Surely, you’re interested in buying a juicer. Why else would you stumble upon this article? If you’re having a hard time choosing the perfect juicer, well, you can put your mind to rest because we’re going to cover most of the things you need to know.
First off, props to you for taking steps towards a healthier lifestyle. Now, we’re going to talk a bit about what is a good juicer, how to choose one, what to keep in mind, and what your choice should be based on what types of juice you want to make.
Before diving into specifics, we’re going to establish what your needs are and how you should decide based on that. Something like “don’t buy a centrifugal juicer if you’re only interested in making orange juice” and stuff like that.
For Starters
Here are some basics for the newbies that are just getting into juicing — it’s healthy, but in small doses. To be clear, fruits and vegetables are obviously good for you, but think about it this way: say, you use the juice from six oranges to fill a glass and drink it. Do you think you could possibly eat six oranges?
When you’re juicing, you’re getting a lot of sugar and vitamins, so it’s important to keep the intake supervised and adjust it when you see any sort of side effects.
Make sure you keep eating fruit, at least once in a while. Oranges, for example, are very good source of fibers. What you should take away from this is a basic principle—even though you find juicing fun, don’t overdo it.
What is a Good Juicer?
Well, here’s the first step towards choosing the right product for you—find out what you plan on using it for. For example, if you’re set on making some delicious apple juice, then a centrifugal juicer is probably your best bet. If you’re more interested in drinking orange juice, lemonades and such, then you’re looking for a citrus juicer.
There are both manual and motorized versions for some of these juicers, so think about your available budget and how much do you plan on using the juicer—if you’re going to drink a glass each day, then it’s more than logical that the investment shouldn’t be that big. If you’re the party type and have people over all the time, then maybe it’s worth going the extra mile to pick something that’s going to make work much easier for you.
What is a good juicer without good recipes? If you’re unsure about what you want, pick up a recipe booklet or research fruit combinations online to have a better understanding of what goes with what and how does it affect your overall health. There’s no shame in seeking help when you actually need it.
Different Types of Juicers
Citrus Juicer
This little device has been around for a long time. Basically, the whole machine consists of a cone-like blade which pierces the fruit. The user then presses on and squeezes, so the juices and pulp will ooze onto the grate below, allowing for everything to leak into the pitcher that acts as a base for the same device.
Citrus juicers are both motorized and manual. One of the downsides of having one is that you can’t use it on any other types of fruits and vegetables, while on the plus side, it’s cheap, easy to store and very easy to clean (http://healthywisechoice.com/about-juicing-machines-which-juicers-are-easiest-to-clean/).
Centrifugal Juicer
This is probably a device that you’ve seen before, maybe even used once or twice. Modern centrifugal juicers are easy to clean, set up, and disassemble; some of them even come with specially-designed brushes that fit like a glove on the grater and blades, allowing you to clean them without effort.
What’s great about a centrifugal juicer is that, compared to the previous version, it offers better yield, so you’re getting more for the same amount of fruit. That being said, there are some real drawbacks. The recipients that come bundled with the juicers are usually great for up to two people, but won’t carry juice for more than that.
In addition, they’re also pretty loud, although they’re quieter compared to the first models. Overall, the benefits outweigh the cons by quite a lot, and a centrifugal juicer will be a great addition to your kitchen.
Masticating Juicers
Typically, this type of juicer is used for crushing tomatoes, leafy greens and other types of vegetables. These also come in manual and motorized versions. They work similarly to a meat grinder—a spiraled knife that grinds the products and pushes them through a grater. This produces a high amount of yield but also makes for a slower process, since the high amount of pulp requires the juice to be separated from the initial product.
Compared to the others, this one lacks speed but offers more in terms of usability, since you can actually use it for any type of vegetable, fruit or leaf. The downside is the dent it will leave in your pocket since they’re generally priced way above the others. This is a choice for people who are serious about their juicing habits or for people who follow strict diets.
Typically, a centrifugal juicer will get the job done nicely, offering the most value for your purchase. Of course, you might want to go with the budget-friendly citrus juicer as it’s not only affordable but also provides a lot of good use.
Ultimately, a masticating juicer is for people who are very serious about their juicing habits and want to take it to the next level.
Try to go for a well-known brand, even if it costs an extra buck or two, as they’ll provide you with warranties and a superior build quality. We also encourage you to avoid buying used juicers, as it’s very unhygienic.
Your Take Away
Since we’ve been going through a fair amount of information, let’s sum up what we’ve discussed when trying to determine what is a good juicer.
- Be mindful of your needs, don’t buy something excessive if you don’t need it.
- Make sure to drink healthy amount of juice, don’t gulp glasses down one after another.
- A good juicer is one that’s useful for you.
