Can You Use A Meat Slicer To Cut Vegetables (the great meat slicer debate)

Let’s face it, we have been there working for hours cutting meats, vegetables, and fruits, yet you somehow end up slicing irregular slices. Food is the life of every party! So, therefore, with being delicious, it must be pleasing to look at too. But can you use a meat slicer to cut vegetables?

Yes, meat slicers are perfectly safe and easy to use and clean when cutting vegetables. Meat slicers are designed to cut through tough surfaces with ease. This means they can easily handle even the toughest vegetables, such as carrots and celery.

But there are many things to keep in mind when using a meat slicer for cutting vegetables, and in this article, we will uncover all of them. Keep reading to learn more about cutting vegetables with a meat slicer and why you should consider it.

Why Use Meat Slicer To Cut Vegetables?

A meat slicer is already a gem for cutting different types of meat, but it is also a perfect tool for cutting vegetables. And here are some main reasons why:

4 reasons why to use meat slicer for cutting vegetables

It helps you get even slices every time

Not everybody is a perfect slicer; even expert chefs sometimes miss it. But if you continue using a meat slicer every time you need to cut your vegetables, you will always get even slices. Getting even slices of your vegetables not only helps you keep track of your calorie intake but also makes your food delicious and expertly made. 

It saves you a lot of time

No one wants to waste hours of their daily routine cutting vegetables! And this is one of the many reasons why meat slicers can be a great everyday-use kitchen tool. Think about all the time you can save and use for something more productive, maybe cook an extra dish, do some yoga, or any other hobby you always wanted to pursue.

Easy meal preps

As we said, a meat slicer is a great time saver! It helps you save time and makes your daily kitchen tasks done easily. If you are a college student or a working mom, you would also be preparing meals in advance. Just cut all those vegetables at once, divide them into sealed bags, and put them into the freezer. 

Meat slicers make your meal preps easy. Once all your vegetables are already cut and stored, you can just get them out, defrost and use them! 

Meat slicer is safer than knives

Although meat slicer has their own challenges when using them, it is way safer to use than knives. You always be focused when using any kind of blade, but with meat slicers, you know what goes where reducing the chances of you getting hurt while cutting vegetables.

What vegetables can you cut with a Meat Slicer?

Meat slicer blades are made to cutting any type of food. So, you can cut every kind of vegetable with a meat slicer, be that cutting onion, cabbage, tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, or potatoes.  

What type of vegetables should you avoid cutting with a meat slicer?

You can use a meat slicer to cut every type of vegetable out there. However, we will advise you to avoid using it to cut leafy vegetables like spinach when you cut vegetables such as spinach, kale, or any vegetable with hard seeds. As these vegetables can damage the blade.

Things to keep in mind while using a meat slicer

So you know why using a meat slicer in your kitchen can be a great idea. And you also got to know what you can cut with a meat slicer and what to avoid. It’s time to go through some key points to remember when using a meat slicer.

Here is a list of things to keep in mind when using a meat slicer.

Use fresh Vegetables

Another important point to keep in mind when using a meat slicer is always to use fresh vegetables while cutting with a  meat slicer. Although it is not a hard and fast rule, we recommend using fresh veggies because fresh vegetables don’t turn brown when cut with a meat slicer. 

This point is especially important if you are having guests over for dinner. No one would like to eat a salad with brown veggies. 

Never forget to wear safety gloves

Safety comes first! Whether you are using a knife or a meat slicer, keeping yourself safe is very important. Using a cut-resistant glove when cutting vegetables keeps your hands safe from unwanted incidents.

Don’t overcrowd your meat slicer

Yes, you heard it right. Never overcrowd your meat slicer. Because it will make it hard for the blade to slice them properly, and you can also damage the blade in the process. You can always divide the vegetable into different bunches and use them every time.

Don’t use wet vegetables

You must always wash your vegetables before cutting and also before cooking. However, make sure the vegetables are dry when using a meat slicer.  As cutting wet vegetables make the process of cutting them difficult. Also, soggy veggies can slip while cutting them, so you can end up hurting yourself.

Lock the blade when not using

Yes, always keep the meat slicer blade lock when not using it. Even if you are the most careful when you use a knife or meat slicer around the kitchen, it’s good to take precautions—especially if you have kids around all the time.

Keep the machine clean

Cleaning your meat slicer after every use keeps its blades new and also prevents your next food from getting any contaminated material on your food. When washing your blade and cleaning the machine, remember to unplug the machine to avoid any harmful incident.

Bottom line

We cannot deny how handy a meat slicer can be around the kitchen, be that for cutting meat, vegetables, or fruits. With a little safety and keeping in mind the dos and don’ts when using a meat slicer, you can prepare amazing meals in no time!