If you’re looking to impress your friends and family with your culinary skills, a mandolin is a great way to start. Not only can it help you make delicious cuts of meat, but it’s also very easy to use. Here are four tips for slicing meat like a pro:
- Start by cutting the meat against the grain. This will ensure that the slices are thin and tender.
- Use a sharp blade to slice the meat evenly. If the blade isn’t sharp enough, it will cause the meat to tear and become tough.
- Don’t overwork the meat or you will end up with tough slices that don’t taste as good as they could. Use gentle pressure and keep your hands steady while slicing so that the knife doesn’t wobble around too much.
- Let the meat rest after being sliced so that it can soak up any juices that have been released from the cut surface. This will make it easier to cook and give it a more tender texture ..
However, can you slice meat with a mandolin? If yes, can you use it to cut raw or cooked meat? And are there any advantages or drawbacks to cutting meat with a mandolin? Read on to find the answers to these questions and more!
Can You Slice Raw Meat with a Mandolin?
Mandolins are a convenient tool to cut fruits and vegetables. Yet, many people also use them to slice meat. However, a mandolin’s blade lacks the sharpness to cut through the layer of fat on meat. So, while you can, in effect, slice raw meat with a mandolin, it may prove to be too complicated and messy.
Can You Slice Cooked Meat with a Mandolin?
Yes, you can, but it’s not easy. However, if you decide to use a mandolin with an adjustable blade height to slice cooked meat, you must be patient and take your time.
Why Is It Hard to Slice Cooked Meat With a Mandolin?
Although it’s not advisable, using a mandolin to slice cooked meat is doable. There are some shortcomings to it, such as:
Cooked meat can be lean, which makes it harder to cutPressing down hard on the blade may pose a safety riskThere’s little control over the thickness of each sliceThere’s a potential loss of meat during the cutting processThe thinner the portions, the harder it can be to make them evenMeat slices may stick together as well as to the blade due to residual cooking moistureSome pieces may come out of the mandolin in shreds
How to Slice Cooked Meat Using a Mandolin
Follow these steps to slice meat with a mandolin:
Slicing Meat with a Mandolin: Tips and Techniques
Disadvantages of Using a Mandoline to Slice Cooked Meat
The main disadvantage of using a mandolin to slice cooked meat is that it will not give you perfectly uniform slices. This means that if you want to have an attractive meat plater or even-sized meat-filled sandwiches then a deli-slicer is the best option.
So what is the difference between using a Mandoline for cooked vs raw foods?
The main advantage of using a mandolin to cut cooked meats is that the texture is firmer vs the softer and not so easy to cut raw meat with a mandoline.
How do you cut cooked meat thin without a slicer?
Yes, you can cut meat using a mandolin but firm cold meat is best to slice thin using this method. It works well for slicing refrigerated cooked meats like chicken breast and pork roast.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
The first mistake people make is not reading the instructions carefully enough. This is especially true if they’ve never used a mandolin before. I recommend using a mandolin only after you’ve mastered the basics of slicing some carrots first as every mandolin blade is a little different. Of course, a sharp mandolin blade is best when slicing meat. You can also use a mandolin to cut cooked meats like steak, lamb, and pork loins. Just remember that the blade needs to be sharpened after every use.
Better Alternatives to Slice Meat Than Using a Mandoline
A mandolin is a kitchen tool used to cut vegetables into thin slices. It has become popular as a tool for cutting breaded chicken tenders, but it is also useful for slicing other foods such as tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, potatoes, onions, carrots, etc. How the two main ways that are better than a mandoline are
Deli Slicer
Yes! a deli slicer is probably the best and fastest way to cut meat, which is helpful if you are catering deli or cold meats for a crowd.
Knife
A knife is one of the most important tools in the kitchen and if sharp can do a very good job of slicing meat thin.
Can You Slice Salami on A Mandolin?
Yes, you can! The mandolin has a blade that will easily cut salami and even pepperoni.
