Choosing A Bread Slicer (Or Not)

[SteveD]

Fo many years, I have made bread using a Panasonic bread maker with excellent results. I usually slice the loaf the following day using a serrated knife. Depending on the flour mix, it is sometimes difficult to achieve slices of even thickness so I am wondering if an electric bread slicer (not an electric knife) would give more consistent results.

Does anyone on here have an electric bread slicer and could give recommendations for a brand and specifications to look out for (wattage, RPM of blade, ease of cleaning, ease of use etc.)?

[Old_Geezer]

Not any help I know, but I've searched on the Net for a suitable one on a few occasions. Never found a domestic one I felt fitted the bill. Tend to cope by the usual method of cutting by hand, but carefully checking both sides as I go. One can start at the required thickness, the task is to retain that width for the whole slice. Turning the loaf as it's cut can help too, (pause, turn, continue) especially if you press the knife down harder on one side of the loaf at a time.

[woofgang]

would something like this help?
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[woofgang]

or this
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[woofgang]

or this
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[Samuraisan]

Let us know how you get on SteveD, I have the same problem and have considered he first one woofie sent you. It's in my Amazon basket but have not convinced myself yet.

[bhg481]

I know you said not an electric knife but, in the days when we used unsliced bread, we tried an electric knife and found it worked well for getting even slices. Because you are not sawing at the bread you can just apply a steady, gentle pressure and concentrate on keeping the cut straight, nor do you have to grip the bread as tightly and that helps as well.

[Old_Geezer]

Maybe low-tech may help.
Don't think highly of that first one though.

[TonyV]

Don't think you will be able to purchase a domestic version of the supermarket machines that slice the entire loaf. Think your best bet is something like this. Although only one slice at a time, does have benefits of only slicing what you need, variable thickness, and can be used on other food products.

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/31905/Magimix-T190-Electric-Bread-Slicer-Meat-Slicer-11651

I know Magimix are a good brand, but the price, even from lakeland !!!

[roopower]

No help but a fond memory of my uncle who sliced the bread so thinly that you could almost see through the sandwich, including the cucumber slices!

[woofgang]

for me the other issue with that kind of slicer is the room it takes up in the kitchen.

[Baldric]

Be serious, it's a loaf of bread, get a decent bread knife and just slice it.

[Rockrose]

My father uses this for his bread, also slices his joints on here to save money

[Rockrose]

Sorry forgot the link
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/5578355

[alavahalf]

What if your breadslicer breaks down or there is a power cut. You could starve as your demand for uniformaly sliced bread will not be obtainable as you will now have lost the most basic age long skill of using a breadknife.

.. or you could pick up a knife and have a go.

https://goo.gl/images/7BQy4L

... 8-)

[Old_Geezer]

Trouble with the low tech ones must surely be that you need a breadknife not only long enough to stay in contact with the far guide at all times, it needs to be longer so you can move the knife back and forth too in order to cut. The high tech ones take up space, can't always be sharpened when the blade blunts, and seem more designed to cut firm meat than floppy loaves, to me. I think that's why I never purchased any in the end.

[SteveD]

Thanks for all the replies.
After having considered all the various aspects:
* Price
* Where to keep the thing?
* Customer reviews
* Does it do the job?

I reckon my trusty serrated bread knife is as good as anything (either that or smuggling a loaf into and out of the supermarket and using their bread slicing machine).