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Juicers by Type |
Electric juicers can be categorized into three main groups based on the method of extracting and separating the pulp from the juice; Centrifugal, Masticating, and Triturating (twin gear). This article will help you narrow your selection to the type of juicer most suited to your style of juicing. Once you know which type most suites you, please use the "select one" drop down box at either the top or bottom of the page to see the juicers of your chosen type.
Centrifugal Juicers
Centrifugal Electric Juicers are the most common type of electric juicer. Centrifugal juicers first grind the produce (typically with a high-speed stainless steel disk) and then pushes it through a strainer by spinning at a very high rpm (similar to your washing machine on the spin cycle). The Omega 1000, 9000 & 4000, and Jack Lalanne Juicer are typical centrifugal machines. Optional citrus attachments are available for the Omega 1000 and Omega 4000 juicers that allow juicing of citrus fruits without peeling.
Positives: This method usually yields a little more volume of juice than other methods. Juicing is usually very fast. These juicers are generally light weight and simple and easy to use. Generally require less arm strength to push the produce into the feed tube. Some models (Breville) allow juicing whole apples and large carrots without cutting.
Negatives: Usually quite noisy, sounding much like a vacuum cleaner. High-speed operation is thought by some to potentially destroy some vitamins and minerals due to heat production at the cellular level. Screens are somewhat difficult to get completely clean; therefore, time saved in juicing is lost during cleaning. Very poor at juicing leafy greens and celery.
Masticating Juicers
Masticating Electric Juicers operate at slower speeds than centrifugal juicers. They chew the fibers and break up the produce cells to release the juice. They are quite versatile because in addition to extracting juices, they also homogenize making baby foods, sauces, nut butters, banana ice creams and fruit sorbets. There are two subcategories of these juices with different characteristics as discussed below.
Champion Masticating Juicers
The Champion brand juicers are masticating juicers.
Positives: Less noisy than centrifugal juicers. Large powerful motor built to last for many years. Fast juicing operation. Somewhat easy to clean. Excels at juicing fruits. Generally require less arm strength to push the produce into the feed tube.
Negatives: Very large and heavy making it difficult to use for the elderly. Operates at moderate high-speed which is thought by some to potentially destroy some vitamins and minerals due to heat production at the cellular level. Very poor at juicing leafy greens and celery.
Single-Auger Masticating Juicers
The Omega 8003 & 8005, Greenstar Solostar II, and Samson Single Gear juicers are examples of this type.
Positives: Very quiet juicers that sound like a can opener during operation. Slow speed ensures very high quality juice. Moderately powerful motors are well built to last. Somewhat slow juicing operation, but cleaning is very fast and easy. Excels at juicing leafy greens and wheatgrass. Generally require less arm strength to push the produce into the feed tube.
Negatives: Generally requires more arm strength to push the produce into the feed tube. Feed tubes are somewhat smaller than other juicers. Large produce may require cutting.
Triturating (twin gear) Juicers
Triturating (twin gear) Electric Juicers turn at very slow rpm's ensuring the highest quality juice. These juicers first crush the produce between the two gears, then press the pulp through a fine stainless steel screen to extract the juice from the pulp. This process gives you more fiber, enzymes, vitamins and trace minerals. These juicers also have magnetic and bio-ceramic technology that is reported to slow down the oxidation process (which destroys vitamins). The Samson and Greenstar twin gear juicers are examples of these juicers.
These juicers are excellent for juicing leafy greens, wheatgrass, sprouts, root vegetables like beets and carrots and most water dense (non-pulpy) fruits. Juicing time is longer with twin gear juicers due to the slower juicing process which gives you a higher quality juice.
Positives: Highest build quality and longest lasting juicers. Very quiet juicers that sound like a can opener during operation. Slow speed ensures very high quality juice. Very powerful motors are well built to last. Excels at juicing leafy greens and wheatgrass. Generally require less arm strength to push the produce into the feed tube.
Negatives: Juicing time is longer with twin gear juicers due to the slower juicing process which gives you a higher quality juice. Generally requires more arm strength to push the produce into the feed tube. Very heavy and large and less suited for the elderly. Slightly complicated to clean and put back together.
In summary:
The centrifugal juicers are the least costly (except for the superior Breville and commercial juicers) and fairly easy to use. They do a good job with hard vegetables and some fruits but are not for leafy greens. They are noisy and somewhat difficult to clean. Build quality is low to high depending upon cost.
The masticating juicers fall into two types: the Champion; and all others. The Champion juicers are very well built but also very large and heavy. They do a great job with vegetables and do the best job with fruits of all the juicers but are very poor with leafy greens. The single-auger masticating juicers are smaller and lighter in weight, very easy to clean and do a great job with nearly all produce. They do the best job with leafy greens of all the juicer types. Good build quality and very quiet operation.
The triturating twin gear juicers have the highest build quality but are also very large, heavy, and expensive. They produce the highest quality juice. They juice nearly everything well. Twin-gear juicers are somewhat harder to use due to their large size and weight, cleaning complexity, and higher arm strength required to push the produce in.
Please use the "select one" drop down box below to see the juicers in your desired type.
