TOP 10 Best Food Slicers 2025

While a food slicer is not a mandatory item in every kitchen, these devices have plenty of advantages that make food preparation easier and more fun. Food slicer will allow cutting products quicker and more evenly. It will also enable greater control over the result, adjusting the thickness to get the optimal flavour of each ingredient. Besides, food slicer is also a great way to save money over time. Instead of buying expensive, pre-sliced products at the store, now you will be able to effortlessly do this task at home. 

Slicer Breakdown 

Overall, food slicers are not complicated; however, they have some specific elements. If you don’t know what is what, trying to understand specifications or even reviews can be challenging. Therefore, let’s have a look at the essential components. 

• Product table – also called carriage or product tray, this is where you place the product to be sliced. Sometimes, the carriage is grooved or angled so that the product slides naturally towards the blade. The carriage size will determine how large products you will be able to slice. 
• Pusher – this component is attached to the carriage and safely holds the product during the slicing. Therefore, it is sometimes also called grip.  
• Gauge plate – surrounding the blade, the gauge plate allows controlling the thickness of slices. The closer it is to the blade, the thinner the outcome. 
• Index knob – located at the side of the slicer, the index or thickness control knob allows adjusting the position of the gauge plate. 
• Blade – in some models, the blade is permanently fixed to the slicer, while in others it can be removed for easier cleaning. Since the slicer blades are razor-sharp, always look for a model that has its edge mostly covered. 
• Blade guard – as the name suggests, this component conceals the blade, ensuring safety during the operation. 
• Sharpener – some models have in-built sharpener located next to the blade that continuously keeps the edge in top-shape. For other models, a sharpener can be purchased separately. 

Will It Slice? 

While initially, these devices were created to cut meat, nowadays, most of the models also convincingly handle bread, fruits, vegetables and even cheese. Before you buy, it is always advisable to think what products you will cut most often and check whether the particular model is suitable for them. 

With a food slicer, you can typically create razor-thin slices of meat, ham and different sausages. Harder veggies such as onions, potatoes, cabbages or cucumbers also pose no problems. Very juicy fruits or vegetables generally do not work well in slicers. 

One of the most challenging foods is cheese. First of all, not all types of cheese can be sliced. However, even when we stick to the sliceable varieties only, not all slicers for home use will manage the task. The same goes for frozen meat and bones. 

Types of slicers  

Since we touched the topic of commercial electric meat slicers above, let’s look into differences between these and machines for home use. The former will have more powerful motors (often exceeding 200 W), larger blades (above 20 cm) and considerably higher prices. They are also larger and heavier, emit more noise and are suited for working at least a few hours daily.  

While it might be tempting to squeeze the most potent slicer of them all in your kitchen, the truth is that for making your daily sandwich or preparing a snack platter for guests, you don’t need such a workhorse device. 

Let’s have a look at the most essential features so that you can recognize an ideal model for home use. 

Electric vs Manual 

The first choice you will have to make is whether to look for a manual or automatic food slicer. Both types have their own pros and cons.  

Fully manual or flywheel slicers are operated by a hand-cranked wheel. They hardly make noise, are affordable and give a unique vintage touch to any counter. They also offer the most control over the process, allowing you to develop the top-level craft of producing almost transparent slices of delicate meats and gently cutting through soft cheeses. The disadvantages of manual meat slicers are that they operate slower and harder products may require quite a lot of elbow grease. 

Electric manual slicers are operated by electricity but still need your assistance. They are also called gravity or self-feed slicers, since the user pushes the product against the blade, sliding the carriage from side to side. They are fast, precise and efficient, besides you can easily find affordably-priced models. The downsides are that these machines consume electricity, and some can be quite loud in operation. 

Fully automatic slicers look quite similar to the self-feed slicers with one significant exception. The carriage also gets moved by the motor; thus, you have both hands free to take care of other tasks while the product gets sliced automatically. The fully automatic meat slicers are the fastest machines and carry the lowest risk of injury. Obviously, they are also more expensive and more often can be found in professional kitchens that require high volumes of products to be sliced daily. 

Belts and Gears 

Next, you should know that all food slicers can be divided into two groups depending on the way they operate. 

Belt-driven motors are the most common among both home and commercial meat slicers. They make less noise and are more affordable. If (or when) the belt needs to be tightened or replaced, it is rather easy and cheap to do.  

Gear-driven models have more power and are better suited for hard products; thus, they are usually found in professional kitchens. One downside of a gear-driven slicer is that they emit more noise. Furthermore, when they break down, the repair is costly and must be done by a professional. 

For these reasons, we generally recommend belt-driven slicers for home users. 

Engine power  

The motor power in watts is one of the first specifications you will come across when looking for a food slicer. Generally, a higher figure means longer operation time and the ability to cut harder products. 

If you plan to use your slicer daily, we certainly recommend a model of at least 100 W engine. Be ready that a more powerful device often will be noisier. Some food slicers can emit 60-70 dB during operation. Besides, when the device is operated continuously, the noise level tends to gradually increase.  

For occasional use, there are great slicers available below 100 W that still offer reliable operation; however, you have to choose carefully as the majority of them might burn out quickly. 

One figure that is even more important than the motor power is the continuous operation time. This describes how many minutes the slicer will be able to run before you need to switch it off and let it cool. 

Some more advanced models also have additional useful features. Automatic shut-off protects the engine from overheating by automatically turning the device off if it is left running for too long. 

Overload protection is another safety feature found in some models. If something hard (for example, a bone) hits the blade, the slicer will also automatically turn off, saving the engine from potential damage. 

Size and Weight 

Before you buy a food slicer, you should always think about where it will be stored and how much free space you have. More substantial models often can handle larger products without trimming; however, consider how often you will use the carriage to its full capacity. A smaller model will be handier and more practical for those who don’t need a slicer often, since it will be easier to store it in a cupboard. 

From the durability perspective, the slicers that are entirely made of metal are the sturdiest and last longer. However, they are also costly and quite heavy. For home use, some plastic elements of carriage, knobs and safety guard are fine and will not affect the performance. 

Choosing the Blade 

Undeniably, the blade is the most crucial part of every slicer. The short answer is that a 17 cm stainless-steel blade will perfectly suit most of the households. However, if you have more specific needs, read on to find out about other options. 

Shape 

Your slicer will either come with a smooth or serrated blade. Smooth blades work best for lean meat and vegetables. They also can manage softer bread but lack the power for harder products. Serrated blades excel when it comes to dealing with tougher meats or harder bread. However, they can tear more delicate foods. Since most slicer models have only one blade included, you should carefully consider what types of food you slice most often. 

Size  

Most of the home meat slicers will feature a blade with a diameter of 17 cm. Such size offers optimal versatility for most product groups while still keeping the device relatively compact. Smaller blades will be quite limiting for cutting a loaf of bread, whole ham or cheese. If you know that you will be slicing large meats or loaves, some meat slicers for home use have blades up to 22 cm. 

Material  

Stainless steel blades perform excellently and are the most common choice. They stay sharp longer and do not rust. Sometimes, the steel is also hardened for extra durability, but, usually, this is not crucial for home use. Professional meat slicers that operate for long hours can have knives with titanium coating, ensuring even more consistent sharpness and durability. 

Safety Advice 

We will be very straightforward about this. Equipped with a rotating, razor-sharp blade, the meat slicer can be one of the most dangerous devices in your kitchen. Therefore, it is imperative to choose a model with robust safety features: 

• Switch – look for a slicer with a switch that is recessed into the housing or a double switch system. The possibility to turn on the machine by accident should be excluded. 
• Guards – the more of the blade is covered, the lower possibility of accidents; therefore, a large blade-guard is imperative. Additionally, there should be a handguard so that the operator’s fingers are always kept away from the blade.  
• Child-lock – some slicers have an additional switch that, when pressed, prevents switching the device on or does not allow accessing the blade. 
• Base – for safety reasons, the slicer should not move even when cutting through harder foods. More massive models tend to be more stable, but rubberized non-slip feet or suction cups also help to keep the slicer in place. If your machine moves during operation, consider purchasing suction cups and attaching them to the base. 

Usage and Maintenance 

No matter how advanced safety features your device has, some caution is essential during the operation. Follow these tips and slicing will be not only quick and effortless but also free from undesired accidents. 

• Always read the manual carefully before the first use.

• Make sure the slicer rests securely on the counter and does not move around. Pay attention during the operation, and do not let yourself be distracted. 

• Food slicer must be cleaned after every use to avoid cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses. 

• Most slicer-related injuries happen while cleaning the device, not using it. We strongly recommend using cut-proof gloves to protect your hands when handling the blade. 

• Unplug the slicer before cleaning it. No matter how low the probability is, you don’t want to risk accidentally switching it on. 

• Most parts will require hand-wash. Even if your slicer has dishwasher-safe components, we recommend washing them by hand for more thorough cleaning and longer lifespan of the blades. The body should be carefully wiped with warm soapy water. 

• Sharpen the blade regularly, according to the instructions in the manual. Some models will have an in-built sharpener that allows sharpening without dismantling the blade. 

• Always keep the device out of reach for small children, even if it has a childproof lock.