What is a hydraulic press juicer?

A hydraulic press juicer is a type of juicing machine that uses hydraulic pressure to extract juice from fruits, vegetables, and other produce. Unlike centrifugal or masticating juicers which grind produce using sharp blades, hydraulic press juicers use thousands of pounds of pressure to squeeze out juice.

How Hydraulic Press Juicers Work

Hydraulic press juicers work by placing produce between two plates or cast iron drums. A lever arm applies up to 20,000 pounds of force against the produce, squeezing out the juice. The juice flows out of small holes in the bottom plate while the dry pulp is expelled out the end.

There are two main types of hydraulic press juicers:

• Vertical press juicers: Produce is placed in a chamber between two vertical plates. A lever arm brings the plates together to squeeze out the juice.
• Horizontal press juicers: Produce is fed between two horizontal drums. A hydraulic ram applies pressure to the top drum to squeeze out juice.

In both types, the pressure is generally adjustable so you can control the amount of force applied. More pressure results in higher juice yields.

Benefits of Hydraulic Press Juicers

There are several advantages that hydraulic press juicers have over other juicer types:

• High juice yields – Hydraulic presses are extremely efficient at extracting juice from produce. They can generate up to 70% more juice than centrifugal juicers and 30% more than masticating juicers.
• Minimal oxidation – Because the produce isn’t ground up, there is less exposure to air. This results in juice with longer shelf life and more nutrients.
• Versatile – Press juicers can juice leafy greens, wheatgrass, fruits, and vegetables. Most other juicers struggle with leafy greens.
• High build quality – Hydraulic press juicers are made with heavy-duty metal parts. The presses have 10+ year lifespans.
• Easy to use – Horizontal press juicers have a compact design. Produce can be continuously fed with minimal prep needed.

Downsides of Hydraulic Press Juicers

There are a few downsides to consider with hydraulic press juicers:

• Slow juicing speed – These machines have relatively slow juicing speeds compared to centrifugal juicers. Expect about 1/2 to 1 cup of juice per minute.
• Produce prep required – Fruits and vegetables need to be properly sliced and cut to fit in the juicing chamber.
• Can’t do nut milks – Unlike cold press juicers, hydraulic presses lack the control to make nut/seed milks.
• Price – Hydraulic juicers cost $200-$500, making them one of the more expensive juicing options.
• Heavy and bulky – Press juicers weigh 30+ pounds making them difficult to move and store.

Top Hydraulic Press Juicer Models

Here are some of the best hydraulic press juicers currently available:

Juicer Model	Key Features
OrangeX Jupiter Large	6.5 inch wide chute 18,000 lbs of pressure Stainless steel construction
Tribest Solostar 4	Solid metal gears 200W motor 10 year warranty
Pure Juice UJ-001	20,000 lbs of pressure Quiet 240W motor Reverse function
Samson Super Juicer	Dual-stage pressing Up to 30% more juice 5 year warranty

The OrangeX Jupiter is a top pick for its large chute, high pressure, and durable build. The Tribest Solostar is also excellent with its lifetime guarantee. All four are quality hydraulic press juicers that will efficiently extract juice.

How to Use a Hydraulic Press Juicer

Here is a step-by-step guide to using a hydraulic press juicer:

1. Prep your produce – Wash, peel, and chop produce into uniform sized pieces about 1-2 inches wide. This allows maximum juice extraction.
2. Insert produce – For a vertical press, place produce in the chamber. For a horizontal press, feed produce through the chute.
3. Activate the press – Lower the lever arm or turn on the hydraulic ram. Apply moderate pressure at first.
4. Extract the juice – Juice will start flowing out of the spout into your collection container. Pulp will be ejected out the other side.
5. Increase pressure (optional) – For drier produce like carrots or beets, increase the pressure to extract more juice.
6. Eject pulp – Periodically eject the built up pulp as needed to keep juice flow steady.
7. Store juice – Consume juice immediately or store covered in the fridge for 72 hours.
8. Disassemble and clean – Take apart the press and wash all parts after each use.

Be sure not to overload the juicing chamber. Allow enough room for produce to compress as too much will clog the machine. When juicing leafy greens, roll leaves together into a tight ball before inserting.

Hydraulic Press vs Centrifugal Juicers

Centrifugal juicers are the most common and affordable type of juicer. Here’s how they compare to hydraulic press juicers:

	Hydraulic Press Juicer	Centrifugal Juicer
Juicing Method	Compresses produce	Shreds produce with blades
Juice Quality	Minimal oxidation	Moderate oxidation
Juice Yield	Very high	Low-moderate
Speed	Slow	Very fast
Noise Level	Low	High
Produce Types	All produce	Most produce
Price Range	$200-$500	$50-$200

The main advantages of a hydraulic press are higher juice yields, low oxidation, quiet operation, and versatility. Centrifugal juicers are generally faster, cheaper, and still get decent juice quantity.

Hydraulic Press vs Masticating Juicers

Here’s how hydraulic press juicers stack up against masticating juicers:

	Hydraulic Press	Masticating Juicer
Juicing Method	Compresses produce	Crushes produce
Juice Quality	Excellent	Very good
Juice Yield	Very high	High
Speed	Slow	Slow
Noise Level	Low	Low
Versatility	All produce	Most produce
Price Range	$200-$500	$100-$400

Masticating juicers work by slowly chewing up produce using an auger. They operate at slow speeds like press juicers. The main advantage of a hydraulic press is the very high juice yields.

Ideal Produce to Juice with a Hydraulic Press

Due to their versatility, hydraulic press juicers can juice all types of fruits and vegetables. Here are some of the best options:

• Leafy greens – Spinach, kale, lettuce, parsley, wheatgrass
• Root vegetables – Carrots, beets, ginger, turmeric
• Citrus fruits – Oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit
• Stalk vegetables – Celery, fennel, leeks
• Apples – All varieties
• Pears – Asian and European pears
• Berries – Blueberries, raspberries, strawberries
• Melons – Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew

In addition to juice, hydraulic presses let you make other healthy creations like nut milks, sorbets, baby food, and vegetable noodles. You can juice practically any fruit, veggie, herb, sprout or shoot.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of a Hydraulic Press Juicer

Follow these pro tips to maximize the performance of your hydraulic juicer:

• Use moderate pressure at first – Start with lower pressure and increase slowly to get highest yields.
• Alternate hard and soft produce – Alternate dense produce like beets with soft fruits like oranges.
• Juice in small batches – Don’t overload the chamber to avoid clogging.
• Cut produce uniformly – Cut all produce into 1-2 inch sized pieces before juicing.
• Wrap leafy greens – Roll up leafy greens tightly before inserting.
• Immediately drink or store juice – Juice is perishable so drink ASAP or store in airtight containers.
• Clean press after each use – Disassemble and wash all parts with soap and water.
• Line collection bin – Place a reusable fine mesh bag in the collection bin to catch any stray pulp.

Taking the time to properly prepare your fruits and vegetables will ensure you get the highest quantity and quality of juice from a hydraulic press juicer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can you not juice in a hydraulic press?

The only produce you should not juice in a hydraulic press is food with hard pits and very large seeds like mangoes, peaches, plums, and cherries. The pits could damage the metal plates or drums.

Do hydraulic press juicers get more juice?

Yes, hydraulic press juicers are extremely efficient and can generate up to 70% more juice compared to centrifugal juicers. The high pressure squeezes out the maximum liquid content.

Is a hydraulic press juicer worth it?

Hydraulic press juicers are one of the pricier models but are worth it for juice enthusiasts who want maximum yield, juice quality, and versatility. The heavy-duty build also ensures a 10+ year lifespan.

What is the best hydraulic press juicer?

The OrangeX Jupiter is among the best hydraulic press juicers for its large chute, high 18,000 pound pressure rating, quiet operation, stainless steel build, and 10 year warranty. Other top models are the Tribest Solostar 4 and Pure Juice UJ-001.

How much pressure do hydraulic press juicers use?

Hydraulic press juicers exert anywhere from 5,000 to 20,000 pounds of pressure. The average is around 10,000 to 15,000 pounds of force which is enough to efficiently squeeze juice from produce.

Conclusion

Hydraulic press juicers are an advanced juicing technology that use incredible press force to extract the highest juice yields. While expensive, they are extremely versatile machines that can juice fruits, veggies, leafy greens, and wheatgrass.

Compared to centrifugal and masticating juicers, hydraulic press models have unmatched juice quantity and quality. They operate at slow, quiet speeds with minimal heat buildup and oxidation. The strong metal construction also makes them built to last.

For anyone serious about juicing and maximizing nutrients, hydraulic press juicers are definitely worth the investment. Just take care when preparing produce and cleaning the machine, and a hydraulic press will deliver healthy, delicious juice for years to come.