Which is better blender or juicer?

When it comes to making smoothies, juices, and other blended drinks at home, two appliances often come to mind – the blender and the juicer. But which one is better suited for your needs? Blenders and juicers have some overlaps in function, but there are important differences that impact the end result of your drink. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll compare blenders vs. juicers, so you can decide which is the right choice for your kitchen.

Blenders vs Juicers: Key Differences

Here are the main distinctions between these two appliances:

Blender	Juicer
Retains all parts of ingredients, including fiber	Removes fiber, yielding only liquid juice
Results in thicker consistency	Creates a thinner, drinkable juice
Best for smoothies, shakes, sauces	Ideal for making juice from fruits/veggies
Requires added liquid for blending	Juice is extracted from produce

While both appliances are useful to have, blenders take the cake when it comes to versatility. Blenders can make smoothies, shakes, dressings, dips, and more. Juicers are more of a one-trick pony, dedicated to juice only. However, juicers excel at maximizing liquid extraction from produce.

Blending vs Juicing: Nutrition

One key nutrition difference between blenders and juicers relates to fiber:

Blender Nutrition	Juicer Nutrition
Retains 100% of fiber	Removes nearly 100% of fiber
Slower nutrient absorption	Rapid nutrient absorption
Keeps intact vitamins and minerals	Some vitamin/mineral loss
Provides fuller feeling	Less filling per volume

Blending retains all the fiber content from your ingredients, while juicers strip it out. This impacts the nutrition you receive, as well as how filling the drink is. Blending is better if you want a meal replacement drink that will stick with you for hours. Juicing extracts the liquid nutrients rapidly, but doesn’t satisfy hunger very long.

Blenders vs Juicers: What Can They Make?

Here’s a comparison of common drinks and foods you can make with each appliance:

Blender Creations	Juicer Creations
Smoothies	Fruit and vegetable juices
Shakes	Wheatgrass shots
Nut milks	Apple cider
Soups	Lemonade
Dips	Bloody Mary mix
Dressings and sauces	Vegetable broth
Batters	Coconut water
Desserts	Herbal tonics

While juicers excel at producing juice, blenders offer far more versatility in terms of what you can make. Blenders can handle hot or cold ingredients to make both drinks and blended foods.

Blender vs Juicer: Ease of Use

For convenience and simplicity, blenders have a slight edge:

	Blender	Juicer
Prep work required	Less	More
Processing time	Faster	Slower
Cleanup difficulty	Easier	More difficult
Noise level	Quieter	Louder

Blenders require little prep work besides chopping ingredients and adding liquid. Juicers need more prep time to wash produce, remove peels, cores, stems and seeds. Blenders also process ingredients faster. And while neither appliance is fun to clean, blenders usually involve fewer parts and simpler cleanup. Juicers also tend to be louder in operation.

Blending vs Juicing: Cost Comparison

In terms of price, here’s how blenders and juicers typically compare:

	Blender	Juicer
Appliance cost	$$	$$$
Produce cost	Less	More
Yield per lb produce	Higher	Lower
Cost per serving	Lower	Higher

Blenders range from $25 for basic models to $400+ for high-powered blenders. Juicers start around $100 for centrifugal models but can cost over $400 for masticating types. Since blenders retain all of the ingredient instead of removing the fiber, you’ll also get more volume of finished drink per pound of produce. This makes the cost per serving lower with blenders.

Most Popular Blender and Juicer Models

Here are some top-rated blender and juicer options to consider:

Best Blenders

Blender	Key Features
Vitamix 5200	64 oz capacity, aircraft-grade stainless steel blades, variable speed
Blendtec Total Classic	BPA-free jar, pre-programmed cycles, touchpad controls, 1560 watt motor
Ninja Professional	72 oz pitcher, Total Crushing blades, 1100 watt motor, 3 manual speeds
Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender	200 watt motor, detachable 8″ shaft, whisk and chopping attachments
Oster Pro 1200	7-speed settings, Boroclass glass jar, 24 oz capacity

Best Juicers

Juicer	Key Features
Breville JE98XL	850 watt dual speed motor, 1-year limited warranty, dishwasher safe parts
Mueller Austria Juicer	Centrifugal type, stainless steel blades, anti-drip design, foam separator
Aicook Slow Masticating Juicer	150 watt motor, cold press for minimal oxidation, juice and pulp separation
Omega J8006	Masticating dual-stage juicer, 150 watts, high juice yield
Hamilton Beach Juicer Machine	800 watt motor, 3″ feed chute, stainless steel cutter and strainer

Bottom Line: Blender or Juicer?

So should you buy a blender or juicer? Here are some bottom line recommendations based on your goals:

If you want to…	Choose…
Make nutrient-packed smoothies and shakes	Blender
Enjoy juice cleanses and detox regimens	Juicer
Whip up dressings, dips, nut milks, etc.	Blender
Maximize liquid extraction from produce	Juicer
Retain fiber for gut health	Blender
Make hot soups or cold desserts	Blender
Get a more affordable appliance	Blender
Minimize produce waste	Blender

For most people, a quality blender is the better investment. With their versatility and lower cost, blenders make it easy to whip up great-tasting smoothies, shakes, and more on a daily basis.

However, serious juicing fans may want both appliances. Using a juicer a few times per week and a blender for other days is a great combination. This gives you the benefits of both fresh juices and fiber-rich smoothies.

When choosing between a blender vs juicer, think about your personal nutrition goals, budget, and how often you plan to use each appliance. This will help you pick the best machine (or machines) to match your needs!