Juicing fresh fruits and vegetables at home has become an increasingly popular way to get more nutrients into your diet. But with so many juicer options on the market, from high-powered centrifugal juicers to slower masticating and manual juicers, it can be tough to decide which type is right for you. Manual juicers, also called hand press juicers or citrus juicers, are one of the most affordable and straightforward juicing options. But are they worth it? Here’s a detailed look at the pros and cons of manual juicers to help you decide if they’re a good fit for your juicing needs.
How Manual Juicers Work
Manual juicers, as the name suggests, operate solely through human power rather than electricity. They typically consist of a handled lever arm, a strainer or reamer, and a juice collector. To use a manual juicer, you simple place the halved fruit or vegetable over the strainer, press down on the lever, and let the juice run out into your cup or pitcher. Some manual juicers work best for citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, and limes. Others have larger strainers suited for juicing apples, carrots, celery, and more produce with firmer flesh.
Benefits of Manual Juicers
Here are some of the key benefits that make manual juicers an appealing choice for some:
- Affordability – Manual juicers are one of the most budget-friendly options, with many models costing $20 or less. This makes them a great entry-level choice if you’re not ready to invest in a more expensive electric juicer.
- Compact size – Manual juicers have a very small footprint, which makes them great for juicing in cramped kitchens. You can store them easily in a drawer or cabinet when not in use.
- Portability – The small size and lack of electricity also makes manual juicers incredibly portable. You can bring them along in an RV, dorm room, or hotel suite to freshly juice produce anywhere.
- Simplicity – With no complex parts or setup, manual juicers are extremely easy to use. Just assemble, juice your ingredients, rinse, and go.
- Light weight – Weighing in at 1 to 2 pounds, manual juicers are extremely lightweight and manageable for most users to operate.
- Easy cleaning – Manual juicers have just a few parts that rinse clean with water, so cleanup is quick and hassle-free after juicing.
- Quiet operation – With no motor, manual juicers make virtually no noise when juicing.
Downsides of Manual Juicers
However, there are some downsides to manual juicers to consider:
- Limited juicing abilities – The strainers on manual juicers tend to have small holes and lack the power of centrifugal or masticating juicers. This makes them unsuitable for juicing leafy greens like kale and wheatgrass.
- Lower yields – Manual juicers extract less juice from produce compared to electric models. You’ll get less juice per orange or apple than with a powered juicer.
- Requires effort – Creating juice with a manual device requires physical exertion, which can be challenging if you have wrist pain or weakness.
- Time consuming – Juicing large batches of produce takes significantly longer with a manual juicer versus an electric model.
- Prone to clogging – The strainers can clog frequently when juicing pulpy fruits like oranges or apples.
- Oxidation – Extracted juice has more exposure to air with a manual model, meaning nutrients degrade faster.
Popular Types of Manual Juicers
If you think a manual juicer may suit your needs, here are some of the most common varieties to consider:
- Citrus press juicers – Designed for squeezing citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit. Typically consists of a handled lever arm and a strainer cone with holes for juice to flow through.
- Pomegranate juicers – These have a shallow, bowl-shaped strainer meant for juicing pomegranates and separating the arils and seeds from the juice.
- Apple and vegetable juicers – Manual juicers with a wider strainer basket can accommodate apples wedges, carrots, celery, ginger root, and more.
- Combo citrus/vegetable juicers – Some models have interchangeable cones to accommodate different types of produce.
- Heavy duty commercial juicers – Extra-sturdy manual juicers designed for high-volume juicing, like in a cafe or juice bar.
Popular Brands
Some top manual juicer brands to look for include:
- Zulay
- Premium Juicer
- Gourmia
- Chef’n
- Mueller Austria
- OXO
- Dash
- Lexen
- Zak Designs
Within these brands, prices typically range from about $10 to $50 based on the model type, size, and construction materials. Premium options from name brands like OXO and Mueller tend to cost more but have superior quality and performance.
Comparing Manual and Electric Juicers
To decide if a manual juicer is a wise choice, it helps to compare them side-by-side with electric juicers:
| Manual Juicer | Electric Juicer | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Very affordable, often under $50 | Ranges widely in price from $50-$400+ |
| Yield | Lower juice yields | Higher juice yields |
| Speed | Slow, time consuming process | Much faster juicing |
| Produce Types | Best for citrus fruits and soft produce | Juices leafy greens, fruits, and hard produce |
| Pulp Control | Some pulp gets through | Adjustable pulp control |
| Noise Level | Extremely quiet | Can be loud, high-pitched noise |
| Ease of Use | Simple manual operation | More involved to operate and clean |
| Cleaning | Quick rinse of parts | More disassembly and cleaning required |
Which Types of Juicers Match Your Needs?
When deciding between manual and electric juicers, consider factors like:
- Your available counter space
- What types of produce you plan to juice
- How much time you have for prep and cleanup
- Your budget constraints
- How much noise you’re willing to tolerate
- How often you plan to juice
In general:
- Occasional juicers on a tight budget do well with compact, affordable manual juicers.
- Those juicing daily or for larger families favor the higher performance of electric juicers.
Manual juicers excel when juicing occasional oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, or apples, especially if simplicity, affordability, and quiet operation are priorities. For greens like kale and wheatgrass or frequent vegetable juicing, electric juicers with more power and larger chutes tend to perform better.
Tips for Using a Manual Juicer
Follow these tips to get the most from a manual juicing machine:
- Cut produce into small, manageable pieces that fit the juicer openings.
- Alternate soft and hard produce to help push the pulp through.
- Put a cup or bowl under the spout before juicing to catch all the juice.
- Pour each batch of juice into an airtight container and drink as soon as possible.
- Compost the leftover pulp or use it in baked goods like muffins.
- Rinse the strainer immediately after juicing to avoid drying and clogging.
- Take breaks between batches of produce to avoid hand fatigue.
A few minutes of prep makes the manual juicing process quicker and easier. Line up all your washed, chopped produce beforehand so it’s ready to juice in batches. You’ll get in a rhythm once you get the hang of a manual juicer’s operation.
Do Manual Juicers Belong in Your Kitchen?
While not as versatile or efficient as electric juicers, manual juicers have their place for certain users. Their affordability and simplicity makes them ideal for light, occasional juicing. If you stick to mostly citrus fruits or soft fruits and vegetables, and value a compact, silent appliance, a manual juicer can provide an easy entry into homemade juices.
However, hardcore juicing enthusiasts will become quickly frustrated with manual juicers’ slower speeds and limited functionality. Large families will also find manual juicing time consuming for bulk juicing. If you want green juice, greater produce variety, and higher yields, electric juicers are undoubtedly the better choice despite their steeper price tags. But for basic juicing needs on a budget, don’t count out the simplicity and value of a manual juicer.
