What is a Masticating Juicer?
If you're just starting to learn about juicers, we're going to explain why masticating juicers are way superior to centrifugal juicers. The most obvious reason is they produce top-quality juice with great benefits for your health. They do not heat the produce, so enzymes, minerals, and vitamins are not destroyed. Then we will share the top five best slow juicer models on the market.
The two main types of electric juice extractors:
- Masticating juicers that run at slow speeds, typically about 80 to 100 RPM
- Centrifugal juicers that run at high speeds, between 4,000 and 13,000 RPM
Why is this important?
In the case of centrifugal juicing, high-speed means a lot of heat, thus oxidating the produce and offering an inferior extraction of juice. On the other hand, masticating juicers 'chew', or 'cold-press' the produce at low-speeds, extracting every piece of nutrient from veggies, grasses, and fruits. Masticating machines use an auger which rotates quite slowly to crush the cell walls of veggies and fruits, releasing extra nutrients and juice. The result is juice full of antioxidants and foam-free.
Benefits of Masticating Juicers and 'Slow Juicing'
Extract Juice From Dry Vegetables
Wheatgrass is one of the most popular health foods that is sold exclusively at stores that specialize in healthy, organic food. In the US, it is quite expensive and sometimes you need to order it. Most people who want to drink the wheatgrass juice rely on a masticating juicer (or cold pressed juicer). The thing is, getting all the benefits means getting a quality auger juicer. It is an investment and it's a great choice for less expensive foods like kale and broccoli as well.
Less Oxidation
Do you know the foam that accumulates on the top of the juice immediately after you've prepared it? It's because the produce has been oxidized. It might drive you batty, but the truth is, oxidation means the cells are broken down, and we don't want that, do we?
Even though it happens naturally, it is a process we can actually stop, or at least slow it down a bit. When using a low rpm juicer, the auger squeezes veggies and fruits slowly and it keeps oxidation down, while centrifugal juicers speed it up.
Twin gear juicers are also slow, and you may buy one, but check our slow juicers reviews first. Read on to find more cold pressed juice benefits. Read on to find how you can get the maximum amount of nutrients from your produce.
Top 5 Rated Masticating Juicers Reviews
After pushing almost 35 pounds of leafy, pulpy, crunchy, and produce through 5 top juicing machines, we've put together a truly comprehensive list with juicer ratings and we found the best masticating juicers. If you're looking for the best products for your kitchen and just want to get maximum vitamins, enzymes and nutrients from produce and yield more juice than ever, read on.
We found The Omega 8006 Nutrition Center to be the absolute best choice you can make when it comes to masticating juicers. The pulp from this machine is the driest we've ever seen. What does this mean? Maximum nutrition for you.
- Makes baby food
- Chops and minces
- Makes nut butter
- Extrudes pasta and soy milk
- Makes frozen desserts
- Grinds
Omega 8006 Nutrition Center Masticating Juicer
- Ease of Use - 5/5 (The feed chute helps a lot. You have to cut the fruits or veggies to pieces, but it still does a great job.)
- Juice Quality - 5/5 (The juice is bold and brighter than a centrifugal product.)
- Clean Up - 4/5 (Because the auger cannot be cleaned quite easily.)
- Juice Yielded - 5/5 (Absolutely no complaints in this regard.)
One of the most efficient juicers in the world, the Omega J8006 packs a powerful punch. It has been designed in a prominent yet efficient manner. Its ability to extract the maximum amount of nutrients from fruits and vegetables alike is unparalleled. Additionally, for a masticating juicer, it comes with an unbelievable 15 years warranty!
Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush
- Ease of Use - 5/5 (Does not slow down.)
- Juice Quality - 5/5 (The juice is simply amazing.)
- Clean Up - 5/5 (Use a bit of water and it will clean itself.)
- Juice Yielded - 4/5 (A rerun with left pulp gave some additional 13ml of juice.)
The Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush is a great masticating juicing machine with an attractive vertical design. It's different than the traditional centrifugal pieces, and it has the capability of running at very slow speeds, tackling ingredients with low amount of liquid, such as carrots, wheatgrass, or apples. It performs great without wincing, being one of the outstanding single auger juicers.
The cleanup is extremely easy as it starts with a secure system that ensures all parts are locked. The direction control removes all clogs so you do not have to worry.
Hurom HU-100 Slow Juicer
- Ease of Use - 4/5 (Clogs up easily if overloaded.)
- Juice Quality - 5/5 (Good quality juice, very dry pulp.)
- Clean Up - 5/5 (Use a bit of water and it will clean itself.)
- Juice Yielded - 4/5 (A rerun with left pulp gave some additional 13ml of juice.)
Hurom HU-100 is a single auger, slow speed masticating juicer which can easily be mistaken for some small centrifugal product at first sight. At a second, closer look, it becomes quite obvious that is not the case. There are two opposing spouts designated to handle yield and pulp, and Hurom comes up with an easy to pack and carry form factor that'll be really handy if mobility is essential for you.
The juicer has a wide-mouthed chute and it's an incredible alternative to Omega's products. Yes, the latter will last longer, but if you want another form-factor, go with this one.
Tribest GSE-5000 Green Star Elite Triturating Juicer
- Ease of Use - 5/5 (Some harder vegetables and fruits may need some extra work to push down the chute with the plunger.)
- Juice Quality - 5/5 (This is the best vegetable juicer we've tested so far. No oxidation and allows cold storage for up to 3 days.)
- Clean Up - 3.5/5 (The fine mesh screen takes some work to clean.)
- Juice Yielded - 5/5 (The dual gear technology works incredibly good, and extracts a lot of juice from a variety of vegetables and fruits, especially leafy greens.)
When purchasing a juicer, just like any other appliance that you may need, you usually go through a long process of research and reviewing so that you can end up with a good product that will serve you for a long time to come. Juicers are very useful appliances for those people who like their glass of healthy nutrients daily or once in a while depending on your preference. They are versatile and can be used for a number of uses such as food processing thus making them an important tool to have in your kitchen.
Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer B6000S
- Ease of Use - 4/5 (Innovative and user-friendly design which makes it convenient to use. We loved the direction control power switch. However, it's pretty big as a kitchen appliance.)
- Juice Quality - 5/5 (No Comment.)
- Clean Up - 5/5 (Even though it boasts 8 different parts, it's very easy to assemble and disassemble, being extremely easy to clean.)
- Juice Yielded - 5/5 (The pulp ejection system separates the pulp from the juice quite easily.)
The Kuvings NJE-3580U Masticating Slow Juicer is extremely versatile, being the right choice for anyone who's looking for great variety in their dull, daily routine. It's a slow press juicer with a speed of 80 RPM and produces minimal heat, thus minimal oxidation. You get high nutritional value, but the price is a bit high for most of us.
It's certainly more than the average juicer, having the ability to break down coffee beans, garlic, pasta, and even mince herbs. Compare cold press juicers below.
Omega NC900HDC 6th Generation Nutrition Center Electric Juicer
- Ease of Use - 5/5 (You don’t need to cut the fruits and veggies into smaller pieces. A single cut would be enough. Sometimes, you can dump the entire fruit inside it.)
- Juice Quality - 5/5 (The juice is simply amazing.)
- Clean Up - 4/5 (The process of cleaning up is quite good as far as masticating juicers go.)
- Juice Yielded - 5/5 (After extraction, you will find a pulp exceptionally dry, thus ensuring that the juice has been thoroughly squeezed out of it.)
The Omega NC900HDC may have a design similar to the J series, but it looks more elegant and sturdy with a dome shaped bottom surface. It is as efficient at juicing as it is stylish in design. It can squeeze even the hardest of fruits and vegetables quite easily, without affecting their nutritional value.
Pros and Cons of Slow Juicers
What to Look For When Buying a Masticating Juicer
Juice Quality
If you want to start juicing, know the difference between a cold press juicer and a centrifugal one. The masticating juicing machines (aka cold press juicers) are far superior to any other products as they do not heat up thus not oxidate the produce. The vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are all there, ready to make you healthier. Read our cold pressed juice machine reviews to see which one fits your needs.
Juice quality is the no. 1 factor you should be considering when looking for a juicer.
Produce Versatility
You may want to juice some carrots or wheatgrass, thus you'll need a powerful machine which will be able to tackle any kind of produce. It's extremely important to ask yourself what your needs are.
If you're looking to squeeze only oranges and lemons, there's no need to spend an extra $200 on a masticating juicer, so choose wisely. On the other hand, if you have a family of 5 and need a multifunctional product that does almond butter, baby food and other stuff, go for versatility. Consider this before buying.
Ease of Use and Cleaning
You don't want a complicated product, as operating it will certainly frustrate you. You might as well end up putting it into a closet and not using it at all because of the hassle it puts you through. You don't want many parts as they have to be cleaned.
Look for something that's designed to work flawlessly and easily. You don't want to wash 10 parts or spend 1 hour cleaning a fine mesh.
Noise
There's a strong relation between noise and power. If you want more power, you'll get more noise, so be careful. On the same note, in case you are on a budget, stick to it and choose a simple gear masticating juicer that meets your exact needs, but will not bankrupt you.
Oh, and you may want to squeeze some life from those veggies in the morning without waking up everyone.
Price
The price tags vary widely in the juicers world. You can buy one for as low as $50, but there are options that can make you go deep into your wallet for about $500. Choose one that's affordable. Read the warranty. Start with something simple.
The price will dictate quality, of course, but you don't need a powerful monster machine for a family of two. Again, think wisely.
Warranty
Look for durability. Read our reviews and see which brands offer the longest warranty. For instance, Omega has some of the best products in the world, offering warranties of up to 15 years. The good thing is that masticating juicers do not tend to heat, as they run at very slow speeds. Great juicers have great motors, so aim to buy your product from a trusted brand (hint: we've reviewed some above).
If you're going for an expensive price tag, be extra careful. You want the brand to offer warranty.
Add-Ons
Choose a juicer with fewer parts. If it has more of them, it will be harder for you to clean them. As we said earlier, the point is to have a light and flawless experience without the hassle. No one wants two glasses of veggie juice if they need to clean 10 parts of the juicing machine afterwards. Some people just don't have the necessary time.
If you're going for an expensive price tag, be extra careful. You want the brand to offer warranty.
Wrapping it up
As you've seen in this article, there are so many factors to consider when looking for a juicer. Masticating juicers are top-of-the-line products in their industry, and while centrifugal juicing machines are budget-friendly, they only work flawlessly with some hard veggies and fruits, and will provide low yield and few nutrients.
Cold press juicers are pricier, more user-friendly and they will provide you with the absolute best nutritional value. Armed with the information from this article, you are now ready to buy your desired juicer.
Start juicing now!