Do I really need a cold press juicer?
Juicing has become an increasingly popular way to get more fruits and vegetables into your diet. With cold press juicers, you can extract all the nutrients, vitamins, and minerals from produce while leaving behind the fiber. This allows you to consume a concentrated dose of the good stuff from servings of fruits and veggies.
But cold press juicers don’t come cheap. They require a significant upfront investment. So should you buy one? Or can you get by with a cheaper centrifugal juicer, blender, or just eating whole fruits and veggies?
How Cold Press Juicers Work
Cold press juicers (also known as slow juicers or masticating juicers) work by crushing and pressing produce at slow speeds to extract juice. They typically operate at around 80 RPMs or less. This process generates little heat, preserving more nutrients compared to fast spinning centrifugal juicers.
The cold press mechanism has two stages:
- First, produce is crushed and pressed to break down cell walls and release the juice.
- Next, the pulp is compressed to squeeze out any remaining liquid.
Cold press juicers can juice all kinds of produce – from hard items like carrots to soft fruits like tomatoes. Just about anything you put into it will be slowly squished and strained into juice.
Benefits of Cold Press Juicers
There are a few key advantages that cold press juicers have over other types of juicers and blenders:
More Nutrients and Enzymes
The slow crushing process minimizes heat and oxidation, preserving more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes from being destroyed compared to centrifugal juicers and blenders which operate at high speeds. Enzymes are important because they help digest and absorb all the nutrients.
Longer Lasting Juice
Juice from cold press juicers can last up to 72 hours in the fridge without decreasing nutritional value. Juice from centrifugal juicers or blenders should be consumed right away.
Juices All Produce
Cold press juicers can extract juice from all kinds of fruits and veggies – whether hard like carrots or soft like oranges. Centrifugal juicers may struggle with certain produce.
Higher Juice Yield
The slow crushing action gets the maximum juice out of produce, resulting in a higher yield compared to centrifugal juicers. More juice = more nutrients per serving!
Verstaile Beyond Juicing
Many cold press juicers can also be used to make nut butters, baby food, sorbets, and more. So they provide more functionality compared to centrifugal juicers.
Downsides of Cold Press Juicers
Despite their benefits, cold press juicers do have some downsides to consider:
High Cost
Quality cold press juicers start at around $200 and the price goes up from there. So they require a much larger upfront investment than centrifugal juicers which start around $50.
Slow Juicing Speed
It takes more time to juice with a cold press juicer compared to a centrifugal juicer or blender. Be prepared to spend 10-15 minutes making a large batch of juice.
Pulpy Juice
The juicing screen on cold press juicers has small holes, so some pulp gets through into your juice. If you don’t like pulp, you’ll need to strain your juice after.
Trickier to Clean
Cold press juicers have more parts and nooks. So cleaning can take 5-10 minutes compared to 1-2 minutes with centrifugal juicers.
Takes Up Space
They’re also fairly large kitchen appliances, requiring cabinet or counter space for storage.
Cold Press vs Centrifugal Juicers
The biggest alternative to a cold press juicer is a centrifugal juicer. Centrifugal juicers grind up produce with fast spinning blades and strain out juice via centrifugal force.
Here’s how cold press and centrifugal juicers compare:
| Cold Press Juicer | Centrifugal Juicer | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$$ | $ |
| Speed | Slow | Fast |
| Noise | Low | Loud |
| Nutrients Retained | More | Less |
| Juice Shelf Life | Longer | Short |
| Pulp in Juice | Some | Very Little |
| Juice Yield | Higher | Lower |
As you can see, cold press juicers perform better when it comes to juice quality and nutrition. But centrifugal juicers are more affordable and convenient for quick juicing.
Cold Press Juicer vs Blender
Blenders are another option for making homemade juices and smoothies. Here’s how cold press juicers and blenders stack up:
| Cold Press Juicer | Blender | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $$$ | $ |
| Juice Texture | Smooth | Thick/Pulpy |
| Fibre | Removes Fibre | Keeps Fibre |
| Speed | 10-15 mins | 1-2 mins |
| Juice Shelf Life | 3 days | 1 day |
| Heat Generation | Low | High |
| Nutrients Retained | More | Less |
Blenders are faster and cheaper but don’t extract as much juice from produce. They also retain fiber, making them better for thick smoothies rather than a juice.
Should You Buy a Cold Press Juicer?
So should you invest in a cold press juicer? Here are some factors to consider:
How often will you juice?
If you’ll only make juice occasionally, a cold press juicer may not be worth it. But if you plan to juice every day, the benefits may outweigh the upfront cost over time.
What’s your budget?
Cold press juicers start around $200 for budget models but high-end versions can cost over $400. Make sure it fits your budget – don’t overspend on features you won’t use.
What types of produce will you juice?
Cold press juicers can juice leafy greens and wheatgrass that centrifugal juicers can’t always handle. If you plan to juice a lot of greens, cold press is the way to go.
Do you dislike pulp in juice?
Cold press makes pulpier juice. If pulp bugs you, stick to centrifugal for a smoother and clearer juice.
Do you want to make nut milk or baby food?
The versatility of cold press juicers lets you make nut milk, frozen sorbets, nut butters and baby food. These extra functions make them more useful appliances.
Best Cold Press Juicers
If you decide a cold press juicer is right for your needs, here are some top rated models to consider in different price ranges:
| Juicer | Price | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Omega J8006 | $299 | 10 yr warranty, quiet motor, reverse mode |
| Tribest Slowstar | $399 | Duo-blade auger, min/pulp control |
| Kuvings EVO820 | $469 | 60 RPM, wide feed chute, sorbet maker |
| Hurom Elite | $499 | 10 yr warranty, sells produce pouches |
| Mueller Austria | $199 | Budget model, cold/reverse presses |
Takeaways
Here are some key things to keep in mind when deciding if a cold press juicer is right for your health and lifestyle needs:
- Cold press juicers extract more nutrients than centrifugal juicers and blenders.
- They require a much higher investment of $200+ for a good model.
- Juicing daily can justify the cost over time for serious juice fans.
- Choose cold press if you’ll juice lots of greens or want longer lasting juice.
- Centrifugal juicers may be a better budget option for casual juicing.
- Blenders retain fiber and work better for thick, smoothie-like drinks.
- Look for versatile models if you want functions beyond juicing.
While the price is a drawback, a good cold press juicer can be a smart long-term investment for juice enthusiasts who’ll use it daily. For budget-minded casual juicers, a centrifugal or blender may still get the job done.
But if you’re committed to a routine of juicing nutrient dense greens and veggies every day, a high quality cold press juicer is likely worth the money. Over time, it can pay for itself with all the money saved by making your own juice instead of buying expensive bottled juices.
Whatever option you choose, keep in mind that juice is most healthy when consumed alongside whole produce as part of an overall nutritious diet.