Commercial Meat & Deli Slicers

Deli Slicers: What You Need to Know

Meat slicers are the hallmark of a serious deli, whether standard, utilitarian-looking models or eye-catching flywheel slicers meant for presentation kitchens. They're also common in grocery stores, sandwich shops, concession stands, and more.

Freshly sliced meats are more flavorful and present more-appealing scents that make it easier to merchandise your foods. By using a deli meat slicer, you or your chef get to determine the proper thickness of a cut of meat. The thinnest slices provide the greatest sensory experience and can be stacked more efficiently to help give customers results they'll love while helping you cut costs. With a deli-counter setup, your customers can watch their meat being cut, assuring them that their sandwich will be as fresh as possible.

However, deli slicers are also dangerous, as is most kitchen equipment. The blades are incredibly sharp, and if operators clean them without proper preparation and care, fingers can be lost. Not all commercial slicers are the same, either. You'll have to choose between manual and automatic versions, different grades of use, and whether or not you want to be able to slice cheese in addition to deli meats.

Common Questions About Commercial Slicers

What is a deli slicer?

These units provide the fastest and easiest way to process meats, cheeses, and other foods into consistent slices. Consisting of a super-sharp disc blade that spins at high RPM and a carriage that holds foods so they can be moved by the blade for slicing, deli meat slicers range from fairly simple to highly complex. The chief considerations are what you intend to slice, how much of it you'll process in a day, and whether you want an automatic machine that does much of the work for the operator or a manual unit that requires more effort but comes at a more economical price.

While the meat slicer has become a popular appliance for home chefs, these restaurant meat slicers should not be used in residential kitchens. Heavy-duty units like these present dangers to novice users; some foodservice operations dedicate hours to training new hires on proper use of the slicer. While these units are equipped with a long list of safety features, from ring guards to no-volt release systems, they're still best left to the professionals.

Should I get an automatic or manual model?

Deli slicers are available in both manual and automatic varieties. With a manual model, the operator must move the cutter back and forth to slice products. These are frequently found in lower-volume sandwich shops, small delis, and restaurants as they give a precise cut that's dictated by the operator. Automatic models feature an electric motor that moves the cutter back and forth, thus reducing the time, labor, and safety risk that comes with a manual deli meat slicer. Best for bulk cutting, automatic commercial slicers are typically found in grocery stores and high-traffic delis and eateries. There's often an option to turn off the automatic feature and use those slicers manually. Automatic units tend to be more expensive than manual models.

Which blade size do I need?

There are three ranges of blade size available for meat slicers: 9-inch small models, 10-inch medium models, and 12- to 14-inch large models. The blade size is a good indicator of what products the unit is capable of slicing. Smaller 9-inch models can cut for less than 30 minutes at a time and are a good choice for fresh meats. They're typically found in manual slicers. The slightly larger 10-inch models can cut for more extended times, typically as long as an hour. Many models can slice softer types of cheese for a brief amount of time but aren't recommended for heavier cheeses or long periods of time. The 12- to 14-inch blades are the toughest and strongest and are designed to cut dense items, such as frozen meats. These blades are found on the most powerful models and enable them to cut continuously. If you'll be frequently slicing cheese, these blades are the only way to go. Because of their strength, 12-inch blades are the most popular blade choice. However, you should consult the product specifications page before purchase. Blade length isn't the only factor determining what your slicer can cut or for how long.

What difference does horsepower make?

Depending on what you're cutting, the motor's horsepower can be very important. Lower-powered models have ¹⁄₅ horsepower, and while this is plenty for a small deli, it wouldn't be sufficient for a high-volume restaurant or a grocery store. More powerful models have either a ¹⁄₄-horsepower or ¹⁄₃-horsepower motor. These motors can be found in commercial slicers designed for more frequent use. The most powerful deli meat slicers have a ¹⁄₂-horsepower motor and are found in the models that'll be used all day.

Should I get a belt- or gear-driven deli slicer?

Every commercial slicer is either driven by a gear or a belt. Belt-driven transmissions are the more popular and are commonly used to build lower-powered models. They're the less expensive type, but eventually the belt will need to be serviced. Gear-driven transmissions are more rugged and are used in the most powerful models. While they typically won't require service as frequently as a model with a belt, the complexity of the gear system means that when something does go wrong, it costs significantly more to repair it.

Should I get a stainless steel or aluminum commercial slicer?

All commercial slicers are made from either stainless steel or aluminum. Lower-priced models are made from aluminum, which is durable enough to withstand low- and medium-volume use. Besides being strong enough to handle heavy use, stainless steel models are also easier to clean.

Are all deli slicers also cheese slicers?

Many first-time buyers assume that any slicer they choose will be able to slice all the cheese they need. In reality, some models should be strictly used as a meat slicer because they're not strong enough to slice cheese. Many slicers are rated by how much cheese they can slice a day, with some able to handle 30 minutes or less and others slicing significantly more. Check the product specifications page for the cheese slicer you're considering to ensure it'll cut enough for your needs.

How do I maintain a commercial slicer?

Newer commercial slicers come with several sanitation features that older models don't have. These have been implemented to comply with stricter NSF standards for cleanability. For example, the sharpener, screws, and end weights are all removable to facilitate cleaning of these items. Also, you'll find controls such as power buttons and knobs have been encased in an easy-to-clean plastic to prevent bacteria from entering the areas around them.