If you’re planning on buying a meat slicer or wondering if the one you have will cut raw meat, then I might have the answer for you!
Unfortunately, there’s no YES or NO answer when it comes to using a meat slicer for raw meat, if you want to be optimistic about the probability. While most people will say no outright, I have been able to slice raw meat when it’s a little bit frozen. Basically, it shouldn’t be a floppy mess when you’re planning to do the job.
The truth is that meat slicers can perform a broad range of cutting jobs on different types of meats—be it beef, pork, chicken, lamb, and even vegetables. But you need to learn which type of meat slicer to use and how to get the best possible results.
Even more important is the fact you need to know which products NOT to try and slice regardless of your meat slicer’s brand or model.
Though ‘technically’ there’s no meat slicer that’s supposed to cut raw meat, you can get it done with a little bit of creativity. But beware: don’t use the slicer on cooked food right after using it for cutting raw meat as that will lead to cross-contamination.
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What other products not to use with a meat slicer?
1. Anything with seeds
Fruits that come with hard shell seeds are an absolute no-no when it comes to using a meat slicer (don’t know why you’d want to do that anyway). Seeds and pits of apples, avocados, peaches, plums, mangoes might cause irreversible damage to your appliance. Tomatoes or similar fruits are fine, though.
2. Meat with bone
This is pretty obvious because a slicer can get damaged when it comes in contact with a hard object like the bone. You must only use your slicer on meat that has been thoroughly deboned.
3. Frozen meat (debatable)
Okay, this is kind of debatable because it depends on to what degree your meat is frozen. If the meat is frozen solid, then do not even think of using the slicer on it. If the meat is barely frozen, you can try, but again that’s dependent on your risk tolerance.
4. Meat chunks that are too big
You shouldn’t also try to cut slabs of meat that look like it came straight out of a wooly mammoth! And by that, we mean meat that is too big in comparison to your slicer. If you have a big slab of beef or lamb leg, be sure to chop it into medium pieces. Otherwise, you’re just going to end up damaging the slicer.
So, that’s all we have to say on the topic. Are you going to try slicing through raw meat anytime soon? Let us know in the comments below.