What will you be slicing?
Understanding how you plan to use
the slicer is just the first step in narrowing down your choices.
How many hours per day will you be
using the slicer?
Most commercial slicers are designed
for light, medium, or heavy duty use. Light duty units typically feature a ¼ HP
motor and are fine for one to two hours of slicing daily. Medium duty machines
typically feature a ½ HP motor and are designed for 2 to 6 hour of slicing per
day. Heavy duty machines will likely feature a ½ -3/4 HP motor and are designed
for continuous use.
Will you be slicing Cheese?
The moisture and consistency of
cheese makes it difficult to slice. Light Duty slicers are NOT recommended for
cheese. Medium duty slicers should be able to handle 1 to 3 hours of cheese
slicing per day. Check the manufacturer’s specifications. Heavy duty slicers
are recommended if you plan to do more than 2 or 3 hours of cheese slicing
daily.
What is the largest diameter you
will be slicing?
You need to make sure the slicer
blade and carriage are large enough for the intended application. Most are
designed to handle products from 7.5" up to 12" in diameter.
What is the thinnest slice you need?
Most commercial slicers will adjust
to satisfy any customer’s needs. But if you plan to serve a large volume of
paper thin artisan meats like salami, prosciutto, and pancetta, then consider a
specialty slicer designed for that application.
Do you need manual or automatic
slicing?
Automatic slicers are more
expensive, but can pay for themselves in labor savings. They can also prevent
repetitive motion injuries. High volume delis and supermarkets often use
automatic slicers. Most automatic slicers will have a manual override for
versatility and convenience.
What other features do you like?
Once you’ve narrowed down your
choices to those commercial slicers that match your size and power
requirements, you may want to look for a few other desirable features and
benefits.
All commercial slicers come with
safety features such as a blade guard and a pusher to hold the product while
slicing. These protect fingers and hands. Some slicers may also include:
- A feature that requires the blade to be zeroed before
the pusher or carriage can be tilted or removed,
- A safety restart switch.
Features that make cleaning and
sanitation easier are also very desirable. Look for:
- a kick stand that holds the slicer up while cleaning
beneath it,
- a carriage that tilts for easy cleaning,
- any removable parts that make cleaning easier
(removable carriage, blade guard, blade and blade sharpener)
- switches and controls that are located outside of the area where meat juices can drip on them while slicing.
With answers to these questions you
should feel better prepared to shop and select the commercial slicer that is
right for your operation. If you need more information, visit the websites of
the following manufacturers.
