With health consciousness on the rise and the awareness that juicing is one of the quickest ways to nourish and heal our cells, the sound of juicers can be heard in so many more homes today!
A friend of mine who is about to embark on a cleanse that involves juicing recently checked in with me during her juicer-shopping process to inquire about the type of juicer I use and to find out what I might recommend.
While I’m sure my response to her was far more comprehensive than she was probably looking for, I believe it’s important to know the differences between centrifugal and masticating juicers when shopping for juicers.
That said, the two initial questions that are particularly common and important when it comes to purchasing a juicer are:
- Do you have a certain price range you want/need to stay within?
- Are you mostly looking for convenience and relative ease with juicing or are you more concerned with finding a juicer that will extract the most nutrients from the produce and making juice that can be stored for up to about 48 hours, even if the juicer might take a bit more time to use?
Which juicer is best?
Essentially, like I’ve heard ‘Juice Master’ Jason Vale say, “The best juicer for you is the one you will actually use!”
While you might prefer the juicer that costs the most and does the most, will you actually use it if it isn’t as convenient as you might have hoped for at the start of your juicing journey?
I’ve heard numerous stories about juicers being left out of sight and out of mind because they just felt too time-consuming to use.
However, I feel that juicing — with just about any household juicer — is still far faster than cooking a full meal. Plus, we can end up with far more nutrition in our glass of fresh juice than the cooked food on our plates. So, remember to also consider that factor when it comes to owning a juicer and actually using it.
My humble suggestion is to simply take time to learn the differences between the main two styles of juicers I highlight below and then begin figuring it out from there.
Centrifugal juicers
As I explained to my friend who was on a juicer-shopping mission,I mostly use my Breville Fountain juicer.
It’s a centrifugal juicer.
With centrifugal juicers, because the motor has a higher speed, the juice needs to be consumed within about 10 minutes of making it.
Juice from centrifugal juices oxidize faster… meaning, they begin losing nutrition pretty quickly once the air hits them, so that’s why it’s best to consume the juice right away.
Masticating juicers
Regarding masticating juicers, I have an Omega Vert VRT350 and a Champion.
I have a few juicers because of juicing workshops and classes I teach, and it’s good to show folks the differences. Masticating juicers have a much slower RPM, therefore, the juice doesn’t oxidize as quickly and can be stored in the fridge for up to about 48 hours, if you so choose.
However, because the masticating juicers I know of juice more slowly than most centrifugal juicers and require more chopping of the fruits and veggies since the chute to feed the produce into is smaller than most centrifugal juicers, some potential buyers of juicers find them less convenient. Because this style is able to extract even more nutrition from the produce (especially greens) due to its design, masticating juicers tend to be far more pricey, too.
I call this style my yoga juicer since it has a slower pace and goes deeper. 🙂
Although I am well aware we can get more nutrition from masticating juicers, I still find myself using my centrifugal juicer a lot because of how quick and easy it is to use! The chute is large, so I can pop whole apples and such into it.
When folks are buying juicers for the first time, many decide to go with something in the centrifugal juicer price range, and then when they are certain they are going to make juicing a lifestyle habit, they upgrade. Some just go right for the masticating juicer. (Remember, there are many used masticating juicers available at lower prices, if that is the way you want to go.)
My personal motto is that some juicing is better than none at all, so just start with the one that initially feels right for you! I was juicing for a long while before I upgraded to a masticating juicer.
Yet, I’m still using my Breville a great deal, too.
As I told my friend, I’m here to help, so don’t hesitate to let me know if you have questions, etc. I love juicing and helping juicing enthusiasts get comfortable with the process as best I can.
Happy Juicer-Shopping & Juicing!