In this article, you will learn how to choose such an assistant in everyday life as an electric slicer for your home.
Slicer can not be called a necessity, of course. But, despite this, it is becoming increasingly popular and is taking root in the kitchens of housewives who are not indifferent to technological progress. Moreover, you can cut on it not only sausage and cheeses, but also vegetables, and into rings. And this is a very popular form of cutting for many dishes, but not every food processor can cope with it.
But the main thing is that the slicer shreds cabbage perfectly! For lovers of borscht and other dishes from this vegetable, such a device is just a godsend.
When is a slicer not worth buying?
Any slicer is a mini circular. And no matter how protected it is, it is still a high-risk technique. And, if you have children under eight in your house, then you should not make such a purchase. Moreover, the slicer is a large enough device and it is advisable to install it permanently, and not put it in a cabinet after each use.
Also, it is not really needed if you are not fond of sandwiches. If such snacks are rare for you, then buy a slicer for slicing bread and vegetables. By and large, slicing a loaf of bread is a matter of five minutes; it is also better to cut vegetables with a knife than to disassemble and wash the slicer.
Here is sausage and cheese - yes, it is not so easy to cut them thinly. And with a slicer - just beauty! I cut a lot at once, put it in a container and use it. And it is convenient and products are consumed more economically.
See also - Which fryer is better to buy for home - rating of the year
What security features should a slicer have?
- Lock in case of unintentional activation
- Rubber feet, as without them the slicer could move in the process, leading to serious injury
- Protective cover on the knife
- Special support for the hands, as without it there is a high risk of injury
- Studded product pusher (if you have one, you don't need to hold the product in your hands at all)
If your chosen model does not have these functions, then it is better to refuse to purchase.
Important factors in choosing a slicer
The quality and shape of the knife
The quality of steel for a circular knife is the most important thing. If it becomes blunt quickly, then such a slicer will bring you too much trouble. Firstly, sharpening is not cheap, and secondly, very often the quality of the sliced slices will not be very good, to say the least. The bread will crumble, the sausage will come out with torn edges, the pieces of cheese will break. And why then a slicer?
Therefore, there is no need to save on steel.It is desirable that the knife is self-sharpening, with wavy edges.
And the best blade manufacturer is Solingen. This is an old German brand specializing in the production of kitchen knives and they are truly timeless. Reputable firms producing household appliances, it is they who complete the slicers and this is necessarily indicated in the instructions for the device.
In addition, the form of sharpening is important. Plain, straight, dull over time and copes with cutting only solid products (cheese, sausage, vegetables). The wavelike edge, on the other hand, guarantees perfect slicing of bread, soft ham and other products that tend to crumble.
Slicing Thickness: An Important Aspect
All slicers have the ability to adjust the slicing thickness. Be sure to pay attention to this when choosing. The larger the range, the more maneuvers. That is, you can cut not only cheeses and sausages, but also bread, as well as a variety of vegetables.
Typically, the gap is from 1 mm to 17 mm (1.7 cm). The finest gaps are good for dry sausages and the widest gaps are good for bread or fruit.
Adjusting the switching speed
If this function is not provided in the model, then the shape of the knife sharpening will not matter. If it is stably high, then a wave-like knife will not cut soft bread.
High speed is for hard food, and low speed is for soft. Therefore, we do not advise you to take a slicer with a fixed speed.
Device power: which one to stop at
Slicers are quite economical in terms of energy consumption. Most models produce only 100 W of power and this is quite enough for home, infrequent use. If you understand that you will be using the device more often than a couple of times a day, then it makes sense to take a closer look at the models that consume 200 watts. Such slicers are more hardy and can even cope with frozen lard, which is not available to weaker devices.
It is also very convenient if the slicer is equipped with a tray for folding the pieces. Also, the presence of a compartment for storing the cord does not hurt. Another very good thing is the possibility of embedding into the worktop using special bolts.
Top 5 best slicers
Ritter E 16 Is a well-established brand. The slicer in a metal case has a special holder for small products. Power 160 watts. Speed control is present.
mile EFS 980 - folding model, which is very convenient for small kitchens. Knife with a wave-like sharpening, there is a speed adjustment, the range of slices is from 1 mm to 15 mm. The disadvantage of this model is that it is not stable enough due to its low weight. Power is 150 watts.
ZELMER 294.6 - heavy and solid slicer, also made of metal. Has protection against turning on, cutting range from 1 mm to 15, there is protection against accidental turning on. But the speed cannot be changed and this is a big minus. Power 200 watts.
Bosch MAS 4201N - This brand produces the safest models. There is a casing and finger protection and a special button that prevents accidental start-up. The knife is wave-like, and slice thickness is from 1 mm to 15 mm. Power 100 W.
Gorenje r506e - large, stationary slicer, weighing almost 4.3 kg. Power 110 W, cutting thickness from 1 mm to 15 mm, no speed regulation. In our opinion, not the most successful model for the house, since its width is about 50 cm, it will take up too much space.
Now you know how to choose a household item such as an electric home slicer. We hope you find the information useful!
See also - 10 best slicers for home