Professional Juicer Advice and Reviews

Masticating vs Centrifugal Juicers

There are a lot of misunderstandings about the types of juicers on the market. Currently, there are masticating, centrifugal, triturating and citrus juicers available. For the sake of keeping the article simple to understand we will focus on masticating and centrifugal ones. They are also dominating the market right now.

Whether you are looking to buy your first juicer or want to replace your old one, you’ve probably seen tens of different models, each of them varying in power, speed, price, and performance with different types of food.

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Centrifugal juicers

They are the most common juicers. If you have watched a commercial of a juicer on the television or came upon one in Walmart, then it has probably been a centrifugal type. Usually, they are the less expensive of the two unless you want to buy a high-end model which might reach $300 and even more. But typically they are in a price range between $40 and $150. Even though there are some cheap deals out there for as little as $40, we do not recommend you buying these since you might be disappointed after a while. It’s better to spend a few bucks extra and get a decent juicer that is going to last at least couple of years.

How do the centrifugal juicers work? They run at very high speed, more than 900RPM which creates a centrifugal force and spin the fruits in the container. While they are spinning, they are being pushed towards the bottom where razor-sharp blades are turning them into pulp. The spinning continues and separates the juice from the pulp. There’s a spigot through which the juice funnels out, while the pulp is being extracted into a separate container.

Considering their cheap price, do the centrifugal juicers have any drawbacks? Yes, they do. One of the biggest disadvantages is the high oxidation of the juice. It is caused by the centrifugal process of extraction. Because of the high speed, the air gets into the juice and the spoiling process is shortened. That’s why it is recommended to consume the juice right away and you avoid storing it for later consumption.

Some other disadvantages are the short lifespan of the machines. The high-speed motor burns out quickly. Therefore the warranty for this juicer type is often only 1-2 years.

Masticating juicers

Also known as cold-press juicers, masticating juicers are considered the better performing but also the more expensive of the two. Their price varies between $250 and $500, or even more. There’s quite a price jump comparing masticating and centrifugal juicers. Therefore, you need to be sure that they fit your needs perfectly before spending the extra money.

Currently, the best brand is Omega which introduced the horizontal design of these machines. But how do they work? After you place the food in the feed chute, it is then being squeezed and crushed at a much slower rate (typically 80-110RPM) than centrifugal juicers. The food goes through the horizontal tube and the juice goes out from the bottom while the pulp is pushed through to the end.

Does it worth to pay the extra money? The short answer is that it depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re a beginner, we suggest you to check out our centrifugal juicer reviews. But if you are serious about juicing then continue reading to find out the benefits of owning the best cold press juicer.

The juice extracted using masticating machine contains much more nutrients. The reason is the slow speed at which they operate. Many juicer enthusiasts believe that the high friction and the heat generated from centrifugal juicers kill the enzymes in the juice. However, this statement is questionable since the enzymes are killed when they are exposed to temperatures higher than 118°F. That high temperature isn’t reached by any juicer. The masticating juicers, however, slow down the oxidation which preserves the enzymes and nutrients in the juice. That is because less or no air at all goes into the juice. This leads to more natural taste and higher nutritional value.

The most common reason people buy masticating juicers are because they do very well with leafy greens. If you want to juice wheatgrass, kale, cabbage or spinach, then they’re your best choice. Even the best centrifugal juicers aren’t capable of producing a good amount, if any at all, of juice from leafy green vegetables.

Most masticating juicers are built to last. They come with 10 to 15 years long warranty. These machines have a significantly higher price but, if you buy one, you might find yourself using it for many years.

Cold-press juicers are very easy to clean and if you’re always in a hurry, this might be an important factor to consider. They are also very quiet so you don’t have to worry if you’re going to wake up everybody in the house when making your morning juice.

The only disadvantage of masticating juicers is their price. It is a significant commitment and unless you are sure you going to make a good use of it, might be better to consider centrifugal juicer. Something worth mentioning is that most of the masticating juicers have very narrow feed chute which requires a little bit of preparation of the foods. If this is something you’re concerned about, then have a look at Omega NC800 which is a model with a wider feed chute.

Masticating vs Centrifugal – Which one is right for you?

If you’re beginner in juicing, then you should get a centrifugal juicer.

Many people quit easily because juicing requires you to adopt your daily habits. Therefore, getting something cheap to try the waters makes more sense. Have a look at these two:

Breville JE98XL

The JE98XL Fountain Plus juicer is a mid-range centrifugal juicer that has all the functionalities of its high-end Breville cousins but at significantly lower price.

Breville 800JEXL

Breville 800JEXL is company’s most popular centrifugal juicer. The juicer is made for those who are always in a hurry. Extracting your daily dose of juice takes no more than a few minutes.

And if you find yourself serious about juicing, you can always sell it on eBay and buy a masticating juicer.

If you plan to keep up with juicing, go for a masticating juicer.

Masticating juicers can be expensive at the beginning but they can save you money in the long-term. Considering that they produce 2-3 times more juice from the same quantity of food, you can get your money back in a couple of months.

And since you’re serious about juicing, you need something that will last. Most of the masticating machines come with 10-15 years warranty and are durable. Centrifugal juicers’ motors burn out quite fast and the warranty only covers a year, or two at best. These two options provide good value-for-money:

Omega NC800

The Omega NC800 is a wonderful option for those who are looking to get a high-quality masticating juicer and are ready to spend a few bucks above average price for it.

Omega J8006

There’s a reason it is the best seller masticating juicer on Amazon. It has a ton of positive reviews and every juicing enthusiast, even the ones that choose another juicer, are aware of its pros.

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My name is Jarvis and I've been into juicing for the past 7 years. I'm sharing all my experience in Juicer Reviews Plus. My wife says I'm a fanatic whether than a fan of juicing and when it comes to my juicer performance, I really am. Of course there is no right or wrong when it comes to juicing. What really matters is your personal preference.
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