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Juicer Buying Guide

By: Leslie

Appliance Sales Specialist

12 min read

A comprehensive juicer buying guide that will give you all the information you need on how to buy a new juicer.

Juicer Buying Guide

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Juicer Buying Guide Video

Small Kitchen Appliances

Getting Started

Home juicing can be creative and healthy way of drinking juice. Instead of drinking store-bought, pre-packaged juice, you can drink a freshly extracted juice that retains more nutrients. You can also experiment with all kinds of exotic fruits. With the right juicer and good produce, you only have to use your imagination to create delicious beverage and add juicy flavor to salad dressings, marinades, sauces and desserts.

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Types

Centrifugal Juicers

These are probably the most popular and the most affordable type of juicers. They are great at juicing almost any kind of fruit or vegetable, but they are not very efficient in extracting juice from wheatgrass, leafy greens or herbs. This type of juicer first grates the fruit or vegetable into a pulp, and then uses centrifugal force to push the pulp against a strainer screen by spinning it at a very high RPM. It also creates oxidation that degrades over time, so juice needs to be consumed right away.

Masticating Juicers

These use a single gear that chews fruit and vegetable fibers and breaks up the plant cells, resulting in more fiber, enzymes, vitamins and trace minerals. They are more efficient then centrifugal juicers because they can extract more juice from the same amount of food. They also extract juice from wheatgrass, spinach and other leafy greens and herbs. Masticating juicers operate at lower speeds resulting in less foam and heat, which means more nutrition in your glass.

Twin-gear Juicers

Twin-gear juicers are the most expensive type of juicers, but they offer the most benefits. Twin-gear juicers operate by pressing food between two interlocking roller gears. They turn at even slower speed then masticating juicers. They can extract larger volumes of juice from fruits, vegetables, wheatgrass, pine needles, spinach, and other greens and herbs.

Wheatgrass Juicers

These juicers are made exclusively for extracting juice from wheatgrass and other leafy greens, as well as soft fruits like grapes. Wheatgrass juicers are not made for extracting juice from vegetables and most fruits. They are available in both electric and manual models.

Features

Easy to use

If you are getting a juicer, chances are, you plan on using it often. Make sure you get a model you are comfortable with. The last thing you want is to shell out hard-earned money on a juicer that you have no idea how to use!

Multiple Speeds

Having multiple speeds allows you to extract the most juice out of your produce. Slow speeds are good for juicing soft fruits, like grapes, and the high speed is better for firmer vegetables, like carrots and cucumbers. You will want a juicer with a variety of speeds because you will want a variety of different drink styles. Your juicer can be an incredible multitasker when it comes to healthy beverages. Make sure you have a unit that can change things up.

Juice Container

Look for a model that has a juice container specifically sized for the juicer and with a cover that fits over the spout. If you juicer isn't put together properly, you will want to make sure that you have proper coverage and the spout is covered.

Storage and Cord Length

Look for a model with a long cord to give you greater flexibility in where it can be placed on your counters when juicing. If you plan to store your juicer in your cabinets, make sure you select one that fits as they tend to take up room. A compact model is good for cabinet storage.

Pulp Elimination

When it comes to juicing, you will undoubtedly get some leftover pulp and bits of skin from your fruits and vegetables. Some juicers have the ability to collect the pulp in an internal basket while others will eliminate the pulp outside of the machine into a separate collector that is specifically sized for the juicer. Depending on how much work you want with your juicer, you may want to invest in a juicer that will eliminate the pulp externally, so you aren't always stopping to clean the juicer.

Cleaning

Please keep in mind that juicers do require upkeep.

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Q&A Summary

What is the best juicer?

Masticating juicers are the best. They retain as much nutrition and flavor as possible and are relatively easy to use. The most popular models are centrifugal juicers, though masticating (also known as cold-press or slow) juicers help retain more flavor, fiber, enzymes, vitamins and minerals.

What is a masticating juicer?

Also called cold-press juicers or slow juicers, masticating juicers use a single gear that chews through fruit and vegetable fibers. The resulting juice has more fiber, enzymes, vitamins and minerals than you'd find from a centrifugal juicer. They're more efficient as well—you get more juice from the same amount of ingredients compared to a centrifugal model.

How much is a juicer?

Centrifugal juicers cost between $75 and $300; expect to spend $50 on replacement parts each year. Masticating juicers cost between $200 and $750. Twin gear juicers cost between $300 and $2,000, and wheatgrass juicers cost as low as $150 for manual models and over $1,000 for electric models.

What is better, a juicer or a blender?

While blenders tend to be more versatile kitchen appliances, juicers will help you get the most nutrition from your ingredients. If you'd like an appliance that can make smoothies as well as milkshakes and soups, opt for a blender. If you want the most out of your juice, a juicer is better.