Goodforguts.com - Juicer Buyer's Guide

Juicer Buyer's Guide

The Different Types of Juicers - How to Pick one
There are three main types of juicers: masticating (single gear), triturating (twin gear), and centrifugal. Each of these types has their strengths and weaknesses. Use this guide to help you decide which juicer will best suit your needs.
Types	Strengths	Weaknesses	Models
Masticating (Single gear) - Usually operates at a slow speed mashing up the food and pushing it through a screen resulting in a higher juice yield and more nutrients in the juice. Pulp falls out into a seperate container.	Low oxidation level and slow grind means more nutrients, fiber, and enzymes retained Will juice almost all fruits and veggies including leafy greens (in most models) Versatile - Create baby food, nut butter, sauce, pastas, rice cakes - some even have grain grinders available (optional attachments may be required)	Takes longer to make juice Requires more physical effort on the part of the user - cutting food more and pushing it through the gear	Champion Omega Samson
Triturating (Twin gear) - Like a single gear it operates at a slow RPM, but two gears press the food with higher pressure through a screen providing the highest levels of juice and nutrients with little waste. Pulp falls out into a seperate container.	Lowest oxidation level and slow grind means more nutrients, fiber, and enzymes retained, even over time Will juice almost all fruits and veggies including leafy greens, wheat grass, herbs Versatile - Create baby food, nut butter, sauce, pastas, rice cakes -(optional attachments may be required) Very high juice output due to twin gears	Takes longer to make juice Requires more physical effort on the part of the user - cutting food more and pushing it through the gears Not quite as good with really soft, low fiber fruits	Greenstar (Tribest) Samson
Centrifugal - Machine chops the food then spins and grinds the food against a strainer screen at a high speed seperating the juice from the pulp. Some units eject the pulp, others have an internal basket that collects it.	Juice is finished more quickly Will juice almost all fruits and veggies including citrus Most have large feeding chutes so little prep work on food is needed Requires little physical effort on the part of the user Generally lowest in price and widely available	Oxidizes juice more due to speed - You should consume your juice right away and not store it Difficulty extracting a lot of juice from leafy greens	Omega Acme / Waring Jack LaLanne Breville
Specialty - There are also juicers made to handle citrus, wheat grass, and other challenging foods			Waring Tribest Omega Lexen
Recommendations: Generally I would say if you are looking for speed in both making the juice and cleanup, want less prep time, and are going to drink your juice right away you are likely to be happier with a centrifugal juicer. If you want to have the maximum juice yield with less waste and a more versatile machine and don't mind a little longer with prep and cleanup than a masticating or twin gear will likely be your best choice. Also be aware that centrifugal juicers usually travel better and have a smaller "footprint" in your kitchen for the most part if space is an issue for you. The Breville Juice Fountain Elite and Acme 5001/6001 centrifugals are exceptions as they are fairly hefty. In addition I would recommend buying a machine that is pulp-ejecting. These are machines that eject the pulp out of the machine into a collection container as they are operating. This allows you to juice as much as you want without having to stop and clean the inside of your machine or empty a filter. Pay attention to my Juicer comparisons page if you have a particular interest such as citrus or wheatgrass as only certain machines may be able to handle those. If after going through my Buyer's guide, articles, and juicer comparisons, you still have questions feel free to email me.