. They produce a thin and precise cut for your sushi. It, however, might not produce a fine cut on hard crust meat.
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How to Clean Meat Slicers
You will find yourself switching between different foods. It’s vital to clean the blades after use especially if you use meat and cheese in the same unit. Here’s how to clean your meat slicer
- Disconnect the machine from the power supply
- Push the meat carriage further away from the blades
- Unscrew the screws on the blade cover and lift off the cover carefully
- Attach the tool you use on removing the blade onto the blade and screw the bolts into the corresponding blade holes.
- Unscrew the screws attaching the blade. Leave it to sit onto the slicer and lift off the blade.
- Clean the blade by wiping from the core towards the edges. You can also wipe the blade face clean after you have reattached it.
- Dry it well
- Replace the blade if necessary and cover it up. Check to ensure that all bolts are well tightened.
Conclusion
A meat slicer will work great in cutting food to your desired width. Enjoy using your new meat slicer, observing the necessary safety measures and proper maintenance. That way, you will avoid unnecessary mishaps and prolong the useful life of the appliance.
Rita C. Donnell (Jennifer) has spent the last 26 years studying and practicing nutrition science. She has used a larger part of this time in improving people’s livelihoods. She has done so by coming up with unquestionable ideas on how to tackle food problems in her community. Readmore
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