Juice has been a very trendy product in the world of health food lately, and for good reason – it’s a tasty and convenient way to get the nutrients you need for the day. Buying prepackaged juice can get expensive very quickly, so if you enjoy juice, investing in a juicer for your home is the way to go. There are so many different kinds of juicers on the market, so you can find one that suits your personal preferences.
If you’ve never bought a juicer before, finding the best juicer for your kitchen may seem a little bit overwhelming. Juicers fit into many different categories, and you’ll find that a centrifugal juicer is quite different from a masticating juicer, for example. In this article, we’re going to focus on the best juicers overall, instead of breaking them down into categories – this article will focus on high quality juicer reviews, the ones that are most effective in creating delicious juices. These are for the customer that loves juicing and wants a reliable machine they can use for years to come to make their favorite drinks.
Contents
- Top 14 Best Juicers [Updated Reviews]
- Omega J8006HDS Nutrition Center
- Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite
- Tribest GSE-5000 Greenstar Elite
- The Original Healthy Juicer – Lexen GP27
- Tribest CS-1000 CitriStar Electric Citrus Juicer
- Breville The Juice Fountain Cold BJE430
- Breville BJE200XL
- Cuisinart CCJ-500 Pulp Control Citrus Juicer
- Mueller Austria Juicer Ultra
- Cuisinart CJE-1000 Die Cast Juice Extractor
- Hamilton Beach 67608A Juicer
- Black + Decker Citrus Juicer CJ625
- Hamilton Beach 67601A Big Mouth Juicer Machine
- SKG Cold Press Slow Masticating Juicer
- Best Juicer Buying Guide
- Summary
Top 14 Best Juicers [Updated Reviews]
Omega J8006HDS Nutrition Center
Omega juicers are one of the most coveted juicer brands, and the Omega J8006 is arguably their most well-known model. It’s consistently ranked as the most popular masticating juicer online, and while it is expensive for a kitchen appliance, it’s actually priced very reasonably considering the quality of the product it produces. It has a sleek horizontal design with a nice metallic exterior.
As a masticating juicer, the Omega J8006 spins very slowly, at a rate of 80 RPM, so as not to add heat or oxygen to the final product. This means the nutritional value and taste of the juice is much better. It also doesn’t add foam to the juice, so it tastes very pure. The dual stage masticating mechanism, which crushes and then squeezes the ingredients, gets every last drop out of them, leaving the pulp dry. There’s an automatic pulp ejection feature for efficiency and ease of cleaning.
One of the big advantages that this juicer has over some of its competitors is that it is very versatile. The masticating process is very efficient for juicing tough leafy greens and vegetables, and it can also be used as a food processer to do everything from grind coffee to mince herbs to make baby food and more.
The motor is incredibly durable and won’t wear down over time, and the interior is very easy to clean as well, which can prevent damage. Every piece except the filter is dishwasher safe, which makes cleanup much quicker. The biggest downside to this juicer is that the chute is relatively small, so the ingredients require some prep beforehand. It also takes longer to juice with this machine than it would with a centrifugal juicer of the same price. However, when it comes to choosing a juicer, it’s essentially a trade-off of quality or efficiency.
Despite the durability of the motor, it’s very quiet. In fact, it’s almost silent, which is great if you are juicing in a tight space and don’t want to disturb neighbors. The stabilizing feet help prevent damage or movement while you’re using it, and the manufacturer offers a whopping 15 year warranty, which is almost unheard of for a juicer and really shows off their confidence in the product.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite
If your main concern when buying a juicer is speed and power, then the Breville 800JEXL should be on your shopping list. This popular centrifugal juicer has a powerful 1,000 watt motor and has a maximum speed of 13,000 RPM, spitting out juice in just seconds. It also has a lower speed of 6,500 RPM for softer fruits and veggies. Although this does add some heat and oxygen to the juice, it’s excellent for when you need to get out the door quickly or when you want to juice in bulk.
This juicer is made from some of the best quality materials out there, which helps it last for a long time. The cutting disc is made from titanium, while the filter is made from a very fine stainless steel micromesh, and the exterior housing is made from die cast steel. The filter has over 40,000 tiny filtering pores to filter out more pulp for a smoother result.
Another benefit to using this juicer is that it has a very large capacity, so it is excellent if you do like to juice in bulk. The juice jug has a capacity of 1.1 quarts and the attached pulp container has a capacity of 3.2 quarts. The ingredient chute is also very large, with a 3-inch circumference, which means you can put fruits and vegetables in whole with no prep. The locking arm ensures the juicer is locked before you can run it, and it also keeps the juicer stable while it’s in use. Overload protection essentially stops the juicer to prevent damage to the motor when necessary.
The entire process of using this juicer is very quick, from start to finish. The interior pieces are designed to go in the dishwasher to speed up cleaning. Each piece is BPA free to prevent contamination. It’s important to note that because of the power and speed of the motor, it does make some noise when you run it. Another potential downside to this juicer is that it only comes with a limited 1-year warranty. However, the quality materials and strong construction of the juicer will hopefully deter any worries you might have about it breaking.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Tribest GSE-5000 Greenstar Elite
This twin gear masticating juicer is one of the best juicer on the market, and if you’re a serious juicer that is looking for commercial quality results, this product may be a great investment for you. Although it is quite pricey, it provides incredible freshness that is hard to find with other juicers. It differs from other masticating juicers in that it uses two gears, made from bio-ceramic stainless steel, to process the ingredients, which results in an extremely high juice yield with very dry pulp. The gears also use an innovative magnetic technology to pull nutrients like calcium and iron out of the ingredients, so you get a much more nutritious final product. The result is so fresh that it can last as long as three days in the refrigerator.
Just as you would expect from any masticating juicer, this product rotates at a very slow speed of 110 RPM, so it keeps the quality of the juice very fresh by not adding heat or oxygen to it. It’s excellent for juicing the toughest of ingredients, because the twin gear mechanism slowly breaks them down without jamming. There’s a pressure adjustment knob on the outside of the juicer, which you can use to control the tension of the gears for ingredients with different textures. It comes with an accessory to transform the juicer into a food processer, so you can make sorbet, nut butter, salsa, and more.
The Greenstar Elite comes with four different screens that you can switch out for different juice textures. The chute is relatively large, particularly for a masticating juicer, which minimizes your prep time at the beginning of juicing and allows you to put many ingredients in whole. However, because the interior of the juicer is quite complex when compared to other masticating juicers, it can take quite a while to clean. It also doesn’t come with a container to catch the pulp, which can also result in some extra cleaning. However, once you’ve mastered all the bells and whistles of this juicer, it gets much easier to use. It’s very quiet and reliable for many different types of use. Tribest offers a 12-year warranty on this product, which is one of the top in the industry.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
The Original Healthy Juicer – Lexen GP27
Juicing wheatgrass often presents some challenges. The tough texture of wheatgrass means that it will jam centrifugal juicers and will often get stuck in masticating juicers – even ones that can typically process leafy greens. If you primarily juice wheatgrass, you may want to consider getting a manual juicer, such as the Healthy Juicer.
The Healthy Juicer uses a manual hand crank system to crush the wheatgrass under a spinning auger. Although it does take some muscle and effort to use, you never have to worry about your wheatgrass getting stuck, and because it spins so slowly, you get extremely fresh, nutritious juice with absolutely no foam. In addition to wheatgrass, you can use this juicer on a variety of other leafy greens. It does work on other types of fruits and vegetables as well, but it isn’t nearly as efficient – this juicer is going to be most productive for you when you’re focusing on wheatgrass. The auger is made with BPA-free plastic and has a stainless steel tip and end cap.
Since this juicer has a very simple construction, it is very easy to disassemble and clean. Electric juicers often come with a lot of small parts that can make the process confusing, but this product is very easy to take apart and rinse. It has a very tight clamp that you can use to attach it to your countertop for stability, and it also has a long handle that provides you with excellent control while you are juicing. The small size of the juicer also makes it very portable and easy to store when you aren’t using it, so it’s excellent for people who like to juice while they are on the go or who have small kitchens.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Tribest CS-1000 CitriStar Electric Citrus Juicer
If you juice a lot of citrus fruits, like lemons, oranges, and grapefruits, you may want to take a step up from the traditional manual citrus juicer with an electric model. The CS-1000 from Tribest is one of the most effective citrus juicers on the market, and it also has a sleek, compact design that’s going to look great in your kitchen. It’s also an affordable alternative to bigger juicers if you only really use them to make citrus juice.
This juicer is extremely easy to operate – all you need to do is cut your citrus fruits in half and then press down on the top of the juicer. The reamer, which is powered by a 50 watt motor, will start twisting back and forth to extract the juice from your citrus fruits. The juice is then filtered through a stainless steel strainer to filter out the pulp, and then flows directly through the spout and into your glass. The entire operation is quick and efficient, speeding up the process of juicing citrus fruits, which can often be very time-intensive.
This juicer is very compact and has a quiet motor that won’t disturb your family or neighbors. There is storage for the cord under the juicer, which makes storage much easier when you aren’t using it. The spout is also designed to lock when you aren’t using it, which prevents any dripping that could cause a mess. The reamer is versatile enough to be used on any type of citrus fruit, ranging from tiny limes to much larger grapefruits. Tribest offers a 1-year warranty on this juicer for peace of mind.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Breville The Juice Fountain Cold BJE430
Breville is one of the leading retailers of centrifugal juicers, and this model, the BJE430, is designed to combat one of the biggest problems associated with centrifugal juicers. Many people opt to stay away from centrifugal juicers, because their fast spin speed adds heat and oxygen to the juice. The heat can break down the nutritional content in the juice, and the oxygen can add unpleasant foam. However, this juicer uses cold spin technology to keep the temperatures down and therefore keep more of the nutritional content intact. The juicer generates less than 2 degrees Celsius of heat, and the added freshness of the juice means you can store it for up to five days.
However, in addition to the cold spin technology, this juicer also has all of the benefits that come with Breville’s top notch centrifugal juicers. There are two spin speeds of 13,000 and 6,500 RPM, which you can easily adjust to accommodate different types of ingredients. This also results in a glass of juice in just seconds, so it’s quite effective for juicing in bulk. The 850 watt motor is very powerful and the juicer uses the best quality materials, so it’s a very durable machine that could potentially last for years when cleaned and maintained appropriately. It has a stainless steel cutting disc and a precision mesh filter to get a higher juice yield and minimize the pulp in the juice. All of the interior pieces are completely dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
This also has a variety of other features that Breville is renowned for, like an ultra wide chute. The 3.3 inch tube is big enough to fit fruits and vegetables whole. The safety locking arm also keeps all of the pieces in place to prevent injury and damage to the machine. This juicer also comes with a very convenient 70 ounce jug to catch and store your juice, and has a huge 3.4 liter pulp bin for bulk juicing. If you like the lower prices and efficiency that centrifugal juicers provide, but want less heat and foam in your juice, this may be a good option to consider.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Breville BJE200XL
The Breville BJE200XL is a compact version of their popular centrifugal juicers. If you like the durability and efficiency of the larger Breville juicers, but they won’t fit in your kitchen, this may be a good option for you. The small 10.5 by 10 by 16 inch juicer fits easily into a cabinet, and has a sleek design that looks very appealing. While it does have a 1.6 quart interior pulp container, it doesn’t stick out from the side, which is the biggest space-saving feature of this design. It also is more affordable than Breville’s other models, so it’s a good entry point into juicing if you’re just getting started.
Despite its small size, this juicer still uses the tough, heavy-duty materials that Breville is known for. It has a 700 watt motor and has an ultra-fast processing speed of 14,000 RPM, so it creates a glass of juice in seconds. While this can be noisy and will also add heat to the juice, it’s difficult to beat in terms of efficiency. It also has the huge three inch feeding tube that you find on Breville’s other models, which minimizes preparation time. It uses a centered knife blade assembly and has a stainless steel cutting disc as well as the detailed Italian micro mesh you will find on the other Breville models. The exterior uses a heavy grade polymer that can stand up to wear and tear, but is lighter than the metals used on larger juicers. This makes it easier to move the juicer around. You can also opt to purchase it with a carafe, which makes it easy to collect and store the juice.
All of the parts are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning, and the simple design means assembling and disassembling the product can be done very easily. It also comes with a cleaning brush to help you get all the pulp out of the nooks and crannies of the juicer. The safety locking arm prevents the juicer from running without locking first for your safety. Breville offers a one year limited warranty on this product, and while that’s not great for a full-sized juicer, it’s an acceptable amount of coverage for this smaller, more portable model.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Cuisinart CCJ-500 Pulp Control Citrus Juicer
This reliable electric citrus juicer from Cuisinart gives you the efficiency of a larger machine at a very affordable price. If you’re just breaking into juicing and you focus mainly on fruit, this is a perfect place to start. Despite its compact size and affordability, this juicer has several features to help you get the best yield possible out of every citrus fruit. It comes in a sleek brushed chrome design, or you can also opt for a bright yellow or orange to liven up your kitchen. The exterior is made with a brushed stainless steel, so it’s very durable, and the reamer and other removable parts are BPA free and dishwasher safe.
The reamer is adjustable depending on your juice preferences – you can choose from three pulp control settings to have better control over the consistency of the final product. The reamer auto-reverses while in use, switching directions on its own so that you get a higher yield from each ingredient. The juicer is a universal size that can be used on all different types of citrus fruits.
After the juice and pulp have been extracted with the reamer, they go through the ‘final spin’ feature, which pulls more juice out of the pulp for a higher yield. There’s a spout high enough to accommodate glasses and jugs of all different sizes, and it snaps closed when you’re done using it, which prevents leaking. The cover on the top of the juicer helps protect it and make it more durable, as it keeps dust and other particles out. There is a three year limited warranty on this juicer, which is outstanding given its affordable price and relatively small size.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Mueller Austria Juicer Ultra
This small but mighty centrifugal juicer has one of the fastest rotating speeds out there, but it also has a compact and sleek design with a small footprint for kitchens that are tight on space. It’s very reasonably priced as well, so it’s a good juicer for beginners or anyone on a budget. The 1,100 watt motor is incredibly powerful and can create a cup of juice in just eight seconds. It has two spin speeds, one for soft ingredients and the other for harder ones, like celery and apples. The low speed spins at 12,000 to 15,000 RPM, and the high speed spins at 15,000 to 18,000 RPM. This does add heat and oxygen to the juice, which results in a foamy texture, and it will create noise. However, it’s one of the fastest juicers on the market.
This juicer has a stacked vertical design that’s very efficienct without taking up too much space in the kitchen. The wide three-inch chute allows for entire fruits and vegetables to fit inside without any preparation. Each ingredient is chopped with the stainless steel cutting disc while spun against the Italian micro-mesh filter, which keeps pulp out. Juice then comes out of the anti-drip spout. Despite its small size, it has a 68 fluid ounce container for the pulp and a 34 fluid ounce juice container.
All of the materials on this juicer are BPA free, so they won’t contaminate your juice. A safety locking arm prevents dangerous false starts, and overload protection prevents damage to the engine before it happens. The base of the juicer has silicon feet, which keep it stable while running, even on slippery surfaces. When you aren’t using it, you can wrap the cord up and store it at the base of the juicer, where it wraps into place underneath the feet to make it even more compact. The one downside to this juicer is that it is less durable than many comparable products. It uses lighter materials like plastic that aren’t as tough. However, Mueller Austria offers a two year warranty for the juicer, and for the price, it is very effective.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Cuisinart CJE-1000 Die Cast Juice Extractor
The Cuisinart CJE-1000 is a great option for beginners because it is incredibly simple to use. It’s also good for juicing in bulk, because it’s quite large, particularly given the price. This centrifugal juicer has a powerful 1000 watt motor, and although the RPM speeds aren’t specified by the company, it has five different speeds. Most centrifugal juicers only offer two speed options, so this gives you more control over the consistency of your juice, depending on what types of ingredients you are using. The settings provide an excellent juice yield, particularly for a centrifugal juicer, leaving the pulp very dry.
Another reason this juicer is so good for beginners is because it is very easy to clean. The disassembly is very simple – all you need to do is press a button to unlock the interior mechanisms and life up, and the entire thing pulls out. You can then wash all the pieces in the dishwasher. It has a huge two-liter pulp container that makes it very easy to dispose of the pulp, and it also comes with a convenient one-liter juice container that you can use for storage after you’re done juicing. It also comes with a cleaning brush to help you get any stray pieces of pulp out of the juicer. The outside of the juicer is made with durable die cast stainless steel that’s very stable.
Since this is a centrifugal juicer, it will add some heat to your juice, although you can lessen this by keeping it on the lower settings. However, this does come with a filter basket that essentially skims the foam off the top of the juice, which makes it taste fresher. Although it does make some noise, it’s relatively quiet and non-obtrusive for a centrifugal juicer. One of the potential downsides to this product is the large horizontal footprint, which could make it quite difficult to fit in smaller kitchens. However, the large size means you can do more juicing in one session without having to stop and clean so often. Cuisinart offers a limited three year warranty on this juicer.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Hamilton Beach 67608A Juicer
This centrifugal juicer is an excellent middle of the road option – while it doesn’t have the fancy features of a more expensive model, it gets the job done well and is fairly durable. It has a very sturdy and powerful 800 watt motor, which can create a full glass of juice in seconds. It’s very easy to use – all you need to do is put your ingredients into the three-inch chute and press start. The wide chute virtually eliminates prep time, unless you are juicing a very large ingredient.
When you’re done, the juicer is very easy to clean. All of the pieces are dishwasher safe, and it comes with an extra-large pulp container that’s quick and simple to empty when you’re done. There aren’t too many pieces, which speeds up the assembly time. All of the pieces are BPA free, which ensures that they won’t contaminate your juice.
This juicer is available in both a one-speed option and a two-speed option. The two-speed option is going to be a better buy for serious juicers, because it gives you more control and versatility when you are juicing. Being able to adjust for different food textures helps you get a better yield, and it also prevents the juicer from clogging or overheating. It’s important to note that this juicer doesn’t come with anything to mitigate the foam on the juice, which may be slightly bothersome for some users. Overall, this juicer is a very reliable option – it runs consistently without any problems and creates a cup of juice quickly. While it doesn’t create the same quality juice as a masticating juicer, it works quickly and is tough enough to handle a variety of different food textures.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Black + Decker Citrus Juicer CJ625
The Black + Decker citrus juicer is a cute, compact electric citrus juicer that’s handy to have in any kitchen. It has a clear exterior with a white base and a cute orange reamer on the top. It has a 30 watt motor and an auto-reversing juice cone that works to extract as much juice as possible out of everything from limes to grapefruits. All you need to do to juice is cut your fruit in half and press down on the top of the juicing cone. By switching the direction that it grinds against your fruit, it gets a much higher juice yield. The juicer actually comes with two different cones that you can switch out for different sizes of fruit.
Underneath the juicing cone, there is a small basket that collects the pulp. After you’re done using it, it’s easy to remove and dump in the trash. There are four different pulp settings on the basket, so you can decide how much pulp you want in your juice. The juice then collects in a 34-ounce serving container with a handle underneath. There are markings on the outside of the container, which make it easy to measure the quantity of your juice. There is also a handle that makes it easy to pour, and a drip-free spout to prevent messes.
There are many advantages to this type of juicer. The biggest advantage is that it’s very simple and easy to clean up, but it speeds up the process of making any type of citrus juice. All of the pieces are dishwasher safe to save time. It’s also very portable, so it’s great for small-kitchens or even long-term travel. It only weighs one pound, so it’s very easy to move throughout the kitchen. The cord actually wraps around the base of the juicer when you aren’t using it, which is very helpful for saving space. There’s a storage cover that goes over the top of the reamer to keep it in good condition and prevent dust buildup. Black + Decker offers a two year limited warranty on this juicer, which is incredible when considering its extremely affordable price. Overall, it’s a very reliable option for casual juicers.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Hamilton Beach 67601A Big Mouth Juicer Machine
This juicer is very similar to the other Hamilton Beach option mentioned in this article, and it has many of the same benefits. It’s a centrifugal juicer with an 800 watt motor that’s very efficient. It’s a reliable option for the casual juicer who cares most about speed and efficiency when making juice. Despite its compact construction, it has a three inch chute, so you can fit entire ingredients into the juicer whole with no prep work. It also has a huge pulp container, which means you can have longer juicing sessions without having to stop and clean.
The exterior of this juicer has a sleek black design, and there aren’t any sections of the juicer that jut out, so it’s easy to store away when you aren’t using it if you need to save space. The cutter and strainer are both made from stainless steel, and the rest of the juicer is made from hard, durable plastic that’s BPA to prevent contamination. It works extremely quickly to create juice, often putting out a glass in just seconds. However, they do not specify the rotation speed of the juicer, so it’s difficult to say exactly how much heat and oxygen it’s adding to the juice. It only offers one juicing speed, so you can’t switch speeds to accommodate foods of different textures. You may find that you get high levels of foam in your juice when using this machine. The Big Mouth juicer has excellent yields for a centrifugal juicer, but it does add a lot of pulp to the juice. You may want to run the juice through a strainer after it comes out for a purer texture.
One of the benefits of this juicer is that it is fairly easy to clean, particularly when compared with larger centrifugal juicers. It has a simple construction that’s easy to assemble and disassemble, and all of the interior parts are dishwasher safe. It comes with a cleaning brush to help you remove all of the pulp and other debris from the nooks and crannies of the juicer. It has a safety locking arm to prevent the juicer from accidentally running while it is open. While it does not have the most durable construction on the market, the durability and reliability of the juicer is excellent given the price. Hamilton Beach offers a one year warranty for this juicer.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
SKG Cold Press Slow Masticating Juicer
The SKG cold press slow masticating juicer has all of the features you need for top quality juice. Even when compared to other masticating juicers, it stands out due to its extremely slow rotating speed of 36 RPM. While this does mean it takes a little longer to juice, it produces incredible quality juice with no foam and almost no heat added for a very fresh result. Despite the slow rotating speed, it has a very powerful 250 watt motor. It also has a vertical auger, instead of a horizontal auger chamber, which means that it takes up less space on the countertop.
Another reason this juicer is very unique is because it has two openings for the ingredients. Many masticating juicers have very small openings, which means that you have to do extensive prep work to get your ingredients to fit. This juicer has a large opening of 3.15 inches for whole fruits and veggies, and a 1.75 inch opening that’s longer for things like carrots and celery. It comes with two different strainers, one that’s very fine and keeps almost all pulp out of the juice, and another that allows some pulp in, depending on your preference. With either strainer, you get a very high yield. Each of the interior pieces is made with food-grade material that prevents oxidation in the juice. There’s also an automatic pulp ejection feature, which speeds up cleaning. It’s very satisfying to see how dry the pulp is when it comes out of the juicer.
This juicer has a helpful reverse function, which is very effective for cleaning. It helps remove any bits of pulp that have gotten stuck in the juicer. It’s also very easy to remove each of the internal pieces and rinse them off. They don’t stain easily, even with colored ingredients like beets and carrots. You shouldn’t put these pieces in the dishwasher – it’s more effective to wash them by hand. Overall, this is a very high quality masticating juicer that’s worth the investment for those who like to juice frequently. SKG offers a two year warranty on the product.
Check the Latest Price on Amazon!
Best Juicer Buying Guide
What To Look For In A Juicer
If you’re new to juicing, shopping for a juicer can be a little overwhelming. There are so many different factors to consider, which will help you determine which option is going to be the best for you. Here’s everything you need to know to narrow down the huge selection of products on the market.
Types of Juicers
The first thing you need to think about when choosing a juicer is the type of juicer you want. While different products have their own unique features, juicers fall into a few different categories.
Centrifugal Juicers
When you start shopping for juicers, you’ll notice that a large percentage of your options are centrifugal juicers. These juicers have a large chute at the top, and then the ingredients are chopped up by a sharp spinning blade. The entire juicing chamber spins as well, and the ingredients are pressed against a strainer using centrifugal force to make the juice. The advantage to using a centrifugal juicer is that they work very quickly, often creating juice in just seconds. If you’re busy and don’t want to spend a lot of time waiting around for your juice, a centrifugal juicer is going to be the fastest option. Centrifugal juicers are also typically much cheaper than other types of electric juicers, so they’re a great entry point into juicing. However, they do have some downsides. The biggest drawback to a centrifugal juicer is that the fast rotations add a lot of heat and oxygen to the juice. The heat actually breaks down the nutritional enzymes in the juice, and the oxygen adds foam. This means that the juice doesn’t stay fresh for as long. The powerful motors on centrifugal juicers can also be quite loud, which makes it difficult to have a conversation while you’re using them. Some centrifugal juicers can be difficult to clean as well, depending on how many parts are on the inside of the juicer.
Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers are the most common alternative to centrifugal juicers. They are also sometimes referred to as slow juicers. There are a few different ways they can be structured, but they are usually a bit larger than centrifugal juicers. These juicers crush the ingredients under a rotating auger, in a process that mimics chewing. They rotate very slowly when compared to centrifugal juicers, so they do not add heat and oxygen to the juice. This results in a much fresher juice that will last for a long time.
Masticating juicers are also much more effective for juicing wheatgrass, kale, and other tough vegetables that can get stuck in a centrifugal juicer. Many versions can even be used as food processors, so you can make baby food, sorbet, nut butter, salsa, and much more. They are very versatile. The high quality of these juicers makes them a favorite of experienced juicing enthusiasts. However, they can be quite expensive and are going to be a much bigger long-term investment. They also work much more slowly than centrifugal juicers, so they may not be the best option if you get impatient easily. Like centrifugal juicers, they can be frustrating to clean because of all the internal parts.
Triturating Juicers
Triturating juicers are actually a form of masticating juicer. They use the same technology to crush the ingredients slowly, and they don’t add heat to the juice. However, the difference is that they used two augers instead of one. They are sometimes called twin gear juicers because of this. The ingredients are crushed between the augers, which typically results in a much higher juice yield. However, the juicing process is quite slow because it is so thorough, so it’s not great if you want to juice in bulk or juice in a hurry. They also are difficult to clean because of all of the parts you need to remove. Finally, they can be quite pricey. These juicers are best for the total juice enthusiast because they are a bigger investment, but deliver incredible results.
Manual Wheatgrass Juicer
Wheatgrass juice is very popular among health-conscious juicers, but it can be quite difficult to make in an electric juicer. The tough texture of wheatgrass means that it often gets stuck in electric juicers as they spin. A manual wheatgrass juicer is a good solution to this problem. These juicers are typically quite affordable, and they create very fresh juice because they don’t generate heat. These juicers will clamp to your counter for stability, and then they have a hand crank to turn the juicer. The downside to these juicers is that they do require some manual strength to use, and it takes more time to create juice. If you like wheatgrass, it may be helpful to have one of these in addition to an electric juicer.
Citrus Juicer
If you mainly enjoy juicing citrus fruits, you may want to look at an electric citrus juicer. These juicers have a reamer at the top, and all you need to do to use them is cut the fruit in half and then press down. When you press down on the juicer, the reamer will start vibrating and rotating, which separates the pulp from the rind and creates juice. The juice then goes through a filter to remove the pulp from the juice. Ideally, you should look for a citrus juicer with auto-reversing technology, meaning that the reamer will move in opposite directions to get a higher yield. These juicers are very effective for citrus fruits, but they aren’t the most versatile option, so if you’re looking to experiment with other ingredients, they may not be the best option for you.
Key Components Of A Good Juicer
Efficient Juice Extraction
One of the most important things to look for in any juicer is how efficient it is in getting the juice out of the ingredients. Of course, centrifugal juicers are going to be much faster than masticating juicers, so it’s best to decide which category you are most interested in first before you start to compare speeds. Centrifugal juicers typically spin at a rate anywhere from 6,000 to 13,000 RPM, or rotations per minute. This means they can generate juice in just a few seconds, but they generate a lot of heat. Because of the high speeds of these juicers, it’s usually recommended that you don’t use them for more than a minute at a time continually.
Masticating juicers, on the other hand, are going to spin much slower. The average spin rate of a masticating juicer is between 80 and 120 RPM, but you might see juicers with speeds as low as 40 RPM. These will take a few minutes to generate juice, but since the yield on these juicers is typically very high, they are very efficient for the time they take to make juice. Manual juicers are much less efficient, since you need to use manual strength and it can take quite a long time to generate just one glass of juice.
High Juice Yield
Another factor to look at when choosing your juicer is the juice yield. This is the amount of juice that you get out of each ingredient. The best juicers will squeeze every last drop of juice out of the ingredients. An easy way to tell the quality of a juicer’s yield is to look at the pulp. The drier the pulp is, the better the yield. Some juicers will leave the pulp of the juice very wet, which means you’re not getting as much out of each ingredient.
Space-Efficient Design
Before buying a juicer, you should take a look at the amount of available space you have in your kitchen for it. If you have a lot of counter space, then you may be okay buying a large, commercial grade juicer. However, if you don’t have much room to work with, you’ll need to look at the dimensions of the juicer before buying it. You may want to measure your available counter space to give you an idea of what will fit. Juicers with a vertically stacked design are much more space efficient than ones that work horizontally.
It may help to look for a juicer that can fit in a cupboard or other form of storage when you aren’t using it. Many brands make compact juicers for small kitchens that will fit this need. However, if you are going to be putting your juicer away when you are done with it, it’s important that you look at the weight of the product as well. A heavy juicer can be very cumbersome to move around, even if it has a small footprint. Finally, you may also want to look for a juicer with cord storage at the base. This is another way you can save space with your juicer.
Although it’s not a concern for everyone, you may also want to keep an eye out for a juicer that is aesthetically pleasing. Sleek lines or unique color choices will make your juicer look great on the countertop in addition to functioning well.
Durability
It’s important that the juicer you are spending your money on is going to last a long time. Juicers can be very expensive, so it’s important to get the best value for your money by choosing a high quality juicer that can stand up to some wear and tear. The first thing to look at is the quality of the materials used in your juicer. Ideally, the interior pieces should be made from food grade stainless steel. The best quality stainless steel can stand up to repeated use and won’t develop stains from pigmented fruits and vegetables. Some top quality juicers use titanium instead of stainless steel, which is also very durable. Cutting blades made from these materials can stay sharp for a long time, ensuring quality juice for years.
More affordable juicers typically don’t use stainless steel, because it is more expensive. These juicers will usually use plastic parts instead. Plastic parts have a shorter shelf life than stainless steel parts, and they stain much more easily, making them a bit more difficult to clean. However, this doesn’t mean they can’t be effective. Just make sure that the juicer you are buying has BPA free parts. This ensures that they won’t affect the quality of your juice.
Another good indication of the durability of the juicer is the power level of the motor. This is usually measured in watts, and can range widely depending on the spin speed of the juicer. Powerful motors typically last longer, and they can prevent your juicer from clogging or shutting down when in use. Ideally, you should look for a juicer with overload protection. This will shut the juicer down if it senses that the motor is overheating, and will prevent damage to the juicer as well as to your juice.
Finally, you’ll want to look at the durability of the exterior materials. Are they weighty and tough, or are they made of light plastic? Are they resistant to scratches and dents? Is the construction of the juicer solid and stable, or does it feel like it is going to fall apart? A good way to gauge the lifespan of a juicer is to look at its warranty. The warranty essentially indicates how much confidence the company has in the quality of their product. The longer the warranty, the more durable the product is likely to be.
Versatility
A versatile juicer makes for the best kitchen investment, because it allows you to do more with just one machine. In general, masticating juicers are the most versatile, while manual juicers are the least versatile. Centrifugal juicers can handle fruits and many vegetables such as carrots and celery, but they may struggle with things like wheatgrass, kale, and spinach, which get jammed in the juicing chamber. If you want to juice a wider range of fruits and vegetables, a masticating juicer is going to be the best choice. Some masticating juicers also function as food processors but sometimes people opt for using blenders for juicers as well. They can make things like nut butter, baby food, salsa, sorbet, and more. If you like to get creative in the kitchen, it may be worth investing in one of these juicers so you can do more with it.
You may also want to look for a juicer that has multiple speed settings. This will not only protect the interior juicing mechanisms, but you can adjust it based on what type of juice you are making. For example, many centrifugal juicers have a slower speed for soft fruits and a faster speed for hard fruits and vegetables. You can also look for juicers that come with multiple filters that you can use interchangeably. This gives you more control over the amount of pulp that is in your juice, so you can make both thick, pulpy juice and fresh, smooth juice.
Ease of Cleaning
No one wants to spend tons of time cleaning their juicer after you’re done using it. Some juicers are easier to clean than others, and there are some specific features you can keep an eye out for that will indicate how easy the juicer is to clean. The first is the construction of the juicer. Ideally, your juicer shouldn’t have too many small parts that need to be removed and cleaned. A simpler design is much faster to disassemble and rinse down.
You should also check to see whether the pieces are dishwasher safe. This can be very convenient if you don’t have time to rinse everything by hand. However, you’ll always get a better clean by rinsing off each piece individually, and it’s important to take the time to do this every so often to keep each piece in good condition. Many juicers actually come with a cleaning brush, which you can use to remove all of the little bits of pulp that get stuck in the juicer. Another handy cleaning feature is a reverse function. This essentially has the juicer run backwards, so it pulls out any small pieces of food that may have gotten stuck there during your last juicing session. If you feel like your juicer isn’t running as well as it should, cleaning it out with the reverse function will often help you find the culprit.
Low Noise Level
One of the biggest caveats of getting a juicer with a powerful motor is that they can be incredibly loud. Some of the most powerful centrifugal juicers are so loud you cannot even have a conversation while you are using them. This can also be very frustrating if you share walls with roommates or neighbors. To prevent this problem, look for a juicer that’s designed to minimize sound. Masticating juicers are usually much quieter than their centrifugal counterparts. Sound is measured in decibels, so the higher the decibel rating, the noisier it’s going to be.
Effective Pulp Separation
It’s also important that the juicer can effectively separate the pulp from the juicer. There are many people who like some pulp in their juice, but there should still be a filter to ensure the texture is pleasant and not overwhelming. To determine how well the juicer is going to separate pulp, look at the quality of the strainer. The finer the mesh, the less likely you are to get any pulp in the final product. Many juicers also come with an automatic pulp ejection feature, which sends the pulp out a spout and into a separate container. This can be very satisfying to watch, and it makes for easier cleanup later on. If you do like a little bit of pulp in your juice, look for a juicer that comes with multiple strainers, so you can switch them out when you want a pulpier finish.
Safety
It’s important that your juicer has some safety features to prevent accidents while you’re using it. We’ve already mentioned overload protection, which keeps the motor from overheating. Another helpful safety feature that many juicers have is a safety locking arm, which prevents the juicer from running unless all of the chambers are closed and locked. It also prevents the juicer from becoming unlocked during the juicing process. This is very important, as you will need to reach into the juicer between sessions to clean it out. If the juicer were to accidentally start running, it could lead to disastrous injuries. Finally, you’ll want to make sure your juicer stays stable on the countertop and doesn’t start sliding when it’s in use. Stablizing feet on the bottom are a very important feature to look for, because they will help keep everything in one place.
Large Feed Tube
The ideal juicer is one that doesn’t force you to spend a lot of time prepping your ingredients. A good feature to look for on any juicer is a large feeding tube. This will allow you to put your ingredients in whole instead of having to chop them up beforehand. The ideal feed tube is three inches in diameter or larger.
Juice Storage Container
Another handy feature to keep an eye out for is a juice container included with the juicer. You can use these to catch the juice as it comes out of the juicer, and then ideally they should have a lid to keep them fresh in storage. These containers often come in the form of a jug with a handle and spout for easy pouring. It’s also helpful if the juicer itself has a no-drip spout, so that it doesn’t make a mess when you aren’t using it.
Summary
There’s so much to look for in a juicer, but luckily, you have plenty of options to choose from. If you’re still struggling to find the best juicer for your needs, try to find videos online of juicers in action that you might be interested in. This is one of the best ways to get a feel for how to use them, how big they are, how loud they are, and much more. Juicing is very healthy for you, and a high quality juicer is a great addition to any kitchen.
Last update on 2019-06-12 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API