A glass of freshly squeezed juice will win against the fruit juice you buy from Walmart at any time. The juice is also healthier and an essential element of your diet. However, to enjoy the fresh juice at its best, you need to pick a juicer for your kitchen.
The process is not easy because there are hundreds of brands in the market today. However, in this guide, you will learn how to pick a juicer that best suits your needs. First, what factors to consider when you pick a juicer for your kitchen?
Factors to Consider When Picking a Juicer
When pondering on how to pick the best juicer for your kitchen, keep the following aspects in mind:
1. Juicer Size
Depending on your kitchen space, you can go for a smaller or larger juicer. A vertical juicer may be your best option if you have limited kitchen space.
2. Ease of Cleaning
You should treat your juicer as a typical kitchen tool. After every use, you should clean it before storing it. Therefore, the ease of cleaning your juicer should be a top consideration when purchasing.
The best masticating juicers are usually easy to clean, while others are cumbersome.
3.Volume and Capacity
If you are getting a juicer for high volume juicing, you should get a juicer with a larger capacity.
4. Power Option
The standard juicers are ideally suited for kitchens with electrical connections. However, if you plan to go off-grid and want to maintain your daily dose of freshly squeezed juice, a manual juicer will do.
5. Juicer Cost
The price of your juicer will differ between manufacturers, but the best juicer will be energy and cost-efficient.
6. Noise and Speed
Most juicers have a noise issue that is directly proportional to their speed. The faster the juicer is, the more the noise it produces. A slow masticating juicers will be quieter than a centrifugal juicer.
As you get ready to pick a juicer for your kitchen, you should know the types of juicers available in the market.
Types of Juicers
There are 4 main types of juicers, each with its list of advantages and disadvantages. The juicers all have different juicing times and different juice extraction processes.
Due to these differences, the juice you get from the different juicers available in the market will have different nutritional values. In addition, depending on the juicer you pick, you can either enjoy a healthy glass of juice as a snack or set time aside to make your juice.
Either way, there is something for everyone looking to pick a new juicer for their kitchen. The types of juicers include:
1. Centrifugal Juicer
The centrifugal juicer, also called the fast juicer, is the most common in many households and kitchens since it is fast and economical.
The juicer works by passing fruits and vegetables through a fast-running blade. The blade shreds the product, which then goes into a spinning basket. In the basket, the shredded product experiences a centrifugal force that forces the liquid out of them.
Pros:
- These juicers are fast
- Are upright, hence occupy minimal space in your kitchen
- These juicers are affordable
Cons:
- High rotation speeds cause the juicer to heat
- The juice separates quickly, thanks to the oxidation of the juice that creates foam
- These juicers are noisy
- The centrifugal juicers cannot handle wheatgrass or leafy vegetables well
- The juice contains a lot of pulp
- It cannot juice nuts and seeds
2. Masticating Juicers
Slow masticating juicers crush the fruit and vegetables before pushing them against a screen to extract the juice.
Juice from a masticating juicer is usually pulpy and foamy, with a thick and chunky mouth feel.
Pros:
- Yield more juice compared to the centrifugal juicers
- Work well with fresh vegetables and wheatgrass
- Last longer than centrifugal juicers
- The slow masticating juicers result in less oxidation of the product
- Can process frozen fruits and nuts
- These juicers can double as grain mills
Cons:
- The juicers have a small chute, which means more prep work
- They are a bit expensive compared to the centrifugal juicers
- Harder to clean
- Slower, which means they take a lot of time
- Contain a lot of pulp and indigestible fibers
3. Twin Gear Juicer
The twin gear juicer has two gears that spin and pull the product to shred it. The shredded fruits and vegetables then pass through a decreasing size screen to extract the juice.
Pros:
- Extract more nutrients
- It can double as a baby-food processor
- Very quiet
Cons:
- Slow
- Harder to clean
- Take up more space in your kitchen
- More expensive
- Juice contains a lot of pulp
4. Juice Press
Despite even the best masticating juicers advertising as cold presses, they extract juice by pressing the shredded product against a screen.
Whether hydraulic or pneumatic, a juice press is the best deal you can get from a juicer. First, it shreds the produce into a pulp. Second, it subjects the pulp to thousands of pounds of pressure to extract the juice.
Pros:
- Extracts more nutrients
- Produces juice with the longest shelf life
- Minimal oxidation of the juice
- Creates pure juice with minimal pulp and fibers
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Cumbersome to clean, especially the consumer juice presses
- You need a press bag to hold the pulp
Bottom Line
You do not have to be a pro to get yourself the best juicer to suit your needs. By just considering the factors listed above, you can choose the perfect appliance for your kitchen. Understand your need and budget, and you will be on the right track on how to pick a juicer.
Most importantly, your juicer’s proper use, cleaning, and storage will boost its lifespan. So, do not miss the appropriate use of the juicer around your kitchen.