Are you ready to turn over a new (kale) leaf and start getting more fruits and vegetables in your diet? A juicer can be a great way to get in your 5 servings of vegetables per day.
But be aware, choosing the wrong one will have you spending more time prepping, cleaning, and wondering why so little juice came from such a large pile of vegetables.
No doubt about it, choosing the right juicer is an important first step to a successful juicing routine. The wrong juicer will leave you frustrated and discouraged, but the best juicers on the market will leave you refreshed and energized.
So how do you know which juicer is the best juicer machine to buy?
Picture | Juicer Machine | Review |
---|---|---|
Check Price on Amazon.com | Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Breville BJB840XL Juice and Blend Dual-Purpose Juicer | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Omega NC800 HDS 5th Generation Nutrition Center Juicer | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Breville BJE200XL Bundle 700-Watt Compact Juice Fountain | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Omega Slow Vertical Masticating Juicer | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Eurolux Easy to Use Stainless-steel Motorized Citrus Juicer | Our Review |
Check Price on Amazon.com | Kuvings NS-950 Silent Upright Masticating Juicer | Our Review |
What Kinds of Juice Do You Plan to Make?
If you plan to make juices mainly from leafy green vegetables and wheatgrass, you need a special type of juicer. Ditto for fruit juices and hard vegetables. Knowing what you want to juice is the first step. That’s why a lot of factors need to be considered before deciding which is the best juicer to buy.
Centrifugal vs. Masticating
Centrifugal juicers use a flat blade with small cutting teeth. The blade spins at a very high RPM and tears through the flesh of the fruit or vegetable, rendering the juices from the vegetable. The speed means they will be noisy.
Centrifugal juicers are usually less expensive than masticating juicers, making them popular.
Because Centrifugal juicers move so fast they generate some heat, which can lead to oxidation of the juice. It is best to consume the juice right away as opposed to storing it away.
Masticating juicers use an auger to crush the fruit or vegetable, and then press it, releasing the juice. They move slow, and do not create heat or foam that leads to oxidation. Masticating juicers are some of the best juicers on the market.
Masticating juicers are also quieter than their centrifugal counterparts, but they are also more expensive.
Masticating juicers usually take longer to clean. The big benefit of masticating juicers is how efficient they are at extracting juice from leafy greens, soft fruits like blueberries and wheat grass.
Feed Tube
The feed tube is the tube where you feed the fruits and vegetables into the juicer. Depending on the model the feed can be anywhere from 1.5” to 3” in diameter. The larger the feed tube, the faster you will have your juicing task complete.
A larger feed tube means less prep, less cutting veggies up into smaller pieces and so forth.
Pulp Container
Pulp containers hold what’s left of the fruits and veggies after the juice is extracted. The size can range anywhere from 1/4 of a gallon to 4/5 of a gallon. Bigger containers can make more juice before you need to empty them, but they also take up more counter space and can be bulky and heavy.
If you make juice for several people at once, a bug pulp container is the way to go, but if its just one or two people the smaller container should suffice.
Remember, if you use a centrifugal juicer you want to avoid making more juice than you will consume right away, so you do not need a large pulp container to make extra to store away.
Unit Size
The overall counter space the unit takes up may be a factor for you. Centrifugal and upright masticating juicers take up less space than horizontal masticating juicers. Consider where you will be storing your juicer before you decide on which is the best juicer machine for you.
Cleaning
Juicers that use the least amount of removable parts are the easiest to clean. As a category centrifugal juicers are easier to clean, but there are some masticating juicers which are relatively simple to clean as well.
Look for a model with dishwasher safe parts to save you even more time. Since everyone’s in a hurry usually, the best juicer to buy would probably have removable parts that are dishwasher safe.
Juice Jug
The juice jug is the container that collects the finished product. Some come equipped with a lid and foam filter, which is handy if you use a centrifugal juicer as these tend to create foam.
Drip Stopper/Pour Spout
Some juicers have a feature on the spout somewhat like a stopper that halts the flow of juice when engaged. This allows you to remove the juice jug without spills. It also allows you to rinse the juicer before switching to a different flavor.
One Speed or Two
Some centrifugal juicers have two speeds, a high speed for hard vegetables, like carrots, and a lower speed for softer items like grapes or pineapple.
Soft fruits will not juice properly at high speeds and will instead get tossed to the pulp bin prematurely. A slower spin is better for soft fruits. Not all juicers have two speeds so check for this if you plan to juice a lot of berries, tomatoes or other soft fruits.
Reverse
Masticating juicers are known for getting clogged, which is why most are outfitted with a reverse switch which throws the gear into reverse, dislodging the blockage. Pretty handy right? This mechanism is a must have for a masticating juicer.
Soft Fruit Disc
A few centrifugal juicers have a special soft fruit disc for juicing soft fruits into pulp. These discs create a drink with a thick texture like you might get with the blender. A masticating juicer uses a wider sieve with larger perforations to create the same effect.
Material
Stainless steel and other sturdy metals cost more, but they also indicate a high quality machine. A machine with all plastic parts is apt to break and have a shorter useful life. The best juicer to buy is one made from the best materials you can afford.
Efficiency
A good juicer should yield a large amount of juice relative to the amount of produce you start with. For example, an efficient machine should yield about a 17 fl. oz. of orange juice if you start with an input of 25 fl. oz. of oranges.
One of the best signs of an efficient juicer is how dry the pulp is. The dryer the pulp, the more juice in your cup. It’s pretty straightforward.
Best Juicer Brands
Breville is one of the best juicer brands – well known and very loved. Breville consistently gets the best juicer reviews. The brand became famous as the juicer used by Joe Cross in his documentary Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead.
If the saying “The best Juicer you can buy is the one you will use” holds true, then Breville comes out on top. Breville makes juicers that are easy to use, easy to clean, fast, fun to watch, made with high quality and attractive to look at.
Breville 800JEXL Juice Fountain Elite 1000-Watt Juice Extractor
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Has high and low settings to adjust speed.
- Self-ejecting pulp.
- Three pieces to clean, incredibly easy to use and clean.
- Very fast.
- Attractive brushed finish.
- 100 % stainless steel parts.
- 3” wide chute.
- Dishwasher safe parts.
CONS
- On the noisy side.
- Pricy.
- Large footprint.
REVIEW
This is the top of the line when it comes to centrifugal juicers. For those who are serious about juicing and tend to juice carrots, apples and other hard fruits and vegetables, this is a great choice.
It is well suited for those who are in a hurry, as it is easy to set up, super fast to use and a snap to clean. Virtually no food prep needed, you can juice the vegetables and fruits whole (except citrus, always peel citrus fruits).
Best Juicer Blender
We get it, you want the best of both worlds. A machine that makes juice and blends fruit smoothies. With the popularity of blenders and juicers at an all time high, you would think there had to be a decent machine that does both, right?
The truth is, there are not a lot of Juicer/blender combos. There are even fewer good juicer/ blender combos. One we can recommend as the best juicer blender is this one:
Breville BJB840XL Juice and Blend Dual-Purpose Juicer
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Large 3” food chute.
- 5 variable speeds for both the blender and the juicer.
- Saves space by having two appliances in one.
- Very easy to use.
- All metal construction.
- Blender bowl is glass.
- Parts are dishwasher safe.
- Blender is good, works well and is powerful.
CONS
- Expensive.
- The juicer is not as efficient as other Breville juicers.
REVIEW
For the price of this blender/ juicer combo it might be better to buy the appliances separately. While Breville has a great reputation as a Juicer manufacturer, the juicer portion of this combo did not fare well.
The blender did a good job, but that can hardly make up for the price, as blenders, even high end blenders, are not too expensive. Overall we say pass on a combo unit.
Best Juicer for Greens
If you have spent any time at all in the juicing world you may already know this secret: there is no one juicer fits all vegetables type juicer out there. Some juicers do great with citrus, others with fruit, and still others do best with leafy greens.
It is not unheard of for a hardcore juicer to own several juicers.
So what is the best juicer for greens? If green juices, the kind made from leafy greens like kale, spinach and wheatgrass, are your thing, this review is for you.
If you plan to make juice with lots of leafy greens, you can eliminate the centrifugal juicer, as this juicer performs poorly with leafy greens. What you need for leafy greens is a twin gear of masticating juicer, the kind that will crush, and then press the greens, extracting every last bit of juice out of them.
Masticating juicers can be relied on, they usually have the best juicer reviews.
Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Strong motor.
- 80 RPM slow juicer.
- Auto pulp ejection to keep the juicing action going.
- Dual stage juicer, first crushing, and then pressing the pulp.
- Creates minimal froth, foam and heat.
- Minimal oxidation of juice.
- Very quiet operation.
CONS
- Large footprint.
- Need to cut produce, juicer has small chute.
- Small juice jug/cup.
REVIEW
This mastication cold press juicer is a classic for a reason. It is well built, attractive and efficient. It can juice fine greens such as wheatgrass and parsley, while also being able to handle carrots and apples.
While the price is somewhat high, it is in line with other masticating juicers and what you pay extra will be made up in the efficiency of the machine as you will get every last drop with this juicer.
You will need to cut fruit and vegetables into smaller pieces, and masticating juicers may take a few minutes longer than their centrifugal counterparts, but being able to juice the grasses and fine leafy greens YOU want in your juice makes them an investment worth having.
Best Juicer for Leafy Greens and Wheatgrass
Wheatgrass is a challenge for many juicers. Capturing and extracting the juice from the fine blades of wheatgrass is no easy task.
For wheatgrass a horizontal auger is necessary because they have narrower screens and introduce less air, making the extraction more complete.
Also, the juicer should have an end cap to put pressure on the pulp to get the maximum squeeze. What is the best juicer for leafy greens and wheatgrass? Our choice for this task is:
Omega NC800 HDS 5th Generation Nutrition Center Juicer
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Adjustable end cap.
- 5 adjustable juicing speeds.
- Dual stage extraction.
- Automatic pulp extraction.
- Pulp comes out dry.
- Easy to assemble, take apart and clean.
- Does not clog with leafy greens like other masticating juicers have a tendency to do.
CONS
- Pricy.
- Large footprint.
REVIEW
This machine is easier to clean, assemble, take apart and it is more efficient than other masticating juicers. It has a large footprint and it’s harder to clean than a centrifugal juicer, but those won’t work with wheatgrass and this juicer most certainly will.
The chute is not huge, but it is bigger than several of its rivals, and that makes it just that much easier to use. Where this juicer really shines is at extracting the most juice possible with little to no foam. If you love a good old fashioned shot of wheatgrass, this is the juicer for you.
Best Juicer for the Money
If you are new to juicing and don’t feel ready to make a big investment in a juicer, there are some budget models that are better than others. By better we primarily mean more efficient. As a general rule, centrifugal juicers are less expensive than masticating juicers.
Centrifugal juicers also have the benefit of being easier to clean and faster. These three factors combined make them a great choice for those just getting into juicing. Our choice for best juicer for the money are:
Breville BJE200XL Bundle 700-Watt Compact Juice Fountain
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Very easy to clean, use, assemble and disassemble.
- Great price.
- Well built.
- Large chute.
- Small footprint.
- Very fast, makes juice in seconds.
- 14000 RPM speed.
- Juices 8 OZ of juice in 5 seconds.
- Juice jug has froth separator.
- Safety lock to avoid accidental operation.
- Tools for cleaning mesh filter included.
- Components are dishwasher safe.
- 3” feed tube, can fit an entire apple.
CONS
- Only one speed – lighting fast.
- Does not handle leafy greens or wheatgrass well.
- Pulp container is not auto expelling.
- It needs to be emptied periodically.
REVIEW
This is a great entry level budget juicer. It has power to juice quickly and the design to clean easily. It does not take up a lot of space and is sure to be used a lot.
It does not waste produce or cause undue frustration for new juicers. It is a joy to juice with such an efficient juicer and even more so because of its low price point making it accessible to anyone who wants to try the juicing lifestyle.
Best Juicer for Juicing
Sometimes you just want juice, simple and easy as that. You want it to taste great, and you want to have it as hassle free as possible. This is the best juicer for juicing:
Omega Slow Vertical Masticating Juicer
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Single auger vertical upright masticating juicer.
- Small footprint.
- Quiet juicer.
- Two stage juicing, crushing first then pressing.
- Can make juice to store for later, cold press, low oxidation masticating juicer.
- Auto cleaning mode.
- All parts are dishwasher safe.
- High quality, superior tasting juice.
CONS
- Juice can be pulpy.
- Must chop ingredients.
- Pricy.
REVIEW
If what you want is simply the best tasting juice, this juicer is for you. It is a masticating juicer, so the juice is more flavorful, not watery like you might get with a centrifugal juicer.
The parts are dishwasher safe making cleanup less of a chore, and the unit does not hog counter space like a horizontal juicer might. Quiet operation means you can run it early in the morning while the rest of the house is sleeping.
Omega is known for making a quality product and this juicer meets that high standard.
Best Juicer for Making Orange Juice
There is nothing better than fresh squeezed orange juice in the morning. What many people do not realize is that standard juicers are not the best at extracting this glorious morning beverage from the orange.
Both masticating and centrifugal juicers struggle with citrus fruits. To get the most juice out of oranges and other citrus fruits, a juicer specific to citrus is the best juicer machine. Our choice for best juicer for making orange juice is:
Eurolux Easy to Use Stainless-steel Motorized Citrus Juicer
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Only one juicing cone, no extra pieces to lose.
- Filter for removing pulp from the juice.
- Soft rubber handle does not fatigue your hand.
- Suction cup for a secure juicing experience.
- Easy on/off operation, simply press down to engage the motor and release for automatic shut off.
- Brushed metal housing.
- Removable parts for easy cleaning.
CONS
- The juice collection cup is small and only accommodates smaller glasses.
REVIEW
If you want a fresh glass of OJ in the morning, or a refreshing glass of fresh grapefruit juice, this is the juicer for you.
Its super simple operation is so easy it can be operated with one hand. Simply cut the orange in half, press down, and the machine does its thing. Once you stop pressing, the motor stops too, how smart is that?
The one downfall the machine has is the small collection cup. You can only fit a glass 3.5 inches tall under the spout.
Best Juicer for Fruits and Vegetables
If you want the best of both worlds, both fruits and vegetables, then our choice for best juicer for fruits and vegetables is:
Kuvings NS-950 Silent Upright Masticating Juicer
Click Here for Pricing, Pictures and Reviews on Amazon.com
PROS
- Low speed masticating juicer juices both fruits and veggies with ease.
- Easy clean parts.
- Quiet operation.
- Chrome finish.
- Safety start feature makes sure the unit is assembled properly.
- No heat, no oxidation.
- Reverse function to clear clogs.
- Pulp ejection feature.
- This unit can make sorbet from frozen fruit.
- Upright design for small footprint.
- Built in handle makes it easy to move.
- Includes a patented cleaning tool to clean the mesh filter.
CONS
- May need to peel or cut ingredients.
REVIEW
For a high quality, great tasting glass of juice made with fruits and veggies this Kuvings is a winner. With super quiet operation, advanced cleaning tools, and a safety feature to insure the juicer is assembled properly, you will be making juice like you have been doing it all your life.
This is the best juicer machine for beginners, but makes all kinds of juice efficiently which will make any juicing-enthusiast pleased with this juicer and its attention to detail.
Summary
We hope our choice as the best juicer reviews will help you find the best juicer machine for you and your family. We believe you will find the answers to your question – what is the best juicer on the market? There is the one and only – the best juicer out there for your needs!
Happy Juicing!