Best Slicer Reviews 2018

The construction material of a slicer is sure to affect the price. For instance, a stainless steel slicer will definitely cost more than a plastic slicer. Knowing the main purpose for which you require the slicer will help you decide which type to get. Bear in mind that stainless steel slicers can handle large volumes or batches of slicing much better than plastic ones.

The general price range of slicers is from about $30 up to around $120, depending on the specific features that the product comes with. During our research, we came across many cheap slicers that will not stand the test of time, so we didn’t bother with them.

A good slicer lets you slice your foods neatly and precisely with minimum effort. To achieve this feat, let’s look at some of the features that you should consider when choosing a great slicer for your needs. These features include:

• Style of the platform
• Size
• Blade shapes
• Material
• Extra features

A slicer is composed of three main parts – the platform, the blade and the hand guard. Slicers vary greatly in style when it comes to platform. Based on this feature, slicers can be grouped into three types: adjustable platform, insert platform and flat board platform.

The adjustable platform is the preferred style of seasoned chefs, because it allows instant adjustment of the slice sizes without having to go through the process of switching blades. In this type, the blade remains on the platform, with adjustable thickness options that you can select by adjusting the blade. This type limits the shapes that you can cut with the slicer, but gives varied thickness of that same shape.

The insert platform style comes with several detachable blades of varying shapes, which you attach on the slot in the slicer and use to make your cut. This style is more flexible when it comes to shapes, but it limits the thickness, as you have the same blade shape with different sizes. Flat board platform slicers feature a single stationary blade and thickness. You can only make one dedicated shape with uniform thickness. Most V-slicers are constructed on a flat board platform style.

Slicers are designed to be lightweight and compact units that store away easily. Even when in use, they take up little room, and this makes them highly portable. There are a few slicers that are moderately large, especially the older variations on the flat board platform design. Although they’re still functional and in use, they’re not popular now, as everyone is looking for smaller and more compact gadgets and tools for the kitchen.

Slicer blades are made from high-quality stainless steel and are razor-sharp with surgical precision. They come in different forms for cutting different shapes, such as straight, wavy, Julienne cut, cubes, V-shape and many other interesting shapes, out of all kinds of foods. Extra care should be taken when using, changing or cleaning the blades, as they can cause some really nasty cuts otherwise.

The first slicer ever was made out of a block of wood. Since then, there have been improvements, including all-metal slicers and plastic slicers. A metal slicer can be constructed from aluminum or stainless steel, while plastic slicers are mostly constructed from sturdy, food-grade plastics. Choosing an all-metal or plastic slicer is entirely based on personal preference, as there’s no clear-cut advantage to one over the other. Although there are still wood slicers, they’re a little hard to find nowadays and are mainly sought for their beauty rather than their function.

Most slicers come with illustrated instruction manuals to aid first-timers, especially in setting up and using the slicers. Although it might seem like a simple enough tool, it takes some practice to correctly assemble and master the right techniques for slicing foods safely on the slicer and still come out with your fingers intact. But after the first few attempts, it becomes progressively easier, and before you know it, you’ll be slicing away with no stress at all. Slicers are manual tools, so there are no electrical connections to worry about.

Most slicers come with hand guards which play an important role in their easy and safe use. A guard holds the piece of food to be sliced, and then you hold the guard and guide the food towards the blade for slicing. This is a safety measure that keeps your hand as far away from the blades as possible, to help prevent slicing of your fingers alongside the food. A great hand guard fits snugly in your hand and doesn’t leave a good stub of the vegetable unsliced.

For enhanced performance, the surface of the platform has to be smooth, sturdy and obstacle-free so foods don’t get caught on it. This also increases safety and uniformity. The slicer should not flex under applied pressure. A large enough width is also important for top performance, so you don't have to trim your vegetables before slicing.

Some brands equip their slicers with a receiving bowl underneath to collect sliced food, thus eliminating the need to stop intermittently to collect the piling items. This feature is much neater and reduces time spent on slicing foods. Slicers come with handles that give firm and non-slip grips, so you can make clean slicing strokes for even slices.