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Meat slicers are one of those machines that don’t seem as useful as they actually are. Once you get your hands on one, you realise the sheer power and versatility.
You can use a meat slicer like this to cut not just bacon, but any other meat, into slices as thick or as thin as you want. Create your own charcuterie plate? Simple. Cut bacon slices thicker than you can buy them anywhere else? Easy. Slice down a rack of ribs and prepare them for the barbecue? Maybe. If you buy the right one.
But slicers like these can be used on damn near everything. Fruit and veg, cheeses, bread. Anything that you want finely sliced and controlled, you can do it, from the comfort of your own kitchen.
Best Bacon Slicers
![KWS Commercial 320W Electric Meat Slicer 10' Frozen Meat Deli Slicer Coffee Shop/restaurant and Home Use Low Noises [ ETL, NSF Certified ] (Stainless Steel Blade - Silver)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41uleLilsjL._SL160_.jpg)
Chefman Electric Deli and Food Slicer
Sleek and compact, the Chefman is a fantastic budget slicer that’s got a lot to offer, despite the low price tag.
We’ll start with this size. It’s a tiny 9×12 inches, which means the footprint is about the same as most kitchen appliances, and will comfortably sit on most counters.
The serrated 7.5 inch stainless steel blade is powered by a 180 watt motor, which is higher than the average at this blade size and price. The blade is fully retractable under a guard for safety when not in use, and the blade is also removable for simple cleaning.
The thickness dial makes changing settings easy, and the food pusher and non-slip feet mean that it’s easy to use, even for beginners. Unfortunately, there’s no included drop tray, although that’s a simple fix. The only real downside is that this is surprisingly loud in operation.
However, for the price you pay, the overall performance is really impressive, and it’s also entirely covered by a full 1 year warranty, which is why this hits our top spot.
Beswood 10” Meat Slicer
A step up from the standard, this meat slicer by Beswood is larger and far more powerful, making it a better choice if you see yourself regularly using it, or cutting large amounts in one hit.
Powered by a powerful 240 watt, 1/3 of a horsepower motor, the chromium plated, 10 inch carbon steel blade will chop through almost anything. Made from aluminum, the whole structure is strong, tough, and corrosion resistant.
Everything is controlled by a simple selection dial which can be set from 1 to 12 mm, and a double illuminated on switch. Everything is US approved to NSF and ETL sanitation standards, meaning this is hygienic as well as safe.
There’s also some nice touches built into the body that you wouldn’t find on more budget models, like the built-in knife sharpeners, skid-proof rubber feet, and premium-V belt which means it’s a lot quieter in operation than a lot of meat slicers, despite the increased power.
Overall, there’s a lot to love. The only thing we would say is that this might be a little too big and powerful for a lot of kitchens. But if you need performance, this is one of the best.
KWS Commercial 320W Meat Slicer
KWS makes incredibly powerful pieces of kit aimed more at the professional, commercial market, and this meat slicer has been designed with those needs in mind.
That doesn’t mean it’s not also fantastic for home use, though. At 20 by 18 inches, with an exceptionally powerful 320 watt motor (the second most powerful on the list, only beat by another KWS model) this is powerful enough to carve clean through the largest joints and work constantly without risk of failure.
The whole thing is built around a solid and stable aluminum alloy base, with a 10 inch premium stainless steel and Teflon blade for the actual cutting. The blade can be set from 1 to 10mm, and unlike a lot of cheaper options on this list, this slicer comes with a removable product tray as well as a whetstone to keep the blades sharp.
Effortless to take apart and clean, which you’ll appreciate if you’re using this a lot, you also get a second belt with this, to keep everything running smoothly when the first starts to wear from overuse.
In short, it’s a hefty but effective piece of kit that’s suited for the largest homes, as well as hotels, restaurants, and anyone who needs a big, powerful meat slicer that’s going to see a lot of use.
Sophinique 7.5” Deli Slicer
If you’re buying a slicer to handle a wide variety of different home jobs, the best option on our list is this, the Sophinique.
This is because, unlike a lot of meat slicers, this comes with a choice of three different stainless steel blades, all designed around different kitchen roles. There’s a serrated blade for hard or frozen meat, an undulating, wave-like blade for fresh meat, and a flat, non-serrated blade for bread and veg.
This is all powered by a decent 150W motor and an adjustable thickness dial that can be set from 1 to 15mm. All of the working parts are removable, for easy cleaning, and it makes changing the blades easy.
A small footprint of 15 by 11 inches, a tiny 10 lb weight, non-slip feet, a blade guard and food pusher round out this decent little slicer, which is also covered by a 1 year warranty.
Techwood Electric 9” Deli Slicer
Small but powerful is the best way to describe the Techwood meat slicer. Compared to similar models, everything seems to be a step up, and this is overall an incredibly impressive piece of kit, that’s marred by a single small issue.
First off, the blade is a larger 9 inches of 420 stainless steel blade, which gives a larger cutting edge and less of an angle, which means smoother and easier cuts. The blade is powered by a 200W motor, which is again about 30% more powerful than we’d expected to see at this price.
The working parts are decent quality, particularly the bearings and drive belt, and it’s easy to run, with a simple thickness dial that goes from 1 to 15mm, a food shield, and removable blade and working parts for easy cleaning.
The single downside is the maximum use time. This is only recommended for a maximum use of 10 minutes at a time, so it’s not suitable for bigger kitchens. But if that’s not something that affects you, for the price, it’s hard to find a better deal.
OSTBA Meat Slicer
Small, well built and very highly rated, this OSTBA meat slicer is excellent all round.
Made from cast iron, with a stainless steel 7.5 inch blade powered by your choice of a 150 watt or 200 watt motor, it puts out the power and will easily deal with the majority of kitchen issues. A removable ring guard makes cleaning much simpler and helps to prevent jamming.
The blades can be set from 0 to 15mm, and the footprint is reasonably small at 14 x 9 inches. There’s a child safety lock on the power button, making sure that little fingers aren’t going to do anything silly, and it holds itself to your counter-top with suction cup feet to help with slippage.
Well made, with a lot of power for such a low price, this is one of the best generalist bacon and meat slicers on the market.
KWS 12 inch Commercial Meat Slicer
![KWS Metal Collection 420W 12-Inch Meat Slicer MS-12DT Anodized Aluminum Base with Teflon Blade + Blade Removal Tool, Frozen Meat/ Cheese/ Food Slicer Quiet [ ETL, NSF Certified ]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/413AwItcl+L.jpg)
By far the largest and most powerful model on this list, the KWS commercial is a very powerful machine that’s built for the rigors of a professional kitchen, which means it can and will easily handle absolutely anything you can throw at it.
The huge 12-inch Teflon steel blade is powered by a massive 420W motor and can be set to slice at 1 to 15mm distance. Despite the size, the blades are simple and safe to remove using the provided tool, and can be kept sharp with the built-in sharpener.
The all-metal design is incredibly tough, but it should be. The body is made from rugged, hard coated anodized aluminum, with a large 24 x 20 inch footprint and a dense 60lb weight. This is probably a little big for a lot of kitchens, but then, it wasn’t designed for them.
Certified ETL and NSF, it’s safe and hygienic, and without a doubt the single most powerful meat slicer on this list. But it’s probably just too much for a normal home. If you need something to handle commercial jobs, then the KWS is a reliable and effective tool. If you want something for your house, we’d recommend the Chefman.
Chef’sChoice Electric Meat Slicer
A petite and simple meat slicer, the Chef’sChoice slicer is the perfect choice for smaller kitchens that might only see the odd need for a bacon slicer.
Made with a slightly higher construction quality than entry level models, all structural components made of aluminum and stainless steel. The internals are excellent, with a high torque motor and geared drive that make full use of the relatively low 120 watt motor, so it doesn’t feel sluggish or struggle to cut.
These smart design choices continue through the system, such as the tilted food carriage that makes cutting easier than on a level plane. Slice thickness is selected through a standard dial, but the built-in carriage lock keeps everything secure when it’s not in use.
Finally, the blade is slightly smaller than average, at 7 inches, but still made of quality stainless steel. All of this makes the Chef’sChoice the, well, choice for occasional use and reliable performance.
MoonGiantGo Manual Meat Slicer
Manual bacon slicers are the sort of thing you might see in a top-class kitchen, and there’s a reason. A piece of kit like this can carve through literally anything.
The large cleaver-style cutting blade is a beast, and will easily chop through skinned meat and larger joints, such as cow, lamb and pig, as well as chicken, ribs, and of course, bacon.
Built-in anti-slip serrations hold the meat in place and make it much easier to cut skinned joints. The working parts are made from tough 430 stainless steel, and the two foot long lever gives you a massive amount of torque, so even thick bone doesn’t take much force.
The whole thing is metal, making it durable and long lasting, with a non-slip design. It also comes with a storage tray, made from the same high quality metal as the rest.
Finally, it’s covered by a one year warranty, just in case something goes wrong.
CGoldenwall Manual Meat Slicer
Another manual slicer, this model by Cgoldenwall is slightly cheaper, but still more than suitable for any home kitchen. It’s built around a thick 4Cr13 stainless steel blade that carves through large flanks, chops, even thinner bones like ribs and chicken legs.
The working area is large, with everything precisely calibrated and set out. The cutting thickness is simple to adjust, and can be set from 0 to 60mm.
The wide, stable construction is tough and hard-wearing, with large and widely set feet stop slipping, and the provided stainless steel collection tray keeps cut food safe and hygienic. If you regularly cut thicker pieces of meat, or have a large family, you should definitely consider a manual bacon slicer like this.
Best Bacon Slicer Product Guide
Like every product, there’s a lot to differentiate different bacon slicers, and for the uninitiated it can be hard to tell the difference. Here’s what you should be looking for when buying a meat slicer.
The Blade
One of the two most important aspects of a meat slicer is the blade, as it’s the part that’s going to do the heavy duty work.
Larger blades present a wider cutting surface, which is important for two reasons. One, a wider blade has more surface area, so can cut a larger product without issues, letting you cut more at once.
Second, a larger blade actually cuts better, because of the physics of the longer cutting surface, and how that interacts with what it’s trying to cut through.
You’re going to want to look for a blade that’s made of stainless steel, in order to keep it sharp and corrosion free. The best blades are made from treated metal, generally chromium or Teflon, which will last significantly longer. Investing in a stronger, better blade early, especially if you expect to use your slicer a lot, will save you money in the long run.
Of course, a larger blade is also heavier, and needs a bigger motor to run, which leads us nicely to the next point.
The Motor and Power
The driving force of the whole machine, a strong motor is important because it affects literally everything you do with your meat slicer.
More power means smoother operation and easier cuts, without the blade stalling or struggling to make it through whatever you’re slicing. For home use, anything above 150 watts is sufficient, but for commercial usage, look for something in the 300 watt range.
Slicing Thickness
All slicers on our list have adjustable thicknesses. Most common is a simple dial or knob that sets the distance of the blade from the rear plate.
Blade slicing thicknesses generally start at 1mm, and run up to anywhere from 10 to 20mm.
The General Build
A better build quality is always good, because no one wants to spend a couple of hundred dollars, only for your new toy to fall to pieces after one use.
The best slicers have a frame made of metal, which can take the impacts and rough treatment of a busy kitchen.
Better models will also have extra tools built-in, like blade sharpeners, and might also come apart easier for cleaning, which is something that will be heavily appreciated after heavy use and the slicer is covered in small pieces of meat or veg.
Safety Features
Most meat slicers are relatively simple to use, but should still be used with care, as they’re designed to carve clean through joints of meat, and errant fingers aren’t any different.
Blade guards, food pushers and blade changing tools are relatively standard safety features, so we would be wary of non-budget models that don’t have these features.
We would also pay attention to how easy it is to turn on and off. Slicers designed for home use generally have child-proofing built into their power system, just in case.
Final thoughts
For general use in most home kitchens, a simple slicer with a decent motor and good construction will be more than enough, which is why we recommend the 180W Chefman.
For larger kitchens that need more raw power, we’d instead go for the KWS Commercial 320W, which is powerful enough to deal with almost anything you point it at.
But regardless of what you need, picking anything from our list will guarantee that you go home with a decent option. Thanks for reading!
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