7 Best Cheese Planes for Effortless Slicing

There’s a quiet satisfaction in turning a solid block of cheese into perfect, uniform slices with a single, smooth motion. It’s the kind of small efficiency that matters when you’re trying to get a quick lunch between morning and afternoon chores. A good cheese plane isn’t just a gadget; it’s a purpose-built tool that does one job exceptionally well, saving you time and frustration.

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Why a Good Cheese Plane Matters for Your Kitchen

A quality cheese plane is about control and consistency. Unlike a knife, which can produce wedges of varying thickness, a plane is designed to shave off even slices every time. This consistency is crucial whether you’re layering cheese on a sandwich, melting it over a dish, or arranging it on a platter. It ensures an even melt and a professional presentation without a second thought.

More than that, a good plane reduces waste. When you struggle with a knife on a hard block of cheddar or gouda, you often end up with crumbled, unusable bits. A sharp, well-designed plane glides through the cheese, leaving a clean surface and maximizing the number of usable slices you get from a block. In a household where every resource is valued, from the vegetables in the garden to the cheese in the fridge, minimizing waste is just smart practice. It’s the same principle as using a sharp hoe—the right tool makes the work cleaner, faster, and more effective.

Choosing Your Slicer: Blade, Handle, and Style

When you’re picking a cheese plane, three things really matter: the blade, the handle, and the overall style. The blade is almost always stainless steel, but the quality and sharpness can vary. A high-quality blade will resist rust, stay sharp longer, and often features a non-stick coating or surface pattern to prevent cheese from clinging, which is a common point of frustration with cheaper models.

The handle is your point of contact, and its comfort determines how pleasant the tool is to use. You’ll find everything from classic wood to modern silicone and plastic.

• Wooden handles offer a traditional, warm feel but often require hand-washing to prevent cracking.
• Soft-grip handles, like those made of silicone or Santoprene, provide excellent comfort and control, especially if your hands are wet or tired.
• Stainless steel handles offer a sleek look and great durability, but can be slippery when wet.

Finally, consider the style. Most planes have a fixed blade that produces a slice of a set thickness, which is perfect for everyday consistency. However, some models are adjustable, allowing you to dial in the exact thickness you want. This is a great feature if you use cheese for different purposes—from paper-thin slices for melting to thicker cuts for a cheese board. The tradeoff is often a slightly more complex design that requires more careful cleaning.

Bjørklund Original: The Classic Norwegian Design

This is the tool that started it all, invented in Norway in 1925. The Bjørklund cheese plane is the definition of a simple, effective, and time-tested design. It’s typically made from a single piece of high-quality stainless steel with a straightforward handle, often in classic beechwood. There are no bells and whistles here, just a sharp, reliable blade that excels at slicing semi-hard to hard cheeses like Jarlsberg, Gouda, and sharp cheddar.

The beauty of the Bjørklund is its pure function. The fixed blade produces consistently thin, even slices without any adjustment needed. It feels sturdy and balanced in your hand, a testament to its heritage. This isn’t a multi-purpose gadget; it’s a specialist tool built to perform one task for a lifetime. If you appreciate heritage tools that are built to last and believe in the "buy it for life" philosophy, the Bjørklund Original is your slicer. It’s the one you’ll pass down.

OXO Good Grips Slicer: Best for Comfort and Grip

OXO built its reputation on thoughtful, ergonomic design, and their cheese slicer is a perfect example of that philosophy. The standout feature is the signature Good Grips handle—a thick, soft, non-slip grip that feels secure and comfortable, even during repetitive tasks. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone, but it’s particularly valuable for those with arthritis or limited hand strength.

The plane features a sharp, stainless steel head that cuts cleanly through medium and hard cheeses. The design is simple and robust, with no complex parts to break or clean. It’s a workhorse tool designed for daily use in a busy kitchen. If you prioritize comfort, stability, and no-fuss functionality over all else, the OXO Good Grips Slicer is the right tool for the job. It’s a modern, practical choice that delivers reliable performance every single time.

Boska Holland Monaco+: For the Cheese Connoisseur

Boska has been making cheese tools for over a century, and their expertise shows in the Monaco+ slicer. This is a premium tool designed for those who take their cheese seriously. The entire plane is crafted from a single piece of high-quality stainless steel, giving it a sleek, modern look and exceptional durability. Its most important feature is the quilted pattern on the blade, which creates air pockets to prevent even soft, sticky cheeses from clinging.

This slicer is exceptionally sharp and designed to handle a wide range of cheeses, from semi-hard Havarti to firm Parmesan. The handle is thin but well-balanced, providing excellent control for achieving perfectly uniform slices. The Monaco+ is an investment in quality. If you frequently serve cheese platters, appreciate high-performance kitchen tools, and want a slicer that looks as good as it works, this is the one for you. It’s the connoisseur’s choice.

Rosle Adjustable Slicer: Precision Thickness Control

For the person who wants ultimate control, the Rosle Adjustable Slicer is the answer. This German-made tool features a simple but brilliant thumbscrew mechanism that allows you to adjust the gap between the blade and the roller, precisely controlling the thickness of your slice. You can go from paper-thin shavings perfect for melting on pasta to thick, substantial slices for crackers, all with the same tool.

Crafted from 18/10 stainless steel, the Rosle is built with the durability and precision you’d expect from the brand. The construction is solid, and the sharp blade provides a clean cut without dragging. This slicer is ideal for the meticulous cook who values versatility. If you find yourself wanting different slice thicknesses for different applications and appreciate finely engineered tools, the Rosle is an unmatched option that will quickly become indispensable in your kitchen.

Westmark Fromarex: A Durable German-Made Tool

The Westmark Fromarex is a prime example of German efficiency and durability. It’s constructed with a cast aluminum handle and a stainless steel blade, a combination that makes it both lightweight and incredibly sturdy. This isn’t a delicate tool; it’s a rugged workhorse designed to slice through the hardest cheeses with ease. The tensioned wire cutter provides a clean, straight cut every time.

The design is straightforward and practical. An adjustable dial allows you to set your preferred slice thickness, offering a good degree of versatility. The Fromarex is particularly effective on large, uniform blocks of cheese like cheddar or Swiss. If you need a heavy-duty slicer that can stand up to frequent use and tough cheese blocks without flexing or failing, the Westmark is your tool. It’s built for power and longevity, not for delicate work.

Fiskars Functional Form: Sleek and Modern Slicing

Fiskars is known for its sharp, durable tools with a distinct, modern aesthetic, and their Functional Form cheese plane fits that description perfectly. It features a sharp stainless steel blade integrated into a sleek, black plastic handle that is both comfortable and easy to clean. The design is minimalist and highly practical, with a focus on simple, effective performance.

This slicer is lightweight yet sturdy, making it easy to handle. It’s best suited for semi-hard cheeses and produces consistent, medium-thickness slices. A key benefit is its dishwasher-safe construction, making cleanup effortless. If you appreciate clean, contemporary design and want a reliable, low-maintenance tool for everyday slicing, the Fiskars Functional Form is an excellent choice. It’s the perfect blend of modern style and straightforward function.

Wüsthof Gourmet Plane: Premium Knife-Maker Quality

When a legendary knife-maker like Wüsthof creates a cheese plane, you can expect precision and quality. The Gourmet Cheese Plane is laser-cut from the same high-carbon stainless steel used in their renowned knives, ensuring a razor-sharp edge that glides through cheese with minimal effort. The blade is serrated, which helps it bite into hard rinds and reduces sticking.

The handle is made from a highly durable synthetic material, triple-riveted to the full tang for exceptional balance and longevity—the same construction as their Gourmet knife series. This tool feels substantial and balanced in your hand, offering superior control. If you already trust Wüsthof for your kitchen cutlery and want that same level of uncompromising quality and performance in your cheese slicer, this is the one to get. It’s a premium tool for those who believe in investing in the best.

Maintaining Your Plane for a Lifetime of Slicing

Just like any good tool on the farm, a cheese plane will last for decades with a little care. The most important rule is to clean it immediately after use. Cheese oils and proteins can dry onto the blade, making it much harder to clean later and potentially affecting the performance of non-stick coatings.

For most planes, a quick wash with hot, soapy water is all that’s needed. While many modern slicers are listed as dishwasher-safe, hand-washing is always the better choice for longevity. This is especially true for models with wooden handles, which can dry out and crack in a dishwasher’s high heat. For stainless steel models, hand-washing prevents the blade from getting knocked around and dulled by other utensils.

Unlike knives, most cheese planes cannot and should not be sharpened. Their blades are set at a specific angle and are designed to maintain their edge through years of slicing relatively soft materials. Storing your plane properly—in a drawer divider or utensil crock where the blade won’t be damaged—is the best way to ensure it’s always ready for the next block of cheese.

Ultimately, choosing a cheese plane is about finding the right tool for your kitchen’s workflow, just like choosing the right shovel for your soil. It’s a small investment that pays off in daily satisfaction and efficiency. By picking one that fits your needs, you’re not just buying a gadget; you’re honoring the principle of using quality tools to do a job well.