bread slicer

[janeyo]

I have not bought any bread for over 3 months as as been using the beadmaker. The trouble is I am not getting any better at slicing the bread - some are wafer thin and some are doorstep. It's worse when it's really fresh, ie made the same day. I was wondering if a bread slicer may be a good idea but not sure if they are any good..... anyone have one or could recommend one for me?
Thanks.
I found this one but not sure if it would really work on squidgy fresh bread.
Lakeland EvenSlice Bread Slicer - Review - Even slices everytime

[binley100]

Just had a look at it and can't quite figure out how it works. Looks like you still need a knife to slice the bread.We only have homemade bread, and generally never cut it (unless desperate ) until its cooled down.

[janeyo]

I still can't cut it straight even if it's 3 days old!

[Jeanied]

Janey I can't advise on the slicer as I have never tried it. But I did get better at slicing even slices when I followed a couple of rules - never cut the loaf while it is still warm - (if you want to have warm bread make individual rolls) and have a good sharp serrated knife. Make sure you cut slowly and do not press down, let the knife saw its way through like you are sawing wood. I find the slices get uneven when I'm impatient and try and cut the slice with only a few knife passes - so double the number of passes and you may be more successful and save yourself a bit of money!

[Flummery]

I've got the Lakeland one. You do need a knife! It helps you to keep your knife at an even distance from the cut edge of the loaf so your slices are even. You can adjust the thickness and it folds flat to go in the drawer. We are pleased with it.

[janeyo]

thanks flum nice to know of someone who actually has one. I have also seen this

Bread Slicing Guide on eBay (end time 02-Jun-10 00:48:34 BST)

much cheaper but maybe not so effective

[Two_Sheds]

Here's my tip (Mr TS can't slice bread straight either): start cutting with a good sharp serrated bread knife. When you get about half way through, turn the loaf over once (onto its side), and continue cutting

[Flummery]

We find it good because we 'lean' different ways when we cut bread. We seem to angle it differently. It keep us both on the straight and narrow.

[mrscorpio]

Mrs Scorpio is awful at slicing bread. I normally have to cut a wedge shape to get back to normal.

However we have found the best knife for slicing bread is an electric knife. For some reason you hardly get any crumbs when using it. I must stress it wont aid straight cutting.

(PS this is the only thing we use the electric knife for as I like to use a knife thats razor sharp off a stone.)

[geoff]

I think most bread knives have serrations that are too coarse. See if you can find one with a Granton Edge. This is a pattern of scalloped grooves on each side of the knife which interlock to give a gentle wavy effect. Keep it razor sharp with a steel
It won't garauntee a straight slice, but you will spend less effort on the actual cutting, and more effort on getting it straight
Keep the knife firm in your wrist and move the whole of your forearm back and forth
Whatever knife you get, the blade should be stiff; if it bends it will be difficult to get an even slice

[Rossa]

If all else fails try an electric carving knife. Just rest it on the bread and let it slice through. To avoid slicing your fingers as well use a carving fork to hold the bread in place.

I saw this in a sandwich shop years ago. They cut bread to order for your sandwich any thickness you wanted. Always thought it was a great idea, though I don't use it myself.

I'm with Geoff on the wavy type edge as that's the type of knife that came with our breadboard so never used anything else. Can't use a steel so have the one from Lakeland that has 2 metal bits in a V shape that you pull the knife through. Works brilliantly every time and manage to convert my Dad who always used a steel before I gave him one of these for Xmas.

I'm useless at carving meat (apart from chicken) i.e.beef, pork or lamb so always use the electric knife. Only way I can get wafer thin slices, if I want them.

[Buleste]

I've bought one of the doodads that janeyo suggested and they work but are a bit cheap and nasty.

[Sanjo]

I had the Lakeland version, which did work well but it depends on the shape of your loaf and whether it fits the holding tray (don't know how else to describe that bit!) My current shaped loaf, for instance, just wouldn't fit on. It's a tall loaf that starts of squarish but seems to get wide at the top (Morphy Richards fast bake)

[jojo2910]

[QUOTE=Sanjo;693300]I had the Lakeland version, which did work well but it depends on the shape of your loaf and whether it fits the holding tray (don't know how else to describe that bit!) QUOTE]

I agree, we have the lakeland one and our loaf is less than 5mm to wide, so we have trouble getting it into the groove and making the slicing hard.