There are two main types of juicers on the market – masticating and centrifugal. There are many pros and cons associated with each type and you can read more about the different types of juicers.
In this article I will be focusing on masticating juicers. These offer quieter operation, higher efficiency and healthier juice.
But first, let’s look at how masticating juicers work and their benefits.
What Are Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers get their name from the word masticate, which means “to chew.” They use a screw-like auger mechanism that slowly grinds the fruit and vegetables.
Also known as ‘slow’ or ‘cold press’ juicers, this grinding or chewing process makes masticating juicers very efficient. It also means they are a lot less noisy compared to other juicers.
The trade off for this type of superior juicing machine is there is often a higher investment up front. One that is worth it if you are going to be juicing often for health reasons.
You can find high quality, high rated masticating juicers with attractive price tags. Even the most affordable masticating juicer will be a durable and lasting investment.
To help with making a decision about the best juicer for your needs, I’ve put together a few choices below. But before we get to those, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of masticating juicers.
Benefits of Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers offer many advantages over other machines. These are important when you are considering what to buy. The main ones are:
- Best for juicing leafy greens such as kale, cabbage, spinach and wheatgrass (a must for any ‘green’ juice)
- Incorporate a lot less oxygen into your juice. This allows you to store your juice longer in the refrigerator (up to 3 days). Less oxidation also means better color and flavor for your juice.
- Quiet operation so you can juice any time of day without disturbing the household.
- High juice yield ensuring you get the most juice possible from vegetables, fruits and leafy greens.
Now onto the best masticating juicer reviews.
Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush Masticating Slow Juicer
As a typical masticating juicer, the Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush Masticating Slow Juicer is a quiet, efficient juicer. It has a middle-of-the-road price tag offering value with premium functionality.
Its compact design means it takes up less space than horizontal masticating juicers. This can be important in smaller kitchens with limited bench space.
Designed to make juicing and clean up as easy as possible the machine incorporates:
- a Safe Start system (everything must be locked in place to start),
- reverse direction control (a safe and quick way to get produce loose if it becomes stuck)
- overload protection system (stops the machine if it load is too high)
- simple clean up – pour 1-2 cups of water while motor running. No need to disassemble.
If you are looking for a quiet, compact and efficient machine, this one delivers.
The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer
The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer is a besteseller and for good reason. It squeezes every drop of juice out of your fruits and vegetables and comes at a price tag in the low-to-mid range.
Also, this unit offers a lot of added value when compared to less efficient centrifugal units in the same price range.
For starters, it is as stylish as it is functional. Thanks to its attractive black and chrome design, it will look great in your kitchen.
The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer is no one-trick pony. Not only does it deliver delicious juice creations, it can make homemade pasta with the included pasta nozzles. Nut butters, baby food, grinding herbs and spices are also a cinch with this machine.
The durability and construction of the Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer makes it a favorite with buyers. They also like how easy it is to assemble and disassemble – this unit is both long lasting and easy to clean.
It is able to juice wheatgrass, kale and other leafy greens with ease.
An efficient, stylish, quiet and durable masticating juicer, the Omega J8006 Nutrition Center Juicer is a great choice. For the money, it is tough to beat.
Tribest Green Star GSE-5000 Elite Jumbo Twin Gear Cold Press Juice Extractor
This juicer is powerful, quiet and durable and delivers maximum juice from fruits, vegetables and leafy greens. Also, this versatile unit can make non-juice food items such as nut butters, baby food and sorbet.
As a juicer, the Green Star GSE-5000 is a gorgeous gourmet machine. But it shines as a multi-functional kitchen appliance.
In all, it is a restaurant-grade appliance designed for home use.
The extra functionality means a mid-to-high-end price tag when compared to other models.
While these extra features are a bonus, as a juicer it doesn’t disappoint. The Green Star GSE-5000 gives a high juice yield and features automatic pulp-ejection.
If space is tight in your kitchen or you plan to use your juicer on the go, this may not be the best choice for you. It is a larger unit weighing in at 29 pounds and is not an ideal choice for portable, on-the-go juicing.
But, if you have the room and don’t intend to use it as a portable unit, it is a very attractive and worthwhile option. This handy combination kitchen appliance does so much more than make healthy juice. If its versatility appeals to you, this should more than offset the large size.
The Silver Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer B6000S
The Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer B6000S delivers on all the high-end promises masticating juicers make. Plus, it adds one particularly nice feature usually not found on this type of machine – an extra wide feed tube.
In general, masticating juicers have a smaller feed tube. This means you need to slice and dice most of your vegetables and fruits before juicing. The extra-wide 3 inch feed tube on this model is close to 5 times wider than that offered by others. This makes your juicing prep time a lot quicker.
Unlike some masticating units, this is a very easy unit to clean. It features a unique cleaning tool and drip free Smart Cap.
Another great feature is the sorbet attachment. This makes it easy to switch from juicer to frozen dessert maker in one step.
The juicer delivers a high juice yield from all produce including leafy greens. It is well loved for its efficiency, easy clean up, and durability.
A reliable, efficient juicer that will last. It also offers patented technology to make juices of the highest nutrient density.
With an automatic pulp ejection feature, it allows for clean and continuous operation. 5 adjustable settings offer customized juice extraction and output.
This versatile product can create natural baby food, soy and almond milk, nut butters and other healthy non-juice snacks.
As a juicer, it extracts juice leafy greens, wheat grass and other hard-to-juice food items.
Another very attractive perk is its 15-year warranty. Backed by a leader in the juicing industry, this is a quality machine you can feel confident about for years to come.
Super Angel All Stainless Steel Twin-Gear Juicer 5500
If you are looking for the top masticating juicer money can buy, the Super Angel All Stainless Steel Twin Gear Juicer 5500 is a must see. This twin-gear, two-stage masticating juicer with surgical stainless steel construction is superb. It is also easy-to-clean and very durable.
But, the Super Angel 5500 is not for everyone. Due to its high-end price tag, it won’t suit budget-minded juicers.
The manufacturer of this product, Super Angel, is not a new player in the juicing market. In fact, the creation of this gorgeous appliance is the result of more than two decades of juicing design experience. The outcome is an almost perfect, efficient twin-gear technology that juicing aficionados love.
Plus, it offers the highest levels of efficiency and yield offered by any juicing machine.
This juicer offers world-class performance, beautiful styled lines and years of worry-free operation. But it does need a significant upfront investment.
Still, even at 2 to 3 times the price of a mid-level masticating juicer, the long-term value you receive for its gourmet performance is outstanding.
If you are looking to buy an efficient, quiet and long lasting juicer, then a masticating juicer is ideal. They are a great investment in your health that will pay off for many years to come.
As with any significant purchase, personal preference is important when making a decision. Determine your budget and what features are most important to you. Once you know what your “must haves” are – and what you can live without – finding the perfect masticating juicer will be a lot easier!