Luckily, there is another way: You could invest in a juicer to create delicious and nutritious cold-pressed juices at home any time you want! Keep reading to find out which type of juicer is best and how to choose the best juicer machine for you. Here at Parade.com, we’re all about sharing products we love with our audience. When you make a purchase on an item seen on this page, we may earn a commission, however, all picks are independently chosen unless otherwise mentioned.
What Is a Juicer and Why Do You Need One?
A juicer (sometimes called a juice extractor) is a small kitchen appliance that extracts juice from fruit and vegetables. It separates the juice from the pulp, seeds and skin by crushing, grinding or squeezing the liquid out. What you’re left with is a thin liquid that’s chock full of vitamins and minerals. So, why do you need a juicer? There are a couple of big benefits. For starters, using a juicer can help you add more nutrients to your diet if you find it difficult to eat the daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies. Plus, because juicers leave you with a thin, concentrated liquid, you can pack a lot of produce into a single glass of juice.
Which Type of Juicer Is Best?
It turns out there are three different types of juicers on the market and the best one for you really depends on your needs and preferences. “If you want a quick and easy way to make juice, a centrifugal juicer may be the best option,” says Julia Chebotar, private chef, culinary nutrition consultant and owner of Health Chefs. “If you want to extract the maximum amount of juice from your fruits and vegetables, a masticating juicer may be a better choice." Here’s a rundown of how the different types of juicers work so you can choose the right one for you:
Centrifugal Juicers
“Centrifugal juice extractors have a blade that spins quickly to grind the produce,” explains Lynne Just, consumer test kitchen manager for Hamilton Beach Brands. “It then extracts the juice by forcing it through a strainer basket. The fresh juice comes out of the spout while the remaining pulp is ejected into the pulp bin.” Just says centrifugal juicers are best for at-home use. “For most people, especially beginners, a centrifugal juicer is ideal,” she says. “It’s easy to operate and makes juice quickly, plus it’s more affordable than a masticating juicer.” However, Chebotar adds that centrifugal juicers can be noisy and may not extract as much juice as other types of juicers.
Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers (also commonly known as slow juicers or cold-press juicers) use a different extraction method. “Fruits and vegetables are slowly ground to a pulp and juice is squeezed out by an auger,” explains Just. “Masticating juicers may produce a smoother juice — and do the job more quietly — but they take significantly longer to create juice than centrifugal ones.” Just says masticating juicers are also a little easier to clean since they don’t have a strainer basket that needs to be brushed clean after each use. Keep in mind, though, that they’re generally more expensive than other juicers, notes Chebotar. “Because masticating juicers use a slower-speed, gentle pressing action, they are well-suited for making cold-pressed juices,” adds Chebotar.
Citrus Juicers
“Citrus juicers are specifically designed to extract juice from citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes and oranges,” says Chebotar. “They usually have a small cone-shaped head that you press the citrus fruit onto and a handle that you use to squeeze the fruit and extract the juice.” Electric citrus juicers exist as well. Chebotar notes that citrus juicers are easy to use and clean but not suitable for juicing other types of fruits and vegetables. Just adds that a citrus juicer is the best option for juicing citrus fruits because you don’t have to peel the fruit first. “Additionally, citrus juice has the best taste when using a citrus juicer because there is no bitter taste from the pith that could be found when using a centrifugal juicer for citrus,” says Just.
12 Best Juicers For Your Kitchen
What is the best juicer machine to buy? Find the best cold-press juicer for you among the following centrifugal, masticating and citrus juicer picks. Sources
Julia Chebotar, private chef, culinary nutrition consultant and owner of Health ChefsLynne Just, consumer test kitchen manager for Hamilton Beach BrandsShakzod Khabibov, co-founder of Natura Market, a health food store in CanadaRaymond Neil, professional chef at TD KitchenJessica Randhawa, head chef, recipe creator, photographer and writer behind The Forked Spoon
