Trying to facilitate domestic work, manufacturers are constantly offering new kitchen appliances. Counters are replete with a variety of mixers, crock-pots, bread machines, etc. Not all kitchen appliances are indispensable. A slicer for the home also belongs to these. Which one to choose can be decided a bit later. First you need to make sure that she will not just occupy a place in the kitchen.
Why do you need a slicer?
This is a special device that will help you quickly cut food. Slices are beautiful, perfectly smooth, of equal thickness. Slicer is able to cut sausages, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, bread for sandwiches. The hostess will only have to put it beautifully on a plate and serve. For registration will become an indispensable assistant slicer for the home.
Customer reviews say that it is also good in everyday use. In the manufacture of canned food slicer will help to quickly and smoothly cut vegetables. And for breakfast you can make beautiful sandwiches, decorate them with a neat slice of cucumber or tomato. Using a slicer, you can quickly cut the onion into even slices and not shed tears. For lovers of tea with lemon, a thin, even slice of citrus will be a pleasant surprise. Of course, this mechanism is not essential, but it is still nice when there is a slicer for the home.
Which one to choose: manual or electric?
On the market, the slicer is presented in three types:
- Automatic.
- Semi-automatic.
- Manual
The automatic slicer is powered by the mains and does not need human help. The main thing is to load the product into the carriage, fasten and press the button. The device will do the job on its own and will produce smooth, accurate slices. The carriage moves unaided and feeds the products to a rotating sharpened disk. This type of slicer is used in a professional kitchen in cafes and restaurants. The mechanism is used in production in order to cut the delicacies of fish and meat. Then they are packed and sent to stores. Such a device is quite expensive and produces a lot of noise during operation.
The semi-automatic slicer is ideal for home use. It is significantly cheaper than automatic, has compact dimensions and is not so noisy. The principle of operation is the same, only the carriage with the product to the rotating knife must be fed manually.
A manual slicer is very similar to a classic grater. The difference is that its blades are arranged differently. This is not the most convenient slicer for the home. Reviews say that it is not universal. She will cope with slicing hard vegetables and fruits, such as cabbage, cucumbers, potatoes, apples, but no more. Get even circles of soft tomatoes or neat slices of bread will not succeed. Have to use a traditional knife.
Slicer for home: how to choose
First you need to determine for what purpose the device will be used. For professional activities, you should choose from a number of automatic models. They have a metal case, engine power of 200 watts or more. The knife sharpening is wave-like, which allows you to cut products of any density. It is made of stainless steel. Some manufacturers install Solingen branded knives in their devices. Such mechanisms are able to cut slices 0.5–23 mm thick, and also have an adjustment for the speed of rotation of the knife. But is such a powerful and perfect slicer for the home needed? Which one to choose if chopped foods should be enough for a few sandwiches?
Semi-automatic is enough for home use. The case is most often made of plastic, which significantly reduces the price. Knives are used in stainless steel, with direct sharpening. The optimal power for home slicing is 100 watts. The size of the cut is 1–17 mm and is adjustable in most models, but the speed of rotation of the knife does not change for everyone.
Pros and cons
The advantages of the slicer include the following factors:
- Saving slicing time. This is especially true for preparing vegetables for preservation. Also relevant for slicing delicacies for the festive table.
- Perfectly smooth, neat slices. Only a professional chef can cut it with a knife. Thanks to the slicer, you can get beautifully chopped products at any time.
Of the minuses, the following can be noted:
- No matter how compact the slicer is, it still takes a certain place.
- The device must be constantly assembled and ready for operation. Otherwise, there is a risk that the slicer will turn into a device that the hostess used 1-2 times, and then removed so as not to interfere. Constantly getting and collecting a slicer quickly bothers, it seems that cutting products with a knife will be faster. And it does not matter that the result will be far from ideal.
Operation and maintenance
To slicer worked longer, you must remember the rules of operation. You can not cut into it:
- frozen products;
- meat in which bones are present;
- berries and fruits with seeds inside;
- raw meat.
In order to keep the mechanism clean, just wipe the case with a damp cloth or sponge. The knife should be removed and washed separately.
Security
All technical devices are undergoing changes, including a slicer for the home. Which is better: mechanical or electrical? This question is often related to safety. It is impossible to injure your fingers with a knife, as it is hidden in a special casing, and the product is fed using a carriage or pusher. There are models equipped with an interlock. This feature is relevant in a home with young children.
Of course, slicing is not a necessity. But she can make life in the kitchen a little more comfortable. Any housewife who has a slicer for the home is able to please loved ones not only with delicious, but also with beautiful dishes. Which one to choose - each one makes his own decision.