Comparison Gorenje R 401 W vs Gorenje R 506 E

The total power consumption of the slicer. The value of this parameter is small — the performance of even the most powerful models usually does not exceed 200 W.

Almost all the power consumed is for operation of the engine, so the higher it is, the more powerful the engine is installed in the slicer. Theoretically, the higher power allows you to better cope with solid and dense products, but in fact everything also depends on the characteristics of the knife — primarily its type (see below) and the quality of sharpening. Therefore, power data are more reference than practically significant, and this indicator has almost no effect on the quality of the slicer.

The diameter of the blade of the knife supplied with the slicer. Knives are shaped like discs — accordingly, the diameter of the blade is actually equal to the diameter of the disc.

The larger the blade, the larger ingredients the device can handle at a time and the “larger” the cut slices can be. At the same time, in fact it is rarely necessary to use a slicer for very thick products. Therefore, even in the most “large-caliber” modern models, the knife diameter usually does not exceed 300 mm.

The greatest thickness of the slices that the slicer can separate from the cut product.

The modern slicers usually allow you to adjust the thickness of the slices — an important feature in light of the fact that for different situations and products, the optimal thickness will be different. The ability to separate thick slices can be useful, for example, when cutting bread, or when preparing fruit for jam or compote. Such situations are not uncommon, therefore, in most modern slicers, the maximum thickness is more than 10 mm.

The presence of a compartment for the power cord in the design of the slicer.

This feature greatly simplifies the storage and transportation of the device: the cord can be placed compactly inside the slicer body, and it will not hang out, cling to other objects and create other inconveniences. And in some models, the compartment may have devices for uniform winding, which makes it easier to lay the wire and avoid damage due to bending.

The ability to fold the slicer when it is not in use.

The meaning of folding in slicers is the same as in any other technique — it allows you to reduce the dimensions of the unit and make it more convenient for storage and moving from place to place. However the folding structure is considered less durable and reliable than the unibody; however, in this case, this difference is not fundamental.

Also note that this category also includes such a specific variety as built-in slicers — without the possibility of folding, such devices would be too bulky and would cause inconvenience when embedded.

The main material used in the construction of the slicer.

— Plastic. This material is characterized by low cost and is often used in inexpensive models. However, its use is not an unambiguous sign that the slicer belongs to the low-cost class. The fact is that although the reliability of plastic is considered relatively low (compared to metal), it is quite sufficient even for fairly powerful models. In addition, there are many varieties of this material on the market, including options with high strength rates. Therefore, the actual strength and reliability of plastic is usually directly dependent on the price category of the slicer.

— Metal. On the practical side, metal is remarkable for its high strength: it is much more difficult to damage such a body than plastic. In addition, it gives the device a solid appearance. The disadvantage of this material is a higher cost — despite the fact that the real need for the mentioned strength indicators is quite rare.