Who invented Juicing?
Juicing has become an incredibly popular way for health-conscious people to get more vitamins and nutrients into their diets. By extracting the nutritious juices from fruits and vegetables, we can consume more produce than we could by just eating whole foods. But who first came up with the idea of juicing? Let’s explore the history of juicing and find out who the original juicing pioneers were.
The Origins of Juicing
The basic concept of juicing goes back thousands of years. Early humans would have squeezed or crushed fruits by hand to extract the nutritious juices. But the first true juicing machines were developed in the early 20th century.
In 1908, American inventor Norman W. Walker developed a simple hand-cranked centrifugal juicer. This device used a grater to shred produce and a spinning basket to separate the pulp from the juice using centrifugal force. Walker’s juicer made it much easier to extract juice from fruits and vegetables.
Around the same time, another American named Dr. John Walker (no relation to Norman W. Walker) invented a different style of juice extractor called a triturator. The triturator used hydraulic pressure to squeeze juice out of produce.
These pioneering juicers paved the way for all the different juicing appliances we use today. Let’s look at a few other key innovators who helped shape modern juicing.
Further Innovations in Juicing
In the 1930s, Swiss scientist Dr. Norman W. Walker (the inventor of the first centrifugal juicer) pioneered the idea of vegetable juicing for health and wellness. His books promoted the many benefits of raw vegetable juices. He’s considered one of the first well-known advocates of juicing.
In 1953, American company Vitamix introduced their first blender. Although a blender isn’t a true juicer, it can make juice by blending produce and straining out the solids. The Vitamix opened up new possibilities for making fresh, healthy juices at home.
In 1974, Swedish company Alfa-Laval AB released their version of the centrifugal ejection juicer. Their technology used a cutting disc and spinning sieve to separate juice from pulp even more efficiently than earlier juicers.
In 1978, Jack LaLanne partnered with the company HealthMor to create the Power Juicer, a centrifugal juicer that was marketed heavily on TV. LaLanne became known as “The Godfather of Juicing” for introducing juicing into millions of American homes.
The Rise of Cold Press Juicers
In the 1990s and 2000s, “slow” or “cold press” juicers emerged as a new trend. Unlike centrifugal juicers, these cold press models crush produce slowly under high pressure. The idea is that this preserves more nutrients compared to fast juicers.
Some notable innovators in the cold press juicer space include:
– Norwalk – the first hydraulic press juicer for home use, introduced in the mid-1990s
– Oscar Juicer – an early pioneer of single auger cold press juicers in the 2000s
– Hurom – creators of a vertical slow juicer design in 2009
– Tribest – introduced a horizontal single auger cold press juicer in 2010
Modern Juicing Machines
Today there is an enormous range of juicers available for home use. The juicing industry is now valued at over $5 billion globally. Some examples of popular modern juicers include:
| Company | Model | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Breville | Juice Fountain | Centrifugal |
| Omega | NC800 | Masticating |
| Tribest | Slowstar | Cold press |
| Mueller | Austria Juicer Ultra | Centrifugal |
| Aicook | Juicer Machine | Centrifugal |
As juicing has become more popular, companies have innovated in a few key ways:
– Making juicers faster and with higher yields
– Creating slow juicers that preserve nutrients
– Designing juicers that are easier to assemble, use, and clean
– Developing high-powered blenders that can make juices
Noteworthy Juicing Innovations
Beyond just juicers themselves, there have been a number of other interesting innovations in juicing:
– Juice pouches – Allow juicing companies like Suja to sell cold press juices in portable, resealable pouches. Great for on-the-go.
– Organic produce – Most companies now offer many juice recipes made with all organic ingredients.
– Pressed juices – Specialized shops like Pressed Juicery that make and bottle fresh juices for pickup or delivery.
– Home delivery – Services like BluePrint and JuicePress that deliver bottled juices to your door. Makes juicing convenient.
– Juicing recipes – Recipe books and blogs that provide guidance on juicing combinations for health/flavor.
– Juice cleanses – Multi-day juice-only cleanses promoted by companies like BluePrint as a way to detox and lose weight.
The Future of Juicing
Juicing continues to increase in popularity each year. Where might future innovations take us?
– More advanced juicers that maximize yields and nutrition
– Juicers integrated into household appliances and kitchen designs
– Juicing becoming part of routine healthcare and preventative medicine
– Juice shops becoming as ubiquitous as coffee shops
– Juicing used more creatively in cocktails, desserts, and cooking
– Next-level juice cleanses and juicing programs for fitness
One thing is clear – juicing is here to stay! And there are likely many more juicing inventions and innovations yet to come.
Conclusion
While juicing has ancient roots, much of the juicing technology we use today emerged within the last century. Pioneers like Norman W. Walker invented the first centrifugal juicers, while late-century innovators helped popularize cold press juicing. Companies continue to improve juicer technology and expand the role of juicing in health and wellness. The history of juicing is still being written, but it has already had a major positive impact around the world.
