The 5-AF wire slicing machine portions a wide variety of dairy products including wheels into wedges and blocks into smaller pieces. This video tutorial shows the step-by-step process of how to cut cheese cubes with the 5-AF using a block of Fontina cheese.
Fontina is a semisoft cheese with mild to medium sharp flavor and is made from cow’s milk. The soft texture makes Fontina a great product to slice with the 5-AF using a wire harp. In order to get perfectly portioned cubes from a single direction slicing machine the block of cheese needs to be cut and rotated in three different cycles.
How To Cut Cheese Cubes
For this example we’re slicing the block of Fontina at 43° Fahrenheit. The ideal slicing temperature depends on the cheese product, texture, consistency, and size of the block.
Step 1: Make First Pass
Set the block of cheese on the 5-AF platform and center it under the wire harp. By pressing both Start Buttons the wire harp will lower and slice the cheese block. Once the wires pass completely through the cheese and into the grooves of the product holder the cycle is complete. Remove the block by holding the slabs together, set it on a nearby table and return the harp to the up position.
Step 2: Rotate 90° Along X-Axis
To slice the block of slabs into a block of columns move the entire block back to the cutting table and rotate it 90° so that the portioned slabs are perpendicular to the wire harp above. Take care to ensure that the block and the previous slices are aligned as close to perpendicular as possible to ensure even cubes. Press the Start Buttons and the wire harp will lower and slice the slabs into columns. Once the wires are completely through the block carefully lift the entire product and set it aside on a nearby surface and return the harp to the up position.
Step 3: Rotate 90° Along Y-Axis
The final step to cut cheese cubes is to place the block back on the cutting table, but this time turn the entire stack of cheese columns 90° upright so that one plane of portions are vertical and the other is horizontal. Make sure that all columns are stacked evenly and aligned under the wire harp. Press both Start Buttons and the wire harp will slice the columns into cheese cubes.
Once completely through the the stacked product the sliced cheese cubes can be removed for packaging or downstream processing. Return the wire harp to the up position and repeat on a new block of cheese. The complete cycle time to cut cheese into cubes will depend on the type of cheese, temperature, and cut pattern grid.
Cut Pattern Information
Cheese cube cut patterns are determined by the wire harp and can range from large blocks for ingredient reduction down to bite sized cubes, although the smallest cube size is dependent on the type of cheese, block texture, and temperature. Harder cheeses will require larger cut patterns and softer products can be sliced with tighter grids.
FoodTools 5-AF machines are in stock and various wire harps are available for test cuts and demonstrations. Before ordering a 5-AF or custom designed wire harp it’s best to talk with one of our portioning professionals about your unique dairy products and portion sizes and schedule an in person test cut or send your products to FoodTools for a filmed demonstration.
How To Cut Cheese Cubes Video: https://youtu.be/fJLtPRavS1A
FoodTools Dairy Product Solutions: https://foodtools.com/applications/dairy/
Dairy Processing Information: https://www.dairyprocessing.com/
