Chef's Choice Meat Slicer - Meat Slicer Review + Video

Are you tired of making sure all of your knives are perfectly sharpened for every job in the kitchen? Hate the strain on your hands from cutting large cuts of meat? Read my review of the Chef's Choice meat slicer and let me give you a few pointers on choosing the right meat slicer for your kitchen.

Jump to:

• Why You Should Trust My Opinion On How To Choose A Meat Slicer
• What Can A Chef's Choice Meat Slicer Cut?
• How Does The Chef's Choice Meat Slicer Work?
• Reviewing Points For The Chef's Choice Meat Slicer
• 1. Footprint
• 2.Ease Of Cleaning
• 3. Safety Features
• 4. Different Blades
• 5. Plastic vs Metal Parts
• Removing/Replacing the Blade on the Chef's Choice Slicer
• Best Meat Slicers of 2020
• Chef's Choice Meat Slicer Pros And Cons
• Would I Buy This Chef's Choice Meat Slicer?

Why You Should Trust My Opinion On How To Choose A Meat Slicer

• Cookbook Author: I've written 5 Instant Pot Cookbooks and 2 Air Fryer Cookbooks so I've spent more than my fair share of time in the kitchen.
• Efficient: That's the only way I know how to do things in the kitchen. Who has time to waste when you're trying to get food on the table? I'm known for my ruthless efficiency and use the pot in pot cooking method every chance I get.
• Gadget geek!: I'm a self-proclaimed food tech enthusiast and have been known to purchase (and review) just about any kitchen appliance I can get my hands on.

What Can A Chef's Choice Meat Slicer Cut?

By the name of this slicer, you would assume that it is best suited for slicing meat. Don't let the name fool you. It can slice so much more than just meat. Here are a few other things we tried slicing with it for this unbiased review:

• Ham
• Beef
• Beef Roast
• Capicola
• A large loaf of bread

How Does The Chef's Choice Meat Slicer Work?

Before jumping in, I’m going to go over a few features. To begin, the meat slicer has a switch that automatically turns the spinning of the blade on and off. Then, there’s a dial on the side that determines the thickness of the item you’re slicing.

This only comes with one serrated blade. There’s one other blade you can buy separately that has a that’s supposed to be used for thin cuts which I purchased as well.

To start this review, I used a thicker cut with the setting of 10. I started with the larger, rounder loaf of bread.

To cut the bread, place the flat portion of the bread on the sliding portion of the meat slicer. There should be a spiked metal piece you can then place against the outside of the bread that better holds it in place and protects your hands from the blade.

However, the one that came with the meat slicer was too small to use with the larger loaf of bread.

I find it helpful to use a cut-resistant glove that protects your hands from cuts.

Once you either have your glove or the protective piece in place, turn on the switch that puts the blade in motion and start sliding the contraption with the bread on it, back and forth.

You don’t have to do it super slow but, you don’t want to go too fast either, especially starting out. Get used to the machine first and the feel for it.

Buy One Here

Watch The Video Review

Reviewing Points For The Chef's Choice Meat Slicer

1. Footprint
2. Ease of Cleaning
3. Safety Features
4. Different Blades
5. Plastic vs Metal Parts

1. Footprint

I'm going to be honest. A full-sized meat slicer probably isn't something that you are going to use every day. Since it's a kitchen gadget that won't be on a daily rotation, the footprint of this meat slicer can be a deal breaker for many people.

If you have a small kitchen space, this may not be the kitchen gadget for you. However, if you have a larger kitchen, have storage space to tuck it away when not in use, or just love the convenience of an electric slicer, the larger footprint of this Chef's Choice meat slicer is worth it.

If you're wondering what the exact dimensions of this meat slicer are so you can see how well it will fit in your kitchen, they are:

15.50 x 10.40 x 11.00 inches

2.Ease Of Cleaning

As with any other kitchen gadget, if it makes your time in the kitchen more difficult, it's not worth the investment. One of the things I was most concerned about when I picked up one of these Chef's Choice meat slicers was how difficult it was going to be to clean.

I was pleasantly surprised that this meat slicer comes COMPLETELY apart for thorough cleaning. Here are the parts that detach for easy cleaning (even I can do it):

• Blade
• Food carriage
• Pusher
• Food Deflector
• Thickness Guide

When choosing an electric food slicer, you will want to choose one with removable parts. If you can't remove all of the pieces, you are likely not getting your slicer completely clean. To guarantee your safety and your family's safety, you should always clean your slicer thoroughly after each use.

3. Safety Features

I'm sure you've heard horror stories of meat slicers and missing fingers before. While there is some danger in using a meat slicer, it is completely safe to do so if it comes with the proper safety functions and you use it responsibly. Here are a few things you should look for in a meat slicer to make sure you're being as safe as possible:

• A safety guard that covers the blade when in motion for applicable settings
• A mesh glove to protect your fingers when slicing food
• Slicing settings that lock in place so the blade doesn't adjust while slicing
• A nonslip bottom so the slicer doesn't move while being operated

4. Different Blades

As I discussed in the Chef's Choice meat slicer video above, there are two different styles of blades you can use in a meat slicer. Those blades are:

1. Smooth
2. Serrated

You will notice after using your slicer a few times that certain foods will cut better with certain types of blades. So things that are more delicate or things you want to be sliced thinner will require a smooth blade. Things that are more dense or are not being cut paper thin will do better with a serrated blade.

Not all meat slicers come with both. The Chef's Choice meat slicer only comes with a serrated blade. So if you wish to also have the smooth blade, you will need to purchase it separately.

Another important thing to note is that the blades for different meat slicers are not universal. Some have different attachment points and are different sizes. Make sure to exercise caution when selecting a replacement blade for your meat slicer.

5. Plastic vs Metal Parts

This reviewing point can be a little deceiving. While most people would assume that you would want to always choose a meat slicer that has metal parts internally and externally, this isn't always the case. While they are more durable, they are not essential in a quality meat slicer.

If your meat slicer (like this Chef's Choice meat slicer) has plastic internal components it can be just as reliable and durable as a slicer that is completely metal. The only thing you need to do is make sure the parts are thoroughly lubricated so that there isn't any unnecessary friction between the moving plastic parts. I like to use this food grade grease because it doesn't make a mess and it is easy to get in all of the small spaces.

Removing/Replacing the Blade on the Chef's Choice Slicer

At some point, you might want to remove the blade. In order to do this:

• Slide the “meat rest” as far back as possible and you’ll see a black nut on the front of the blade that says, “To remove blade.”
• You need a screwdriver--or a kitchen knife! The nut wasn't all that tight so it’s fairly easy to remove.
• Remove the nut and slip the blade off. If you look at where the blade was sitting and at the back of the blade itself, you’ll see white grease which is what protects the blade from eating itself.
• Choose whatever blade you want to put on and match the side with the white gears facing inward and the side without the gears, facing outward.
• Slip the nut back on, tightening it back to the same level of torque or tightness as it was before, and you’re ready to cut again.
• I switched from the serrated blade to the smooth blade.

Best Meat Slicers of 2020

Chef's Choice Meat Slicer Pros And Cons

Pros

• It did a nice smooth cut on the bread. You can set the thickness to fairly thick to very thin, and the slices were easy to cut, had a smooth edge, and were done cleanly. 
• Smooth, easy slices on both soft cheese like Havarti, as well as firmer cheese like Cheddar.
• As long as you cut across the grain, you get a great, even, thin slice of meat. This would work beautifully for a hot pot party at home.
• If you push the meat nice and slow, you will get great, even slices with this meat slicer.

Cons

• If you have a large piece of bread or meat, you can't really use the guards that are in place in the Chef's Choice meat slicer. You will see in the video that I used a cut-resistant glove in those instances. It's still doable, but it's something to be aware of.
• We tried slicing capicola with it. I attempted cutting it with the serrated blade earlier and it cut it pretty thin but, not quite as thin as I would prefer with this type of meat. So, we tried it with the smooth blade since it’s specifically meant to cut thinner slices. I set it on a thickness level of two and slid it through the blade as I did all the other items. It went through quite smoothly and turned out pretty thin but, still wasn’t as thin as the store would be. I turned it down to one and it was a little better but still not as thin as I would have expected on the lowest setting. Denser meats seem to slice thinly, but thinner ones like the capicola may take a little practice.
• You have to buy the smooth blade separately, as it only comes with the serrated blade. It's not a deal breaker, but something to be aware of.

Would I Buy This Chef's Choice Meat Slicer?

Overall, this is an excellent meat slicer. It will slice what you want it to slice. You may have noticed I was pushing the meat through a little slow, this allows for a nice, clean cut rather than mangling it, especially on the softer meats and cheese.

Buy This Meat Slicer If:

• Your family eats a lot of deli meats, cheeses, or you slice your own bread
• Hate sharpening your knives
• Like the speed and convenience of a meat slicer
• Have plenty of cooking space

Pass On This Meat Slicer If:

• You have a smaller cooking space
• Wouldn't use an electric slicer frequently enough to justify the expense
• You are nervous about the safety of using a meat slicer

More Helpful Kitchen Gadget Reviews

• Instant Pod Coffee & Espresso Maker
• Misen Santoku Knife Review
• Instant Pot Ace Blender Review
• Instant Pot Mini Duo Review
• Chef's Choice 615A Meat Slicer Review
• How To Use A Food Saver
• How To Choose An Instant Pot
• KitchenAid Nespresso Espresso Maker
• Instant Zest Rice Cooker
• Souper Cubes
• Skoy Dish Scrubbers
• Sous Vide Accessories
• Phillips Starfish Technology Air Fryer Review
• Nutrimill Artiste Review

If you found this Chef's Choice Meat Slicer review and the list of the best meat slicers of 2020 helpful, make sure you share it on Facebook and Pinterest so your friends can decide if they need one too.