Juicer vs. Blender: What’s the Difference?

If you’re looking to add more fruits and vegetables into your life, you may be contemplating adding a juicer or a blender to your kitchen appliances. Both are great picks for packing nutrients into your diet, but the tools themselves are very different.

We are here to help break down the differences of a juicer vs. a blender. We’ll explain the benefits of juicing and the benefits of using a blender to help make the best choice for what you’re trying to achieve.

A juicer extracts juice from fruits or vegetables. In this juicing process, much of the fiber of the fruit is left behind but all of the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients stay intact. Fiber is good for you, but some people with digestive disorders have a harder time digesting fibrous foods and therefore may benefit greatly from having a juicer.

There are a variety of different kinds of juicers:

• Centrifugal
• Masticating
• Twin-gear
• Wheatgrass

The type of juicer you choose will depend on what you are juicing. Centrifugal juicers are often the most affordable, but the other types of juicers do much better with leafy vegetables and wheatgrass. Juicers vary in the amount they can extract from any given fruit or vegetable.

A blender is a multi-functional tool that can make many different kinds of foods from dressings to dips, soups to smoothies. When it comes to blending fruits and vegetables, blenders process them whole, meaning the fiber is intact, unlike with a juicer. This results in a thicker drink, most often a smoothie.

Like juicers, there are different blenders. In our blender buying guide we detail the two main categories, handheld/immersion and countertop.

Juicers have a single purpose: to make great juice. If you pop by a juice bar daily to grab a drink, making your own juice at home is often more cost effective. Juices are also easier to digest than whole fruits, which make it a great option for many people. Because juicers remove a lot of the bulk and fiber from the fruits and vegetables, more extracted nutrients fit per glass, giving a dose of vitamins and minerals that is quick to digest.

One of the main benefits of a blender is its versatility. If you enjoy smoothies but also cook a lot, you may find a blender better fits your needs. Blenders can be key in the kitchen for making sauces, dressings and soups as well as satisfying that milkshake craving.

Blenders can’t make juices. Instead, they blend the whole fruits and vegetables, including the fiber. This can result in less waste (as a juicer discards the pulp) and fiber that can often help with digestion.

The answer to whether a juicer or blender is healthier is an often-debated topic. The truth is it matters much more on what fruits and vegetables you are juicing or blending versus which tool you are using. Juicing is not a substitute for eating whole fruits and vegetables, but it is a great option for those who have a hard time digesting them. Blending fruits and vegetables is the better choice when someone needs the extra fiber in their diet. If using the right ingredients like leafy greens and healthy fruits, they can both be healthy options.

No tool is better than the other; it all comes down to personal preference. If you are looking just for juice, a juicer is the better way to go. If you are looking for a multipurpose kitchen tool, then a blender is the better way to go.

Although you can make some juices in a blender by cutting your fruits and vegetables very small and then straining out the excess pulp, it’s a much more arduous task. If juicing is your sole focus, a juicer is better suited for making juice.

In a juicer, you’ll want to focus only on using fruits and vegetables and occasionally herbs. The type of juicer you purpose will dictate what fruits and vegetables you can use. Centrifugal juicers, although often more reasonably priced, don’t do well with leafy greens and herbs. They are best for making citrus juicers and denser fruits like carrots and beets.

Masticating juicers, what you often see as cold-pressed, can handle most fruits and vegetables (and retain their nutrients better) so this is where you’ll be able to add ingredients like spinach, kale, romaine, ginger and turmeric.

With blenders, if you are focusing on smoothies you’ll be able to add in ingredients like bananas, peanut butter, protein powder and milks that you wouldn’t be able to add to juices. Frozen fruit works in blenders as well. Spinach, kale, and avocado are great to blend with fruit.

When it comes to cleanup, blenders are generally easier to clean than juicers. Some blenders have a setting where you simply add soap and water to blend and the jug practically cleans itself. Some blenders have dishwasher-safe parts, while others require a little more scrubbing around the blades.

Cleaning a juicer is often a tedious process. Centrifugal juicers require you to clean internal parts that often get covered with bits from fibrous fruits and vegetables. Masticating juicers can often be easier to clean and some have removable parts that are dishwasher safe.

Overall, choosing a juicer vs. blender comes down to personal preference. For those looking to add juicing to their overall diet, a juicer is the way to go. If you are looking for a multi-purpose tool, a blender may be the better option.

What are the key differences between a juicer and a blender?

The key difference between a juicer or a blender is that a juicer extracts the juice from fruits and vegetables and discards the pulp, while a blender blends the whole fruit or vegetable, keeping the fiber intact. A blender can blend many different foods, while a juicer is made just for juicing.

Is it better to use a juicer or blender?

A juicer is not better than a blender or vice versa; it depends on your purpose for this kitchen appliance. If you are solely juicing, a juicer is better. If you are planning to make dressings, sauces and other items beyond smoothies, a blender is better.

Is a juicer or blender healthier?

It is unclear which option is healthier. A juicer can often extract more nutrients into a single cup and can be absorbed faster. It is often a better choice for those that have a difficult time digesting whole fruits and vegetables. However, fiber is key to digestion and a blender blends the whole fruit and vegetable, including the fiber. Plus, it’s easier to add protein into a blender.

Is a juicer or blender easier to clean?

A blender is often easier to clean than a juicer; however, there are juicer models with dishwasher-safe parts that make cleanup a breeze.