Another frugal find yesterday..

[Fumesucker]

I was cruising around one of the local indoor flea markets and found one of these, it's a hand cranked meat slicer from probably at least fifty years ago..



I have a family member that likes to make his own hot jerky using peppers he grows in his garden, slicing the meat thin enough has been a problem for him with just a knife and well made meat slicers are remarkably expensive. He's been cutting the meat thicker and then pounding it down with an aluminum tenderizing hammer but that's considerable work and time consuming.

The unit I found is still in serviceable shape and very well made with a micrometer style thickness adjustment, I paid $15 for it and it will pay for itself with the first batch of jerky that gets cut with it..

Made in the USA, baby!

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. Congratulations

I love old kitchen gadgets of all sorts.

Having made lots of jerky myself, I'd suggest that your friend only try to slice the meat after it has been in the freezer for about an hour and a half. It's not frozen through at that point but it has acquired some rigidity and it's much easier at that point to slice it quite thin. Even using just a sharp kitchen knife.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. Hot damn for you!!!

One of the nice things about a great "find" is you can bask in the glow of it every time you use it.
I do, at any rate...every time I use the item, I remember where I found such a bargain, when, and at what price..

[Curmudgeoness]

3. Cool!!! Having tried to slice meat thin,

I can really appreciate that puppy! And $15, what a deal!

You done good, Fumesucker!

[madokie]

6. The only meat I can slice thin usually is from one of my fingers

ouch! ie

[Curmudgeoness]

7. Bwaaahaaahaaa.

[kristopher]

4. How to slice meat thin

Love making jerky, and a slicer would make the job a lot easier.

If you can't find one, however, try cutting the meat into blocks and then chilling it until it is firm, but not frozen, maybe about 45 min depending on your freezer.

I use an 8 in filet knife from walmart ($6). With that knife and the meat semi-rigid, you can cut paper thin if you want. I prefer to make it about the thickness of 2 dimes myself.

The drawback is that the hand holding the meat gets so cold it's painful.

[Wait Wut]

5. I'm so jealous!

The husband and I have been looking at slicers for a couple of years, but they're so damned expensive. Great find!!