Slicer Buying Guide

Portion control is the name of the game and the slicer is regarded as one of the most valuable prep machines in the kitchen because it slices a variety of foods more evenly and uniformly than can be done by hand. There are many different types of slicers available with a variety of options. The purpose of this guide is to help you to select the proper slicer to satisfy your needs.

Slicers are available in manual or automatic models. With manual models, the operator must move the food carriage back and forth to slice product. Automatic slicers move the carriage with an electric motor, saving the operator time and labor. You also have the option of switching off the automatic function and operating the slicer manually. It is common for automatic slicers to have a single operating speed, but we do have one model available that has 2 speeds, and two models that have 3 speeds, along with 3 stroke lengths. Large-scale operations such as supermarkets usually rely on automatic models for primary use, manual models often are specified for restaurants and delis.

Slicers are most often classified according to the size of the cutting blade. This is for good reason because it will go a long way in determining the abilities or limits of the slicer. Our slicers have blades that range from 9" to 14" with 12" being the most common. 9" and 10" are limited to light duty use, 12" and 14" are good for all-around use. 12" is the most common size.

Don't overlook the carriage size. A typical slicer can hold products that range from 7 1/2" to 12" in diameter in its carriage. If you intend to slice large product, it would be good to confirm that the slicer's carriage will accommodate it. Another important factor with regard to the carriage is the degree of the angle at which it is situated. A steeper carriage angle is preferable as it facilitates self-feeding of the product.

The motor outputs of our slicers range from ¼ to ½ hp. The motor output combined with the size of the blade and carriage will determine the overall capacity of the unit.

Sanitation and operator safety are the other big factors to look closely at when selecting a slicer. Each unit employs various features in this regard and we recommend that you view the appropriate specification sheets to get a good overview of the safety and ease of cleaning on a particular model.

We recommend that you consult the chart below to narrow down your search. Then, view the specification sheets of the models that you are interested in to determine exactly which slicer is the one for you.

Item	Recommended Uses	Features & Benefits
Avantco SL309 9" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/4 hp	For use in very low volume applications of less than 2 hours of slicing per day. 9" Blade limits product size to 7 1/8" wide, by 6" high, or 6" diameter for the Berkel and 7 1/2" wide by 5" high, or 5" in diameter for the Avantco. These units are not recommended for slicing cheese. Not recommended for high volume or institutional use.	1/4 hp motor Compact style Easy to clean Built-in sharpener
Berkel 823E 9" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/4 hp
Avantco SL310 10" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/4 hp	For use in very low volume applications of less than 2 hours of slicing per day. Carriage handles food up to 7 1/2" wide, by 6" high, or 7" diameter for the Berkel and 8" wide, by 6 1/2" high, or 6 1/2" in diameter for the Avantco. These units are not recommended for slicing cheese. Not recommended for high volume or institutional use.	1/4 hp motor Compact style Easy to clean Built-in sharpener
Berkel 825E 10" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/4 hp
Avantco SL312 12" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/3 hp	For those who slice approximately 4 to 5 hours per day. Carriage handles food up to 10 3/4" wide, by 7 5/8" high, or 7 3/8" diameter for the Berkel, and 9" wide, by 7" high, or 7" in diameter for the Avantco. These models are suitable for slicing moderate amounts of cheese, but no more than 30 minutes per day. This slicer is good for small restaurants and diners.	1/3 hp motor Full size 12" blade on compact unit Easy to clean Built-in sharpener
Berkel 827E 12" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/3 hp
Avantco SL512 12" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice approximately 4 to 5 hours per day. Carriage handles food up to 10 3/4" wide, by 7 5/8" high, or 7 3/8" diameter for the Berkel, and 11" wide, by 8" high, or 8" in diameter for the Avantco. These models are suitable for slicing moderate amounts of cheese, but no more than 30 minutes per day. This slicer is good for small restaurants and diners.	1/2 hp motor Full size 12" blade on compact unit Very easy to disassemble and clean Built-in dual action sharpener
Berkel 827A 12" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp
Berkel 829E 14" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice approximately 4 to 6 hours per day. Suitable for frequent slicing of cheese. Carriage handles food up to 11" wide, by 8 1/2" high, or 8 1/2" diameter. This slicer is good for large delis, catering and supermarkets. For those who slice approximately 4 to 6 hours per day. Suitable for frequent slicing of cheese. Carriage handles food up to 11" wide, by 8 1/2" high, or 8 1/2" diameter. This slicer is good for large delis, catering and supermarkets.	1/2 hp motor Precise slice adjustment to a 5/8" thickness Largest blade on the market Very easy to disassemble and clean Gauge Plate Interlock, improves the consistency and uniformity of product feed and improves safety for cleaning
Berkel 829A 14" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp		1/2 hp motor Precise Slice adjustment to a 3/4" thickness Largest blade on the market Very easy to disassemble and clean Built in two stone sharpener
Hobart 2712 12" Automatic Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice 5 to 8 hours per day. Suitable for heavy duty slicing of cheese. In automatic mode, there are two speeds operating at 36 or 52 slices per minute.This slicer is good for high production restaurants, deli's and institutional use.	1/2 hp motor 2 automatic speeds Heavy Duty Components Antimicrobial protection Very Easy to disassemble and clean Built in two stone sharpener
Hobart 2612 12" Manual Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice 5 to 8 hours per day. Suitable for heavy duty slicing of cheese. This slicer is good for high production restaurants, deli's and institutional use.	1/2 hp motor Heavy Duty Components Very Easy to disassemble and clean Built in two stone sharpener
Hobart EDGE-1 Manual Slicer 1/3 hp	For those who slice 3 to 5 hours per day. Suitable for moderate volume of cheese slicing. This slicer is good for restaurants, deli's and caterers.	1/3 hp motor Unique angled carriage handle Very Easy to disassemble and clean Built in two stone sharpener Ergonomic design for operator comfort
Berkel X13 13" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice 5 to 8 hours per day. Suitable for high volume of cheese slicing. This slicer is good for large-scale restaurants, delis and caterers.	1/2 hp motor Heavy Duty Components Extra-Capacity Produce Table One Piece, No-Slip Polymer Base Diamond Crystal Sharpening Stones Ergonomic Design for Operator Comfort
Berkel X13A 13" Automatic Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice 5 to 8 hours per day. Suitable for high volume of cheese slicing. This automatic slicer is good for large-scale restaurants, delis and caterers.	1/2 hp motor 3 Speeds (20, 40, 60 Slices a Minute) 3 Stroke Lengths (1/3, 1/2, Full Stroke) Extra-Capacity Produce Table One Piece, No-Slip Polymer Base Diamond Crystal Sharpening Stones Ergonomic Design for Operator Comfort
Berkel X13E 13" Manual Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice 4 hours or less per day. Suitable for moderate to high volume cheese slicing as well as vegetables, meats and fruits. This slicer is good for large-scale restaurants, delis and caterers.	1/2 hp motor Extra-Capacity Produce Table One Piece, No-Slip Polymer Base Diamond Crystal Sharpening Stones Ergonomic Design for Operator Comfort
Berkel X13AE 13" Automatic Gravity Feed Slicer 1/2 hp	For those who slice 4 hours or less per day. Suitable for high volume cheese slicing as well as meat, fruit, and vegetable slicing. This automatic slicer is good for large-scale restaurants, delis and caterers.	1/2 hp motor 3 Speeds (20, 40, 60 Slices a Minute) Extra-Capacity Produce Table One Piece, No-Slip Polymer Base Diamond Crystal Sharpening Stones Ergonomic Design for Operator Comfort