Advice needed - anyone have a meat slicer for bacon they like?

NorthPilot06

 That's some fantastic bacon Out of curiosity, what do you think your all-in $/lb came out to?  I would anticipate somewhere around $3.50/lb versus the bacon you buy for $6.99/lb. at the grocery store (~$2.50/lb for pork belly, $0.50/lb for curing ingredients, $0.50/lb due to weight loss during smoking...sound about right)?

blind99

@northpilot06 That's pretty close.  Curing ingredient cost is very low, can't imaging I use more than 50 cents worth for a whole belly.  The time required for making it isn't that great, and the quality is outstanding, which pushes the balance towards making my own.
@The Cen-Tex Smoker  that's some damned fine looking bacon.  awesome slicer.  i want...
@bgebrent well, at least the victorinox is good practice making a nice cut.... and easier than a 10 blade, right?

The Cen-Tex Smoker

NorthPilot06 said:

 That's some fantastic bacon Out of curiosity, what do you think your all-in $/lb came out to?  I would anticipate somewhere around $3.50/lb versus the bacon you buy for $6.99/lb. at the grocery store (~$2.50/lb for pork belly, $0.50/lb for curing ingredients, $0.50/lb due to weight loss during smoking...sound about right)?

I paid $9 per lb for the belly. It's all natural (whatever that means) Berkshire. Yes it makes a huge difference. I do not like the $2.99lb stuff from restaurant depot or Costco.  Thin, 95% fat, and does not taste good. Plus this was trimmed up and center cut so there is almost no waste. 

Carolina Q

I made bacon once, about 5 years ago. Cost about the same as store bought bacon. Tasted the same too. Good, but nothing special. Needless to say, I never bothered again.

As for a slicer, I have a 1940something Globe commercial model (with about a 12" throat) though I didn't have it when I did the bacon. It's the size of a small car. Unfortunately, it's one of those things I bought after reading one too many slicer threads on here. It's much too large for my needs - actually, I really don't HAVE a need, I just wanted one. Oh, and it's a PITA to clean! At least it was cheap, about $100 as I recall.

Right now, it's just taking up counter space that I really could use for something worthwhile. Moral; if you have plenty of room and will actually use a slicer more than twice a year, buy one. Otherwise, do what I should have done...get a nice brisket knife.

blind99

@The Cen-Tex Smoker  first bacon i made was with some of that 'fancy' belly.  not sure i could taste a difference. but i showed a picture of it to a guy in the meat business and the first thing he said was 'that's a good quality belly, where'd you get it?' 

milesvdustin

I found a univex ax s10 slicer for 75 bucks, but no sharpener on it. 

bgebrent

blind99 said:

@northpilot06 That's pretty close.  Curing ingredient cost is very low, can't imaging I use more than 50 cents worth for a whole belly.  The time required for making it isn't that great, and the quality is outstanding, which pushes the balance towards making my own.
@The Cen-Tex Smoker  that's some damned fine looking bacon.  awesome slicer.  i want...
@bgebrent well, at least the victorinox is good practice making a nice cut.... and easier than a 10 blade, right?

Much easier than a 10 brother!

Focker

roro_c said:

I found a gently used Berkel 827A 12" inch from a restaurant that is closing down.  he wants $250 for it.  it looks like they are $1200-1400 brand new.  Good deal?

Yes, if it is intact, and in good working condition.

Found a 12"Hobart with extra knife that came out of an elementary school for$300.  Bought a $90 Craftsman engine cart, and wheel it in and out of storage to use in the kitchen.

Worth every penny.

Can't list a playa's price of Berkwood per lb, but I keep it real with water, kosher, curing salt, brown sugar, white sugar, and molasses.

CTMike

I picked up a Berkel 818 on CL for $300. Little bit of cleaning and lubricating and she's an automatic bacon slicing machine. Will do everything I ever need, and more. Drawback is that it weighs over 150#, so I had to buy a steel rolling cart to keep it on. Lives in the guest bedroom closet - just off the kitchen.