Best Meat Slicer for Bacon and/or Brisket

[cman55]

Tried to find a previous thread on this and I couldn't sooo, here goes. I'm looking for a home use slicer that works pretty good for Bacon and/or Brisket. It needs to be easy to clean and have a reasonably wide tray. The slicer I have now limits my slices to 5in lengths which makes for a pitifully small slice of bacon. Do you folks have any preference on meat slicers? blade sizes? brands maybe? I'm willing to invest some money in this but not break the bank so the upper limit would be roughly $500. Hopefully, I can come in under that price as I have found several 10" blade slicers for under $400.

Any input and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Smoke On!!! 

 

[jp61]

If you're not in a hurry, keep an eye on craigslist. 

 

[boykjo]

http://york.craigslist.org/search/?areaID=357&subAreaID=&query=slicer&catAbb=sss

Make sure you get one with a sharpener/stones on the unit

 

[rob989_69]

CL's definately your best bet. I hunted for a few months and finally came away with a 12" berkel in really good shape with the built in sharpener. It's a beast but I'm able to do whole slabs of bacon now in minutes compared to what I was using.

BTW, got mine for $200. 

 

[got grits]

Check Cables's they have some on sale.

 

[pc farmer]

Hobart is the best slicer. Expensive thou even used. I payed 350 for mine used.

 

[louballs]

A lot of the ones I see in a retail market are chef's choice brand. Some get very good reviews. I just purchased one of the cheaper units for $130 just for bacon. Hopefully, it will be good enough to do the job the few times I'm actually going to need it.

 

[cman55]

sounds comparable to the one I got a Bass Pro in Harrisburg. LEM was the maker. The slices were too short and when you cook them up, they shrink even further. I'm looking at a 10" avantco commercial slicer. Hopefully I can get this beast for under $300 as I already know Hobarts and the Berkels are out of my price range. 

Here's the one I'm looking at:

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/ava...gravity-feed-meat-slicer-1-4-hp/177SL310.html

 

[Bearcarver]

Cabelas is a Great place to check for slicers & other Great things!!

However don't pick on short slices of Bacon. My slicer could slice longer pieces than I produce with it, for a few reasons:

#1   I cut my belly slabs in 3 pieces, so the pieces fit in gallon size ziplocks for curing.

#2   Those pieces are easy to arrange on my MES racks.

#3   Shorter slices are easier to vacuum pack & store.

#4   I never make a 14" long BLT.

#5   I don't like throwing long slices of Bacon in my frying pan, only to get the center of each piece done, and the ends not done. Shorter pieces can be moved around in the pan, so the whole slice gets done evenly.

Bear

 

[snorkelinggirl]

Hi Cman,

I know that you asked specifically about home meat slicers, not slicing knives.  But I wanted to throw this out anyway, especially if someone else stumbles on this thread looking for options on slicing bacon.  Just my husband and I at home, so only I slice up 5 to 6 lbs of bacon at a time.  I bought the following slicing knife after I got scared away from the price of good quality meat slicers. With a little elbow grease and the occasional blister, it does a very nice job of slicing full-belly-width bacon (thick-cut).

IMG036.jpg

• snorkelinggirl
• Apr 4, 2013

 

[mneeley490]

I have a knife very similar to that. It does the job when I don't want to haul out my small Rival slicer (and clean it afterwards.)

 

[Bearcarver]

I have a knife very similar to that. It does the job when I don't want to haul out my small Rival slicer (and clean it afterwards.)

I don't have to clean my slicer.

I got a Dishwasher 44 years ago, and she still does an outstanding job!!!

Bear

 

[cman55]

You guys are great! I will look into that slicing knife as I do need one.

 

[snorkelinggirl]

I don't have to clean my slicer.

I got a Dishwasher 44 years ago, and she still does an outstanding job!!!

Bear

I need to get a dishwasher like that to clean my meat grinder and stuffer!  

(But I don't think they make models like that anymore)

 

[Bearcarver]

I need to get a dishwasher like that to clean my meat grinder and stuffer!  

(But I don't think they make models like that anymore)

Yup---This was a rare find!!

Bear

 

[mart242]

sounds comparable to the one I got a Bass Pro in Harrisburg. LEM was the maker. The slices were too short and when you cook them up, they shrink even further. I'm looking at a 10" avantco commercial slicer. Hopefully I can get this beast for under $300 as I already know Hobarts and the Berkels are out of my price range. 

Here's the one I'm looking at:

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/ava...gravity-feed-meat-slicer-1-4-hp/177SL310.html

Any comments regarding the 10" avantco in the link above?  I'm sure it's made in China but the price is quite good.. and used units are either really expensive or impossible to find in my area.  

Thanks

 

[cman55]

I took the plunge today and bought the avantco 10". Thanks everyone for the input as it pointed me in the right direction. :)

 

[mart242]

I took the plunge today and bought the avantco 10". Thanks everyone for the input as it pointed me in the right direction. :)

That's the one I'm interested in as well as per my post above but I've just noticed that the "maximum product size" is 8x6.5" even though it has a 10" blade.  I guess this means short slices for us since their 12" slicer is much more expensive. 

 

[Bearcarver]

That's the one I'm interested in as well as per my post above but I've just noticed that the "maximum product size" is 8x6.5" even though it has a 10" blade.  I guess this means short slices for us since their 12" slicer is much more expensive. 

See post #9 above.

Bear

 

[louballs]

Please respond in this thread and let us know how this one works for you. It says its not good for raw meats or cheese? I saw this in my local restaurant store and if the other one I bought doesn't work out I was going to consider this one.

Thanks!

Lou