Orange juice may have been a mainstay in many households growing up, but in recent years the popularity of juicing has introduced a much wider variety of healthy and tasty juice types into the homes of the health conscious.
Many consumers can now get a hold of fresh juices from local juice bars or high-end grocery stores, but for committed juice enthusiasts (or those living too far from juice bars for convenience), owning your own juicer can make those tasty drinks a part of everyday life.
Why Juicing is So Popular
- Juicing gives those who don’t get enough fruits and vegetables in their regular diet an alternative opportunity to do so.
- Juicing often encourages people to bring different fruits and vegetables into their diet than the ones they tend to cook with.
- Juicing can be a good way to use produce that might otherwise go bad before you get around to using it – a big benefit for those concerned about food waste.
- Fresh juice is delicious.
If you’re considering joining the many people who have started juicing at home, our buyer’s guide can help you identify the best juicer for you.
The 4 Main Types of Juicers
The first choice for you to make is which of the four main types of juicers on the market to consider.
1. Citrus Juicer
Any of the juicers on our list can be used for juicing citrus fruits, but if that’s the main type of juice you intend to make, you have some especially economical options available to you. You’ll sometimes see this type of juicer listed as an “OJ juicer” or a “citrus press,” and there’s actually a pretty wide range of models available just devoted to juicing citrus.
You can stick with a simple, manual citrus juicer that costs as little, or find more expensive electronic versions with built-in containers for capturing the juice and different sizes of juicing cones for the different types of citrus fruits. Citrus juicers are usually best for people who aren’t too interested in branching into juicing other types of fruits and vegetables and who aren’t looking to juice large quantities of fruit at once.
Benefits:
- Easy to use.
- There are many affordable models available.
- Easier to clean than other types of juicers.
- Small & portable, so they take up little counter space and can be easily stored.
To Keep in Mind:
- Only good for juicing citrus.
- Not practical for juicing large quantities.
2. Centrifugal Juicers
Often called juice extractors, these are some of the most popular models on the market. Centrifugal juicers use sharp, fast moving blades to chop up your fruits and vegetables and mesh filters to separate out the pulp from the liquid. If you’re looking for a more full-service juicer than the citrus models, these will tend to be your most affordable options.
Juicing with these is fairly quick and easy and most types of fruits and vegetables that you’d want to juice will work in them. They aren’t quite as good for juicing herbs, wheatgrass and leafy greens as other models. And many of the nutrients from fruits and vegetables end up in the pulp that gets separated out, so you won’t get as much nutritional benefit from the juice as with some other types of juicers.
Benefits:
- Fast and easy to use.
- Many affordable options available.
- You can juice most fruits and vegetables with it.
- This type of juicer allows you to continuously add fruits and veggies.
To Keep in Mind:
- Some vegetables don’t juice well — specifically leafy greens, herbs, and wheatgrass.
- Produces less juice for the amount of fruits and vegetables you put in than cold press models.
- Juice has less nutrients because of heat used in the juicing process and the separation of pulp.
- Takes more effort and time to clean.
- Units tend to be larger, thus taking up more counter space and harder to store.
- Some models may be loud.
3. Cold Press Juicers / Masticating Juicers
Cold press juicers go by many names – masticating juicers, slow juicers, or single-gear juicers, to name a few. They have a higher price point than citrus juicers and juice extractors, but provide better results in terms of nutrients maintained and the amount of juice produced.
These juicers work by crushing the fruits and vegetables in order to squeeze out the juice. They work slower than centrifugal models, but are better at juicing a wider variety of vegetables and produce juice that stays fresh longer. They can even be used for some foods beyond fruits and vegetables, like turning nuts into nut butters or making baby food.
The general consensus amongst devoted juicers seems to be that cold press juicers are far superior to juice extractors, but they are higher end and tend to require a more significant time and monetary commitment. For the daily juicers, they may be a good choice. For those interested in a couple of cup’s worth of juice now and then, the investment may not pay off.
Benefits:
- Juice tends to stay fresher for longer.
- More nutrients retained in your juice.
- A high yield of juice for the amount of fruits and vegetables you put in.
- Models tend to be quieter than other types of juicers.
- Works with fruits and vegetables that juice extractors have a hard time with, like leafy greens, herbs, and wheatgrass.
To Keep in Mind:
- Juicing takes longer.
- These models are typically more expensive.
- Cleaning the appliance is more difficult and time-consuming.
- Units tend to be larger, taking up more counter space and harder to store.
4. Twin-Gear Juicers
If cold press juicers are for the dedicated juicer, twin-gear juicers are for the “juicing enthusiast” with especially high-end tastes. This type of juicer – often called triturating juicers, or dual-gear juicers – cost more than masticating juicers do, but produce juice with even higher levels of nutrients. They press the fruits and vegetables between two interlocking gears (hence the name), at a slower pace than cold press juicers do so that they extract more nutrient-rich juice from the produce.
Most people interested in juicing won’t find the higher cost worth it, but for the most serious of health enthusiasts with some money to spend, these juicers are at the top of the pack.
Benefits:
- Juice stays fresh for longer.
- Units tend to be pretty quiet.
- Juice is especially nutrient-rich.
- Produces a high yield of juice for the amount of fruits and vegetables.
- This type of juicer works with a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
- Can be used for some other uses, such as making pasta or bread.
To Keep in Mind:
- These can be very expensive.
- May be more difficult to clean.
- Slower than other types of juicers.
- Large and heavy. Takes up lots of counter space and harder to store when not in use.
- Not great for juicing citrus – it’s too powerful for the soft fruit.
Conclusion
I hope this guide helps you in choosing the right type of juicer machine for you according to your want budget and situation. If you have any question related to this do mention in the comment section.