How to Choose The Best Cheese Slicer You Will Ever Need In Your Kitchen (2019 Edition)
What is your favorite kind of cheese?
Not all cheese are created equal – some are tough and rough while others are soft and easily melted.
If you want to cut a cheese, say cheddar, what do you use? A sharp thin knife? Or maybe a piece of thread?
Well, good thing, there are a lot of different cheese slicers available in the market now. There are slicers that are great for huge tough cheeses while some are versatile and can be used for soft moist ones.
Do you want to know how to choose the best cheese slicer you will ever need in your kitchen? Keep reading.
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**Below, you'll find more detailed reriews, but you can click links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon
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A Little Background On Cheese….
Did you know that there are at least 9 different kinds of cheese? All of these come from different countries and types of milk:
Fresh cheese – this type of cheese is soft because they have high amount of moisture. Examples are Ricotta and Mozzarella.
Soft cheese – this type, usually, is just about 60 days old and has a tangy taste. Examples are Bel Paese and yogurt cheese.
Semi-soft cheese – this type of cheese is a bit harder and less moist than soft cheese. Examples are Raclette and Garroxta.
Smoked cheese - as the name suggests, this type of cheese has been exposed to smoke or heat for a certain amount of time. Subjecting cheese in heat adds more flavor to it as it age. Examples are Pavarati and Smoked Mozzarella.
Soft Ripened cheese – it is also called bloomy rind cheese because it is ripened from the outer rind towards the inner part. An example is Brie.
Firm cheese – this type of cheese is already aged but still a little moist. Examples are Manchego and Cheddar.
Lard cheese – compared to firm cheese, this type of cheese is more aged and dried. Examples are Parmigiano Reggiano and Pecorino Romano.
Alpine cheese – Alpine, a well-known mountain, is where this type of cheese got its name. Alpine cheese is made from the milk of animals living in the mountains or high altitudes. Examples are Fontina and Gruyere.
Blue cheese – blue molds form inside the cheese due to the injected Penicillium culture. Examples are Roquefort and Gorgonzola.
Now that we already have an idea about the different kinds of cheese and their textures, it is time to discuss cheese slicers.
What Is A Cheese Slicer?
You might be thinking, “Why would I need a cheese slicer if I can just use a regular knife to cut or slice my cheese?”
Good thinking! Well, allow me to enlighten you on why you need it in your kitchen, but first, let’s dig in a little deeper as to how cheese slicer was invented, shall we?
Way back in 1925, a cheese-lover carpenter from Norway, named Thor Bjørklund, got so frustrated that he couldn’t get a good slice of his favorite cheese by just using a knife. He thought that he needs something more precise and neat.
Since he is a carpenter, he gathered some tools in his shop to see which of them can help him achieve the cut of cheese he wanted. Two years later, his cheese slicer has already been replicated and reproduced into more than 50 million pieces.
Now that almost a century has passed, Thor’s cheese slicer evolved into different shapes and forms as more and more kinds of cheese are discovered.
Different Types And Materials Of A Cheese Slicer
There are different types of cheese slicer, whether it is for household or commercial use. Here are the 5 common ones:
Cheese Knife
Yes, there are special knives for cutting cheese. It needs to be really smooth and sharp to be able cut through a chunk of cheese effortlessly. Some of it even have longer protruding (V) tips so you can easily diverge and pick the slices after.
Cheese Spatula Slicer
Via Amazon.com
If you want thin slices of cheese, then you should go for a spatula slicer. This one looks a lot more like its ‘granddad’ – slicer made by Thor.
As you can see from the photo below, it appears like a spatula with a wide hole at the bottom part where a sharp blade is.
To use it, place the blade on top of the cheese then pull or push the spatula (depending on the orientation of the sharp edge) to scrape a thin piece of cheese.
Rolling Cheese Cutter with Wire
Via Amazon.com
This one is a little bit similar to the previous type, although it uses a thin sharp stainless steel wire instead of a blade. It also has an tube-like material pinned on either side that you can adjust depending on how thick or thin you want your slice to be.
For me, this is best used for hard and semi-soft cheeses.
Cheese Board with Wire
Via Amazon.com
Cheese board, obviously, has a wide board (where you can place a block of cheese) and a wire (usually stainless steel or aluminum) attached to a movable handle.
To use it, you have to raise the handle, put the cheese directly below the wire, and then pull the handle down to slice the cheese.
What I like most about this type of slicer is that you have total control of the size and thickness of your slice of cheese.
Girolle
This one is a little bit different because, one, it has a circular board, and two, you can slice (or should I say scrape) the cheese in a circular motion. It is best used for hard cheeses.
When it comes to materials, cheese slicers can be grouped into 3: wooden, marble, and steel.
- Wooden – Some cheese planes and girolle are made out of wood because it is lightweight and not prone to bacteria.
- Marble – Cheese planes and girolle can also come with marble base. It looks sleek but it is heavy.
- Stainless steel – Slicers that use wire is usually made of stainless steel because it is a bit cheaper than aluminum but don’t corrode easily.
How To Cut Cheese?
Now that we already have an idea about the different kinds of cheese slicer, let us all learn how to use it properly.Yes, there’s an etiquette in cutting or slicing cheese. Here’s how:
What To Look For In A Good Cheese Slicer?
1 - Easy to clean:
Let us face it, the very first thing we ask ourselves when we buy or want to buy a kitchen tool is, “is it easy to clean and maintain?” I bet you wouldn’t waste your money on a gadget you can’t and won’t be able to use in a long period of time.
The same thing is true with cheese slicers because cheese can stick and ruin the material if it can’t be cleaned well. Choose a design and brand that is easy to wash. Additional points if it is dishwasher safe!
2 - Safe to use:
Safety first. It is very important that the tool you choose is safe to use especially if you have children at home. For cheese knives and spatulas, prefer the ones with non-slip handles.
3 - Durable:
In buying any kitchen tool, always go for the durable one (with the reasonable price). A cheese slicer should be heavy duty and able to withstand pressure, rust, and dust.
4 - Adjustable:
For me, a cheese slicer should be versatile. It should be easily adjustable to whatever size or thickness you want.
5 - Type of cheese:
Yes, I just told you that you should choose a slicer that is versatile, but I think you should also consider the type of cheese you always use or serve. This can save you money.
6 - Replaceable wires:
For slicers that use wires, make sure that the wire is detachable and replaceable. Additional points if the product comes with spare wires. If not, check if they have an available wire you can purchase separately as a backup.
7 - Warranty:
I don’t know about you, but for me, warranty says a lot about the product. Usually, the ones with long warranty period are of really good quality because they are confident enough that their product can last a long time. A lifetime warranty would be great, but if the product is a little more affordable, then a year is good enough.
Review Of The 5 Best Cheese Slicer In The Market
Product | Quality | Our Rating | Price |
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1. Boska Holland Milano Non-stick Cheese Slicer
Via Amazon.com
Boska Holland is a well-known brand when it comes to kitchen tools, especially cheese slicers. What I like most about this product is that the plane is indeed non-stick and is great for hard and semi-soft cheeses.
If you are planning to get one, you might want to check out with its pros and cons first.
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2. Messermeister Thick-N-Thin Cheese Slicer
Via Amazon.com
If you are looking for a good quality cheese slicer for your sandwiches, then I would recommend this wire slicer. It has two thickness options – one on either side.
Here are some more of its pros and cons:
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3. Prodyne 805B Thick Beech Wood Cheese Slicer
Via Amazon.com
What I love most about this wire slicer with a wooden board is that the board itself is made of beechwood – sturdy but lightweight. Here are some of its pros and cons:
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4. Westmark Germany Cheese And Food Slicer
Via Amazon.com
What drew me to this cheese slicer is the fact that the cutter itself is a blade and not a wire just like most slicers with board. Check out its pros and cons here:
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5. Westmark Germany Heavy Duty Cheese Slicer Angle Adjustable
Via Amazon.com
I like this cheese slicer because it is handy and easy to store. Plus, you just need water and soap to clean it. Here are some more of its pros and cons:
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Final thoughts….
Before anything else, I would like to thank you for making this far. We have discussed a lot, but I hope I somehow managed to give you a few great options you can choose from.
If you are a cheese lover and use cheese in most of your dishes at home, then buying a cheese slicer is a good investment.Which one to choose, then? If you were to ask me, I have two top choices: Westmark Germany Cheese Slicer Angle Adjustable and Prodyne 805B Cheese Slicer.
Why? Westmark is handy and easy to maintain while the Prodyne one is versatile and easy to use.
What about you? Which one do you like best? Let me know in the comments below.
