Cut Prep Time By Using The Right Food Slicer

As a passionate home cook, Masterchef is compulsory viewing and having just enjoyed another culinary challenge, it occurred to me the contestants probably aren't the only ones who forget about other slicing gadgets which get the veggie prep job done a lot faster than a knife.

Faced with making 150 meals, the six participants were split into 3 teams each team to make one course of food. Well, the sweet camp moaned about the delicate sugar spinning they needed to do, which was funny to watch as they learned the skill, but that was nothing compared to the mountain of zucchini, egg plants, red peppers, onions and potatoes the two main course contestants were faced with.

One took the lamb and began trimming up 150 portions, whilst the other calmly and oh so slowly, began slicing zucchini. Two hours later she was through them and the egg plants, just peppers, onions and 150 large potatoes to finish then cook - and just one hour to service!

The show judges had to step in with other chef's and the food went out half an hour late, by which time the exalted guests they were cooking for were visibly the worse for too many aperitifs! We all laughed, but I'm still astonished no one showed them a kitchen mandoline or meat and food slicer - either would have been a hundred times faster and a lot safer.

You don't need to be a professional chef to benefit from a mandoline slicer, they couldn't be easier to use, the only drawback is a very sharp blade, so some care needed. You can buy cut resistant fabric gloves with Kevlar interwoven in the cloth, or for super clumsy people like me, a steel mesh glove, very gothic looking and very safe.

Nowadays they are designed with a variety of blades that snap in and out easily, enabling grating, ribbon curls and of course julienne vegetables as well as a variety of slice thickness, very versatile indeed. You can also buy little gadgets that look like a mini old fashioned mangle and they produce thin curly spirals of veggies.

Having just dealt with a humongous amount of zucchini which needs slicing then drying, without a good mandoline slicer, like those contestants, I'd still be at it!

The other must have slicer for home use and especially brilliant for homemade bread or artisan loaves, is a home food slicer. These are a smaller version of deli meat slicers and for making packed up sandwiches for the family every day, invaluable. You'd be surprised how much money as well as time, a home meat slicer can save you, not least because if you buy cooked pre-sliced ham or similar, you'll pay more for it - and it's never quite as you'd slice it.

The same goes for cheeses, they really are more expensive bought in pre-packed up slices. Even raw meat works out a lot cheaper - sliced and diced stewing beef is always priced higher per lb.

So if you are still slowly slicing with a knife and you wouldn't mind finding a better way which saves fingers, nails and provides uniform even slices of whatever you desire, here are two kitchen slicing gadgets no chef would ever be without, and they work just as well in home kitchens.

If you'd like to read more about home food slicers or you want more kitchen tips, gossip, pithy product reviews and the lowdown on what works and what sucks plus quick recipe ideas, then drop in and see me at Gadgets For The Kitchen where you'll be very welcome. Rate this Article

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Meggy Harley has published 7 articles. Article submitted on November 19, 2013. Word count: 542

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