Nothing beats a glass of freshly squeezed juice in the morning—or at any time of day, for that matter. Luckily, you don’t have to run to your nearest juice shop to have your favorite pick-me-up. With a juicer at home, you can always keep a glass of fresh juice within reach.
But if you’re looking for a convenient, fresh juicing option, the question remains—what kind of juicer should you buy, or which is the best juicer for your kitchen?
Though any type of commercial juicer or electric juicer generally accomplishes the same task—squeezing out that delicious nectar from fruits and veggies—juicers are not a one-size-fits-all device. From fast centrifugal juices to citrus presses, there are different types of juice machines to fit every lifestyle and kitchen. The best juicer for you will come down to your juicing needs, budget, and space.
No matter the type, there’s one thing for certain–learning how to use a juicer will bring fresh goodness to your home. To help you find the right option, we’ll explore the top three types of juicers, their features, and their pros and cons.
Centrifugal juicers, also known as fast juicers, are one of the most common types of juicers. With little prep time, easy clean-up, and a fairly simple process, they’re typically seen as excellent, easy-to-use machines for newcomers and juice aficionados who want a quick, low-prep option for extracting juice.
So, what does centrifugal actually mean? A centrifuge is any device that uses centrifugal force You can think of centrifugal force as that feeling you get when you spin around on a merry-go-round--that “force” that makes you feel like you're getting pushed away from the center to the outer edges of the merry-go-round. In a centrifugal juicer, rotation is created by a rapidly spinning vessel and metal blades which typically whirl at a speedy 6,000 to 14,000 rotations per minute (RPM). The centrifugal force pushes the juice and its solids outwards to the edges of the basket filter which then tosses the pulp solids to the hopper and the juices through the filter and into your jug. Centrifuge juicers work in the following manner:
1. Cutting – The blades grind all fruits and vegetables into tiny pieces.
2. Force – The vessel rotations “throw” the shredded food pieces to the outer sides of the vessel, along with any released juice. This force begins to push the juice through the filter and create a separation between pulp and juice.
3. Straining – The mixture is forced through a fine mesh filter into an attached container where the separated and strained juice is collected and stored.
The best centrifugal juicer types can come in all sizes, from single-serving mini juicers to large-scale fountain designs. You may also find centrifugal juicers with special features like multiple speed settings, detachable storage containers, or froth separators.
There’s a reason centrifugal juicers are quite popular—they have a long list of benefits for extracting juice. Some reasons to consider a centrifugal juicer include:
● Affordability – With their simple blade-centric design, centrifugal juicers are often quite affordable. You can find quality juicer models for under $200 that squeeze out multiple servings of fresh citrus juice or leafy vegetable juice within minutes.
● Less prep time – No more cutting boards and chopping to produce juice in the early morning. With centrifugal juicers, you rarely have to slice up your produce before adding it to your machine. The fast-spinning electric juicer blade will take care of that for you.
● Easy cleanup – Centrifugal blenders usually come with a pulp or “waste” compartment. This means once you’re done juicing, the leftovers will already be cleanly separated for you. When finished, you only need to dump them in the garbage or your compost bin.
● Efficiency – A centrifugal juicer can take an apple to apple juice in less than a minute, depending on the machine’s power. Even better? This type of juicer requires very little physical labor on your part.
While centrifugal juicers are popular and easy to use, they may not be suitable for everyone. Some cons for these types of juicers are:
● Heat generation – One byproduct of the centrifuge juicer is the heat generated due to friction from the high speed blade or disc. As a result, the juice from a centrifugal machine may warm up slightly. However, this heating does not reduce the nutrients in your juice—zero evidence shows that “fast juicers” reduce the nutrient content of juice. In fact, the slight heat may actually make any nutrients more digestible for your body.
● Limited power – Some centrifugal juicers are incredibly powerful, juicing everything from lemons to kale stalks. However, a smaller or low-power centrifugal juicer may not be able to handle more fibrous produce like leafy green vegetables or celery.
● Oxidation – By rapidly rotating, a centrifugal juicer pushes more air into your juice. This may cause oxidation, which can shorten the shelf life of your juice. Additionally, it may create a few extra bubbles in your juice. However, models with froth separators can prevent any excessive foam build up.
● Noise – Similar to blenders, the blades of a centrifugal juicer are not exactly silent. Noise-reduction technology can quiet some of this whirring, but most designs will make some kind of noise.
Masticate is a fancy word for chewing—which is exactly what this type of juicer does to your fruits and vegetables.
You may also know a masticating juicer as a “slow juicer,” since it takes relatively longer to use compared to a centrifugal juicer. With the power of compression, a masticating juicer or slow juicer squeezes all possible juice from produce by:
1. Grinding – Either sharp metal teeth or an auger (similar to a long corkscrew) slowly crushes up the fruits and vegetables.
2. Separating – The juicer pushes the resulting pulp mixture through a strainer.
3. Straining – The pulp mixture is then strained and separated into juice and pulp.
As juicers become a more common home appliance, masticating juicers are slowly growing in popularity. These particular juicers are popular for their favorable qualities, such as:
● Low heat generation – Because masticating juicers use a much slower grinding rotation than centrifugal juicers, this creates less friction and does not warm up the juice as easily. This can create juice that requires no chilling after drinking. That said, more and more centrifugal juicers are incorporating technology to make any increase in heat insignificant—so this benefit may not apply to masticating juicers alone.
● Higher yield – Perhaps the juice is worth the slow squeeze. Masticating juicers can often produce more juice than typical centrifugal models, but this is negligible with a quality centrifugal machine.
● Low oxidation – On average, masticating juicers operate at 40 to 100 RPM. This low and slow grinding pushes less air into the final juice product, meaning less oxidation and foam. This can help your juice stay fresh for longer, as well as keep your drink smooth.
● Power – Masticating juicers often have tougher grinding mechanisms, meaning they can handle the most fibrous of fruits and vegetables like leafy greens, wheatgrass, or celery.
● Low noise – Low and slow means masticating juices make relatively little noise, especially compared to centrifugal juicers.
Unless you’re a juice aficionado, you may be put off by the difficulties of using a masticating juicer. During use, you may brush against any of these cons for this design:
● Higher cost – Masticating juicers tend to be bulkier and larger, which can make them more expensive. Machines can cost $400 or higher, depending on their quality.
● Time – There’s a reason it’s called a “slow juicer.” A masticating juicer can take much longer to extract juice than a centrifugal machine, due to its slow and low grinding.
● Prep time – Many masticating juicers have small “chutes” or entryways for fruits and vegetables. This means you’ll likely have to cut up any larger fruits, leafy greens, or vegetables before juicing them.
● Clogging – Since masticating juicers run at a slower speed with a smaller chute, it’s possible to run into clogging issues. This can slow you down in your morning routine and require extra cleaning..
● Size – In general, masticating juicers tend to be larger, bulkier, and heavier. If you have limited space or storage, it may be difficult to store this type of type of juicer.
Dedicated to your daily glass of fresh OJ or grapefruit juice? In that case, all your kitchen may need is a quality citrus press. Simple yet effective, a citrus juicer or press can extract the juice from any citrus fruit, including:
● Lemons
● Limes
● Oranges
● Grapefruits
● Pomelos
● Clementines
Either manual or automated, these press machines have a dome-like conical reamer on the base and rounded top dome that line up to meet, squeezing what remains between them. To extract the juice, you can operate a citrus juicer by following these steps:
1. Prep – Cut your desired citrus in half through the equator/mid-section of the fruit.
2. Place – Place one half of the fruit flesh-side-down on the cone-shaped bottom dome, pressing it down lightly to fit the fruit onto the reamer.
3. Press – Either with your arm or automatically, press the top dome down onto the skin side of the fruit until all juice is extracted.
If fresh juice is your daily go-to, then a citrus juicer is probably your best choice. These machines offer a variety of benefits, including:
● Low price points – Citrus presses often come in the same price range as centrifugal juicers, often costing about $150–$200.
● Easy operation – Once you slice your citrus, all you have to do is place and press. These machines are so simple to use, you can probably do it one-handed.
● Minimal cleanup – Fewer complex parts involved means your cleanup will be a breeze. In addition, many citrus presses come with removable components that can go directly into your dishwasher.
However, there are some downsides to citrus presses. Before purchasing one, you’ll want to consider the following:
● Limited capabilities – While this type of juicer can press citrus fruits extremely well, it won’t work for non-citrus fruits or veggies like carrots, ginger, or celery. You may need a centrifugal or masticating juicer if you wish to juice any other type of produce or large batches of citrus all at once. That said, if all you’re looking for is a lean, mean, OJ machine, this juicer might still be the perfect choice.
● Less storage capacity – Compared to centrifugal or masticating juicers, this type of press often pours directly into your glass or container, and may or may not come equipped with storage containers. This makes it a better option for juice you intend to consume daily. Of course, you always have the option of pouring the juice into your own storage container.
● More manual effort – Lower-quality citrus presses may require a bit more muscle on your part to pull the handle down and press the fruit. However, you can avoid this by choosing a citrus press with features like a power-assisted handle and a center cone reamer that automatically rotates to help release the juice with ease.
Whether you’re taking Juicing 101 or developing your fifth wellness shot juicing recipe, a juicing machine is an excellent addition to your home kitchen. And to get the most juice for your squeeze and enjoy the benefits of juicing, you’ll need a high-quality model with versatility—which is where we can lend a pressing hand.
At Breville, our appliances open the door to your kitchen’s greatest (and tastiest) possibilities. From stainless-steel citrus presses to centrifugal juicers with Cold Spin Technology®, you can make every morning a fresh start.
Start fresh by shopping juicers, blenders, food processors and more at Breville today.
Sources:
1. Britannica. Centrifuge | Definition & Facts. https://www.britannica.com/technology/centrifuge
2. Homes and Gardens. The 5 types of juicers: and which type is best for you. https://www.homesandgardens.com/shopping/types-of-juicers
3. Tom's Guide. Masticating vs centrifugal juicer: Which is best? https://www.tomsguide.com/news/masticating-vs-centrifugal-juicer-which-is-best
4. WIRED. Nobody Can Prove That Cold-Pressed Juice Is Better for You. https://www.wired.com/2015/04/nobody-can-prove-cold-pressed-juice-better/