A commercial meat slicer is an essential piece of equipment in restaurants and grocery stores. It is versatile and can slice cheeses, meats, and other food products. While commercial meat slicers are essential machines, they must be kept clean and maintained regularly.

Over time, large food particles could start to clog the meat slicer. So it is necessary to frequently clean a meat slicer. Use caution, as the slicing blade can be quite dangerous.

To ensure good meat slicer blade maintenance, you must know how to clean a commercial meat slicer effectively. This article explains the best ways to clean a meat slicer safely to guarantee it remains in tip-top shape.

Why Is It Important To Clean Your Meat Slicer?

You need to maintain proper hygiene with a meat slicer. Cleaning a meat slicer helps to prevent foodborne illness, among other things. It also keeps it rust-free and always ready to slice.

• Avoid food particle buildup: A food slicer is a heavily-used machine in the kitchen. It is used to slice a variety of deli items. But food particles will start building up in the food chute over time.

• Prevent bacteria growth: If you don't regularly clean a meat slicer, food residue will accumulate in different parts and cause dangerous bacteria to grow.

• Protect the health of your customers: Dangerous food buildup could contaminate the food served and lead to food poisoning. Regular cleaning and proper maintenance will prevent this.

• Preserve the taste of food: Contaminated meat slicers can also transfer small food particles and flavors to cut food items. Any food contamination can alter the texture and taste of a food product.

What Are The Important Safety Measures To Take Before Starting?

Follow the steps below to ensure a super clean machine and avoid injuries. Always wear protective gloves when handling dangerous tasks.

Meat slicer cleaning procedure

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions: Each manufacturer includes essential safety information for their machines. Read the relevant information on meat slicer maintenance and cleaning procedure in the manual. There could be tips on what to do and things to avoid when cleaning the meat slicer.

• Do not store a wet slicer: To prevent a meat slicer blade from corroding, never put it away when wet. Ensure the cutting blade can air dry completely before storing to keep the slicer completely functional.

• Avoid hard brushing: Some meat slicer parts are delicate. So, avoid aggressive scrubbing and do not use steel wool brushes for cleaning, as these will do more harm than good.

• Utilize a gentle soap: You can opt for a soapy solution made from mild detergent and water. Using harsh cleaning solutions could damage some parts of the slicer. The right mixture of hot water and dish detergent will make cleaning easier.

• Always use protective cut-resistant gloves: Ensure you wear cut-resistant gloves when cleaning a meat slicer. The meat slicer blade is very sharp and could easily cut your hand.

How Do You Clean Commercial Meat Slicers?

Here are seven steps to clean a meat slicer safely and effectively:

1. Disassemble The Meat Slicer

First, disassemble the food slicer. Start by disconnecting it from the power source, then set the blade thickness to zero using the index knob. Don't forget to wear protective gloves. Some manual slicers feature a knife removal tool, so use it. Then, remove the knife sharpener, blade guard, product tray, and center plate.

2. Remove Food Particles

Use a small brush and a gentle scrub pad to wipe off any food debris on the meat slicer. Check everywhere, including the slicer handles, slice deflector, gauge plate, blade guard, blade cover, and other parts.

You must be thorough when cleaning because food can accumulate in many places. Try using a toothbrush in hard-to-reach places to clean more efficiently.

3. Wash All Food Contact Areas

Use a sponge to wash all surfaces of the meat slicer that come into direct contact with food. Thoroughly cleaning these areas will prevent bacteria growth which is imperative for good hygiene.

Use a wash bucket with hot water and a detergent mixture to wash the front and back of the slicing blade, center plate, slice deflector, and food tray. Alternatively, opt to use a degreaser spray bottle to spray the cleaning solution on the parts to be cleaned.

4. Wipe Down Remaining Parts

Use a clean towel or soft cloth and wipe the remaining areas of the appliance. Regular cleaning is needed even if they might not appear dirty.

Check that the slicer handle, blade, ring guard, and slide rods are cleaned thoroughly with hot water.

5. Sanitize The Meat Slicer

Spray the whole machine with the recommended sanitizing solution, not just the areas that come directly into contact with food. Apply the product generously to kill any bacteria lurking in the machine.

6. Let It Air Dry

Allow all the components to air dry for a few hours. Don't skip this process, as it is not wise to store a wet slicer.

If necessary, use a paper towel to remove excess water from the components before letting them air dry. As the slicer air dries, the scent of any bleach or other cleaning product will be eliminated.

7. Reassemble The Machine

Reassemble the slicing machine before storing it ready to use next time. Make sure you don't rush this step to avoid injuries. Wear cut-resistant gloves and be cautious when reassembling the slicer blade and its cover.

How Long Does It Take To Clean A Deli Slicer?

Various things affect the cleaning time for a meat slicer. How long it takes to clean a meat slicer depends on its size, removable parts, and how much dirt has accumulated.

How Often Should A Deli Meat Slicer Be Cleaned And Sanitized?

Generally, if you use your meat slicer daily, clean it every four hours. Ensure you disassemble the food contact areas like the product tray before cleaning and sanitizing them.

Always check your deli meat slicer to see if food debris has accumulated. It will help you know when it's time to clean it.

Also, monitor the slicer handle, blade guard, blade plate, and ring guard mount for breaks or cracks. Replace any faulty parts immediately.

Long-Term Maintenance Tips

Eventually, a meat slicer will get old and need replacing. But, keeping it maintained properly can lengthen its useful life. These are some tips to follow:

• Routinely service the machine, following the manufacturer's instructions as required.

• Use a sharpening stone to sharpen the blade. Use hot water and a clean cloth to clean the cutting blade.

• Only a clean blade should be sharpened. After sharpening the cutting blade, use a sanitizing spray to disinfect it.

• Make sure you don't pressure wash a meat slicer.

• Avoid using steel wool brushes as they are too harsh.

Conclusion

Meat slicers are ideal for slicing cold cuts, cheese, and other produce in delis, restaurants, and grocery stores.

Now that you understand how to clean a meat slicer and extend its lifespan, you can take care of yours properly. When cleaning your machine, check it for any type of damage.

A clean meat slicer poses less risk of food contamination because regular cleaning will prevent oils and food residue from accumulating.

Do you need to replace your commercial meat slicer? Shop for some of the best commercial meat slicers at Kitchenall. Head over to their website and check a huge selection of commercial meat slicers for sale of the highest quality.

FAQs

1. What is the best sanitizer for a meat slicer?

The sanitizing solution must not be harsh to avoid damaging areas like the blade guard, center plate, ring guard mount, knife sharpener, and slice deflector. Use Formula-D degreaser spray or Noble Chemical QuikSan spray sanitizer.

2. What can I use to lubricate a meat slicer?

Don't ever use cooking oil to lubricate a meat slicer. It can harbor bacteria and contaminate food. You should use a suitable food-grade lubricant.

3. How often should a meat slicer be cleaned?

It is important to clean your meat slicer regularly to prevent foodborne illness. However, depending on how often it is used, it may need to be cleaned more frequently. If you notice any build-up of food or grease on the slicer, it should be cleaned immediately.