"Which Juicer Should I Get?"

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Having the right juicer for you, your family, and your lifestyle is extremely important. As a matter of fact, it can mean the difference between becoming a juicing fanatic or becoming one who has joined the ranks of people who invest in a juicer and then let it collect dust on the counter. Today I want to take a look at the three most commonly used types of juicers and reveal some of their advantages and disadvantages. The three types of juicers we will look into are the masticating, the centrifugal, and the twin gear styles.

Factors in Choosing a Juicer

Recently, I had three different people who came to me about which juicer to purchase. After briefly evaluating each person's lifestyle and needs, I actually recommended a different juicer to each of the three individuals who approached me. Every person had different ideas about what was important to them, and I am sure you will find this to be true for you as well.

1. Cost

If cost prohibits you from investing in a high-end juicer, then I believe having any juicer and using it is better than not juicing at all. However, juicing is an investment that extends beyond your original purchase. A good quality juicer will yield more juice and save you more money over time.

2. Effort in Cleaning

In my experience, every juicer I have used takes a little effort to clean. However, the longer you juice, the more efficient you will become at cleaning your particular juicer. I have learned many short cuts along the way that have saved me time during clean up. For example, if you use a small plastic grocery bag inside of your container to collect the pulp, it saves a step in the cleaning process at the end.

3. How much time do you have to make juice?

Choosing a juicer with a large feeding tube can save a lot of time. Some juicers allow you to put an entire beet or apple in at once, which can really be a help if you must get out the door very early in the morning.

4. How much space do you have?

Perhaps you have a very small kitchen and limited counter space. A vertical juicer is ideal for this situation because it is attractive and takes about as much space as an ordinary household blender.

5. How much Juice will it yield?

A high quality juicer will produce a drier pulp. This means you are not only getting more juice, but you are also receiving more of the enzymes and nutrients available in your fresh produce. If your pulp comes out looking like slush, then this is a good indication your juicer is not doing a very good job.

6. What is the rpm on the juicer?

If the juicer gets too warm and heats the juice, much of the nutrition and many of the enzymes will be lost. A juicer with a lower rpm will not heat the juice and thus will preserve the vitamins and minerals found in fresh raw food.

Masticating Juicers

A masticating juicer is also referred to as a single gear or a press. This juicer chews the juice, slowly, working at a low speed of only 80 rpm.

Cost: Between $300 - $500+ retail

Pros

  • Low speed processes at 80 rpm, which prevents oxidation of the juice and preserves more nutrients
  • Juice can be stored and used for up to 72 hours
  • High yield of juice
  • Vertical design saves space
  • Innovative auto cleaning system of the Omega VRT cleans the screen while juicing for better efficiency
  • Juices wheat grass and other greens very efficiently
  • Great for making nut milks, sorbets, nut butters and baby food

Cons

  • Masticating juicers can be more expensive to buy
  • Smaller chute requires cutting produce into small pieces. Celery can get caught in it quite easily and needs to be chopped ahead of time.
  • Masticating juicers take longer to clean and put together than centrifugal juicers

Examples of Masticating Juicers

Centrifugal Juicers

A centrifugal juicer is one where a very sharp blade and basket spin at high speed to separate the juice from the pulp, using centrifugal force (much like a washing machine on spin cycle).

Cost: From $30 - $500

Pros

  • Depending on which make and model, you can purchase one very inexpensively
  • Large chute allows you to juice whole pieces of fruit or vegetables without chopping
  • Fast, easy to use and clean
  • Easy to find. Available in most department or retail stores
  • Great for beginner juicers trying to decide if juicing is right for them

Cons

  • The high speed blade does not open the cell of the plant enough to extract all of its nutritional value
  • Not as efficient at juicing soft leafy greens like wheat grass, spinach, etc.
  • Because of the high speed, some of the nutritional content is lost
  • Unable to make nut butters, nut milks, baby foods, etc.
  • Can be very loud while operating

Examples of Centrifugal Juicers

Twin Gear Juicer

This juicer is one in which the twin gears meet to crush fruits and vegetables completely, opening sealed cell walls and releasing trapped vitamins and minerals.

Cost: About $575 - $1,200 retail

Pros

  • Highest yield of all types of juicers
  • Twin gears preserve the maximum amount of nutrients from the produce, preventing oxidation of the juice
  • Quiet operation
  • Can juice everything from carrots and beets to wheat grass and herbs
  • Can be used to make nut milks, baby food, pasta, etc.

Cons

  • Most expensive type of juicer
  • Very large and heavy
  • Small feeding chute means produce must be chopped in smaller pieces
  • More parts taking extra time to clean and assemble

Examples of twin gear juicers

In Conclusion

Here is a brief summary of the information provided on the 3 types of juicers we have looked at:

I want a masticating juicer because:

  • I want to make my juice ahead of time and be able to store it longer than a centrifuge
  • I don't have a lot of extra space in my kitchen
  • I can invest in a moderately expensive juicer
  • I want to be able to juice everything

I want a centrifugal juicer because:

  • I need something quick and easy
  • I may have children using the juicer and want then to enjoy the process
  • I need something less expensive and want to see if I will continue juicing over time
  • I don't care that I can't juice soft leafy greens very well

I want a twin gear juicer because:

  • I want to go hard-core, all the way, non stop with juicing
  • I want to make my juice ahead of time in one big batch
  • I have the extra money to spend on a high end juicer
  • I want to make my juice ahead of time and be able to store it longer than a centrifuge
  • I want to be able to juice everything

My Personal Favorite...

Omega VRT 350

I personally have used the green star and green power juicers for over 13 years. They are pretty much the same, and I love them both. However, I recently purchased the Omega VRT350 as well and have found it to be an excellent juicer that I highly recommend. No matter which juicer you choose, I hope that juicing leads you to a healthier way of life that you will embrace for many years to come.