Best Meat Slicers for Jerky, Bacon, Home and Commercial Use in 2024

Best Meat Slicers for Jerky, Bacon, Home and Commercial Use

You know what a meat slicer is. It's a device for slicing meat to get that perfect, thin cut. If you're a hard-core barbecue enthusiast, or just really want to impress your friends, you can buy a meat slicer of your very own! And surprisingly, meat slicers aren't that expensive and reserved only for restaurants or delis.

If you want a professional-looking meat slicer of your very own, we've made a list of the top ten best meat slicers on the market, and perfect for all sorts of meats!

At a Glance of Best Meat Slicer for Home

Note: The above links will take you to additional information, current prices, and reviews on Amazon.

Top 10 Best Meat Slicers Review

Best Electric Meat Slicer:

Sometimes, you just need the best. You need something that looks professional and is built to last. When the price isn't an issue and you need what is essentially the best electric meat slicer and best commercial meat slicer, you'll want the BESWOOD. This is the model you see in delis and restaurants, and with praise from both commercial and private owners, is it no wonder why everyone loves the BESWOOD?

The body itself is made of aluminum and features rubber feet to keep the slicer secure while you're working it. This is all well and good, but let's look at the meat of the BESWOOD. And pardon our pun. The blade is ten inches in diameter and made out of chromium-plated stainless steel. Not only does this protect against corrosion, but also makes cleanup a breeze as meat and cheeses are less likely to stick to the blade.

The motor spins the blade to reach 282 rpm, and with 240-watt output, you're going to have some really powerful cutting power. Meats, cheeses, vegetables, and fingers if you're not careful. Thankfully, the designers at BESWOOD foresaw this and install a ring guard to the blade to provide you with protection while slicing.

The motor uses a "V" belt, which helps to reduce both the noise and vibration. If you ever worked with a meat slicer, you know how loud they can be and also how they can rumble and vibrate which can easily throw you off. The BESWOOD doesn't eliminate that entirely, but there is a very big difference in both noise and vibration compared to other electric meat slicers.

A sharpener is built into the aluminum housing which keeps the blade nice and sharp. Of course, you're more then welcomed to remove the blade and sharpen it yourself if the need arises. The cuts of meat are great, and the BESWOOD can cover all thicknesses from deli-sliced on up. With the knob rotation, you'll get from 1 to 12 mm thick. The meat didn't tear either while slicing, which we very much appreciated.

The tray at the back made catching the cuts much easier, which we would expect, and the action was quite smooth. No straining ourselves dragging the meat back-and-forth. So overall, if you want the best electric meat sharpener, one uses in delis and stores across the world, you're going to want BESWOOD.

Pros:
  • User friendly
  • Safety features to protect your hand from the blade and the engine from any power surges
  • A ten-inch blade that's crafted to the highest standards to provide excellent cuts
  • Sturdy construction
  • Not as loud or as shaky as other sharpeners
  • Easy to control the thickness of the cuts
Cons:
  • Very expensive, to the point only those wanting to run their own business may want to consider it
  • Takes up a lot of counter space and isn't something you can just put in a cupboard after you're done using it

If you want the best meat slicer under $100, then the OSTBA has your back. While the blade is a much smaller 7.5 inches in length, it's also serrated which makes this the best meat slicer for bacon. Unlike a more smoother blade, such as the BESWOOD, the serrated blade can make short work out of tougher meats.

Like other sharpeners on the market, the OSTBA is made of aluminum and features rubber feet to keep the slicer from flying off the counter. While there isn't a ring guard to protect fingers, it does have an innovative mechanism for operation. Both the safety lock and the power button must be pressed at the same time to get the OSTBA revving. This protects against any accidental operations that may put you or someone else at risk.

This being said, as the OSTBA is open face accidents can happen, so caution needs to be applied when tending to your slices. Speaking of, the motor has an output of 150 watts, and while not as much as other slicers, there is a good reason for this. The serrated blade is great at tearing and slicing, but if it was spinning too fast, it wouldn't so much slice meats, vegetables, cheeses and bread as it would tear them to shreds and leave you with a mess.

There is a 200-watt model available if you desire something faster, but this model costs more. The OSTBA has a thickness selection of 1-15mm, so around 3/4 of an inch thick. The movement is smooth without any bumps or sudden stops, and the meat had no trouble staying on the slider. So when it comes to actually working and slicing, we give it an A+!

The blade is made out of stainless steel and is quite sturdy, although because of the serrated nature you will need to do a nice more thorough clean of it to ensure that it is clean. The actual thickness of the cuts was quite astounding. Despite being serrated, or possibly because the blade is serrated, the meat didn't tear and you can get even nice, deli-thin slices from the likes of bacon!

All said and done, for being sold under one hundred dollars the OSTBA is quite a reliable slicer and one you should consider if you're wanting a slicer but don't have the budget, or space, for a larger model.

Pros:
  • Sturdy construction
  • Very affordable
  • The serrated blade can cut through the likes of bacon
  • Protection switch provided with the power switch as to be safely turned on
  • Easy to select the thickness of the cuts
Cons:
  • No protection about the serrated blade
  • The serrated blade can catch lots of small food particles which you'll have to clean

When it comes to the best meat slicer for home, you'll want Chef'sChoice. A brand name that is widely beloved in the barbecue community for producing high-quality products, their meat slicer is no slouch either. It even stands apart from its competitors due to its design. Like all other slicers, it's cast in aluminum and features rubber feet along with a stainless steel blade.

The blade in question is only seven inches across, so smaller than the previous two, and the motor only provides 120 watts of power. This might not sound much, but once again the blade is serrated. If the blade was spinning too fast, it would leave shreds of meat as opposed to proper slices of meat. So the lower-power can be forgiven once you understand why it's necessary.

Your thickness setting is a standard 1-15mm cut, and the mechanism to slide the meat across the blade is as smooth as you'd expect. Of course, due to the open face design, more protection would have been greatly appreciated. Since it's a Chef'sChoice product, cleaning is as easy as handling. All parts can be removed to allow a more thorough clean, and given that the blade is serrated you'll want to perform a thorougher cleaning after each use.

As for the slices of meat, they were wonderful. While serrated, much like the OSTBA, there wasn't any tearing of the meat while slicing and we were able to get nice deli-thin slices from all the meats we tested out. Including bacon! So, along with the impressive cuts, the reason why we call the Chef'sChoice the best home meat slicer is due to its smaller size.

It's not a counter hog, and you can safely store it away in a cupboard once you're done. Being easy to clean and being easy to store makes the Chef'sChoice a must-have if you want a reliable slicer to call your own!

Pros:
  • Reliable slicer by a well-known company; quality is guaranteed
    -Easy to take apart and clean
    -Easy to adjust the thickness of your cuts
    -Serrated blade to cut most thicker meats and vegetables
Cons:
  • Not enough protective features
    -The serrated blade can easily be filled with food particles and can be a pain to clean
    -Expensive for its size

Yes, really the company behind this sharpener is named "Super Deal". And no, it's not a product sold at Walmart under their branding either. The Super Deal is similar to the BESWOOD, although it doesn't have all the features. On the flip-side, it doesn't have as high of a price tag which is why it's called "Super Deal". A full-sized slicer without the cost of a full-sized slicer!

We say full-sized, but the Super Deal is noticeably smaller than the BESWOOD and other full-sized slicers. While not as small as the Chef'sChoice, it does mean it's not as much of a counter hog as other slicers either despite having a ten-inch blade. Speaking of the blade, it's constructed out of stainless steel and feels very solid and has rubber feet for stability. As an added bonus, a sharpener is built into the housing to keep the blade sharp!

Much like the BESWOOD, the slicer has a guard around the blade to protect against accidental contact, although it's much easier to switch on compared to the BESWOOD which means accidentally operation is a possibility. Although, thanks in part to the ring guard slicing your hand by accident isn't going to be all that common.

The thickness knob, and don't snicker at that, can be adjusted from 1-13 mm. The mechanism to pull the meat across the blade is very smooth and we didn't have any issue with it feeling too heavy, nor were there any unexpected pulls or bumps. Everything we'd want with our slicer. There is a tray built into the back to catch everything you slice, which is a feature we feel more slicers need.

With a motor that has an output of around 240 watts, the blade will make quick work of any meats, cheeses, vegetates, breads, you name it. The Super Deal is quite reliable, and while not a counter hog still isn't the best slicer for at-home work due to the price and size. We, however, still liked the Super Deal and can highly recommend it.

Pros:
  • Quality construction
  • Easy to slice your meats and other foods to how you want
  • Ring guard to protect against accidentally contact with the blade
  • While still expensive, it's more affordable than other slicers on the market
Cons:
  • Rather loud
  • Easy to turn on, which can also be a pro
  • Still a counter hog

Another slicer made for the home deli-master in mind, the Kitchener sharper may not be the best looking slicer on the marker, but it's still not one that should be overlooked. As typical of all the slicers we've covered, the construction is that of aluminum and stainless steel while having rubber feet to help with stability.

What is unique to this slicer is the nine-inch blade. Unlike the previous home-based slicers, the blade here is round and not serrated. It's still open-faced and while there is a finger guard, once again caution should be advised to avoid any accidents. The motor has an output of 150 watts. For the size of the blade and the size of the slicer, we feel this is under-preforming. Did this mean that the cutting was bad? Absolutely not!

After all, if it was bad it wouldn't have touched our top ten list! The knob to choose the thickness goes from 1-12 mm, so standard thickness for these types of slicers. The mechanism was also smooth, and we had no issues with slicing the meat and having the meat go flying. All said and done, the Kitchener is a good slicer.

Not exactly the best slicer, but still a good one. If you like the blades of the larger models but in the housing of a smaller unit, then the Kitchener will be right for you!

Pros:
  • Affordable
  • Easy to adjust the thickness of the slices
  • Sturdy construction
  • Easy to work with
Cons:
  • Could use better protection
  • The motor felt underpowered

The last slicer on our list of electric slicers looks more like a torture device than a proper slicer! This being said, plenty of gadgets and tools for barbecuing and working with meat do tend to look more appropriate in a dungeon and not the backyard. But the rather scary appearance is because of the NESCO values performance over form. If it works, why change it?

The clamp holds the meat firmly in place, which we like, but the mechanism isn't as smooth as we like either. There was certainly a bit more of a struggle to slice the meat compared to other slicers. The blade is quite a blade, at 8.7 inches in length, as well as serrated. Perfect for tougher meats and other foods.

You can adjust the thickness of your cuts from 1-15 mm, and the entire construction is a mix of aluminum and stainless steel. How's the quality of the cuts? Pretty good! We did have some slight issues with tearing, but it wasn't anything too drastic that we'd feel ripped off or cheated by the NESCO. Along with being easy to use and easy to adjust, the NESCO has a motor with an output of 180 watts. More powerful, but still manageable.

Like a lot of these open-faced models, protection could be better but overall the NESCO is the best meat slicer when it comes to price and value. At well below one hundred dollars, the quality and function are there but it's just not as good as others on our list. Due to being small in size, we can heartily recommend this slicer if you're looking for one and are on a budget.

Pros:
  • Very affordable
  • Reliable and of good quality
  • Not a space hog
Cons:
  • The blade needs a good cleaning after each use
  • Not enough protection

Best Manual Meat Slicer:

If you need the best manual meat slicer, look no further than the Berkel. This monster of a slicer, and we do mean monster as it weighs in at thirty-three pounds, has a permanent lubricated ten-inch blade. As with other meat slicers, the construction is a mix of stainless steel and aluminum, the blade is of Chromium-plated stainless steel.

This is quite a sturdy product, and also one built to last. With the adjustment knob, the thickness of the meat can be changed from 1-16mm, providing a versatile amount of cuts for your choosing! Because of its weight, and being a manual slicer, you need to apply a fair amount of force to properly slice your meats. This is just part of the process, of course.

With one speed, that is how fast you're slicing, the Berkel delivers precision cuts and the quality is outstanding. No tears. No sticking. Just proper slices of meat however you adjust it. How about safety? Well, you have a standard ring guard around the blade and since it's manual you also don't have to worry about slicing yourself by accident if the slicer is turned on.

Finally, a knife sharpener is built into the model to keep the blade always sharp. You'll still need to clean it, but least you know your blade will always remain sharp.

Pros:
  • Very sturdy construction
  • Versatile
  • Easy to operate and change the thickness of the meats
  • The blade is resistant to corrosion and easy to clean.
Cons:
  • Very expensive. You can buy a new grill for less then this, so only consider it if you run a business
  • Quite heavy

One of the more unusual meat slicers on the market, both because of its shape and because it's advertised as working for frozen meats. That being said, it'll still work perfectly fine with un-frozen meats, but we like the functionally of cutting frozen meats. For anyone who's gone through the process of thawing and cutting meats, it's time-consuming. If you buy your meats from a local butcher, you can expect them to be frozen.

With the Befen, you can get your proper cuts in before the meat even thaws! Which is perfect for when you're having guests coming over and you don't want to make them all wait by pulling your meats out for thawing before letting everyone choose their cut. Made of stainless steel, and looking quite similar to a vegetable or cheese slicer, the overall quality is quite good. The rubber feet are hidden beneath stainless steel covers, but they're there.

Unlike other slicers, the adjustment knob is located on the blade, and you can adjust the thickness of the sliced meat from .2-25 mm. This gives you much more versatility than other slicers, but the unique chopping action requires a bit of getting used to. The Befen is a slicer, that much is true, but the up-and-down motion will take some practice if you're used to the side-to-side motion of most regular slicers.

Speaking of motion, the slicing is very smooth and we didn't have any problems cutting through frozen beef or pork. You should let the meat thaw a little before going right into slicing, as the blade feels a bit flimsy and you do get a second blade in the package. Each blade is close to seven inches in length and changing them out only requires you to unscrew the adjustment knob.

For the price, this is a very useful meat slicer. It's a bit finicky at times, but it's great for slicing meat to whatever size you need!

Pros:
  • Affordable, Can cut through frozen meat
  • Solid construction
  • Very minimal risk of hurting yourself
Cons:
  • Takes some practice to properly use it.

Best Meat Slicer For Jerky:

If you like smoking meats, you probably like making jerky. You're in luck, as there are meat slicers for jerky as well!

What might be the best meat slicer for jerky, which isn't a very crowded field, to begin with, is the Weston jerky slicer. Weston has a long history of creating meat slicing products, and their jerky slicer is no exception. Although, compared to other slicers, this one is really unconventional! It functions more like a pasta slicer than a meat slicer.

Hand-cranked, the Weston jerky slicers have thirty-two metal blades inside along with stainless steel combs to prevent the meat from sticking to the blade. You place a slab of meat up to five inches wide and 1.2 inches thick into the top and begin to turn the crank. The meat is pulled inside and sliced by the blades, creating up to fifteen slices of meat.

Once sliced, the meat is ready for the smoker or left to dry in the sun! However, you choose! Alternatively, you can throw these strips on the grill. The housing the blades and combs are in can be disassembled for cleaning or removing stubborn pieces of meat, and the entire slicer is quick durable. And since it's all done by a hand crank, there is very minimal risk of hurting yourself!

The only bad thing about the Weston jerky slicer is the C-clamp it uses. The clamp isn't bad, but it's not something you want to use on countertops as it will damage them. So this slicer is strictly outdoors only. Honestly, that isn't so bad because that's the best place to make jerky to begin with!

Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Durable construction
  • Metal comb to keep the meat from being stuck on the blades
Cons:
  • Somewhat expensive
  • The C-clamp can damage countertops

And the last slicer on our list is the LEM jerky slicer and tenderizer. While you'd think this model would be the best jerky slicer you can own, we beg to differ. This model is by no means bad, not at all, and in fact, it's wonderful, but the price tag is sure to dissuade all but the most devout jerky enthusiasts. Cast in powdered aluminum, the LEM works similar to the Weston, except it's electric.

Able to take in a slab of meat up to one and quarter inches thick, you only need to drop the meat into the chute and you'll have around fourteen strips of meat in no time! The insides are self-lubricating and easy to disassemble and clean when needed. You can also replace the blades with a tenderizer that comes in the package. The motor provides .35 horsepower, so can produce strips of meat in record time!

The LEM is a wonderful slicer, but with the high cost, we can only recommend it to those who are true jerky enthusiasts or those running a small jerky business.

Pros:
  • Easy to use
  • Able to produce strips of meat at lighting fast speeds
  • Easy to take apart and clean
  • Comes with a tenderizer
Cons:
  • Very expensive

A Guide to Meat Slicers

Now that we covered our top ten best meat slicers, let's give a more in-depth look into what a meat slicer is and how they operate. From there, we'll look at a handy buyers guide so you can find the right meat slicer!

What Is A Meat Slicer?

In the simplest terms, a meat slicer is any device that you use to assist in slicing meat. Not very complicated, is it? But as we saw, there are many different meat slicers on the market. From ones that look like they belong behind a deli counter to models that resemble cheese slicers. So, a meat slicer is a device for slicing meat but this doesn't mean it has to look the part.

After all, how many different knives do you own that all function differently? Meat slicers are basically that; a goal of slicing meat, but with different variants.

How A Meat Slicer Works

This is a simple question with a simple answer. A blade is used to cut meat into the desired thickness, simple right? Well, not quite. If you're unfamiliar with meat slicers or have seen one but never worked with it, they're a lot more going on behind the scenes. The basics of a meat slicer are the circular blade, which can be either serrated for tearing into tougher meats, or smooth but still very sharp to the touch.

The blade will spin at high RPM, using either mechanical or electrical energy to rotate the blade, and meat or other foodstuffs will be dragged across the blade. The circular motion, and high speeds, will ensure that the foodstuff is then cut into a slice. To select how thick the cut of meat, bread, cheese, vegetable, etc is, most slicers will come with an adjustment knob.

The adjustment knob raises or lowers a covering over the blade, or alternatively the height of the blade. The point is a gab of a specific size will appear between the blade and the housing, and this gap is where the different thicknesses of cuts come from. Normally the thickness will never be more than an inch, although there are some models that do offer thick cuts up to an inch or more.

Of course, as seen in our top ten list, not all meat slicers are the same. The Befen is a good example of a meat slicer that is quite unique, to say the least. It operates with a downward cutting motion, and the adjustment knob is on the blade itself. Likewise, the jerky slicers use a completely different operation, with inward blades that pull the meat forward and slice it at the same time.

For jerky slicers, the end products' length and depth depend on the meat that was being cut. You can't adjust the thickness of the cuts before cutting except to cut the meat to the desired thickness beforehand.

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Electric vs Manual Meat Slicers

To be able to work, a meat slicer needs to have some source of energy. This comes from either manual energy or electrical energy. For electrical meat slicers, a built-in motor powers the blade. They're turned on with just the flick of a switch, or several switches depending on the safety features, and spin at a constant rate.

Manual meat slicers, meanwhile, require you to provide some of the work. Either by spinning a blade or bring a blade down on the meat. They work similar to the electrical in operation, but lack the motor as you might expect. Does this mean they're any better? Well, they won't cut you by accident, but they work just as well.

The choice is yours, although we personally like electric meat slicers mostly for convenience.

Why Choose A Meat Slicer Over A Knife?

So why exactly would you want a meat slicer over a knife? After all, a good quality-knife won't be as expensive as a good-quality meat slicer. You buy a meat slicer when you're looking for both consistency and ease-of-use for slicing meats. Now, we won't say anything about how great you are with a knife, but you'll know from experience that getting the same exact cut over-and-over takes quite some time and skill.

A meat slicer removes both the time and skill, although some may argue the latter is a bad thing, and allows anyone to cut meat to whatever thickness they desire. Hence why you normally see meat slicers in delis, butcher shops, and shopping marts.

A Safety Guide To Meat Slicers

Meat slicers are great for cutting meat, and your fingers if you're not careful. Anyone who worked in a deli can tell you that it's very easy to get cut and possibly lose a finger, which is why you need to be as safe as possible when using one. Surprisingly, it's not hard to work safely with a meat slicer. All you need to do is keep your hands away from the blade.

The hand that's controlling the mechanism for moving the meat back-and-forth over the blade is normally not going to come into contact with the blade. Instead, it's the hand that's behind the meat acting like a tray to catch the slices. The back of the blade tends to be more dangerous than the front, as with the front you at least see it. For the back, you have no clue how close your hand is.

To drop the probability of being cut by the blade from behind, invest in a model that has a built-in tray, or simply collect the cuts once you're done slicing. People working in delis use their free hand to take count of the slices. If you're not selling your cuts, and are just cutting however you want, then there isn't much point keeping your hand at the back of the slicer.

Alternatively, if you do need your hand in the back, invest in a model that has a finger guard. This allows you to still catch and count the cuts, and not cut your fingers at the same time! Now, while we said that the back is more dangerous, this doesn't mean the front is any less dangerous. It's very easy to have your hand slip and run across the blade.

To decrease these odds, keep your hand as far away from the blade as possible. Either by operating the mechanism which is normally kept away from the blade, or if you have to slice by the meat itself, keep your hand firmly on the back of it. Never at the sides, that just increases your chances of being cut.

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Finally, never become distracted while slicing meat. Unless you've mastered slicing, try to avoid chit-chat, don't listen to music or watch TV, and keep your eyes focused on the cutting. If you feel dizzy or are starting to zone out, stop, and pull yourself back into the game before returning to slicing. The fact of the matter is all the safety features in the world can't stop careless actions. By being focused, you're much less likely to hurt yourself!

Buying Guide: Things to Consider When Choosing

Finally, let's cover the key points of buying a meat slicer. We'll be sharing with you the same tips that lead us to our top ten list, and we hope this can benefit you!

Do You Need A Meat Slicer?

Now, the first question to ask yourself is do you need a meat slicer? Wanting one is all well and good, but you should think hard if you need one. Normally we don't bring this part up with buyers guide, but due to both the price of most meat slicers and their size, it'll be a very big investment. You may have heard that buying a meat slicer will save you on buying deli meat, but that's not a very good reason to get one.

If you need a meat slicer, and don't run a deli, you're the type of person who hates to waste meat. Slicing leftover meat for sandwiches or smaller chunks for grilling or stews is a great idea to save the meat itself and not having to throw it away. If you are grilling that much meat, or at the very least working with tons of meat on a daily basis, you may want a meat slicer.

Another reason you may want a meat slicer is if you just want even cuts of meat. In this case, we recommend a brand like the Befen slicer. Perfect for getting the right slice, and also affordable!

Thickness Of The Cuts

When shopping for a meat slicer, the one thing you need to consider is the thickness of the cuts. As we've seen in our review, not all meat slicers have the same thickness to them. Of course, unless you buy specific meat slicers which we'll go more in-depth below, most won't go over one inch in thickness.

If you want the "deli cut", most regular meat slicers will have this option; it tends to be either the 0 or 1 setting on the knob. If you want to slice your brisket into deli slices, you're in luck as most meat slicers will do the job for you! Of course, if you want a specific thickness, you'll have to do a little research.

The easiest way to see if the meat slicer you want will provide the same thick cuts you like is going to your local deli or supermarket and seeing what their slicers are capable of. Remember, you don't have to buy the same brand. You just want to make sure which setting their slicer is on and compare it to the one you want. Alternatively, you can ask around online and in forums about the specific thickness.

Overall, if you want just the "deli cut" then most slicers will provide for you. If you want something more unique, you'll have to do some digging. Normally most meat slicers will provide under an inch in thickness, but other times they can vary such as providing up to a quarter-inch or half-inch as their maximum.

Electric or Manual?

We've discussed the difference between electric and manual meat slicers in our previous section, and to quickly summarize electrical meat slicers require a power source and manual meat slicers require you as the power source. Does this make any one of them better than the other? No. Nor does the price seem to reflect the lack of a motor as seen with our most expensive meat slicer being a manual one.

This is mostly due to your preference. Manual meat slicers can be smaller and cheaper, but so can electric meat slicers. And not even specific types of slicers, like ones for jerky or ground beef, are found in just one type. So it'll be on your part to find which you like. Some people are perfectly fine with manual, some with electrical, and then some even have one of each for specific purposes.

Our best advice here is while we like electric meat slicers the best, go for the one that can fit your budget.

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Price Range

Speaking of budget, let's talk about the price range for meat slicers. Because it's all over the place. In our review alone you saw meat slicers going for hundreds to even thousands of dollars. Do you need the most expensive meat slicer on the market? Of course not! Unless you own a business where you slice meat all day, your meat slicer doesn't have to be thousands of dollars or more.

That said, you shouldn't choose a cheap meat slicer either. While those may be smaller in size and seem to offer everything the more expensive models do, they also tend to be made of lower-quality parts. The blade is much easier to dull, or there might be little protection, or the sliding operation becomes prone to jamming, etc.

A good-quality meat slicer will tend to cost at least fifty dollars and up. For a really good model that's not made specifically for a deli or store, expect to pay around one hundred to two hundred dollars. And don't forget to have counter space for it either! Because of the high price and with most meat slicers being counter hogs, we want to remind you again to carefully consider the proposition of owning one.

If you still want one, then look for a model that's between fifty to one hundred and fifty dollars, and see if it can be small enough to fit on your counter.

Serrated Blades Or Smooth Blades?

Let's talk blades now. In our reviews, you saw how most meat slicers have either smooth blades or serrated blades. Serrated blades are designed for tearing tougher meats like bacon or a cooked brisket. Smooth blades, on the other hand, are more "jack-of-all-trade" types of blades and cause be used for practically any meat. Or non-meat items like breads, cheeses, and vegetables.

Some models will even let you switch between the different types of blades. That said, is one type better than the other? No. While serrated has the upper-hand with the likes of bacon and briskets, smooth blades can also cut them. Likewise, a serrated blade can just cheese just as easy as a smooth blade.

Again, this is a matter of choice and taste as opposed to one being better than the other. On that note, some models will have built-in sharpeners to keep your blade on point. Always pick one of these models over one without the built-in sharpener, at it will save you a lot of hassle when it comes to sharpening and cleaning.

Warranty

Due to their price points, you'll want to look into the warranty of your meat slicer before buying. Most meat slicers on the market will have limited warranties and cover things like faulty parts or breakage. Others might have extended warranties or even lifetime guarantees. Never buy a meat slicer that doesn't come with a warrant, because if it breaks, you're left with a worthless piece of junk.

Likewise, when buying electrical slicers, make sure that the warranty will cover anything related to the motor. With a manual sharpener, if a part breaks you can get a new one or keep operating without that part. But if the motor goes on an electric slicer? Well, you're looking at an expensive worthless piece of junk.

Never skip out on the warranty when it comes to a meat slicer. At some point, it will break on you, and when that happens you want to be covered.

Safety 

Because a meat slicer is a rotating blade, or another implementation of a blade used for cutting meat, you can bet that they excel at cutting you. The worst part is you normally won't even feel it, and only notice when your meat is looking extra juicy. To avoid unnecessary trips to the ER, you'll want a model with built-in safety features. These include finger guards and guards on the top of the blade that won't let your fingers get in.

We discussed safety in length already, and what's really important is paying attention to your actions. This includes not turning the blade on by accident. Many electric models have either duel-switches or won't fully turn on unless the knob is turned. These extra features, which you should always strive to get, will prevent the blade from being turned on by accident.

Lastly, most if not all models feature rubber footing to keep the machine steady and to not accidentally jerk. Because this feature is present in just about every machine, there is no point in buying one without it!

Best Meat Slicer for Jerky

Cleaning

A meat slicer needs to be cleaned regularly, normally after every use. To do this, you'll need to take it apart to get the blade, remove any excess foodstuff, and wipe down the surfaces. The more complex and part-heavy your meat slicer, the more cleaning you'll have to do. Keep this in mind when browsing for a meat slicer, as if it's very complex that means plenty of time spent cleaning it.

On that matter, most if not all parts aren't dishwasher safe. So you'll be doing the cleaning by hand.

Weight And Size

We've mentioned this a lot in our review with meat slicers being "counter hogs", and that's because they are. They take up a lot of space and due to this size, they're often quite heavy. Too heavy to be picked up and put away on a normal basis, in fact. So you'll want to try to find a meat slicer that isn't too big, which can be a challenge upon itself as even smaller models are quite large and bulky.

You're the best bet would be an unconventional meat slicer which we'll discuss below. If you want a traditional meat slicer, prepare to have your counter space filled.

Jerky Slicers

Jerky slicers aren't really just for jerky, but instead for cutting meat into "ribbons" and not "slices". It just so happens these ribbons are great for jerky! The way these works are by drawing the meat in and cutting them, extruding the ribbons at the end; they can also be both electric or manual. Do you need a jerky slicer? Well, if you smoke your meats often, it might be a good investment. The same goes if you want fajita meat!

This being said, unless you're planning on using the ribbon-like meat for smoking, fajitas, or different styles of grilling, a jerky slicer isn't going to be for you.

"Unconventional" Meat Slicers

Now is all the other slicers that don't follow a conventional slicer layout; which is to say the spinning blade. These are normally like cheese slicers and utilize a downward cutting motion. You can just adjust the size of the slice, unlike a cheese slicer. These are great for cutting meats into workable chunks and they can also be rather small in size.

They're also not that expensive or labor-intensive, and can make great investments even if you don't use them as often as you'd want. So we can recommend these types of meat slicers if you're looking into cutting meats into chunks.

Because of how big and bulky they are, meat slicers are never on anyone's barbecue list. But they can come in handy, especially if you need to get rid of excess cooked meats or need assistance in cutting meats to certain sizes and styles. They're not for everyone, of course, but they may be just right for you if you find yourself grilling all the time and want to do something more with your leftovers.

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Theresa Lori
 

Hi, I'm Theresa. My passion for grilling delicacy gradually built during the time I was living with my parents. My family members especially my mother was a great fan of grilled dishes to and from the love of food. I started preparing smoked food with my mom. This bonding helped me to know more and more about to smoke, grill what always I share on SmokeGears.com. So, in two words you can call me a BBQ lover.

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