Article by Darren Pace
While a meat food slicer is an essential appliance for the commercial food industry, it is also a handy appliance for use in the home as well, however, it is essential that all food slicers are utilized and maintained properly in order to avoid the risk of injury or an illness due to contaminated food. Today, meat slicers are being purchased more often for in home use as meats can be bought in bulk which saves a significant amount of money especially when having a large family to feed. Whether you are interested in purchasing a meat food slicer or already own one, you will find the following tips on usage and maintenance helpful in maintaining their optimal performance.
Proper use of your Meat Slicer
A meat food slicer is not only useful for cutting meats in bulk; it can also be used to cut other types of food such as onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and cucumbers. All food slicers operate basically the same with a rotating blade that slices the food as it is pushed through the blade. The carriage that holds the meat or produce in a manual slicer is pushed by hand, while the carriage on an automatic slicer will move back and forth on its own. Before using your slicer, always ensure that it is clean, rust free, and that the guard for the blade is properly in place. The clamp attached to the carriage on a meat slicer will typically have protruding points or “teeth” that hold the food in place. When placing your meat or produce on the carriage, you will want to ensure that this clamp is pressed tightly against the food holding it firmly in place.
When using a manual slicer always ensure to use the handle of the carriage when pushing the meat or produce and never place your bare hand on the product to push it as you could easily slip and be injured by the blade – especially when the meat or produce becomes smaller near the end of slicing. There is typically a turning knob or dial with numbers that is used to set the thickness of the food you are slicing. To ensure that you achieve the desired thinness or thickness, slice one piece at a time adjusting the dial until you are satisfied with the cut. When cutting whole or large pieces of meat such as a ham or turkey breast, you can portion the slices to the desired serving sizes then package and freeze what is not for immediate use.
Cleaning your Meat Food Slicer Properly
Food slicers should always be properly cleaned after every use. In order to safely clean your meat slicer it is essential that you unplug the machine prior to disassembling it. Setting the dial to zero will lower the blade so that it is not exposed and the guard or cover of the blade can then be safely removed and set in warm soapy water to soak. It is always better to use gloves that are cut-resistance when cleaning the blade itself in case your hand slips as the blade is razor sharp. A solution of one part bleach to nine parts of water may also be used for sanitizing the slicer. If you are interested in purchasing a meat food slicer for your home or business, consider purchasing one made of stainless steel as these are the easiest to clean and maintain.
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