Pork belly as the name suggests is a boneless cut of meat, fatty meat at that from the belly of a pig, and is particularly popular in the region of Asia – found in Chinese, Korean, Filipino and Norwegian cuisine.
One might begin to wonder if there is any difference at all between Bacon and Pork belly.
Well, they are quite different, although Pork belly, like bacon, starts out from the underside or belly of a pig – not particularly the stomach, the flesh that is found on the underside of a pig.
What keeps them different from each other is that while bacon is cured, pork belly is uncured, unsmoked, and unsliced bacon. Hence, you can purchase pork belly to make bacon out of it – once it is cured and smoked, it becomes bacon.
Slicing meats generally isn’t much of a daunting task once there is a Meat Slicer within your reach.
It is however not a daunting task at all if you have a top-notch professional-grade Meat Slicer available. How easy and seamless!
Are you in a hurry? Briefly see the best 3 Meat slicers for your pork belly.
- Nesco FS-250 180 watt Food Slicer: Having a compact and durable design, this product is the ideal meat slicer for home use as it is more affordable and easier to use when compared with many other products.
- CUSIMAX Meat Slicer: Proven to be one of the best food slicers over the years, this lightweight, budget-friendly model is absolutely perfect for home slicing
- Zica Food Slicer: Being in the market for quite a while, this commercial-grade slicer offers enough features to fit in as one of the best models on sale in the market.
Table of Contents
Factors I considered before making my choice of meat slicers for pork belly
Just before you go ahead to purchase a Meat slicer, what features should you look out for?
What were the factors I considered before including these products in my list? Read further to know.
Quality of meat slicer
A high-quality meat slicer is sure to work effectively and efficiently as it eases you off any form of stress when you need to slice your pork belly.
A professional-grade is usually of a higher quality compared to a home model. This is why if you’d be slicing a large scale of pork belly, meats generally or food generally, paying attention to the quality of the product matters.
For instance, someone who runs a big restaurant is meant to get a product with a higher quality to cater to the large scale of food which will be sliced.
Storage space & Size
Meat slicers are likely to take much space on your countertop, hence the need to always put them away by placing them in a cabinet or on a shelf after use.
However, the size (weight) of your meat slicer determines if you’ll be able to achieve this. In this regard, purchasing a light-weighted meat slicer would be a good one.
This is why you’d find a number of light-weighted meat slicers on my list.
Power
Measured in wattage, the power of your meat slicer determines how far and how long it can work non-stop.
For a home model, you do not need much power as it’ll be used less often and less heavily compared to a professional grade.
When shopping for a meat slicer for home use, a product with less than 200 watts would suffice. However, a professional-grade meat grinder requires well over 200 watts to function effectively.
On my list, I have both home models and professional-grade slicers; you’re simply picking a product that fits your needs.
Blade
You’d find a number of products with the automatic blade sharpening feature, although not all. However, purchasing such products would save you the stress of having to sharpen the blades often and often.
Virtually all of these products have their blades removable for the ease of cleaning after use, hence, the probability of you getting yourself injured with the blades while cleaning is reduced.
It is important to note that to keep the blade sharp and in good condition, it should be rust-resistant. Models produced strictly for home use have smaller blades compared to professional grades; this is because they are not to be used as often as the professional grades.
However, if you make use of your home model very frequently, you should note that it should not be overfilled as this could weaken the blades.
Frequency of use
How often you’d make use of a meat slicer determines the sort of product you’d have to purchase.
For persons who would barely make use of the meat slicers and would only have to make use of it when they need to make special meals, a home model is okay.
But for persons who would make use of it very frequently, a professional grade should be your choice, especially when you’d usually slice a large scale of food.
Sturdiness
You of course want a sturdy meat slicer and not one that moves around while in operation. From my list, you would find a number of products with strong suction rubber feet, making them anti slip while in operation, thus ensuring sturdiness. With this you do not have to hold down the product causing you to lose focus on other activities you may be involved in right in the kitchen.
Durability
Arguably, one of the features that buyers look out for when purchasing anything whatsoever, are getting value for their money, and this is not an exception.
You of course want a product that you’d be able to use and reuse over and over again, not one that you purchase today and backs off soon afterward.
Hence, durability should be one of your concerns when purchasing a meat slicer as a long-lasting product that gives you value for your money.
Scanning through my list, you’ll find that virtually all the products I reviewed promise durability which is an assurance that they’ll last longer.
Versatility
In recent times, it has been discovered that buyers tend to go for versatile products when purchasing kitchen appliances.
When it comes to versatility, there a number of meat slicers that do not only slice meats but perform several other tasks like slicing hard cheeses, fruits, ham, and vegetables.
This is why when searching for which meat slicer to purchase, the versatility of the product is very key as I have portrayed in my list.
However, to get a versatile product, you would be required to spend more as versatile products are usually more expensive than non-versatile products.
After-use Cleaning
Cleaning an appliance as such generally could be very tedious and tasking. This is why when purchasing a meat slicer; you’d need to consider how difficult it is to clean it.
In this regard, your choice of meat slicer should be one that disassembles and wipes down easily once it is time to clean. Not all meat slicers have dishwasher-safe components.
This means you would have to always wash with your hands. However, for a product with dishwasher-safe components, you are good to go!
Here are my Top 6 Meat Slicers for your Pork Belly
Nesco FS-250 180 watt Food Slicer
The Nesco FS-250 180 watt Food Slicer is a very powerful food slicer, with the ability to slice pork belly, and all other forms of food.
Accompanying it is an adjustable thickness control knob, helping you to control how your meat is to be cut – from thin to thick.
Its large and detachable stainless steel serrated blade is able to handle a wide range of food sizes and shapes.
It is however important to note that the motor of this appliance is never to be immersed in water or any other liquid as this could end up damaging it.
Specifications:
- Material: Stainless steel, Die-cast aluminum
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Wattage: 180 watts
- Dimensions: 14.5 x 8.63 x 11 inches
- Colour: Silver
- Voltage: 120 volts
- Weight: 13.07 pounds
Pros:
- It comes with an adjustable thickness control knob
- Although with an elegant design, it is a powerful food slicer
- This product is not without versatility as it performs several slicing tasks
- It has a dual safety feature
- It is very easy to use and clean right after use
- It has suction power
- It has a durable stainless steel blade that maintains its sharpness even through continuous use
- It comes with a user guide, and it is advised that you refer to the user guide before use
- It comes with a heavy-duty slicing guard and a removable food carriage
- It doesn’t take up much counter space
Cons:
- This product doesn’t have the ability to slice large blocks of meat
Final Verdict:
This product has got virtually all of the features that you may be looking out for.
Why then do you need to waste more time? You should purchase yours now
CUSIMAX Meat Slicer
This product is an electric food slicer with a 7.5” removable stainless steel blade and pusher.
It’s got an adjustable knob for thickness, a food carriage, and non-slip feet. It has a precise adjustable thickness from super thin to thick for slicing various foods.
It also comes with an instruction manual to be your guide on its usage. However, it has an 18-month warranty. Like many other products, this too boasts of versatility as it is deli, cheese, vegetable, bread and fruit cutter.
On a final note, it is easy and safe to clean as it’s got a removable blade. Its features are also dishwasher safe, thus, making your culinary chores easier and more efficient.
Specifications:
- Material: Stainless steel
- Colour: Silver
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Modus operandi: Automatic
- Power: 200 watts
- Voltage: 120 V
- Maximum slice thickness: 15 mm
- Blade Type: Removable, Non-Serrated
- Dimensions: 11.8 x 9 x 10.2 inches
- Weight: 10.89 pounds
Pros:
- It is easy and safe to clean as it’s got a removable blade.
- Its features are also dishwasher safe, thus, making your culinary chores easier and more efficient
- The product is durable and easier to maintain as well as operate
- It has a precise adjustable thickness from super thin to thick for slicing various foods
- It is versatile as it not only slices meats but slices various foods
- It comes with an 18-month warranty
- It’s got strong suction rubber feet, making it anti-slip while in operation
Cons:
- It doesn’t slice frozen foods and meats with bones
- The product must not be operated continuously for more than 10 minutes
Final Verdict:
It is important to note that this product isn’t a professional grade.
Hence, it may be restricted to home use. However, with all of its flamboyant features, you’re sure to have it as your mainstay.
Zica Food Slicer
When speaking of topnotch slicers, this product is not to be sidelined. This product comes with a 10” chrome-plated carbon steel blade and is electric. As always, it is versatile as it slices cheese, ham, meat, and food generally. It is a commercial-grade model and strictly for home use.
Specifications:
- Material: Aluminum, Carbon steel, Rubber
- Colour: Silver
- Dimensions: 18.9 x 16.1 x 14.2 inches
- Power: 110 V / 150 watts
- Weight: 34 pounds
Pros:
- It comes with one slicer, two sharpeners, and one instruction manual
- It effectively and efficiently works as a good kitchen assistant
- It’s got suction power
- It is versatile as it is not just for slicing meats, but for slicing ham as well
- It is fit for use both at home and at restaurants
- It boasts of thickness as it has a thickness adjustment between 0 – 12 mm
- Its switch is waterproof
- It comes with a built-in sharpener
- It is very easy to use as well as clean right after each use
Cons:
- It doesn’t have the ability to slice meats with bones; it’ll only end up ruining the blade
- It is overly big, as in the weight. A 34-pound would definitely be tasking when it comes to moving to the countertop and then to the cabinet/shelf and then vice versa
Final Verdict:
If you could find a permanent space for this product on your countertop, then there is no need to worry about its weight.
It promises to serve you well. If this is your choice product, you’re only a few clicks away from owning one.
Chef’s Choice Electric Meat Slicer
Rugged yet sophisticated, the Chef’s Choice Electric Meat Slicer boasts of an impressive 120 watts power rating.
This product features a precision thickness control and a removable blade for after-use cleaning.
As versatility does it, this product is also versatile as it slices into a wide range of food supplies.
Specifications:
- Material: Stainless steel
- Colour: Silver
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Dimension: 15.5 x 10.4 x 11 inches
- Voltage: 110 / 120 V
- Wattage: 120 watts
- Weight: 10.61 pounds
Pros:
- This product is a versatile food slicer
- This product has an extraordinary powerful high torque motor with gear drive
- It has a tilted food carriage to achieve fast and efficient slicing
- It has an easy to clean design as its component parts disassemble easily for cleaning
- Included with this product is a serving tray
- This product is value for money
- It is easy to use
- The safety lock helps to put food carriage in place when you aren’t using
Cons:
- This product is exclusively designed for use in North America
Final Verdict:
All of the features of this product are mouth-savoring just like the rest of the products reviewed, although the fact that it is exclusively designed for use in North America may be discouraging to persons outside that region.
If you’re in North America, you should place your order already!
OSTBA Food Slicer
This product helps you cut any food precisely, thus, boasts of versatility.
When it comes to cleaning right after use, this product has got removable features allowing for thorough cleaning and sanitation.
In operating this product, to ensure maximum safety for yourself and people around, both the safety lock (child lock protection switch) and power button must be pressed simultaneously to turn it on.
You need not worry about its weight as it is light weighted. It is however suitable and recommended for home use.
Specifications:
- Material: Cast Iron
- Colour: Silver
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Weight: 8.64 pounds
- Dimensions L x W x H: 14.17 x 9.65 x 10.24 inches
- Wattage: 150 watts
- Maximum slice thickness: 15 mm
- Control: child lock on/off button
Pros:
- It has an adjustable thickness dial
- It is easy to use and clean after use as its features are removable for cleaning
- It gives you full value for money
- It is pretty much affordable
- It is light weighted
- It has 4 strong non-slip suction cup rubber feet which keep the meat slicer sturdy while in operation
- Its 150 watts helps give you a fast and consistent sharp cut
- It is versatile as it slices meat, cheese, bread, fruits, etc. What more do you need?
- It has a removable 7.5” stainless steel blade
- It has a food carriage where whatever food you intend to slice is placed
Cons:
- Although it has been established that this product is versatile – Yes it is! However, there is a limitation; it is not suitable for cutting frozen foods. A semi-frozen food is okay
- The blade of this product is designed to turn slow in order to get enough power to slice
Final Verdict:
It is important to note that this product isn’t a professional grade.
Hence, it may be restricted to home use. If all you need a meat slicer for is your home usage, what then are you waiting for?
YEEYO Meat Slicer
The Yeeyo electric food deli meat slicer is suitable for home use as well as professional use.
Like the others, it has a removable stainless steel blade as well as an adjustable thickness knob that cuts not only pork belly but cuts bread, fruits, veggies, salami, jerky, and cheese too; thus, versatile.
Its heavy-duty 200 watts motor depicts that it is powerful enough to cut through all of these.
Meanwhile, this product has got non-slip feet for stable operations; hence, it boasts of sturdiness.
Specifications:
- Material: Die Cast Aluminum
- Colour: Silver
- Blade Material: Stainless steel
- Dimensions: 14 x 9.6 x 10 inches
- Wattage: 200 watts
- Voltage: 120 V
- Installation Type: Countertop
- Weight: 8.48 pounds
- Manufacturer: YEEYO
Pros:
- It is light weighted
- Durable
- It is easy to use as well as clean right after each use
- It is quite affordable and the price is worth the job it does
- This product saves you time, effort, and money
- Its recessed on and off button helps to eschew unintentional touch for added safety
- The food pusher with teeth firmly grips and holds whatever food you intend to slice
- This product’s razor-sharp serrated blade edge effortlessly slices through frozen meat, salami, cold cuts, etc.
- Its removable stainless steel blade stays sharp longer, resists corrosion, and makes after use cleaning as quick and easy as possible
- It’s got suction cup legs to keep the product securely in place while in operation
- It comes with a user guide or user manual for proper guide on its usage
- The thickness control allows you to adjust slices from deli-thin to a thick uniform cutting
Cons:
- It is important to note that this product doesn’t cut through bone; hence, boneless meat is what it slices
Final Verdict:
With Yeeyo, a company fully devoted to innovating and manufacturing kitchen appliances, you’re sure to have flawless functionality with this product, thus making your cooking time enjoyable.
What more value can you get for your money?
My final thoughts on the best meat slicers for pork belly
In this article, I have been able to explore a number of the best pork belly meat slicers you can find around.
As I established in the course of the article, if you desire professional slicing for your pork belly, laying your hands on a quality meat slicer as in a professional grade is all you need.
By implication, it helps you have a seamless and easy process when it comes to performing culinary chores as picking the right meat slicer not only saves your time but your money and efforts as well.
I hope you did find this guide very helpful. Simply purchase your choice product from these food slicers that best suits your needs; all you are required to do is click the link attached to it, and then place an order.
If you’ve got any comments to make, simply visit the comments section below, I’d be glad to hear from you.
Thanks for reading.