Choose a Juicer

Centrifugal juicers are by far the most common and most popular type of home juicer. These machines are easy to use, relatively easy to clean, and quite affordable. Masticating juicers (sometimes called “cold press” or “slow” juicers) are another choice. These high-end juicers are best for individuals who want to juice greens or wheatgrass (in addition to fruits and veggies), or who want to produce the most healthful, most nutrient dense juice. Finally, various types of citrus juicers can be excellent options for individuals looking to make juice exclusively from oranges or other citrus fruit.

Steps

Choosing a Centrifugal Juicer

1. Determine what you will juice. A centrifugal juicer is an excellent choice for juicing most vegetables, and almost any fruit. Most centrifugal juices can juice spinach or other greens, but they are not very efficient at doing so. Additionally, most centrifugal juicers cannot juice wheatgrass. If you plan use primarily juicy fruits and veggies, then a centrifugal juicer may be a great choice for you.
2. Consider the price. Centrifugal juicers are very reasonably priced. This is the primary benefit of a centrifugal juicer (over the more high-end masticating juicers). Centrifugal juicers start for as little as $20, but they may run as expensive as $200. Higher end models can typically handle whole pieces of produce, and yield more juice. Look for a model that fits your budget.
3. Think about juicing speed. Centrifugal juicers work fast. These speedy machines are excellent for preparing yourself a quick glass of fresh juice each morning. If juicing is something you plan to do often, and if you are short on time, a fast-moving centrifugal model may be right for you.
4. Look for easy cleaning. The worst part about making juice is cleaning the juicer. Fortunately, with a centrifugal juicer (unlike with most masticating models), the cleaning can be easy! Look for a model that easily snaps apart and rinses clean with minimal effort.
   • A good choice is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer.
   • Any of the Breville models are also notable easy to clean.
5. Decide if you can handle some noise. One drawback to centrifugal juicers is that they tend toward the noisier side. The noise produced by the average centrifugal juicer is on par with a typical blender, food processor, or coffee grinder. Fortunately, centrifugal juicers are much faster than other models, so your juicing time, noisy though it may be, will fly right by.

Opting for a Masticating Juicer

1. Think about your health. If your primary reason for wanting to juice is better health, then a masticating juicer is probably the best choice for you. Sometimes called “cold press” or “slow” juicers, masticating juicers use a low rpm motor which best retains the nutritional value of your fruits, veggies, and greens.
2. Decide if you want to juice greens. Although some higher-end centrifugal juicers can tackle leafy greens (like spinach or kale), the process is extremely inefficient. If you plan to juice a lot of greens, your best bet is a masticating juicer. This slower, low rpm process extracts the most juice from leafy greens.
3. Determine if you’d like to juice wheatgrass. Whereas centrifugal juicers can technically juice leafy greens (albeit inefficiently), they definitely can’t take on wheatgrass. If wheatgrass is something you’d like to include in your juice regimen, you will need a masticating juicer.
4. Factor in a reduction in food waste. The biggest drawback to masticating juicers is almost certainly the price. (The typical masticating model will run you upwards of $200.) However, something else to keep in mind when considering the price is the fact that a masticating juicer will give you more bang for your buck (or more juice for your carrot). If you use your juicer often enough, you will recuperate your money over time.
5. Store your juice longer. Because of the low rpm process used by masticating juicers, very little heat is introduced into the juice. As a result, you can store your fresh juices for up to 48 hours, without losing any of the nutritional value. (Unlike juice produced by centrifugal models, which begins losing nutritional value right away.) This can be a huge perk, and in some ways makes up for the time lost on the slower juicing process.
6. Make pasta or baby food. Many masticating juicers offer extra features. (Sometimes these are included, but other times they cost extra). This may include accessories you can use to mince, grind, and puree. This can enable you to make fresh pasta, homemade baby food, pesto, or other foods.

Selecting a Citrus Juicer

1. Determine your budget. Citrus juicers vary widely in price, with simple hand juicers ranging from $5 to $20, manual presses running about $50, and electric citrus juicers running anywhere from $20 to $150. Knowing how much you are willing to spend can help you determine what type of citrus juicer to choose.
2. Consider a hand juicer for value and ease of use. Certainly the simplest and most cost-effective option when it comes to orange juice is a good-old hand juicer. These non-electronic, plastic or metal kitchen tools are perfect if you only need to make a glass or two of juice. They take up almost no space in your kitchen; they are cheap and easy to clean. Many models (such as the ChefVantage Citrus Juicer) come with a measuring cup or pitcher built-in.
3. Think about a manual press for efficiency and durability. Take a peak inside any gourmet kitchen, and you will likely find a manual citrus press. These durable, often stainless steel tools are efficient at extracting the juices from lemons, oranges, or other citrus fruits. These non-electronic devices are also aesthetically pleasing; a manual citrus press looks great on your counter top.
4. Opt for an electric citrus juicer for speed. Most electric citrus juicers are sort of like hybrids of centrifugal juicers and manual citrus presses. You place half of your citrus fruit onto a ribbed reamer and press down, activating a motor which causes a spinning motion. This is an extremely quick and effective method for juicing citrus and results in a delicious, high-quality juice.
5. Look for a model with a pulp-selection feature. If you’ve ever purchased orange juice from the store, you probably know that there are a lot of different preferences when it comes to pulp. You can aim to satisfy the needs of everyone in your household by selecting an electric juicer with a pulp-selection feature. This feature allows you to choose how much pulp goes into your juice, and it is one benefit of using an electric citrus juicer over a manual one.
   • One choice is the Proctor Silex Alex’s Lemonade Stand Citrus Juicer.
   • Another option is the Black & Decker CJ625 Citrus Juicer.

Tips

• If you are looking for a juicer for everyday use, it is important to pay a little bit more for quality.

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