Most of you own or have used a blender before. A juicer is different from a blender in more than one way. You might be wondering, what a juicer is? How is it different from a blender? What are the advantages of juicing and the various types of juicers in the market?
Juicer
This is the equipment used to extract juice from fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It is different from a blender because a juicer separates the fiber from the rest of the vegetable or fruit. The pulp is discarded leaving you with only juice. The juicer should be thoroughly washed after use. There are different types of juicers and you may be wondering which one is the best one for you. The best juicer is the one that meets your juicing needs, preference, and budget.
Benefits of juicing
- It is easy to digest.
The removal of fiber makes juice light hence easy on your digestive system. All the essential nutrients are provided for those with digestive problems.
- Fast absorption.
The juicer removes all the indigestible fibrous pulp forming a vitamin and mineral-filled juice. This is easily absorbed by the body.
Types of juicers
- Centrifugal juicer.
A spinning metal blade presses the contents against a strainer extracting juice. A waiting container collects the juice and the pulp is left in the juicer for disposal. It is noisy, fast and its juice is frothy. It is best for people who need a small amount of juice that is consumed immediately.
Pros
- They are the least expensive.
- Juice extraction is very fast especially if the feed tube is wide.
- They take minimal space since they stand upright.
Cons
- Spinning blades produce heat that destroys some important enzymes and nutrients in the juice. This is, therefore, not the best choice if your primary concern is health benefits.
- They can be noisy.
- The juice doesn’t stay fresh for long.
- It is not recommended for nuts or leafy greens.
- The amount of pulp present in the juice is high.
- Foam is created at the top of the juice due to oxidation.
- Masticating juicer.
The ingredients are pressed and crushed to squeeze the juice out of it. They are very efficient in juice extraction and they maintain all the important nutrients. It takes a longer time to juice and is less popular compared to the centrifugal juicer. It is preferred by people who are keen on getting all the nutrients for health benefits. They are more expensive and larger.
Pros
- The juice yield is higher compared to centrifugal juicers.
- Less oxidation occurs.
- The juice lasts longer.
- Used to juice leafy greens and make nut milk.
Cons
- They are more costly.
- The feed tube is small therefore preparation work is a requirement.
- Cleaning is hard.
- They take longer to extract the juice hence slower.
- They are bulky and take up more space on the counter.
- The juice has a high amount of pulp.
- Triturating juicer.
It has two gears that rotate to crush and grind the product into small particles. The juice is extracted and a dry pulp is removed.
Pros
- High-quality juice.
- Recommended for both hard and soft produce.
- The yield is high.
- It can process various types of food.
Cons
- It is expensive.
- It is hard to clean.
Must have juicer features
- Easy to clean, assemble and use.
This will motivate you to frequently use the juicer hence enjoying the health benefits of juice. It is also convenient to keep the juicer on the counter.
- Efficiency.
It should produce the best juice possible with minimal waste.
What should you consider?
- Amount of juice extracted.
The pulp should be dry showing that all the juice has been removed. Wet pulp indicates that the machine is not effective.
- Feed tube size.
If the feed tube is small, you will have to cut the fruits or veggies into small pieces before feeding it into the juicer. The feed tube is large saving you the hustle of preparation while making juicing easy.
- External pulp ejection.
Masticating juicers expel the pulp continuously during juicing. For some centrifugal juicers, you will have to stop the machine to get rid of the pulp. This is because they lack the continuous expulsion feature.
- Size of pulp container.
When juicing a large number of fruits, the pulp container should be big enough, so that you don’t have to stop and empty it.
Masticating juicers can save you money since they can be used to grind nuts, coffee beans, spices and make baby food.
- Noise.
Some juicers are extremely loud and this could be a problem for some households.
- Speed.
Centrifugal models allow you to regulate the speed of the blades. Hard fruits require increased speed while soft fruits require less speed. More juice is extracted when the spins are slow. Masticating juicers are slow.
- Reliability.
You should be able to depend on it to work well and last long. You should consider the following:
- Quality of material used.
Stainless steel is durable and easy to clean compared to plastic.
- Motor size.
Find a juicer with a powerful motor that can rip through tough fiber. Insufficient power will cause it to slow down and eventually burn out.
- Amount of nutrients extracted.
Some of the nutrients from the fruits or vegetables may be lost due to oxidation. This happens when you have to cut the fruits into small pieces before feeding it into the juicer, and it gets exposed to the air.
- Warranty.
The longer the warranty is offered, the more confidence the manufacturer has in the durability of the motor.
Conclusion
Juicing is an easy and convenient way to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. The main difference between a juicer and a blender is, the juicer separates the fiber from the juice. Centrifugal, masticating, and triturating juicers are the common types of juicers available in the market. Some of the factors you need to consider before purchasing a juicer are ease of juicing, amount of juice extracted, design, and versatility. Juicing has a lot of benefits and they are highlighted in this article.
