Bread slicer guides come with many different features; some are made out of bamboo and some have acrylic guides, but they are all extremely useful for making perfect slices from your homemade bread. Learn how to choose the best bread slicer according to your needs and never mess your bread while slicing again.
It is only difficult when you don’t know how to do it. I am sure so many of you (including me!) ruined your artisan bread once or twice while trying to slice. But that’s ok, you’ll never mess your bread ever again with these tips.
You need three things for achieving perfect slices:
- A good quality bread slicer.
- A serrated bread knife.
- The saw-motion technique
How to Choose the Best Bread Slicer?
It seems like they are all the same when you first take a look at the bread slicers. But trust me, they are not made equal. Some do really help you to make even and neat slices while some are just a waste of money and you can slice much better without those types.
What to look for when shopping for a bread slicer:
- Check if the guides are adjustable: some bread slicers have thin and thick guides so you can slice your bread on whichever section you like; others have fixed guides which make only one size slices.
- Check if it is durable: the bread slicer should be enough to slice even dense, sturdy bread such as the bread featured in our guide to the best bread for panini.
- Check if it easy to clean: it will get crumby even if you are a perfect slicer. So, you better check if it has a crumb catcher tray underneath.
- Check if it easy to store: some bread slicers are foldable; they turn into a cutting board size and this really makes them easy to store.
- Check the dimensions: bread knives are usually 8 to 10 inches long. If the bread slicer is too small then you might not be able fit your big artisan breads. On the other hand, if it is too large then your 8 inches serrated knife might be too small to use on it.
Selecting the right bread slicer is kind of a personal thing too. It depends on what you prefer the most. I like bamboo but you might want to see your bread a bit more clearly when you are cutting. Then acrylic guides are probably better for you. And if you only make one size slices then the adjustability of the guides may not be a big deal for you. You have to question yourself a bit to find the right one.
DBTech Bamboo Wood Compact Foldable Bread Slicer
This is my favorite bread slicer; I can’t lie! It is possible to slice three different sizes with this one thanks to its clever guide design: 1.2 cm, 1cm, and 0.8cm thickness. You are not bound with only one size; you can have either thick or thin slices.
This bread slicer allows you to cut excellent uniform slices each time. It is really nice looking and durable. The guides won’t break down while you are slicing your bread. It is foldable so you can store it in your drawer. I just love that it is spring loaded, it folds so quickly. Made out of 100% bamboo and it is environment friendly.
Features:
- 12 x 7 ½ x 6 ½ inches
- Compact storage – easy fold (spring loaded)
- 100% bamboo wood
- 3-groove sizes for 3 different slice thickness
Tip: Put a damp cloth underneath the bread slicers so they don’t slide while your cutting.
Norpro Bread Slicer with Crumb Catcher
This is a neat bread slicer with acrylic guides. I like the removable crumb catcher; it just makes cleaning so easy. Just dump the crumb catcher and wipe with a damp cloth. It is also easy to disassemble and store.
It makes 1/2-inch uniform slices, the guides are standard. If you need multiple slice sizes then go with the bamboo one above.
The guides are very high so you don’t have to worry with big loaves, it would easily fit most bread. You need a very long serrated knife to cut easily and this is also true for other bread slicers too.
Features:
- 5 x 12.5 x 1.75 inches
- Easy clean; comes with a crumb catcher tray.
- Uniform slices with acrylic guides.
- Guide height is tall and fits all sizes.
How to Get the Best Serrated Bread Knife?
Serrated bread knives are important if you want to slice your bread the proper way. The difference is on the edges of the blade. It has a special sawtooth design to make bread cutting easy and perfect.
Check if the blade runs all the way to the handle and if the serrations are deep and narrow when shopping for one. If you want learn more on how to get the best serrated knife you can take a look at my detailed review on them. You can also use electric knives with bread slicers.
What Is the Saw-Motion Technique for Cutting Bread?
Just remember those wood cutting documentaries you watch on TV. Wood cutters move their saw back and forth without too much pressure. You never see them slice the trees like cucumbers unless you are watching a cartoon.
The main principle is exactly the same when your slicing bread. Hold the bread lightly inside the bread slicer, no need to apply pressure. Move your serrated bread knife back and forth all the way to the length of the blade. This is called the saw-motion technique and it gets you perfect slices each time!
In Conclusion
Using a bread slicer is always better then slicing your bread on a cutting board. It is truly a necessity if you really want to make proper slices. You should check the features really carefully in order to choose the best bread slicer according to your needs. Ask yourself if you only want to make standard size slices or you want your bread slicer to be adaptable? How easy is it to clean that nice-looking bread slicer? Can you just disassemble and store it in your drawer while you are not using? Most bread slicers are good but it is important that it must meet your specific expectations. Choose wisely and slice neatly!
