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The Rise of Home Meat Slicers
Serious home cooks aiming to create a restaurant-style kitchen in their own homes are now coveting another piece of culinary equipment. Surfaces may already be straining under the weight of appliances like air fryers, espresso machines, and high-end mixers, not to mention the pizza oven in the shed. Yet, middle-class food enthusiasts are increasingly adding deli-style meat slicers to their polished countertops.
What Makes Meat Slicers Appealing?
This 'industry'-style equipment, priced from around £50 for budget versions on Amazon to early thousands for premium models, can precision-slice everything from smoked salmon to hams, cheeses, and even sourdough with ease. While they might seem like an indulgent addition to an everyday kitchen, top chefs argue they are worth the investment. Not only does charcuterie taste superior when freshly sliced, but buying meat in bulk and slicing as needed can lead to significant savings and less waste, ensuring wafer-thin sheets of Parma ham don't go unused in the fridge.
How Meat Slicers Work
Meat slicers, available in both hand-operated and electric models, cut food into uniform sheets, allowing users to adjust thickness to influence flavours. Most come with an additional serrated blade for bread, and a decent slicer can also handle vegetables effortlessly. For a mid-range product, market leader Berkel—often compared to KitchenAid for mixers—offers stylish, compact cutters in cheerful colours. A Berkel Slicer Home Line 200 Plus Red costs around £500, while Argos sells a Magimix T190 Food Slicer for approximately £170.
Expert Endorsements
TV chef Raymond Blanc, who runs Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, finds the arrival of such devices 'interesting,' noting their multi-function use makes them appealing for amateur cooks. He said, 'I think people are using them for not just meat but also vegetables and slicing homemade bread. People are becoming a bit more daring with their food, creating more for family and friends at home. We seem to be investing in more home gadgets such as these.'
Further endorsement comes from Italy's most successful Winter Olympian, Arianna Fontana, 36, who has attended six Winter Olympics and won 12 speed skating medals. She swears by travelling with a portable meat slicer and Bresaola, air-dried salt beef from Lombardy, for sustenance. Fontana explained to NBC Olympics, 'Every day I would just cut a few slices and have it… and that was a big fuel for me for sure.' Similarly, Team GB double gold medallist Lizzy Yarnold, who won Olympic skeleton gold in 2014 and 2018, told BBC Winter Olympics host Clare Balding that she owns a meat slicer gifted by her husband and recommends it.
The Impact of Social Media
Chef Homam Ayaso, Director of Content for cooking channel Tasty UK, attributes the rise in home meat slicers to social media. He told the Daily Mail, 'There's been a real rise in seeing such equipment in homes. I think the main reason is probably social media. Where once people thought such appliances were too professional and expensive, they realise that they're now actually more accessible. People want fine dining at home, they want restaurant quality, cuts and approaches.'
Ayaso highlights the dual benefits: financial savings and enhanced taste. 'When it comes to value, you can buy a bigger piece of meat, for example, from your butcher and slice it to the size that's right for your family. It's absolutely worth investing in from a financial point of view. It's a bit like buying pre-cut fruit, when you have the full fruit in front of you, you get that extra zestiness and freshness. It's a similar experience with the meat slicer—it'll taste better than the ready-sliced cuts.' He also admits that presentation plays a role, saying, 'It's for the 'Gram isn't it? People want that presentation. If I end up buying one, I know I'm not going to be slicing meat ahead of a dinner party. I'm going to show off and slice it right in front of my guests.'
Available Options
Various models are available, including the Graef Silver Electrical Slicer, Caterlite Meat Slicer 190mm, Italinox Commercial Meat Slicer, and Argos Cookworks Food Slicer, catering to different budgets and needs.
