I’m always on the hunt for ways to beat the system in paying high grocery prices. Shopping in bulk and cooking from scratch are my two top thrifty ways to get around a big grocery bill. My latest find was bulk lunch meat for $3.81 a pound, for really nice quality roasted turkey breast. Much better than the $8-$9 a pound prices a the deli counter. But, the catch was, I had to buy an almost 9 pound cooked, unsliced turkey breast.
For me, how lunch meat is sliced is a big part of my sandwich eating experience. I like mine very thin, which would be really difficult to achieve, if not impossible, with a knife unless you are a sushi chef. My deli slicer came to the rescue to cut my turkey breast the perfect thickness.
I have the EdgeCraft 610 Chef’s Choice Premium Electric Food Slicer. The price on Amazon is $127.95, which isn’t bad considering all the uses. I employ this deli slicer to sliver lemons or oranges for the dehydrator, bulk cheese blocks, potatoes, meat, and homemade bread. Regarding the bread, without a deli slicer I risk cutting very clunky, uneven, high calorie slices. The slicer cuts thin, even pieces.
I get my cheese at Costco for $2.50 a pound, instead of almost $5 a pound in the store. I buy it in blocks and either shred, or slice it up.
When I make zucchini or eggplant lasagna, my deli slicer carves very thin, even slices which wouldn’t be possible without this contraption. When dehydrating, having even slices of food is important for consistent drying, so again, I use the slicer.
You control the thickness of the slices, and mine has two different types of blades. Very sharp blades. Please keep these up from little ones, and make sure there are no distractions when you are slicing. While there is a pusher to protect your hands, you want to be extremely vigilant, if not paranoid, in making certain you don’t get cut. That would be an injury of which horror films are made. The good news is, I’m extremely klutzy and always hurting myself, and have never had an incident.
What are the downsides of a deli slicer besides losing an appendage if you aren’t careful? The cleaning. There is no great way to clean my deli slicer. It certainly can’t be submerged. I wipe down with a hot, soapy sponge, and then go over it again with antibacterial spray. I put my blades in the dishwasher so I don’t have to handle them as much, and to make sure they are well sanitized. If you put these blades in the dishwasher, please tell your family as they look you in the eye while giving instructions, these blades are in the dishwasher, and not to go plunging their hands blindly in to grab a clean bowl.
Despite the dangers and pain of cleaning, a deli slicer is a valuable kitchen helper which will save you money. Eliminating the luxury of pre-sliced foods can save you double in many instances. If you have a small family and don’t buy in bulk, share the cost with neighbors. Recently, several of my neighbors and I got together, went shopping for bulk items, and split them up. Get creative, and slice up some savings.
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