Who doesn't love juicy and delicious jerky every once in a while? Whether you are going camping, having some friends over for a BBQ, or simply at home, a delicious and juicy homemade jerky makes for a great snack. That's why everyone needs the best meat slicer for jerky in their kitchen! And did we mention that these slicers are not just perfect for jerkies? You can also use them to slice vegetables, fruits, and other frozen meats, making this a very handy appliance to have in your kitchen.
We’re going to help you find the best jerky slicer out there. We have listed the 5 best meat slicers for jerky and more, so if you are looking for the best option, then just keep reading!
1. Anescra Electric Deli Food Slicer With Two Blades
This is one of our favorite food slicers simply because it does exactly what it says! Powered by a 200-W motor, this food slicer ensures smooth operations and cleaner slices. Whether you are looking for a meat slicer for home or commercial use, this one is perfect for both.
It comes with two 7.5-inch premium stainless steel blades that slice your jerkies, roast meat, prosciutto, vegetables, fruits, cheese, and any other type of food beautifully! These blades are removable, and you can easily adjust the size of slices between 1/32 inch to 1/2 inch. You can cut paper-thin slices of cold meat for your brunch with family or 0.6-inch-wide slices for that nice beef jerky dinner for the family with a simple turn of the knob.
This electrical meat slicer also comes with some amazing safety features, which are a must when you are using powerful machines like these. The strong suction rubber feet ensure the deli slicer stays in place when in use or cleaning, while the recessed power switch prevents accidental switching on and off. It also meets all the food safety standards.
The full metal design delivers excellent results every time and makes this meat slicer durable and long lasting. The food carriage is removable and makes cleaning post-use super easy!
Pros
- The 200-W powerful motor helps smooth operations
- The food carriage is removable for quick and easy cleaning
- Two blades – one serrated and one smooth depending on your requirement
- Recessed switch to prevent accidentally switching on and off
- Compact size makes it easy to use and store
Cons
- The backplate is not sturdy enough and sometimes moves away from the blade
2. Cuisinart Kitchen Pro Food Slicer
This is one of our favorite food slicers when it comes to home use. The Cuisinart Kitchen Pro Food Slicer makes slicing meat a piece of cake! Convenient to use and fast, you can use this food slicer not just for meat slices but also for cheeses, vegetables, bread, and other foods.
Friends or family coming home for lunch? Serve perfect servings of delicious roast beef or paper-thin slices of prosciutto in no time with this easy-to-operate food slicer! It comes with a 7.5-inch stainless steel blade and a powerful 130-W motor for smooth performance. The slice control knob lets you adjust the thickness from 1/32 inch to 1/2 inch so you can cut everything from apple slices for a juicy apple pie to thick slices of meat for a BBQ. You can even remove the blade for easy cleaning.
If you are looking for a durable food slicer that will last you a long time, then this Cuisinart pro food slicer is what you need. The premium coated steel and die-cast aluminum housing makes it sturdy, and non-slip rubber feet ensure stable operations.
Pros
- 300-W motor for smooth operations
- 7.5 undulated stainless steel blade for perfect slices every time
- Easily adjustable slice knob from 1/32-inch to 1/2-inch
Cons
- Makes it slightly hard to slice frozen meat
If you are looking for a meat slicer to last, then the Chef'sChoice Electric Meat Slicer is what you need. Made of cast aluminum and stainless steel, this slicer is rugged and long lasting. What sets this one apart is the powerful high torque motor with a gear drive that ensures smooth and effortless slicing of all kinds of meat.
This non-commercial slicer comes with a 7-inch stainless steel blade that helps you slice a wide variety of foods. The tilted design and adjustable thickness dial let you make deli-thin slices to one-inch-thick slices with ease. You can slice jerky meat, chunks of meat, bread, cheese, and vegetables using this slicer.
When you are buying a slicer, apart from the blade, the second most important thing to look for is if it’s easy to clean. This meat slicer ticks all the boxes when it comes to ease of use and cleaning. You can remove the blade, food carriage, food pusher, and thickness control dial for quick and thorough cleaning.
For safety purposes, this electric slicer comes with a safety lock to keep the food carriage in place when not in use. This is especially handy if you have kids in the house!
Pros
- Power high torque motor for quick and easy slicing
- Tilted food carriage ensures fast slicing
- Safety lock prevents accidental use
- Removable blade, a food carriage, and pusher for easy cleaning
Cons
- The gears are made of plastic
The perfect combination of elegance and power is what makes the NESCO Stainless Steel Food Slicer a great buy! Designed with a multipurpose 8.7-inch stainless steel serrated blade, it lets you slice everything from pieces of meat, vegetables, fruits, bread, and cheese. This versatile slicer features a compact design but delivers excellent results thanks to its powerful 180 W gear motor.
This slicer also comes with a thickness control dial, which lets you slice meat in different sizes – from paper-thin to 9/16-inch thickness. What makes this slicer great for home use is the number of safety features it comes with. The heavy-duty slicing guard holds food securely to ensure consistent slices and smooth movement, while the non-slip rubber feet prevent movement during use to ensure safety. It also comes with a recessed power switch to prevent accidental switching on and off.
For quick and easy cleaning, it comes with a removable food carriage. It is designed with a quick-release tab that is super easy to use and clean.
Pros
- Sharp blade that features a serrated design to maintain sharpness
- Removable food carriage and blade for quick and easy cleaning
- Sleek and compact design
- 180 W gear motor for powerful and consistent results
Cons
- The gears are plastic and might need replacing after a while
Looking for a jerky slicer that will give you deli-quality sandwiches? Then this Professional Series Pro Meat Slicer is just the thing!
Designed to sit comfortably on top of the kitchen counter, this meat slicer comes with a tilted carriage and serrated blade that delivers thin slices with minimum effort. The 7.5-inch stainless steel blade and the die-cast aluminum body make this slicer durable and long-lasting.
You can slice everything from turkey, salami, cheese, ham, beef jerky, and more in a variety of thicknesses using this kitchen appliance. You can either slice your meat super thin or thick depending on your choice or occasion. The non-slip suction cup feet prevent movement and ensure safety at all times while using this slicer.
Pros
- Deli-style results with different types of meat
- Sleek design and tilted carriage for faster and easier slicing
- 180 W motor power for smooth performance
- Great for home use
Cons
- It does not come with a recessed power switch for safety purposes
Your Guide to Buying the Best Meat Slicer for Jerky
There is a range of meat slicers out there, and we hope that these meat slicer reviews will help you narrow down your options and find the best fit for you. While a sharp knife can be used to cut thin slices of meat, a meat slicer will give you the option of getting a variety of jerky slices that are consistent and easy to slice.
Apart from the reviews, here are some general tips and things to look out for when buying a meat slicer for jerky. There are four aspects that are extremely important when choosing the best slicer, and we will be discussing them today.
1. Motor
When it comes to a meat slicer, it is the motor that determines how fast it can cut the slices and how much power a chunk of meat can bear. The motor's performance is typically determined by the horsepower and the more the horsepower, the more you can use the slicer and faster.
A light-duty horsepower slicer is great for slicing thinner meats and can slice for up to one hour in a day, while a medium-duty slicer can be used for slicing meat and cheese for around 2-3 hours per day. The heavy-duty ones can be used for 4-6 hours every day and are best if you plan on using the slicer every day or you’re buying it for commercial purposes.
For occasional use at home, a low horsepower model will suit you best and also save you money.
2. Blade
Don't always go for slicers with bigger blades. Actually, the size of the blade should be determined by what you are going to use it for. While a large-sized blade can be used to cut meat as well as vegetables, smaller-sized blades are lightweight and can be used to cut thinner meat chunks into narrow slices.
For home use, go for blade sizes between 7-inch to 10-inch because they are easy to use and clean. For commercial purposes, you can opt for a slicer with a blade size anywhere between 12 inches to 14 inches.
3. Ease Of Use
There are two main types of meat slicers: automatic meat slicers and manual meat slicers. Depending on your use and comfort, you can choose the kind of slicer you need.
While an automatic slicer is easy to use as you don't need to operate the machine for each slice, all you need to do is feed the meat and set the thickness of slices and get on with your other work. Whereas manual meat slicers allow you finer cutting control.
If you are looking for a slicer for a commercial setting, then an automatic meat slicer will work best as it is faster and easier to use.
4. Safety
Meat slicers and especially commercial meat slicers are heavy-duty kitchen appliances that need to be used with safety precautions. So, always check for slicers that come with built-in safety features.
A blade guard is always handy and a must-have in any meat slicer. Also, look for a large power on/off switch for emergencies and also try to find one with a recessed switch for better safety.
These are four main aspects/features that you need to check for while buying any meat slicer.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Can a meat slicer cut meat with bones?
A sturdy and heavy-duty slicer can possibly cut through bone, but it will damage the blade and is not really recommended.
2. Can you use a slicer to cut frozen or raw meat?
You can cut raw meat with a meat slicer, however, make sure you clean the blade thoroughly before using it for any other food as the chances of cross-contamination are high.
When it comes to cutting frozen food, the blade could be damaged in the process so it’s not recommended. You can thaw the meat for a while before processing to slice it.
3. How do you clean a meat slicer?
Using regular soap can damage the blade, which is why you need to use a good sanitizer concentrate for regular clean-ups. You can find good quality commercial sanitizer online, but always make sure you use a pair of gloves before cleaning to ensure safety.
4. How often should you clean the meat slicer?
Clean your meat slicer after every use. Every time you use the slicer, the juices of the meat coat the blade and can lead to bacteria build-up. Also, clean your slicer every once in a while even if you don't use it to get rid of dust and dirt.
Wrapping It Up
Overall, our top pick for the best meat slicer for jerky is the Anescra Electric Deli Food Slicer simply because of the powerful 200-W motor and the fact that it comes with two blades. Depending on what you are making, you can choose either the serrated blade or the smooth one. It is easy to clean and comes with different safety features, so it basically ticks all the right boxes!
Whatever you choose, you will get to enjoy different slices of meat and make your life in the kitchen easier with a good slicer!
You can also check here another ways to make jerky with our buying guide on best jerky maker kit.
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