How to Clean a Berkel Meat Slicer
Berkel makes a wide selection of food prep equipment, including commercial slicers used in various delis and grocery stores. Cleaning not only is essential for proper operation, but it also is required once every four hours by the FDA. We'll walk you through directions for how to clean a Berkel meat slicer on a daily basis.
This guide covers cleaning procedures for popular 825A/E, 827A/E, 832E, 909A, 919A, X13 and X13A models.
825A/E, 827A/E & 832E Instructions
Below are cleaning procedures for the machine assembly, knife and stones for these models.
Cleaning the Machine & Knife
These instructions cover the entire machine assembly and knife.
- Step 1. Prepare the slicer – Turn off the slicer and unplug the power cord. Move the thickness control knob is still fully to the right, ensuring the gauge plate covers the knife.
- Step 2. Remove the product table, slice deflector and center plate – Start by removing the locking knob and take out the product table. Then, remove the slice deflector attached to the main body. Finally, unscrew the center plate locking knob. Push on the knob, so the center plate moves off the knife. Take off the center plate and locking knob.
- Step 3. Clean the disassembled parts – Clean and sanitize the components. Use hot water with mild detergent to clean the parts. Rinse them in hot water before rinsing again in sanitizing solution. Allow them to air dry.
- Step 4. Prepare the knife – Check that the thickness control knob is still fully to the right, ensuring the gauge plate covers the knife.
- Step 5. Wipe down the front of the knife – Using a dry cloth, wipe down the knife moving from the center outward.
- Step 6. Clean the front and back of the knife – Using a separate cloth and clear, warm water, cleaning the front and back of the knife moving from the center outward each time. Using a sanitizer and separate cloth, move from the center outward. Then, allow it air dry.
- Step 7. Reassemble the center plate – Place the center plate back over the knife and lubricate the center plate knob threads with Berkel Food Machine Oil. Insert the plate knob and tighten. Make sure not to overtighten it.
- Step 8. Reassemble the slice deflector and product table – Put the slice deflector back on. Then, hold the table with both hands and set it in place. The pusher will be loose and can slide, so be careful. Tighten the product table locking nut.
- Step 9. Lubricate the pusher rod –Apply a thin coat of Berkel Food Machine Oil to the pusher rod. Move the rod back and forth to help evenly distribute the oil.
- Step 10. Check the guards – Double check that the slice deflector, sharpener and center plate guard are in place and clear the knife properly. See If the product table also moves back and forth.
- Step 11. Clean the slicer base – Using a clean cloth and cleaning solution, wipe down the slicer base. Rinse it with hot water before applying sanitizer with a separate cloth. Let it air dry before proceeding.
- Step 12. Power on the slicer – Plug in the power cord and turn the switch on.
Cleaning Sharpening Stones
If you notice a buildup of fat, grease or metallic material in the stones, please clean them accordingly. The manufacturer recommends having a set of spare stones on hand in case the stone breaks or weakens during the cleaning process.
- Step 1. Remove the stones – Loosen and remove the nuts from the stones. Then, take the stones off the shafts.
- Step 2. Soak the stones – Place the stones in a solution of warm water and dish soap for about one hour.
- Step 3. Scrub and rinse the stones – Use a stiff-bristle brush to scrub the stone. Rinse them off carefully in warm water.
- Step 4. Dry off the stones – Shake off the stones. Then, use a paper or cloth towel to dry remaining moisture. Set aside to air dry for about 24 hours.
- Step 5. Oil the shafts – After the stones are completely dry, use Berkel Food Machine Oil to oil the shafts on the slicer.
- Step 6. Reassemble the stones – Assemble the stones on the machine following step 1 in reverse.
909A & 919A Instructions
Below are cleaning procedures for the machine assembly, knife and stones for these models.
Cleaning the Machine & Knife
These instructions cover the entire machine assembly and knife.
- Step 1. Prepare the slicer – Turn off the slicer and unplug the power cord. Move the product table toward you and turn the thickness control knob all the way to the right. The gauge plate should be completely closed with the arm fully forward before the table can be taken out.
- Step 2. Remove the product table – Start by removing the locking knob and lift out the product table. Keep the slicing table level. Lift the locking knob on the center plate by holding it with both hands. Then, lift off the positioning pin.
- Step 3. Remove the sharpener – Unfasten the sharpener knob to remove the sharpener. Take off the cover from the sharpener.
- Step 4. Remove the slice deflector – Take off the slice deflector by pushing the deflector's lower hinge tab down with on hand until the lower deflector pin clears the lower hinge. Pull out the deflector at the bottom and down, releasing the top pin. Lift the deflector.
- Step 5. Clean the disassembled parts – Clean and sanitize the components. Use hot water with mild detergent to clean the parts. They also can be cleaned in a dishwasher. Rinse them in hot water before rinsing again in sanitizing solution. Allow them to air dry.
- Step 6. Prepare the knife – Check that the thickness control knob is still fully to the right, ensuring the gauge plate covers the knife.
- Step 7. Wipe down the front of the knife – Using a dry cloth or sponge, wipe down the knife moving from the center outward.
- Step 8. Clean the front and back of the knife – Using a separate cloth or sponge with clear, warm water, cleaning the front and back of the knife moving from the center outward each time. Using a sanitizer and separate cloth or sponge, move from the center outward. Then, allow it air dry.
- Step 9. Reassemble all disassembled parts – Put all parts back on in reverse as described in the previous steps.
- Step 10. Lubricate the pusher shaft – Apply a thin coat of Berkel Food Machine Oil to the pusher shaft. Move the shaft back and forth to help evenly distribute the oil.
- Step 11. Clean the slicer base and knife box – Using a clean cloth and cleaning solution, wipe down the slicer base. Rinse it with hot water before applying sanitizer with a separate cloth. Let it air dry before proceeding.
- Step 12. Power on the slicer – Plug in the power cord and turn the switch on.
Cleaning Sharpening Stones
Whenever there is a significant buildup of fat, grease or metallic shavings on the stones, clean them immediately. The manufacturer recommends having a set of spare stones on hand in case the stone breaks or weakens during the cleaning process.
- Step 1. Remove the stones – Loosen the stones from the shaft with a 10mm wrench. Grip the stone firmly with the other hand.
- Step 2. Soak the stones – Place the stones in a solution of warm water and dish soap for about one hour.
- Step 3. Scrub and rinse the stones – Use a stiff-bristle brush to scrub the stone. Rinse them off carefully in warm water.
- Step 4. Dry off the stones – Use a paper or cloth towel to dry excess water. Then, set aside to air dry for about 24 hours.
- Step 5. Oil the shafts – After the stones are completely dry, use Berkel Food Machine Oil to lubricate the slicer's shafts. Move the sharpening lever back and forth easily. Oil the mounting post as well.
- Step 6. Reassemble the stones – Assemble the stones on the machine following step 1 in reverse.
X13 & X13A Instructions
Below is the complete cleaning procedure for the entire machine assembly for these models.
- Step 1. Prepare the slicer – Close the thickness control knob. Turn off the slicer and unplug the power cord. Then, pull the product table to the front of the assembly. For automatic models, the engagement knob in the manual position before it's pulled to the front of the unit.
- Step 2. Remove the product table and center plate – Loosen the locking knob and remove the product table. Take out the center plate, lifting the center plate's locking knob on the top of the plate. Lift from the slicer.
- Step 3. Pre-scrape the product table and center plate – Remove food remnants from the tables using a dry soft brush, sponge or cloth.
- Step 4. Clean the product table and center plate – Clean and sanitize both components. Use hot water with mild detergent to clean the parts. During cleaning, remember to unscrew the red handle from the product table's pusher. Also, the pusher arm should be slid up and down as you wash.
- Step 5. Rinse and sanitize the components – Rinse the product table, sharpener and center plate in hot water. Then, submerge the components on the sanitizer solution. Follow the instruction on the sanitizer's label for the mixing instructions. Air dry parts on a cleaned, sanitized surface.
- Step 6. Pre-scrape the knife – While wearing cut-resistant gloves, pre-scrape food remnants from the slicer using a dry soft brush, sponge or cloth.
- Step 7. Clean the front and back of the knife – Using a cleaning detergent and a cloth, non-abrasive pad or nylon brush, wipe down the front and back of the knife moving from the center outward each time.
- Step 8. Clean the ring guard – Using a separate cloth soaked in the detergent solution, wipe between the knife and ring guards. Carefully work the cloth to properly clean the edge of the knife, ring guard and gauge plate.
- Step 9. Clean the base and rest of the assembly – Using a cleaning detergent and a cloth, non-abrasive pad or nylon brush, wipe down the base and rest of the components.
- Step 10. Clean underneath the slicer – Lift up the unit about six inches to drop the kickstand down. Hold the front of the slicer up to pre-scrape food and clean the table underneath the slicer with a detergent solution.
- Step 11. Rinse the slicer and table underneath – Using a separate cloth and hot water, rinse the slicer assembly and table surface underneath the unit.
- Step 12. Sanitize the slicer and table underneath – Spray sanitizer solution to the slicer and table space underneath it. Follow the instructions on the sanitizer's label for mixing instructions for the spray bottle. Make sure to wipe using a separate cloth.
- Step 13. Reinstall components – Lift the front edge of the slicer and push the kickstand back in. Lower the unit slowly back to the table. Then, screw the red handle back to the product table's pusher. Put the center plate and product table back onto the slicer. Spray on the sanitizing solution and air dry.
- Step 14. Power on the slicer – Plug in the power cord and turn the switch on.
For additional preventative maintenance tips and sharpening instructions, check out our library of Berkel manuals and resources.