Is Jack LaLanne juicer a centrifugal juicer?
Jack LaLanne was an American fitness and nutrition guru who became famous in the 1950s for his exercise and health programs. He was an early proponent of juicing vegetables and fruits as part of a healthy diet. The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer is one of the best-known juicer brands associated with Jack LaLanne.
About Jack LaLanne
Jack LaLanne (1914-2011) has been called the “Godfather of Fitness”. He opened one of the nation’s first fitness gyms in California in 1936. In the 1950s, he had a popular exercise program on television where he encouraged viewers, especially housewives, to exercise and eat healthy foods. LaLanne was an early advocate of strength training, vegetarianism, and juicing.
LaLanne believed that juicing—extracting the nutritious fluids of vegetables and fruits—was an excellent way to get vitamins and minerals. He promoted the idea that juicing allows you to consume far more produce than you could eat whole. LaLanne continued to exercise and promote his fitness principles right up until his passing at the age of 96.
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer is a centrifugal juicer that was heavily promoted by Jack LaLanne as part of his juicing system. It is a relatively affordable and compact juicer marketed toward the home kitchen.
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer spins produce at 3,600 RPM to separate juice from pulp. It has a stainless steel blade and mesh filter basket. The juice spouts out of a hole in the top and the pulp is ejected into a separate container.
Here are some key features of the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer:
- Centrifugal ejection system
- 3,600 RPM motor
- Stainless steel blade and mesh filter basket
- Separates juice from pulp
- Compact footprint
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Safety locking mechanism
- Affordably priced
What is a Centrifugal Juicer?
Centrifugal juicers are one of the most common types of juicers, along with masticating juicers. A centrifugal juicer uses a fast spinning blade to grind up produce and force it against a strainer or filter basket.
The centrifugal force separates the juice from the pulp. The juice flows out of a spout while the dry pulp is ejected into a separate container. Here is an overview of how centrifugal juicers work:
- Produce is dropped into a feed tube or chute.
- A sharp blade at the bottom spins at high speed (up to 15,000 RPM).
- The spinning blade shreds the produce against the chamber wall.
- Centrifugal force pushes the juice through a strainer while the pulp stays behind.
- The juice flows out the spout and pulp is ejected separately.
Centrifugal juicers tend to be fast, affordable, easy to use, and easy to clean. However, they also have some downsides compared to masticating juicers. The fast spins can introduce air bubbles and cause oxidation. Heat from the high speeds can also destroy some nutrients. Centrifugal models also tend to produce less juice from leafy greens.
Benefits of the Jack LaLanne Juicer
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer provides some useful features and benefits for juicing at home:
Compact Footprint
The Jack LaLanne juicer has a compact, vertical design with a small footprint. It won’t take up much space on your kitchen counter or in storage.
Affordable Price
This juicer is affordably priced compared to many other juicers, making it accessible for home kitchens. The typical cost is between $100-150 USD.
High RPM Motor
The 3,600 RPM motor spins the blade at high speeds to efficiently extract juice.
Stainless Steel Cutting Blade
The stainless steel cutting blade is durable and stays sharp. It pulverizes all types of produce.
Large Feed Chute
The 3-inch feed chute minimizes prep time since you don’t have to chop produce into tiny pieces before juicing.
Mesh Filter Basket
The stainless steel mesh filter basket separates pulp from juice effectively.
Safety Lock System
The juicer won’t operate unless properly assembled and locked, preventing accidents.
Easy to Clean
The Jack LaLanne juicer comes apart easily for cleaning. The parts are dishwasher safe.
Pulp Collection Cup
The separate pulp container lets you easily eject pulp while juicing.
Downsides of the Jack LaLanne Juicer
While the Jack LaLanne juicer provides good functionality for the price, it does have some drawbacks:
Produces Wet Pulp
The pulp still contains a lot of moisture. You won’t get an extremely dry pulp like with slower masticating juicers.
Can’t Juice Wheatgrass
The blades aren’t designed to juice fibrous grasses like wheatgrass. You’ll need a different juicer for that.
Noise
The high speed motor and grinding up of produce generates noise when running.
Foaming and Oxidation
Centrifugal juicers introduce air bubbles that can cause foaming and oxidation.
Nutrient Loss
Heat from the high speeds may destroy some nutrients in the juice.
Doesn’t Store Well
Juice from centrifugal models doesn’t store as long due to oxidation.
Alternatives to the Jack LaLanne Juicer
Here are a few alternative centrifugal and masticating juicers to consider:
Centrifugal Juicers
- Breville JE98XL Juice Fountain Plus
- Mueller Austria Juicer Ultra
- Hamilton Beach Juicer Machine
- Aicook Wide Mouth Juice Extractor
Masticating Juicers
- Omega J8006 Nutrition Center
- Tribest Slowstar Vertical Slow Juicer
- Aicook Slow Masticating Juicer
- Mueller Austria Ultra Juicer
Masticating juicers like the Omega and Tribest models operate at lower speeds. They chew up produce and typically make juices with higher yield, less oxidation, and more nutrients.
Is the Jack LaLanne a Good Juicer?
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer is a good centrifugal juicer for the price. It provides fast juicing and good functionality for making basic juices from common fruits and vegetables. If you’re on a budget and don’t juice leafy greens often, it’s a solid choice.
The Jack LaLanne juicer isn’t ideal for juicing greens like kale, wheatgrass or herbs. The high speeds and blade also create some oxidation and nutrient loss compared to masticating juicers.
Overall, the Jack LaLanne juicer is a decent mid-range centrifugal model. It’s a good option for entry level juicing of common produce. Serious juicing enthusiasts may want to opt for a cold press masticating juicer to maximize juice yields.
Jack LaLanne Juicer Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer:
Where are Jack LaLanne juicers made?
Jack LaLanne juicers are designed in the USA. Manufacturing is outsourced overseas to keep costs affordable.
Is Jack LaLanne juicer BPA free?
Yes, current models state that all materials are 100% BPA free.
What produce can it juice?
The Jack LaLanne can juice most common fruits and vegetables. Best results with hard produce like apples, beets, carrots and citrus fruits.
What’s the nutrition of the juices?
Juices will contain the natural vitamins, minerals and nutrients from the originating produce. Centrifugal juicing offers slightly lower nutrition than masticating.
How long is the warranty?
Jack LaLanne juicers come with a limited 3 year warranty from the date of purchase.
What speed does it spin?
The blade spins at 3,600 RPM, which is on the higher end for centrifugal juicers.
Where to buy Jack LaLanne juicer?
Jack LaLanne juicers are sold on Amazon.com and many other online retailers. Also available in some department stores and specialty kitchen stores.
Does it juice wheatgrass?
No, the Jack LaLanne juicer does not effectively juice wheatgrass. You’ll need a masticating juicer designed for leafy greens.
What can you make with it?
You can make all kinds of fruit and vegetable juices. Also good for making sorbets with frozen fruit and coconut water.
How loud is it?
The motor and high speed spins make this one of the louder juicer models. It produces a distinct whirring noise.
Can it juice nut milks?
No, this juicer does not have the power to make nut milks. You’ll need a more powerful blender for processing nuts into milks.
Conclusion
The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer is a classic centrifugal ejection juicer. It provides high speed juicing at an affordable price point. While not the absolute best for juice yield or nutrition, it is a good juicer for the cost.
The Jack LaLanne juicer is a compact, easy to use juicing machine. It makes sense for basic juice needs and entry level juicers. Just note it is not ideal for juicing greens or wheatgrass. Overall, it’s a decent choice if you want a budget friendly centrifugal juicer backed by Jack LaLanne’s famous name.