Do you know why you need a cheese slicer? If so, do you know what type you need? Do you have any idea what to look for?
We know all about them. We’re familiar with the blades, wires, handles, boards, and all the other important components that make a good slicer. There’s more to it than you may think.
We examined the blades and wires of all the popular models to see how easily they cut. Then we checked out the handles to make sure everyone could hold them comfortably.
Construction materials, adjustability, and warranties are all important as well. We left no stone unturned.
By the time you finish reading this, you’ll know what kind of cheese slicer you need.
Best Cheese Slicers
1. Bellemain Stainless Steel Wire Cheese Slicer
This adjustable wire cheese slicer is made of a strong zinc alloy and comes with a 1-year warranty. Zinc alloys don’t tarnish, and they’re highly resistant to staining and oxidation.
Bellemain includes an extra steel wire, which is good because cheese slicer wires can rust if washed in a dishwasher too often or if they aren’t dried quickly enough after hand washing.
It adjusts from a paper-thin slice to 3″ blocks with a twist of each brass adjustment knob. To make blocks, just slice thick pieces. To make cubes, start by cutting some blocks. Then just cut the small blocks into pieces of equal length and width.
It is pretty heavy. You can still handle it easily, but you may be turned off by the weight if you prefer lighter kitchen tools.
The handle is a good size for all hands. It’s big enough that it may be easier for arthritic hands too.
If washed in a dishwasher, it should be removed as soon as the washing cycle is complete and dried well with a dishtowel.
People like how it is adjustable from very thin to very thick slices. They also enjoy how easy it is to use. This is the wire cheese slicer among people who have bought a slicer of this kind recently.
Despite its heavy weight, this is the people’s choice for wire slicers. It’s adjustable to any size slice you could want, and it can even make small blocks and cubes.
Pros
- Adjustable
- Replacement wire included
- 1-year warranty
- Well-made
Cons
- It’s heavy
2. Westmark Germany Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Wire Cheese Slicer
Westmark has made another durable and functional cheese slicer. This one’s made of light die-cast aluminum, except for the roller and wire. They’re made of stainless steel.
The wire is extra tight to make this the hard cheese slicer. It’s not adjustable, but you can easily make your slices thinner or thicker depending on the angle you hold it at. It can cut blocks up to 4″ wide.
The handle is rather small. Anyone with arthritis or trouble holding small things may have found it uncomfortable.
Such a tight wire makes this a great slicer for hard cheese. It’s not as easy to use as a pivoting guillotine slicer, but it is pretty simple.
The small size makes it a good fit in any drawer or cabinet. It also has a hole hanging on a hook. This slicer is handsome enough to hang out in the open in your kitchen or store in a rack on your counter.
Many people wish that the wire was adjustable in the usual way, with knobs. But why didn’t they buy one like that? It’s a matter of personal preference. Some prefer simplicity.
Some don’t like the small handle. This is understandable.
Here’s a really good wire slicer for hard cheeses. It will make a good slice for sandwiches.
It’s too bad the handle isn’t a little thicker. That’s the number one legitimate complaint that people who bought this model have.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Simple design
- Easy to use
- Good for hard cheese
Cons
- Small handle
3. Mueller Austria V-Pro Multi Blade Adjustable Mandoline Cheese Slicer
German engineering makes this cheese slicer durable and versatile. It can slice blocks of cheese up to 5 ½” wide to thicknesses from about 1/32″ to a little over 1/3″. Adjustment is as easy as turning a knob.
Slicing isn’t all it does. It grates and shreds as well. You can also use it for veggies and hard fruits. There’s even a wavy cutting blade for interesting slices.
We like the safe food holder. It is a knob with a few stainless steel pins sticking out of one end. They stab and hold the cheese to keep your fingers away from the sharp blades.
Speaking of blades, they are super sharp and made of hardened surgical steel. It would be best to hand wash the blades, but you must be careful because they are so sharp.
Buyers love that it can also be used to cut vegetables. They like that it can shred and grate cheese as well.
Overall, people are impressed with this one, and most of them would recommend it to a friend.
You’ll likely use this for more than just cheese. If you cook homemade meals every day, you may even use them daily.
As far as cheese goes, it would be hard to find a slicer as versatile as this one.
Pros
- Very sharp blades
- Grates and shreds
- Adjustable from shave to very thick
Cons
- Although A good value, it’s rather expensive
- May be dangerous to handwash – Be careful!
4. Fox Run Marble Cheese Slicer with 2 Replacement Wires
The marble cutting board is a fantastic touch. Marble stays cooler than wood or plastic. That’s why bakers use it as a material roll and work pastry dough on.
You can stick it in your refrigerator for about 15 minutes to chill it even further.
So what’s the big deal about a cool working surface for cheese? The cheese sticks to cooler surfaces better.
It’s also safer. Marble doesn’t absorb moisture and germs, so it stays more sanitary.
Not to mention it’s gorgeous!
The marble board is available in white, black, and green. It’s 8″x 5″, which is a great size for most blocks of cheese, except for the really big ones.
We like the strong stainless steel wire. An extra two are included. That should last for a while.
Hard cheeses are no problem. It’ll cut soft cheeses just as well. You can shave or cut thick slices. It just won’t handle big blocks.
Everyone loves the marble board. It’s a good-looking and well-made slicer. People like the way it looks so much that many use it as a serving tray as well.
Pros
- Marble cutting board
- Handles both hard and soft cheeses equally well
- Two extra wires included
Cons
- Big blocks don’t fit well on it
5. Prodyne 126-B Bamboo Cheese Slicer
This slicer can handle almost any size block of cheese from a small eight-ounce block of cheddar to a huge block of Swiss.
It is designed to be strong. Some people have bought it to cut homemade soap into bars! Soap is harder than any cheese. The fact that it can get good reviews from people who cut soap with it speaks to its strength.
The pivoting action makes slicing easy, so you can use its strength to easily cut the hardest cheeses. If the wire ever stretches or breaks, send it to Prodyne for a free replacement. There is no time limit for this warranty.
The stainless steel wire fits nicely into the groove on the cutting board. It slices right through the cheese, not against the board. That makes a nice clean cut.
Its lovely two-tone bamboo board measures 12″x 6″ with about a 3″ space between the wire and cutter frame, so it can shave or cut small blocks and cubes up to 3″.
Looking at some wire cheese slicer reviews, it’s obvious that some people don’t read instructions. There are complaints that the wire doesn’t line up with the groove in the board. But the instructions clearly say that the wire may have to be adjusted before the first use, and they give detailed instructions about how to do this.
Everyone likes how easy slicing is with this cutter. Most wish it was dishwasher-safe, though.
Here’s a good, strong wire cheese slicer at a great price. That makes it a good value. We like that the wire will be replaced for free if it ever breaks, bends, or stretches.
Pros
- Very strong
- Makes clean cuts
- No-slip rubber feet
- Pivot design makes slicing hard cheeses easy
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe at all
6. Westmark Germany Multipurpose Stainless Steel Cheese and Food Slicer
This cheese slicer consists of an ABS plastic board, stainless steel blade, and aluminum handle.
The board is sturdy and highly resistant to breaking. There is an adjustable guard that you place the cheese against. You just dial the knob in or out to adjust the position of the guard and the thickness of the slice.
Hard cheese is no match for the sharp blade. It’s so strong and sharp that it can be used for slicing vegetables and even meat.
You can put it in your dishwasher for cleaning, but you’d have to dry it quickly to avoid the slim possibility of rust.
The board itself is 6″x 5″. It’ll handle small to medium-sized blocks of cheese with its 5 ½” blade.
People like the way it works. It’s simple to use.
Many have commented on how clean it comes in a dishwasher. Let’s hope they dry it well after the wash cycle.
This cutter makes slicing cheese easy, even hard kinds. It just takes one adjustment of the dial, and you start slicing away.
You can also use this one to slice meats up thin like deli meat. This can be a centerpiece of a cool sandwich party.
Pros
- Sharp blade
- Tough board
- Aluminum handle
- Can be used for meat and vegetables
- 5-year warranty
Cons
- Expensive
7. OXO Cheese Slicer with Replaceable Wires
The thing that stands out about this slicer is how easy it is to grip. The handle is pretty big, and it has an incorporated plastic grip. It’s a lot easier to hold than metal.
Zinc alloy makes up the main body. That makes the slicer light and easy to handle.
An extra steel wire is included as a replacement. You unscrew two plastic wheels to replace the wire, then tighten them back up to secure them.
Those plastic wheels are the main drawback though. If this thing ever breaks, it’s likely the wheels will be the culprit.
Like most wire cutters, the only way to adjust the thickness of the slice is to adjust your angle of attack on the block of cheese. This takes some practice.
Generally, buyers are happy with their purchases. Of course, anyone who has broken one of those plastic wheels isn’t very happy.
Few people made a warranty claim. This slicer is priced just above $14, so it’s often easier to just buy a new one instead of making a claim and waiting a couple of weeks for the replacement to come in the mail.
Despite that one design flaw, this is one of the cheese slicers because of its value. At this price, you can afford to replace it if it breaks.
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Easy to grip
- Lightweight
Cons
- Plastic wheels
8. Westmark Germany Heavy Duty Stainless Steel Cheese Slicer
This is an affordable cheese slicer that can be a good option for you if you are on a budget and want a blade slicer.
It’s 2″ wide, so it can’t be used to cut wide slices from big blocks.
The blade isn’t adjustable either. You can vary the thickness somewhat by changing the angle you hold the slicer to the cheese. With some practice, you may even be able to shave. Thickness is maxed out at a little thicker than individually wrapped American cheese.
It is pretty durable, as long as you dry it as soon as you’re done washing it. Avoid dishwashers. This is made of some type of milder steel than most, and it may rust even though it is stainless.
Some people have a hard time slicing cheddar and cheeses of similar hardness because the edge of the block breaks at the end of the pull. This is unavoidable with this type of slicer, but it seems that this particular slicer has a bigger problem with it.
In general, buyers are satisfied with their purchase and they would make the same decision again.
It’s a good and simple slicer that won’t hurt your wallet. It’s probably for softer cheeses, but you can use it for any kind if you don’t mind the edge of the block breaking occasionally.
Pros
- Affordable
- Simple to use
- Easy to clean
Cons
- Takes practice to vary the thickness of slices
- Maybe susceptible to rust over time
9. Norpro Stainless Steel Cheese Plane/Slicer
This planer has a narrow 2″ blade. While it can’t give you wide slices, the smaller width allows more consistent results.
And what a sharp blade! It’s so sharp that it would be best to wash it in the dishwasher. Many people do, and there haven’t been any complaints of rust.
The slices come out about half as thick as individually wrapped cheese. There’s not anything you can do to vary the thickness of the slices.
It does take a bit of effort to pull this planer across a block of cheese, especially soft ones. But it will slice any kind pretty easily.
The handle, like the rest of it, is made of stainless steel and is filled. There is no information available as to what it’s filled with, but it doesn’t matter. It must be a light filling because this planer weighs just a few ounces.
Purchasers are happy with the sharp blade, but they wish there was a non-stick coating to lessen the effort needed to slide it across the cheese.
Some wish that it was adjustable to make thicker slices, but this is an actual planer. It’s designed to shave.
Cheese planer reviews usually mention how friction can cause the cheese to crumble if there isn’t a slippery coating on the planer. It would be nice if this planer had such a coating.
Other than that, this is a fine planer. It gets the job done, and it is affordable for almost everyone.
Pros
- Sharp blade
- Thin slices
- Simple to use
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- It is a little hard to pull across the cheese
10. Boska Holland Milano Collection Non-Stick Cheese Grater for Semi Hard to Very Hard Cheese
This cheese plane is part of Boska’s Milano collection. It matches other Milano utensils perfectly.
The flexible steel blade is sharp, so it easily cuts thin slices. The non-stick coating helps with the smoothness of the cut.
Although there is no way to adjust the thickness of the cut, you can make the slices a bit thinner or thicker by holding them at a shallower or steeper angle.
It makes slices about 1/16″ thick. That’s about as thick a slice as you would get from a deli if you asked for thin slices.
You can’t plane wide slices big enough for a sandwich. You’ll need to slice about four or five slivers to go across the width of a piece of bread.
This is dishwasher safe, but it is recommended to handwash it to preserve its sharpness.
The whole thing is made of stainless steel. There are no plastic parts at all. That makes it more costly, but it also makes it higher quality. It may last a lifetime. It comes with a 10-year warranty.
People who bought it say they are impressed with the construction. They like that there are no plastic parts.
They also say that it is sharp and cuts easily with almost no effort.
One thing they would change is the width. It would be better if it were wide enough to plane big blocks of cheese.
This is a well-made, sharp cheese cutter. We think it is the cheese plane slicer on the market today. We just wish it was wider.
Pros
- 100 percent stainless steel
- Dishwasher safe
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- Not very wide
- Expensive
The Benefits Of Cheese Slicers
You don’t use a cheese knife, do you? They aren’t very good at cutting cheese. They tend to break the block or crumble it. They just aren’t sharp enough.
Sharp kitchen knives are even worse. You can get cut if the knife slips off of a piece of hard cheese. It’s a little safer to cut soft cheese, but a sharp knife mostly squishes it. That’s no good either.
So if you want to slice cheese, you need a good cheese slicer for home use.
But why not just buy pre-sliced cheese?
First of all, sliced cheese is expensive compared to blocks of the same weight. A cheap slicer will pay for itself before long.
Then you have the flavor issue. Cheese starts to lose its flavor after it is cut. What’s the point in paying more for something that doesn’t taste as good?
Although sliced cheese does lose flavor after a while, slicing is necessary to bring out all of the nuanced flavors. It’s like wine. Oxygen in the air causes the flavor to bloom. There’s nothing quite like the flavor and aroma of freshly sliced cheese.
Get a good slicer. Not only will you enjoy the enhanced flavor you’ll get, but you’ll save money and keep yourself from getting cut with a sharp knife.
Types Of Cheese Slicers
There are three basic kinds of cheese-cutting tools for home use. Decide which one is best for you.
Wire Slicers
These are usually the simplest to use and the most affordable, but not always.
They don’t have a blade. A wire, usually stainless steel, is what cuts the cheese. The wires last for years in some cases. Replacement wires usually cost only a dollar or two, and extras are often included with the slicer.
Most aren’t adjustable. You make your slices thinner or thicker by changing the angle at which you hold the slicer.
Planers
These typically shave thin slices of cheese.
They’re anywhere from 2″ to 4″ wide.
To use them, you simply apply pressure and slide them over the top of a block of cheese. Better ones have some kind of non-stick coating, like Teflon, to cut the friction.
Planers usually have sharp stainless steel blades. At least the good ones do.
Board Slicers
They’re the most expensive type.
They look something like meat slicers, and some of the stronger ones can be used to do just that.
The blade is attached to a handle on one end and the board on the other. This creates a fulcrum for good leverage. That makes slicing cheese, even hard kinds, almost effortless.
Some are adjustable. They don’t have to be. You can adjust the slice’s thickness by sliding the block of cheese toward or away from the blade.
What To Consider
They can last for years, so you might as well get the cheese slicer. You don’t want to get stuck with something hard to use.
First, you have to decide what type you need. Use the info above on the three main kinds.
When you pretty much know what you want, it’s time to start thinking about the features.
Some people just go by looks. That is important if you’re going to hang it in your kitchen where everyone can see it, but don’t stop there.
The Blade Or Wire
Stainless steel offers the strength and rigidity needed to resist bending and breaking.
Another advantage of steel is that it won’t impart any taste to your cheese.
Avoid slicers that have a wire or blade made of any other metal.
Sharpness is important as well. A dull blade is frustrating. It takes a lot of effort to slice, and it can make your cheese crumble. The wires aren’t sharp, but they should be thin enough to easily cut through the cheese.
Handle
A handle that’s too small is difficult to hold. That’s bad because you’ll struggle to slice, and you’ll end up with uneven cuts.
Make sure the handle fits comfortably in your hand.
Body Construction
Most handheld slicers are made of stainless steel or zinc alloy. Both of these metals are strong, but zinc is lighter. Either one is fine.
Some are made of aluminum. They’re very light and strong, but they can be very expensive because the manufacturing process is costly.
Just avoid plastic handheld slicers. They break easily.
Slicers with cutting boards should be easy to clean. Make sure there aren’t any complicated and unnecessary moving parts to deal with when washing.
Wood, marble, and ABS plastic are all good materials for the cutting board itself.
Warranties
The warranty can give you a clue as to the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
No warranty indicates shoddy craftsmanship.
A 1-year warranty means that the slicer will probably break or get dull very quickly.
Warranties that last five years are nice. You’ll usually see them on well-made slicers.
10-year warranties indicate very high quality and superior craftsmanship.
Time To Make A Choice
By now, you understand what kind of cheese slicers are out there and what makes a good one.
You have a choice. You can get a cheap plastic slicer from a discount store that will aggravate you and finally break.
Or you can take your time and choose a good one that you’ll be happy to use for years.
The best time to buy a cheese slicer is now before you need it.
