Is centrifugal juicer better than masticating?

Juicing has become an increasingly popular way to get more vitamins, minerals and antioxidants into your diet. But with so many juicer types on the market, it can be hard to know which one is right for you. Two of the most common juicer types are centrifugal and masticating juicers. But which one is actually better?

Centrifugal juicers grind fruits and vegetables into a pulp using fast spinning blades. The centrifugal force separates the juice from the pulp. Meanwhile, masticating juicers (also known as cold press or slow juicers) crush and press produce to extract juice. They operate at much slower speeds compared to centrifugal models.

Below we compare centrifugal and masticating juicer types across several factors to help you decide which is best for your needs.

Juice Quality

One of the biggest differences between these two juicer types is juice quality. The fast spinning blades in centrifugal juicers generate heat and oxidation. This results in some nutrient loss in your juice. Juice made with masticating juicers retains more vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants because it’s extracted with minimal heat and oxidation.

Masticating juicers are also better at juicing leafy greens like kale, spinach and wheatgrass. Their slower crushing and pressing action thoroughly squeezes out juice from produce with higher fiber content. Centrifugal models don’t tend to fully extract juice from greens.

So if you want maximum nutrient retention and plan to juice a lot of leafy greens, a masticating model is likely the better choice. The slower cold press method results in a higher quality, more nutritious juice.

Juice Yield

Masticating juicers generally extract more juice from produce than centrifugal models. Their slower, grinding process thoroughly crushes fruits and veggies to maximize juice yields. You’ll get up to 20% more juice from the exact same produce using a masticating juicer compared to a centrifugal version.

Higher juice yields mean you can get more servings of juice from the same amount of fruits and vegetables. If you want to get the most bang for your buck produce-wise, masticating is the way to go.

Speed

Centrifugal juicers are much faster at juicing than masticating models. Their spinning blades can quickly grind through hard and soft produce. You can make a glass of juice in as little as 5 seconds.

Masticating juicers have a much slower extraction process. It can take 1-2 minutes to make a cup of juice. While still convenient, it will take more time to make juice compared to a centrifugal juicer.

Centrifugal models are better suited for those who want to make quick juices, especially first thing in the morning or when short on time. Masticating is preferred if you don’t mind waiting a bit longer for an optimized juice.

Easy of Use

Centrifugal juicers are generally considered easier to use. You simply throw your chopped produce into the feed tube and let the fast spinning blades take care of juicing. Minimal prep or effort is required.

Masticating juicers have a bit more of a learning curve. You need to properly prepare produce and alternate pushing different types down the chute. Their higher power motors can be sensitive to jamming if you don’t adequately prep produce first.

That said, masticating models aren’t overly complex to use once you get the hang of it. But centrifugal juicers tend to have a slight edge in terms of basic, straightforward usability.

Noise

The high speed blades used in centrifugal juicers produce more noise compared to masticating models. Centrifugal juicers operate at around 1,650 to 15,000 RPM. This high speed spinning results in loud whirring noises.

Masticating juicers have much slower 80 – 100 RPM motors. They run at significantly lower decibel levels than centrifugal juicers. If noise is a concern, a masticating juicer is the quieter choice.

Cleaning

Masticating juicers tend to be easier to clean than centrifugal models. They have fewer parts and simpler designs with less nooks and crannies for pulp to get caught.

Centrifugal juicers have more small parts and components. And their mesh filters can clog more easily with wet pulp. You may need to regularly stop and clean out the strainer basket mid-juicing.

If low maintenance cleaning is important, masticating juicers are generally less hassle. Just be sure to immediately rinse and clean after each use.

Versatility

Masticating juicers are more versatile kitchen appliances than centrifugal models. Besides juice, they can be used to make nut milks, baby food, sorbets, nut butter and pasta.

Centrifugal juicers pretty much just make juice. While some models boast extra features like mixing or grinding, a masticating juicer offers more versatility as a multi-purpose tool.

Price

Centrifugal juicers are typically less expensive than masticating models. Well-performing centrifugal machines can be found for $50 – $200. Masticating juicers start around $200 and go up from there for higher-end brands.

If price is a major factor, centrifugal juicers provide good value for more budget-friendly juicing. Just expect to compromise a bit on juice quality and yield compared to pricier masticating models.

Conclusion

In the centrifugal vs masticating juicer debate, masticating models edge out centrifugal in terms of juice quality, nutrition and versatility. But centrifugal juicers have the benefit of speed, affordability and ease of use. Here is a comparison summary:

Factor	Centrifugal Juicer	Masticating Juicer
Juice Quality	Good	Excellent
Juice Yield	Good	Excellent
Speed	Excellent	Good
Easy of Use	Excellent	Good
Noise	Poor	Excellent
Cleaning	Good	Excellent
Versatility	Good	Excellent
Price	Excellent	Good

Ultimately, there is no definitive “better” option. The right juicer depends on your priorities. Centrifugal is great for fast juicing on a budget. But those wanting top-notch juice quality and versatility may find masticating worth the higher price.

Assess what factors are most important for your needs. This will help determine whether a centrifugal or masticating juicer is the best choice for your kitchen.