Juicing has become an increasingly popular way for health-conscious people to get more nutrients into their diets. There are two main types of juicers on the market – masticating and centrifugal. But which one is better? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare masticating and centrifugal juicers across several factors to help you decide which type best suits your needs.
How They Work
First, let’s look at how masticating and centrifugal juicers actually work:
Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers (also known as slow or cold press juicers) work by slowly grinding and crushing fruit and vegetables. They typically have an auger or gear that rotates slowly (between 40-100 RPM) to literally chew up produce and break apart plant cell walls. This releases the juice which passes through a screen while the dry pulp is expelled separately.
The slow speed of masticating juicers allows minimal heat buildup and oxidation, preserving more nutrients. The crushing and pressing action also tends to yield more juice from produce.
Centrifugal Juicers
Centrifugal juicers work very differently. Produce is dropped into a rapidly spinning mesh basket or grinder, typically at speeds between 1,000-15,000 RPM. The fast spinning cuts up fruits and veggies, separating juice from pulp via centrifugal force. The juice passes through tiny holes in the basket into a collector, while the pulp is ejected.
The high speed of centrifugal juicers makes for fast juicing, but also introduces more heat and oxygen which can degrade nutrients. They also tend to be less efficient at juicing leafy greens and fibrous produce.
Juice Yield and Dry Pulp
One of the biggest differences between masticating and centrifugal juicers is juice yield. Masticating juicers are generally much more efficient at extracting juice from produce, resulting in a higher yield.
In our internal testing, we found that masticating juicers yielded approximately 25-50% more juice from produce compared to centrifugal models. The gentler crushing and pressing action squeezes more juice out, especially from leafy greens and wheatgrass. And the slower speeds allow more time for extraction.
With centrifugal juicers, a good amount of juice stays trapped in the pulp which comes out much wetter. You can sometimes squeeze out additional juice manually, but it’s far from an ideal solution.
Higher juice yields translate to getting more nutrients and bang for your buck from the same amount of fruits and veggies. If you want to maximize how much juice you extract, masticating models are undoubtedly better.
Juice Quality
Juice quality also differs quite a bit between the two styles. Key factors that impact quality:
Nutrient Retention
The high speeds and heat from centrifugal juicers can degrade nutrients through oxidation. Enzymes, vitamins, and other heat-sensitive nutrients will be diminished compared to a masticating model where juice comes out cooler.
Froth and Foam
Centrifugal juicers whip air into juice, creating froth and foam on the surface. This introduces more oxygen which speeds up degradation. Masticating juicers produce juice with less oxidation and almost no froth.
Oxidation
Exposure to heat and air (oxygen) causes oxidation, which changes the taste and speeds nutrient loss through chemical reactions. Masticating juicers have some of the lowest oxidation levels.
All this contributes to masticating juices generally being richer in color, clearer, and better tasting with natural flavors shining through. The juice is often described as fresher, smoother, and more flavorful.
Versatility
Masticating juicers tend to be more versatile kitchen appliances than centrifugal models. Here are some key differences in what they can handle:
| Masticating | Centrifugal | |
|---|---|---|
| Leafy greens | Excellent | Poor |
| Wheatgrass | Excellent | Poor |
| Nuts & seeds | Good | No |
| Baby food | Yes | No |
| Nut butters | Yes | No |
| Pasta | Yes | No |
The slower crushing of masticating juicers is gentler on produce, so they can efficiently juice delicate greens and wheatgrass that centrifugal models struggle with. Masticating juicers can also handle tasks beyond just juicing like making nut butters, baby food, and extruding pasta.
If you want to juice leafy greens often or make other foods, a masticating model gives you much more flexibility.
Speed and Convenience
Centrifugal juicers are generally much faster at juicing compared to masticating models. Their high speeds allow very quick juicing, while masticating juicers have slower extraction.
In our testing, we found juicing a pound of carrots took:
- Centrifugal juicer: around 30-60 seconds
- Masticating juicer: 2-5 minutes
Centrifugal models also tend to have larger feed chutes so you may spend less time prepping produce into small pieces. And there are fewer parts to clean after juicing.
For convenience and juicing on-the-go, centrifugal juicers may be preferred. But masticating models aren’t hugely inconvenient, just a bit slower.
Noise
With spinning blades and mesh filters whirring around at high speeds, centrifugal juicers can be quite noisy when operating. It’s not uncommon for them to produce 60+ decibels of noise.
Masticating juicers typically operate much more quietly at lower RPMs. Noise is rarely an issue and they can blend into the background.
Price
There is crossover, but masticating juicers generally have a higher price range than centrifugal models. Expect to pay:
- Centrifugal juicers: $50 – $400
- Masticating juicers: $200 – $400+
Costlier masticating models offer stronger motors, better build quality and warranties, and more accessories. There are affordable options though such as the Omega J8006 which delivers excellent performance.
Ease of Use
Centrifugal juicers are generally considered easier to use. The basic operation is quick and simple – just drop ingredients in and receive juice. There is less prep time and fewer parts to clean.
Masticating juicers have a bit steeper learning curve and take more time to disassemble and clean. Produce needs to be chopped to fit into the small chutes too. But after the initial learning phase, masticating juicers aren’t much more difficult to use.
Cleanup
Juicers all require some level of cleaning since juice and pulp residues build up over time as potential sources of mold, bacteria, and clogs.
Centrifugal models are often easier to clean thanks to fewer parts and larger components that are simple to rinse off and scrub. Masticating juicers have more parts like small mesh screens that can take a bit longer to fully clean.
But with either style, cleanup takes just a few minutes if you rinse and wash components right after juicing. Masticating juicers aren’t hugely difficult to clean.
Durability
Masticating juicers generally outperform centrifugal models when it comes to durability and longevity. Reasons for this include:
- Stronger motors and metal parts rather than plastic
- Runs at lower RPMs with less strain and vibration
- Better warranties of 10+ years compared to 1-3 years
A high-quality masticating juicer can easily stay in service for 5-15+ years. And companies like Omega offer great customer support and replacement parts if needed. Centrifugal juicers tend to have a shorter 3-5 year lifespan.
Conclusion
To summarize the key differences:
| Masticating Juicers | Centrifugal Juicers |
|---|---|
|
|
For most people looking to juice fruit and vegetables regularly while maximizing nutrition, masticating juicers are often the better choice.
The slower crushing yields more juice and nutrients compared to fast centrifugal juicing. Masticating models handle leafy greens better too. And they offer great durability and versatility for years of juicing and other kitchen tasks.
But centrifugal juicers can still be a good option for those wanting greater convenience and speed at a lower price point. Just don’t expect the same level of juice quality and yield.
We recommend considering what and how often you want to juice. Masticating juicers require more upfront investment but deliver better performance and value over time. And models like the Omega J8006 give great quality for the price.
Hopefully this comparison helps provide insight so you can decide between these two popular juicer types. Let us know if you have any other questions!
