There are eight types of juicers in the market: citrus, blender, commercial, electric, centrifugal, masticating, twin gear, and juice press.
Knowing each type of juicer's features and average cost will give you a clear understanding of which model to buy and whether it is a suitable kitchen appliance for your needs.
For instance, you may prefer to get a juicer versus a blender based on its function. A blender is designed to blend ingredients to make beverages, whereas a juicer is primarily used to pull juices from fruits and vegetables.
Another difference is that juicers are typically used only to make juices, whereas blenders can be used to make beverages and sauces.
A nuanced understanding of the different juicers available in the market, including their pros and cons, can help you determine the type to choose for your kitchen.
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What are the different types available for juicer?
The different types of juicers are citrus, blender, commercial, electric, centrifugal, masticating, twin gear, and juice press.
The following list includes the different types of juicers available in the market:
- Citrus juicer
A citrus juicer is a small, manual juicer that extracts citrus juices from fresh fruits. A citrus juicer requires you to push down on the unit to extract liquids manually.
Citrus juicers can be hand-cranked or electric and vary in the degree of automation.
A manual, hand-powered citrus juicer uses a reamer that one twists by hand on the top of the citrus fruit to release the juice, which is then collected in a container. This type of hand press does not require any external power source but is more time-consuming than an electric version.
An electric model will typically have a reamer that rotates at high speed when the unit's motor is turned on. Juice collects into an attached pitcher, glass, or other containers through a spout. Electric juicers are available with a self-contained pitcher or without, in which case the juice must be transferred from the reamer to a different container.
Heavy-duty models typically have more power and can extract more juice than their lighter counterparts. However, they may require some assistance in pushing produce through the spinning reamer until enough liquid accumulates.
Some units can function as automatic orange juicers that only process the fruit when sufficient pressure is applied.
- Blender juicer
A blender juicer is an appliance that combines a blender and a juicer to make beverages. The juicer extracts the juices, and the blender combines the ingredients.
Blender juicers come in different shapes and sizes. They typically have three components: a blender base that holds everything together, a pitcher collected the juice after being blended, and a lid for the said pitcher. Some blender juicer models also have attachments for making smoothies or crushed ice.
A powerful blender juicer typically comes at around 600 watts of power. It is also designed with different blades suited to varying types of blending jobs and a comfortable grip handle or two.
- Commercial juicer
A commercial juicer is a large juicer appliance that can hold many fruits and vegetables. It is used mainly by restaurants or other food establishments for easy access and usage, and to make a large volume of beverages.
These commercial juicers are far more advanced than a domestic juicer machine used at home; they are designed with powerful motors to provide a fast and continuously high output.
A glass of juice can be ordered, pressed, and poured in seconds, with the most powerful commercial juice machine capable of producing more than 100 liters every hour.
Commercial juicers may also be described as presses that contain several rollers and plates to crush the produce, such as fruits and vegetables. These juice extractors typically have three or more stages for grinding and then pressing the produce into juice.
If you want to add more significant chunks of fruit without wasting time cutting them up first, make sure you choose a professional juicer with a broader feeding chute. Interchangeable extractors can also be fitted quickly, depending on the type of fruit you wish to use. If you're using your commercial juicer machine to prepare beverages in advance, consider adding it to one of these drink dispensers to save even more time.
- Electric juicer
An electric juicer is a juicer that connects to a power source to cut, grind, or juice fruits and vegetables.
An electric juice extractor crushes or grinds fruits and vegetables into small pieces so that their juices can flow out freely. The juice comes out through small holes in its sides while the pulp stays inside the machine. This makes extracting easier than using traditional hand-pressed tools like squeezers or presses, as it does not require an external force for extraction but rather uses electric power instead.
An electric juicer is called a “centrifugal juicer” because of its working principle – it uses centrifugal force (not heat) to separate the juice from the pulp.
- Centrifugal juicer
A centrifugal juicer directs fruits and vegetables through the tube and into the blade. It uses centrifugal force to push the liquids through the screen.
Also known as a fast juicer, the centrifugal model is the most common type of juicer.
The spinning basket forces the fruit or vegetable pieces against the filter, separating the dry pulp from the juice. Then, the function of an excellent electric juicer will be to separate the extracted juice into different levels of pulp content through an internal sieve. This process may take just seconds or up to 30 minutes, depending on how powerful your machine is.
This type is suitable for those looking for budget-friendly units, wanting to get as many nutrients from their juice, and prefer to consume their juice right away in as little time and effort as possible.
- Masticating juicer
A masticating juicer is much slower than a centrifugal juicer and uses a slow gear to push ingredients against a large screen to extract the juices. The result is a pulpy and foamy juice, often marketed as “cold-pressed.”
Masticating juicers, also called “slow juicers,” have slow gears (or augers) that blend fruits and vegetables before pushing them through a sharp screen at a speed of 80 to 100 RPM. They extract more juice than centrifugal units (also known as higher juice yield).
Masticating juicers are ideal for juicing green leafy vegetables like kale, spinach, and wheatgrass. They are perfect for users who have ample time and want to get as many nutrients from their juice as possible.
- Twin gear juicer
A twin gear juicer uses two gears to spin and pull ingredients through the appliance to make juice.
Twin gear juicers have two gears that interlock in a fast rotating fashion. The quicker they rotate, the more resistance they create to extract juice from vegetables and fruits.
In general, a twin gear juicer can extract up to 30 percent more juice than other extractors because no heat is generated during processing (and thus, the nutrients in the liquid are not degraded). There's usually less foam created by twin gear juicers than masticating and centrifugal units because their auger screw design blends ingredients while keeping large particles out of the pulp.
Wheatgrass is often more difficult to juice with other juicers but can be done relatively quickly if you have a twin gear juicer. You don't need to use a separate attachment for wheatgrass since the auger screw within the twin gear juicer has enough force to “chop” through most large particles with ease.
It's also easier to clean because it only requires the disassembly of one or two parts before washing compared to other types need all pieces to be washed or rinsed. There are usually fewer parts overall which mean less time spent putting everything back together after cleaning.
This type tends to be the most expensive of all household types, but it will last over 20 years.
- Juice press
A liquid juice press is a two-stage juicer that first grinds ingredients into a pulp and then uses pressure to extract them into a liquid.
As the only type of juicer designed with a press (hence where the term “cold press” comes from), a juice press operates in two stages. The juice press works by grounding the fruit into pulp before slowly extracting it by pressing it under intense pressure.
What are the different ways to use a juicer?
The different ways to use a juicer include:
- Extracting juice from produce
- Making homemade sauce and dips
- Preparing homemade ice cream and sorbet
- Making soy milk
- Making homemade cake icing
- Preparing baby food
- Making an alternative for butter and cream for baking
- Preparing homemade broth or soup stock.
Juicers are typically used to extract juice from food items –
Use a juicer to make your natural fruit juices like pear juice, grapefruit juice, orange juice, and apple cider, or extract homemade tomato sauce from fresh tomatoes. Extract juice from kale leaves to make green smoothies. Juice root crops like carrots, turnips, and beets. Juice wheatgrass and barley grass for use in juice fasting
Other uses of a juicer include the following:
Make homemade pesto by blending basil, olive oil, pine nuts, salt, and Parmesan cheese.
Extract juice from mangoes and other fruits to make homemade fruit ice cream or sorbet. Add sugar, lemon juice, and water.
Juice beetroot for use in healing arts like reiki, acupuncture, and other holistic practices. (Consult your doctor before going through alternative medicine.)
Prepare homemade broth or soup stock by juicing carrots, celery sticks, apples, cucumbers, ginger root, and garlic cloves.
Make guacamole by blending ripe avocados with lime juice and salt. (You can also add finely chopped onion, tomato, and cilantro leaves.)
Make soy milk by grinding soaked soybeans then straining them through a cheesecloth.
Use a juicer to extract homemade carrot cake icing. Mash ripe bananas, then use them to replace butter and cream in baking.
Prepare baby food by blending steamed vegetables with water.
While there are many uses of a juicer, this kitchen appliance requires thoughtful operation and extra care to make it last longer.
What sizes do the juicers come in?
Juicers are designed in various sizes that range from 24.5 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm for the citrus juicer to 47 x 31.5 x 17 cm for a juice press.
Here are the approximate sizes of each type of juicers (h x w x d):
Citrus juicer: 24.5 x 18.5 x 18.5 cm
Blender juicer: 39.6 x 48 x 23.2 cm
Commercial juicer: 50.5 x 23.5 x 42 cm
Electric juicer: 48 x 34 x 30 cm
Centrifugal juicer: 50.5 x 23.5 x 42 cm
Masticating juicer: 39.75 x 30.73 x 20.32 cm
Twin gear juicer and juice press: 47 x 31.5 x 17 cm
A juicer's ideal size depends on the number of ingredients and drinks you want to make each time you use it. Larger juicers can accommodate more fruits and vegetables at one time and can produce enough liquid for multiple beverages. Smaller juicers are better suited for one or two fruits and vegetables with a single-serve cup.
It also depends on the size and quantity of ingredients. The chute size affects the amount and type of fruits and vegetables you can juice. If you want to juice large, leafy greens like kale or spinach, you want a larger chute of 2-3 inches. If you're going to juice a single fruit, like an apple or orange per use, a small chute of .5-inch is suitable. You can also cut your ingredients into smaller pieces to accommodate a smaller juicer.
What foods can be blended into different juicers?
The foods that can be put into different juicers include:
- Vegetables like tomatoes, kale, spinach, carrots, celeries, and avocados
- Fruits like oranges, mangoes, bananas, and apples
- Chickpeas
- Soybeans
- Wheatgrass
- Herbs
What determines the best juicer type?
The best juicer type can be determined by the following: speed, power, noise, nutrients, cleaning features, size, ease of blade removal, brand, and price.
Speed. The speed of the motor can affect how fast your juicer works. If you want to make juices fast, you may want a juicer with faster speeds. Masticating juicers operate more slowly than centrifugal units, for instance.
Power. Power affects how well the juicer squeezes juices out. Consider the types of fruits you’re squeezing when deciding which power to choose.
Nutrients. Many people decide to begin juicing to take advantage of the nutrients from drinking juices. You’ll want to choose a juicer that can juice the ingredients you want. Juice press is considered better than all other types of juicers when it comes to juice yield and how much nutrients it extracts from produce.
Noise. Different juicers give off different levels of noise. If you use it often, you may want a juicer with a quieter motor.
Cleaning. Cleaning is an essential part of extending the life of your juicer. Some juicers may be easier to take apart and clean than others. Some commercial models have many different parts that need to be hand washed or even replaced after certain usage times.
Size. The size of the juicer affects the size of fruits or vegetables it can handle. Choose a size that can accommodate the specific juices you want to make. Consider your kitchen and countertop space when buying as well. Juice press is bigger and bulkier than other types like a citrus juicer and blender.
Ease of blade removal. You may need to change the blades often or sharpen them. This means you may want a juicer with easy-to-remove blades.
Brand and price. The price of juicers varies according to the type and brand. Recognized brands are known for quality and reliability but are on the higher end of the price range. Consider your budget and whether you'll use a juicer regularly or sparingly. Commercial juicers and juice presses are also more expensive than the other types used at home because of their capacity and power.
Are twin gear juicers safe?
Twin gear juicers are safe to use. These models have upgraded motors, gears (augers), and safety sensors that make the juicing process safer. Stainless steel ones also don’t rust, making them durable and safe to use through time.
What is the average price for a juicer?
The average price for a juicer ranges between $50-$2,000.
Residential juicers that hold a few ingredients at one time cost less than larger, commercial-sized juicers that hold more ingredients.
Juice press is typically more expensive than other types used at home because it has a higher juice yield and is able to extract more nutrients from the produce.
Centrifugal juicers and citrus juicers are more budget-friendly than masticating and twin gear models.
What is the lifespan of different juicers?
The average lifespan of a juicer is four to five years.
The blades on a juicer may wear out every 18-24 months with heavy use. The frequency of use and preventative maintenance of the juicer affects longevity. By keeping up with routine maintenance, your blades and juicer may last longer.
Another factor that affects the lifespan of a juicer is material; stainless steel units are more durable than other materials like plastic.
What effect does juicer type have on taste?
While juicing does not necessarily change the taste, some people find a slight difference in texture.
Juice extracted using citrus, centrifugal, and masticating have more pulp and solid particles compared to that produced from twin gear and juice press units.
Others also tend to compare blended food with consuming them as a whole, which some say takes some getting used to. Other people find that adding fruits such as bananas, apples, and pears makes healthy smoothies taste better.
How does juicer type affect the juicing process?
Juicer types vary when it comes to their effect on the juicing process.
Heavy-duty citrus juicers typically have more power and can extract more juice than their lighter counterparts. However, they may require some assistance in pushing the produce through the spinning reamer until enough liquid accumulates for it to start squeezing by itself. Some models can function as automatic orange juicers that only process the fruit when sufficient pressure is applied.
Blender juicers are different from other juicers because they don't use a strainer to filter the juice through. Instead, the pulp is kept in a container, and you can either drink directly from it or add a lid and take it on the go with you. If you want to make sure your blender juicer can make more than just juice, look for one that has enough power to do so. You may also want to make sure it has the right attachments for your needs.
Although commercial juicers may take up more space than average juicers, they can yield higher nutrition values while dispelling more pulp from vegetables and fruit. This means that juice extractions made by commercial juicers are healthier because no extra ingredients are necessary for thickness or taste, altering the nutritional value.
If you are looking for something that can handle harder vegetables with less pulp or even make sorbets and ice cream, then any commercial juicer will work best.
If you plan on making juices at home, it is recommended to invest in household appliances like masticating presses instead because these presses typically provide better quality extractions.
If you plan to make raw juice regularly, it is recommended to use a cold press juicer instead of an average household appliance.
Centrifugal juicers are faster at extracting juices from fruits and vegetables than any other type of juicers. The ingredients go blended at 6,000-14,000 RPM. Juice extracted from this type is more likely to separate quickly, including approximately 30 percent of solid parts such as seeds, stems, and skins. Because of the extraction speed, the quality of juice is not as good as masticating presses because of the heat and oxidation that occurs during juicing. These types are not ideal for leafy greens and wheatgrass because of the solid parts left from extraction.
Masticating juicers operate at a slower speed than centrifugal units, which results in a higher juice yield that lasts longer than those from the latter. They are also better at juicing kale, spinach, wheatgrass, making nut milk, and processing frozen fruits and vegetables.
Twin gear juicers utilize two gears (augers) that spin and pull the produce in and chew it up. The augers extract the juice by pushing the produce through a decreasing size screen. This causes nasty stuff to get through, adulterating the juice with up to 30% solids, including skins, seeds, and stems.
Juice press extracts more nutrients than centrifugal and masticating juicers and can prepare baby food, pasta, sorbets, and nut butter. It also results in the highest juice yield and the purest juice with 99 percent juice and 1 percent solids/pulps among all types of juicers. Juice from this type has longer shelf life than the others.
Is it better to use citrus juicers or juice press in the kitchen?
If you have a small bench space or kitchen, using a citrus juicer may be better than a juice press for you.
Deciding whether it’s better to use citrus juicers or juice press in the kitchen boils down to kitchen space and functionality.
Kitchen usability is considered when deciding between a citrus juicer and a juice press. It refers to the function and structure of kitchen appliances that make them easier to use.
Juice press takes up more counter space than a citrus juicer as they have more parts that tend to be bulkier than a citrus juicer. A citrus juicer can also be stored more easily in a kitchen cabinet than a juice press.
Thus, a citrus juicer may be better for users who have a tiny kitchen or limited bench space.