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Good Housekeeping reviews analyst Eva Bleyer says testing the Zassenhaus Classic Bread Slicer changed her view of whether home bakers need a dedicated slicer. The manual model earned a 2027 Kitchen Award after lab and home testing, though the report notes it takes up space, has a sharp exposed blade and is less versatile than a bread knife.
Good Housekeeping reviews analyst Eva Bleyer says testing the Zassenhaus Classic Bread Slicer changed her view of whether sourdough bakers need a dedicated bread slicer. The manual appliance earned a 2027 Kitchen Award after testing in the publication’s kitchen lab, at home and with consumer testers, who assessed its ability to cut different breads into even slices.
The Zassenhaus is a manual countertop slicer with a beechwood base, four suction cups and a hand crank that moves bread through a blade. An adjustable dial sets slice thickness, up to 0.7 inches, according to Good Housekeeping. The report says Bleyer needed a few minutes to find her preferred setting, then found it produced consistent slices of homemade and bakery sourdough.
Bleyer tested the appliance first in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab, using the same sourdough loaf used for the publication’s bread-knife evaluations, and then took a model home. Her tests included olive sourdough, baguette, everything bagels and soft sandwich bread. Consumer testers tried a wider assortment, including French and Italian bread, pumpernickel and gluten-free bread, and submitted feedback through surveys.
The review reports that the slicer was easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth and stayed in place during use. One consumer tester said the appliance helped the household make evenly sliced bread for toast and sandwiches, contrasting the result with slices that had previously been smashed or uneven when cut with their knife. That is a tester’s experience, not a guarantee that every user or loaf will produce the same result.
A More Even Slice at Home
The review’s central finding is practical rather than a claim that bread slicers are necessary: the Zassenhaus may help people who regularly bake or buy whole artisan loaves achieve repeatable slice thickness. That can matter for sourdough, whose firm crust and variable shape may make uniformly cutting a loaf by hand difficult. The appliance also lets users choose thinner slices or thicker pieces for toast, according to the review.
There are trade-offs. A dedicated slicer takes up counter or storage space and is designed for bread, while a serrated bread knife is more versatile, easier to store and generally simpler to clean. Good Housekeeping says quality bread knives can also cost less than a slicer, though the source does not provide prices for either product. The review describes the slicer as most worthwhile for people who often handle whole loaves, not as a universal kitchen upgrade.
Food storage is another practical consideration raised by the report: once bread is sliced, it dries out faster. Good Housekeeping recommends cutting only the amount intended for immediate use, rather than slicing an entire loaf in advance. That advice limits one potential downside of preparing bread in bulk.
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How the Slicer Was Evaluated
The report is a product review by Eva Bleyer, a reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen & Cooking Lab. The source says she has tested knives and bread-baking tools and regularly bakes sourdough. Her account combines lab testing, a home trial and consumer feedback; it does not describe a controlled comparison with every bread slicer available.
Good Housekeeping’s evaluation included bread types beyond sourdough. Bleyer reports testing a crusty baguette, olive-filled sourdough, bagels and soft sandwich bread at different thicknesses. Consumer testers assessed several additional styles. The review says the Zassenhaus handled those tests, but it does not publish numerical performance scores, test measurements or a full account of how results compared across competing slicer models.
The product is a crank-operated manual appliance, not an electric slicer. Its suction cups are intended to secure the base to a flat surface while the user turns the handle. The adjustable thickness dial and wooden base are part of the described design; readers should check the seller’s current product listing for availability, colors, dimensions and pricing, which are not supplied in the source material.
““What a GAME CHANGER! I cannot emphasize how much I didn’t realize I needed this.””
— A Good Housekeeping at-home consumer tester
Safety and Value Questions Remain
The review does not provide the slicer’s price, dimensions or storage footprint, so readers cannot use the source alone to compare its cost or fit with their kitchen. It also does not give quantified results, such as slicing time or consistency measurements, or identify a head-to-head test against other bread slicers. The award and positive assessment reflect Good Housekeeping’s reported testing, not an independently stated industry-wide ranking.
Safety is a specific caveat. One tester said the very sharp blade can remain accessible if the slide adjuster is not returned to its original position. The source does not detail additional safety features or provide a formal risk assessment. It advises caution around children, but does not give product-specific instructions beyond the tester’s observation. Buyers should consult the manufacturer’s directions for use, cleaning and storage.
The review also says Bleyer tested olive-filled sourdough, while cautioning against using the slicer for breads with sticky fillings or toppings that may be difficult to remove from the blade. It does not establish that every filling or topping is unsuitable, nor does it give a cleaning method for residue beyond wiping the appliance with a damp cloth.
Check Fit Before Buying
Readers considering the appliance can compare its current price and dimensions with their available counter and storage space, then review the maker’s instructions for safe operation and care. The source does not announce a new product release or a scheduled follow-up test; the immediate development is Good Housekeeping’s review and the award recognition it reports.
For households that often slice whole sourdough or bakery loaves, the main question is whether consistent thickness justifies a dedicated manual tool. For occasional bread slicing, a knife may remain the more practical choice. Either way, the report’s advice is to slice only what is needed, since cut bread dries out faster.
Key Questions
What did Good Housekeeping report about the Zassenhaus Classic Bread Slicer?
Reviews analyst Eva Bleyer said the manual slicer produced even slices of sourdough and other breads during lab and home testing. Good Housekeeping says it earned a 2027 Kitchen Award.
How does the slicer work?
The model has a hand crank that moves bread through a blade. Its adjustable dial sets the slice thickness, and four suction cups under the beechwood base help hold it on a flat surface, according to the review.
Is a bread slicer better than a bread knife?
The review says the slicer was useful for consistent slices, but a bread knife is more compact, versatile and easier to store. Good Housekeeping does not say that a slicer is the better choice for every kitchen.
What safety concern did testers raise?
One tester said the sharp blade could be accessible if the slide adjuster was not moved back to its original position, and cautioned about using it around children. The source does not provide a formal safety assessment; users should follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Should you slice a whole loaf at once?
Good Housekeeping says slicing bread makes it dry out faster and recommends cutting only what you plan to eat. The report does not specify a storage method or shelf life.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
