Our Step By Step Guide To Sharpening Your Meat Slicer Blade
Meat slicers are perfect for slicing chunks of meat quickly and fast, however, the blades on these kinds of machines can get blunt fast, especially when used to cut tougher parts of meat.
Sharpening a meat slicer blade is a simple process, all you need to do is take some precautions such as wearing safety gloves, lock your sharpening stone in place on the machine and let the blade sharpen up until it can slice through food such as an apple without too much pressure.
So as we can get into a little more detail about when to sharpen your meat slicer blade, how to sharpen it by hand and machine and the tools you need for the sharpening process we have composed a small guide below with everything you need to know to get you started.
How Often Should You Sharpen a Meat Slicer Blade?
Before you decide to sharpen your meat slicer blade you should make sure that it needs sharpening, the best way to tell if your slicer needs sharpening is by checking the quality of the meat after slicing, the meat should be smoothly cut and not torn by the machine. You can also use a smooth surface food item as we mentioned above and hold it against the blade to see if it slices through.
If you have to add a lot of pressure to the food item for it to slice then it most likely needs sharpening, however, if the blade is still sharp then it will slice through with little issues.
On average, however, you will need to sharpen your meat slicer the more you use it, this will most likely be every two weeks to maintain the sharp edge.
Precautions To Take Before Sharpening Your Meat Slicer
Sharpening your meat slicer is easy, but the blade is still very sharp, so there are a few precautions you need to make sure you are taking so you can be safe when adjusting the machine.
- Use the blade guard – Always put the blade guard back on the meat slicer when not in use just in case.
- Unplug the machine before cleaning – Only turn the machine on when needed for sharpening, when not in use keep the machine unplugged just in case.
- Do not submerge it in water – Meat slicers contain electrical parts so you should be careful not to place the whole device in water to avoid electrical shock or damage to the machine.
How To Sharpen a Meat Slicer Blade By Hand
Some meat slicers come with a sharpener inbuilt but some other types will need you to sharpen the blades by hand, either way, you will need the following tools.
- Gloves and goggles – You should always wear protective gear on your eyes when filing your blade to prevent any parts from going in your eyes, wearing gloves will also protect your hands from sharp edges while sharpening the machine.
- Sharpening stone/whetstone – Some meat slicers as we mentioned above will come with a sharpener in-built, this is called whetstones, others will require you to purchase a sharpening stone separately.
- Cloth – You will need a cloth to wipe down your meat slicer blade before and after to prevent rust build-up, make sure the cloth is soft so as it cannot scratch the blade.
- Blade sanitiser – After sharpening the meat slicer blade on your machine you must sanitise it so as it can be ready for use with food again.
To sharpen your meat slicer by hand follow our step by step guide below.
- Step one – Position your sharpening stone on the meat slicer blade and locate the sharpening knob on the machine, lock the stone and sharpener in place and tighten it till you hear a clicking sound on the machine.
- Step two – Turn the meat slicer on and let the machine grind against the blade to sharpen it, let the machine run for 30-second intervals a total of three times with a 5-second break in between each sharpening session.
- Step three – Do the smooth food surface sharpening test to see if the blade is ready, if not then sharpen again. Once sharpened unmount the sharpening stone and adjust the sharpening knob on the machine again, clean the blade with a cloth.
- Step four – After cleaning, then sanitise the blade to disinfect it, let it dry then replace the guard on the blade.
How To Sharpen a Meat Slicer With a Machine
Sharpening your meat slicers blade on a machine is a similar process to sharpening it by hand but slightly easier as you do not need to attach the stone for sharpening yourself.
We have listed the steps for you to follow below.
- Step one – First of all, wipe the blades on your meat slicer down to remove any food debris, loosen the knob and swivel the attachment until the sharpening blades and sharpening stone is in line with eachother.
- Step two – Switch the sharpening blade button on and sharpen the slicer in 30-second intervals as we said above with 4-second breaks, after clean the blade once again with warm water and your cloth then sanitise it so as it is ready to use with food once more.
Serrated Meat Slicer Vs Smooth Meat Slicer – Which Is Better?
When sharpening your meat slicer blade, you might notice that there are two types on the market to choose from when it comes to slicing meat, slicer blades which are serrated and smooth slicer blades.
Both are great for slicing through cuts of meat but have their pros and cons according to the type of meat you are slicing and how you want the finish to be.
Serrated Meat Slicer Blades
Serrated meat slicer blades are pretty similar to bread knives and use the serrated dipped edges which are like teeth to grip onto the meat. These serrated blades work better on lean meat cuts like venison as they have a much better grip for slicing through.
Smooth Meat Slicer Blades
Smooth meat slicer blades, on the other hand, are more popular and best for slicing through any type of meat, the thinner blade is perfect for cutting fine pieces of meat into small pieces with ease and work great for other purposes such as slicing blocks of cheese too.
Which Type Of Meat Slicer Blade Should I Choose?
Overall, if you can afford it, we would recommend having both types of meat slicer blades so you can cut different types of meat with ease, using the serrated option for tougher meats and the smoother one for all purposes.
If you had to choose one type of blade however we would recommend going with the smoother option as it is more versatile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sharpening Meat Slicer Blades
How do you sharpen a serrated meat slicer blade?
Many people might assume sharpening a meat slicer serrated blade differs from sharpening a smooth one, but you should follow the same process according to the manual of your meat slicer and use a sharpening stone as required.
Why is my meat slicer blades not spinning?
If your meat slicers blades are not spinning then it is most likely down to blocked food somewhere in the machine or a faulty motor mechanism in the model which needs repairing or replacing.
How do I maintain my meat slicer blade?
Maintaining your meat slicer blade is simple, we would recommend cleaning it often to prevent any food debris from building up and sharpening the blade at least every two weeks to prevent it from becoming too dull.
Final Words
To conclude, to ensure you are sharpening your meat slicer blade safely, make sure you have safety protection gear such as gloves and goggles and have a sharpening stone on hand for the process or use the one attached to your machine. Try and sharpen your meat slicer blade every two weeks according to usage and clean it often to prevent food debris from building up on the machine and affecting its spinning process.