Food slicers for left-handers – is there such a thing?
The answer is kind of There are food slicers where the food is sliced from left to right – yes. Are these really only for left-handers – no! Why should they be? Food slicers where the food is sliced from right to left are not only for right-handers. The following therefore applies: regardless of which direction the food is sliced in, left to right or right to left, , food slicers may be used by left-handers and right-handers alike. But why are there two different food slicing directions then? The explanation is relatively simple as well as straightforward: it is purely a matter of habit. But it is of course advantageous, especially for left-handers, to maintain the general habit. Some prefer to push the food to be sliced to the knife with their left hand, others with their right. The food slicers do not differ in terms of their function, because they are all designed to slice food. However, it is often simply the case that in some kitchens a "left-handed machine" fits better than a "right-handed machine".
By contrast, built-in food slicers where food is sliced from left to right are planning alternatives for the right to left version. It makes sense to use this if the right to left version cannot be integrated into the kitchen for space reasons, e.g. if the built-in food slicer is to be installed next to a tall cabinet or a worktop bracket. For further information on our built-in food cutters' slicing direction, please refer to our installation instructions.
The slicing of food from left to right can be traced back, among other things, to slicers that were operated manually with a crank and are now being operated with this again. The first ritter bread slicer operated by crank was launched in 1932 by our founder Franz Ritter: the B 50. Even then, the food to be sliced was guided to the knife on the left and the crank was operated with the right hand to "set the knife in motion". In fact, at that time, the crank was placed on the right because cranking requires more concentration and strength than pushing the food to be sliced. This arrangement was chosen at that time, based on the theory that there are more right-handers than left-handers. Even in the wake of electrification, this operation was maintained and ritter introduced the first electric food slicer in 1968. Until the 90s, the majority of ritter's electric food slicers were offered as versions that slice food from left to right. Only then were machines added to the range that slice food from right to left.
A left-handed food slicer as such does not exist. We offer a food slicer with a left-sided slicing guide, which can be used just as well by a right-hander. The left-sided or right-sided slicing guide is chosen according to the preference for which hand feeds the material being sliced into the circular blade.
The benefit of a food slicer with a left-sided slicing guide, for example, with a built-in food slicer, is that this can be planned as an alternative to the right-sided slicing guide when necessary for integration in the kitchen due to space considerations. Further information is found in our installation notes. Another advantage is that people accustomed to feeding the food being sliced into the circular blade with the left hand do not have to change over.
Yes! Food slicers with a left-sided slicing guide are not just for left-handers but can be operated just as well by right-handers.
This goes back to appliances that used to be operated manually with a crank, and are now being operated this way again as well. Back then the food being sliced was fed into the circular blade with the left hand and the crank was turned with the right hand. The crank was positioned on the right because cranking requires more attention and strength than feeding the food being sliced. At the time, it was assumed that more people are right-handed than left-handed.
No, the ritter product range only includes food slicers with a left-sided slicing guide that have a straight holding plate.
Yes, smooth ham and sausage circular blades are available for all appliances with a left-sided slicing guide, and can be found in our spare parts shop.
Both hard and soft foods can be cut into appetising slices with this appliance.
We recommend the smooth ham/sausage blade for wafer-thin slices.
Do not use the food slicer to slice frozen foods, bones, foods with large pits, roasts in net bags or packaged foods.
Clean your food slicer regularly to avoid the accumulation of residues that can spoil. The circular blade also has to be cleaned regularly to maintain the rust-free surface. Wipe the housing and all removed parts with a damp cloth each time after slicing, including the circular blade. Clean all removed parts thoroughly in warm dishwater from time to time, including the circular blade.
We do not recommend cleaning any parts of the food slicer in the dishwasher. Clean the food slicer as described above.
Only the AES 62 SL built-in food slicer is available with a left-sided slicing guide. It is permanently installed in a drawer and can be quickly and easily unfolded and folded up again to save space.
Yes, the cutting thickness is continuously variable.
Thanks to the continuously variable adjustment of the cutting thickness, a setting from 0 to about 20 mm is possible.
Use the left-handed food slicer for a maximum of 5 minutes in continuous operation. This does not apply to the manual food slicers.
We use various materials for our food slicers, depending on the model. The following materials are used in different proportions: Steel, stainless steel, aluminium, high-quality plastic, bamboo and moulded rubber parts. Detailed information about the materials is found on the respective product pages.
The food slicers do not have a child lock. However, the electric food slicers are equipped with a safety switch for intermittent and continuous operation that ensures the required level of safety. Two operating modes are respectively available. Either the appliance is used in short-term operating mode by holding the switch, or it is set to continuous mode for unrestricted use.
Changing the circular blade is quick and simple thanks to a coin-operated lock: Apply a suitable coin (2, 1 or 0.50 euro coin) to the blade lock and turn it clockwise.
Yes, there is a built-in food slicer with a left-sided slicing guide: the AES 62 SL.