You’ve chosen the best model for yourself, and now you’re moving on to the practical side of things. However, before getting there, there are a handful of things that you should be aware about , as first and foremost thing is how to use a meat slicer safely.
When it comes to meat slicers, you need to acknowledge the safety hazards present. Generally speaking, slicers include big and sharp blades that can easily cause cuts and lacerations on the arm and wrist.
To prevent things like these from happening, you need to ensure that you undertake every safety precaution out there. With that being said, the main objective of this segment is to make the process safe for you.
- What are the risks involved?
- Best safety tips and precautions
- Follow the manual by heart
- Make sure the area is clutter-free
- Ensure focus and determination
- Always wear cut-resistant gloves
- Never push meat with bare hands
- Don’t reach across the slicer
- Lock the blade if dormant
- Clean with caution
- Stay safe from water
- Conclusion
What are the risks involved?
As mentioned above, a meat slicer is made from an assortment of blades and internal knives that cut the meat at a very fast pace.
Any sort of exposure or intervention can naturally lead to undesirable consequences. Hence, it’s your utmost duty to prevent things like that from happening.
Best safety tips and precautions
Getting to the crux of the matter, we’ll now cover the most important part of this segment.
Down below, we have highlighted the best safety tips you can utilize to make sure that your meat slicing experience is hazard-free. For maximal protection and guarantee, we highly recommend that you utilize these tips in conjunction.
Without further ado, here are our best safety tips when it comes to using a meat slicer!
Follow the manual by heart
First things first; always make sure that you pay extra attention to the instruction manual that comes with the package.
Generally speaking, most models require some sort of installation or assembly. It is often in this process that people end up hurting themselves, especially if they’re dealing with blades for the first time.
Other than being extra careful, we also advise that you stick to the manual by heart. Make sure that you don’t skip over anything essential.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to keep the manual around on the off-chance that you’ll need it for further reference.
Make sure the area is clutter-free
When the time comes to cook, we all are aware of how messy the kitchen can become. However, if you’re dealing with meat slicers, then this is the last thing that you should be doing.
When working with meat slicers, it’s a good practice to be standing straight next to it with a firm grip, as opposed to working around things.
Furthermore, keeping the area clutter-free will also help you focus more on the task at hand, as opposed to being distracted by all that is lying around.
Another great advantage that this has is that it will make the cleanup process easier.
Ensure focus and determination
If you’re dealing with sharp electronic blades and are only giving it half your attention, then there’s a decent chance you’ll be in for an unpleasant surprise.
When working with meat slicers, we highly advocate that you function solely on one task at the time being and let everything out of your mind. Not only will this keep you safe, but it also ensures that you do a good job when it comes to cutting the meat the right way.
Always wear cut-resistant gloves
Cut-resistant gloves are the Holy Grail of butchers and for the right reasons.
When working with meat slicers, we advise that you invest in a pair as well. They will keep you safe from unwanted contact with blades, and also ensure that your hands don’t smell bad when you’re done.
Never push meat with bare hands
Always use the relevant accessory provided in the package when you’re pushing the meat in.
Simply speaking, you’re putting yourself at massive risk if you choose to undertake this process with your bare hand.
Not only do you risk the chance of cutting yourself, but there’s also a decent chance that you might seriously damage your fingers.
Don’t reach across the slicer
Reaching across the slicer is a big no.
If you need anything that is present across from it, never make the mistake of hovering on top of the apparatus.
There have been several cases where pieces of clothing or hair can get stuck in the slicer, which can have pretty gruesome ramifications.
Lock the blade if dormant
If you’re not engaging the slicer at any given time, or are multi-tasking in the kitchen, we highly recommend that you lock the blade whenever it is not in use.
This is to prevent any sort of unwanted accidents, which can be caused by misuse or lack of situational awareness, such as placing a hand on the button by mistake.
Clean with caution
Meat slicer cleanup requires disassembly.
During this process, you’ll have to handle individual blades and sharp edges by hand. When doing this, we highly advise that you take as much time as you require and proceed with caution.
If you’re in luck, there’s a decent chance that the model you have has parts that need to be cleaned using a dishwasher only.
If not, make sure that you use the right type of dishwashing soap and clean the apparatus thoroughly. When reinserting the blades, take your time. There’s no rush.
Stay safe from water
Electronic meat slicers require a power source. If you place the slicer near the sink or the basin, then be extra careful with the water around it.
Before moving to the slicer, always make sure that your hands are dry!
Conclusion
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. With that sentiment in mind, we sincerely hope that you adhere to the precautions and tips that we’ve advised above.
Always remember that it’s okay to work at a comfortable pace, especially when you’re concerned about your well-being. Meat slicers are a great accessory to have; don’t put yourself at harm’s way just for the thrill of fast cutting.
With that said, we hope that you have a great and safe experience!