chefalbert
View ProfileI love juicing, and I love what the best juicers can do for my health. If you are interested to know more about juicing and how to pick the best juicer for making healthy juice at home, you have come to the right place!!
It pays to think about what you would like your juicer to do before you buy one, so here I’ve put in information that might be useful for you to choose the right juicer for yourself. I took the info from my own experience while shopping for the perfect juicer to buy.
How to Choose the Best Juicer
There is no single best juicer on the market for everyone, since everyone has different needs for a juicer. Some people like to drink only citrus fruit juice, some like to juice vegetables, and some like it all-in-one! That’s why you should think twice before buying that “best juicer” that someone else is raving about.
And there’s a big difference in the price too. How much are you willing to pay for a decent juicer that fits your needs?
We got our Breville juicer for a little less than $300, and it certainly gave us more than its worth! But that does not mean that you cannot make do with a cheaper juicer.
What are your options?
- Citrus juicer – A cheap and basic juicer that juices citrus fruits only. ($20 – $100)
- Centrifugal juicer – The most common juicer around that juices most kinds of fruits and non-leafy vegetables. Very affordable at $50 – $200.
- Masticating juicer – Single gear masticating juicer; juices most kinds of fruits and vegetables. Can also make mushy foods. ($100 – $350)
- Triturating juicer – Twin gear triturating juicer; juices all kinds of fruits and vegetables, keeping more of the enzymes in the juice undamaged. Some of them can juice wheatgrass too. ($250 – $950)
- Wheatgrass juicer – Usually juices wheatgrass only, but some newer models can juice fruits as well. ($200 – $800)
Black & Decker CJ525 CitrusMate Plus Citrus Juicer (Best Citrus Juicer)
If you’re the type who doesn’t juice very often, only wants lime juice for margaritas, or cannot afford to get an expensive do-it-all type of juicer, I think a citrus juicer would do the trick.
In college, my girlfriend practically swore by this Black & Decker juicer to get her daily fix of OJ (orange juice to the uninitiated!).
Because of its high Vitamin C content, orange juice tends to oxidize pretty quick, so whenever my girlfriend used to juice with this juicer, she’d drink the juice as soon as it was done because it wasn’t the fastest of all juicers. But it was really cheap and generally pretty usable. The cones come in two sizes to accommodate all sorts of citrus fruit from limes to pink grapefruit, and rotate both clockwise and anticlockwise to squeeze out as much pulp as possible.
I wouldn’t like this juicer because the motor is pretty weak and pressing too hard on it causes it to jam. Also, I hate cleaning and this one has to be hand-washed in warm soapy water after use.
This juicer is the type you would call a hard reamer because all it does is squeeze out juice, which is why it’s only really suited for citrus fruits. My girlfriend likes the fact that she can control pulp content, because she abhors pulp.
Because its cheap and generally good for its intended usage, I really recommend this juicer to those on a budget who don’t need to make fancy juice concoctions to get their daily juice fix!
More customer reviews on Amazon
Hurricane Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer (Best wheat grass juicer)
If you like to drink only wheatgrass, this manual wheatgrass juicer is the best juicer to have. The Hurricane Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer can juice wheatgrass like no other!
I’m not a fan of wheatgrass juice myself, but I do know that my Breville and most other juicers cannot juice wheatgrass well; you need a special kind of juicer for that.
If you are into hard fruits and veggies like carrots as well as wheatgrass, then you’re better off with a masticating juicer like the Omega 8005, which cost well over $200. But what about those who like only wheatgrass? The Hurricane Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer is only a little over $100.
This tiny little juicer is made of stainless steel parts, which is great value for the money, don’t you think? The compact size and manual operation makes it really portable! You only have to find a table top to clamp it on.
The very best thing about this wheatgrass juicer is that it only takes one minute to wash. So for your daily shot of wheatgrass juice, just clamp on the juicer, place a bowl under the spout, then run the wheatgrass through by cranking the lever. Catch the pulp with your hand and run it through again for good measure! Then just undo the cap, handle and gear, and rinse them clean. How easy is that?
Only one complain is found among the users and that is this juicer cannot juice hard veggies like carrots, unless you cut up the carrots into very small bits. I think this is mainly just a wheatgrass juicer, you might be able to juice leafy greens and soft fruits like tomatoes, but it is definitely not cut out for the job of juicing carrots.
So, wheatgrass lovers, get this Hurricane Stainless Steel Manual Wheatgrass Juicer for your daily juice!
Omega 8003/8005 Juicer – Best Vegetable Juicer
I first thought this juicer looked a bit imposing and scary when I saw it on the shelf at my local electrical appliance store. I asked the sales person about it and was surprised to find out how versatile this juicer is.
If you are trying to include more vegetables in your diet, this is the best juicer for you.
I think it has to do with the fact that it’s a masticating juicer, which mashes everything to a pulp before juicing.
The Omega Juicer can juice practically everything but the kitchen sink. (But since nobody really wants to drink kitchen sink juice, there’s no problem in that department! :) )
It runs on a very low speed, so unlike high speed juicers which whiz everything (the heat produced kills nutritious enzymes), no nutritional content is lost in the juicing process. This really makes it the perfect choice for extra fussy nutritionists who want to retain as many nutrients in their juice as possible.
I was really tempted to buy this juicer because the idea of being able to make nut butters, pasta and other foods that you can think of which require pounding is just irresistible. However, the temptation lasted until when the sales person explained to me how much I need to clean it. That put me off right away. I’m not a fan of cleaning, so I stuck with my Breville.
However, it really is amazingly versatile and produces very nutritious juice. So honestly, if you’re not as lazy as I am in the cleaning department you really should consider this Omega! :)
More customer reviews on Amazon
Hamilton Beach 67650H (Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor)
As the name says, Hamilton Beach 67650H Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor has a feed chute big enough to accommodate extra large capacity. Not only does it fit whole food for fast and easy juicing, this juicer comes with strong metal housing clamps worthy of being called a professional juicer. The package comes with a cleaning brush to aid you with pulp removal.
Great Features
Fast to juice and fast to clean is the way to go with Hamilton Beach 67650H Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor.
Even when you hand-wash the parts, there is plenty of time for you to get your nutritious drink for a great start ever morning. If you receive this as a gift and it is your first time at juicing, fear not for this juicer is easy to assemble and even easier to operate. You can shove in whole apples and yet still get good quantities of juice.
Some users commented that a lot of food is wasted in the pulp especially if the ingredients that are juiced are soft fruits and vegetables. However, this is a common comment for all centrifugal juicers and not just this particular model. So, this juicer works best when the ingredients are hard and you might want to try a blender for the softer ingredients instead.
With one of the highest horsepower motor and a bargain lower price compared to other juicers on the market, Hamilton Beach 67650H Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor is a rare find.
Acme Supreme Juicerator 5001 (Most Efficient Juicer)
This model has been around for ages and ages. I think folks first started using it in the 70’s because I remember that a neighbor had it once. Even now by far it is still the most efficient juicer because the pulp the Acme produces is super dry in comparison to other juicers on the market. Classic case of oldie but a goldie!
It is very noisy because the motor is very powerful, but it’s a good thing because really, this juicer seems to make more juice than even my Breville at home. It’s a very efficient juicer to use if you need to make juice for a lot of people because it’s very economical.
I have heard nothing but praise for its quality as the motor is very well designed and very sturdy. I have heard complaints about the filter sheets, because there are two types to choose from. The paper ones have to be replaced quite often, while the metal one doesn’t have to be, but must be washed thoroughly after every use.
Although it is so efficient, clean up is a hassle, which is why I opted for the Breville when I was looking for a juicer. It’s not certified dishwasher safe, and there are 5 parts to be cleaned by hand, which is time wasted, to me.
Economics vs. Time Efficiency
Ultimately the choice is up to you. If you need the extra juice, then by all means, wash the parts by hand and be able to make more juice. If you’re not the type who needs it, then by all means look elsewhere for your juicing solution.
Breville BJE200XL Compact Juice Fountain (Best Budget Juicer)
Since I’m using a Breville myself, it really is a slight bias I have because I had hoped that its sibling, the Breville Compact Juice Fountain would be nearly as good as it’s elder sibling.
I bought this one for my mother’s birthday, because she wanted something to replace her manual citrus presser and she was suitably impressed.
Now, I put a lot of stock by what my mother says which is why I’m recommending this Breville as the best budget juicer.
It has a huge 3-inch chute which means you don’t have to cut fruit up into really tiny pieces to juice. My mother also loved the fact that it was super fast, probably due to its 700 watt motor, which she says juices in seconds.
However, over time, she found that beet stained the plastic housing, but really that’s her only complaint. Other than that, she is completely in love with it, although she thinks I spent quite a pretty penny on it. Of course, considering that a manual citrus press costs but a few bucks. I guess price really is relative? :)
Ceiling Juice
The first time she tried it, she didn’t quite know how to use it and didn’t cover the top like she was supposed to. Like me, she isn’t much of a fan of manuals! She was juicing mango chunks and bits flew up all over the place because the motor was so strong! My dad had to use a ladder to clean up the mess on the kitchen ceiling!
Anyway, she’s learned her lesson now and experiments with new combinations every day. She loves her budget Breville and I think if you were to get one, I’m sure you’d love it too! :)
Get the Breville from Amazon.com
Juicer Tips and Tricks
I’ve been writing on and on about what juicing is and what kind of juicer to buy, and I completely forgot about giving out practical tips and tricks when actually juicing. Well, I’ll do so right now! These are tips that my girlfriend and I picked up in our time as avid juicers.
- Don’t use sugar syrup to sweeten juice, use an apple instead. Fruit sugar, fructose is so much better for you and the nutritional content of an extra apple in your juice mix should be a welcome addition.
- When juicing mushy fruit like nectarines, strawberries or raspberries in a centrifugal juicer, use a carrot or a beet or other fibrous, hard fruit or vegetables to push out the rest of the mushy fruit at the end. This will ensure less wastage and more yummy juice.
- When you want clear or pulp-free juice, strain it through a coffee filter or cheesecloth to get rid of foam and extra pulp.
- Never leave juice out and drink it immediately after juicing to fully benefit from all the nutrients in the juice.
- Beets, spinach, parsley and watercress all make very strong-flavored juices (hated them the first time I tried them!) so you have to mix them with sweeter fruit or vegetables to make them more palatable.
- The juice from mushy fruit like apricot, nectarines and strawberries is called nectar and should be blended with a more watery fruit like apples or oranges to dilute it.