Best Masticating Juicers

Juicing is more than just a trendy new way of preparing whole foods, it’s a positive step towards a healthy lifestyle. If you’re new to juicing then the quality and type of juicer you use will affect the quality and nutritional value of your juice too. There are two types of juicers you’ll find on the market, the centrifugal juicer and the masticating juicer. Both devices have their own benefits and disadvantages. Let’s take a look and find out how each juicer differs from another:

If you’re not sure whether buying a masticating juicer is the best thing to do, you can read about different kinds of juicers in this article.

Image used under Creative Commons from bertholf

Best Horizontal Masticating Juicers

Omega J8006

The Omega J8006 is an easy to use masticating juicer that offers a dual-stage juicing system. This device boasts of 80 RMPs and guarantees foamless juice every time. Thanks to its low juicing speed, the Omega J8006 yields more juice and prevents oxidation. In fact, the juice can keep in the fridge for up to 72 hours. The fruit and vegetable enzymes are also retained.

According to the Omega brand, the J8006’s GE Ultem auger is about 8 times stronger than other augers. The juicer’s dual juice processing system means it can extract more juice from your favorite ingredients. The system works by crushing the ingredients and ejecting the pulp at the same time. Then, the pulp is squeezed one more time during the pressing stage. The result? More juice for you and your family and a very dry pulp.

The juicer is also fitted with an  auto pulp-ejection function. This feature allows the juicer to continuously extract juice while separating the dry pulp effectively.  A juicer screen is also fitted into the juicer for mess free sieving. This juicer also offers powerful gear reduction equivalent to a 2HP Motor. The Omega J8006 works on 110 volts of power.

We love how easy to use this juicer is. The same thing goes for the cleanup, it’s easy and effortless. However, the feed tube is quite small so you have to cut the ingredients first before processing. Also, the auger is made from plastic, not durable steel. That said, this satisfied user is in awe of the J8006’s juicing power:

This is an incredible juicer! I have only used it three times, so I am looking forward to learning how to use it to it’s fullest potential! Shipped fast, packaged so well. So quiet and excellent. I could not be happier!

The Omega J8006  is one of the highest rated masticating juicers on the market. It generates more juice and it’s easy to use. The Omega J8006  is perfect for those looking for a quality horizontal masticating juicer.

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Omega J8005

The Omega J8005 is a single-gear masticating juicer with a striking chrome and black finish. It’s a multipurpose juicer that promises high juice yield and low RMPs for healthy, delicious drinks. Just like it’s sibling, the J8006, the J8005 comes with an auto pulp-ejection feature. It juices whole foods in slow, consistent RMPs then ejects the pulp. The pulp is then squeezed the second time to get the most out of your favorite ingredients. This way, the  J8005  produces more juice.

The J8005 is quite feature packed too. Apart from working as a juicer, the J8005 is also a food processor and a pasta extruder. It also works as a homogenizer and a grinder. We love using this juicer for making nut butters! You can also use the  J8005 to make baby food or mince fresh herbs. If you’re looking for a versatile, compact kitchen device that can do it all, J8005 is highly recommended.

This juicer has an average RMP of 80. The juice it generates is not only healthier, it’s also resistant to oxidation. That’s why juice extracted by the J8005 keeps well in the fridge for hours. Because the extracts keep for longer periods, you get the maximum benefits out of the fresh fruits and vegetables you juiced. The removable components of the Omega J8005 are easy to clean too. Just run the juicer on tap and you’re done.

As for the downsides, the feed tube is narrow so you have to cut the ingredients up before juicing. Some of the components are also fragile and prone to breaking, according to some users. Overall, the Omega J8005  is a useful kitchen device for the juice lover. The quality is impressive and the juicing power guarantees better juice. This user loves the warranty and performance of the Omega J8005:

I would highly recommend purchasing the Omega J8005 Nutrition Center if you are serious about juicing. With the ten year warranty, I feel confident that this will be on the counter in my kitchen for years to come. The juice it makes is so good my 2 1/2-year-old loves it!

True to the Omega name, the Omega J8005 is an advanced juicer that offers impressive performance and quality. It provides a host of advanced features that beginner and avid juice fans will love too!

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Best Vertical Masticating Juicer

Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush Masticating Slow Juicer

The Breville brand is one of the leading names in compact juicers and the BJS600XL is the brand’s top-selling masticating juicer. This single-gear masticating juicer features a fountain crusher that extracts juice from ingredients slowly and effectively. It boasts of a powerful 240-watt motor but operation is surprisingly quiet.

It also features an auto purify filter so your juice is always perfect how ever you want it! The BJS600XL is surprisingly easy to clean too. Just flush out the system in between juicing and you’re done. Also, you don’t have to disassemble the juicer to clean it. Just pour hot water directly into the feed tube, turn it on and the system is flushed. The juicer also comes with a cleaning brush so cleaning the pulp is even easier.

What’s more, juicing is safe with the BJS600XL. This juicer comes with a safe start system that inhibits the juicer from starting unless all parts are locked. Overloading the juicer is all too easy when you’re in a hurry. But the BJS600XL’s overload protection and reverse direction control protect from the mess.

The BJS600XL’s performance is hard to beat, especially at this price point. As for the negatives, the feed tube is on the small side so juicing isn’t as effortless. You have to prep the ingredients first otherwise, they won’t fit the feed tube. Some users also noted that the BJS600XL is prone to overheating but we did not come across this issue during testing. For this happy customer, the BJS600XL  is worth every penny because of the excellent quality and performance:

This juicer works fantastic and I use it every single day! I bought this juicer because I have a Breville coffee maker which I love and I think everything Breville makes is good quality.

The BJS600XL is a juicing powerhouse. It offers an efficient 240 watt motor and user-friendly controls for fast, easy juicing anytime of the day!

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Omega VRT330HD Heavy Duty Vert Juicer

Rounding up our list of the best masticating juicers on the market is the Omega VRT330HD. Clearly, the Omega brand is a favorite on this list because of the fantastic quality and performance. The VRT330HD is one of Omega’s highest rated masticating juicers.

It’s a heavy duty single auger masticating juicer that’s easy to use and clean. It features a high efficiency motor that promises to squeeze every last drop of juice from whole foods. Since it’s a vertical juicer, it’s compact and portable. It’s a great juicer for small kitchens. The VRT330HD  processes whole fruits and vegetables at 80 RMP. It offers excellent yield thanks to the two stage juicing process. The fine mesh separates the pulp from the juice. The extraction process preserves the natural color and flavor of the ingredients.

If you’re the kind who saves the pulp for cooking or marinades, you’ll love the VRT330HD. This juicer comes with a fine and coarse juicing screens. These screens give you more controls in terms of how fine you want the pulp to be.

If you hate cleaning, we’re happy to report that the VRT330HD is easy to clean! This juicer comes with an auto cleaning system that simplifies clean up. Just pour hot water between juicing to flush the system and you’re done. The  VRT330HD also comes with a cleaning brush to make cleaning even easier.

Now for the downsides: Similar to other described models, the feed tube is small and you need to cut fruits and veggies before juicing them. Also. we found that the pulp isn’t as dry as we would like. To get more juice, you have to use a separate strainer. This can be a hassle for some users especially when in a rush. That said, this user said the  VRT330HD is getting plenty of use in his household:

I needed guidance for how to juice with this. I had been juicing around a year with a centrifugal juicer-this is completely different. Now that I am aware of “how” to use it, I wouldn’t use another juicer!

The VRT330HD is a user-friendly single gear masticating juicer with a compact design and efficient motor. It impresses with its efficient juicing and slow extraction. It yields delicious juice that’s resistant to oxidation.

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Masticating Juicer VS Centrifugal Juicer

Centrifugal Juicer

A centrifugal juicer is a compact juicer that works between 3,000 to 16,000 high revolution per minute or RMP. To process whole foods, you have to insert fruits and veggies into a chute, no chopping needed.

This high-speed device can convert whole fruits and vegetables into juice within seconds. It’s fitted with a circular serrated disc blades that shred whole foods similar to a cheese grater. Then, the centrifugal force draws the liquid out of the pulp and into the mesh filter. The mesh filter eliminates the pulp, drawing the juice into a funneled component and into spigot. Once the whole foods have been processed, the pulp is ejected into a collection chamber. Centrifugal juicers are best used for processing hard fruits and vegetables.

Pros

• Relatively inexpensive
• Easy to use
• Perfect for beginner juicers
• Widely available

Cons

• Causes nutrient loss
• Juice prone to oxidation
• Juice is not properly extracted from the pulp
• Noisy operation
• Not ideal for making nut milk, baby food, and nut butters

Although centrifugal juicers are cheap and widely available, they are unable to open the plant cells enough to extract all the juice. These devices simply grind the whole foods rather than extracting the juice. As such, the leftover pulp remains mushy. The shredding motion also causes oxidation. When certain plant enzymes are exposed to air, they become discolored. This chemical reaction is called oxidation. Oxidation may lead to spoilage. The higher RMP also destroys nutrients in whole foods, causing low nutrient juice.

Masticating Juicer

A masticating juicer is a juice extractor that’s fitted with slow-squeezing augers. An auger is a drill-like component that rotates to shred whole foods. The juice is then collected and strained through a mesh. As the strained juice flows into your container, the pulp is collected in a separate chamber.

The difference between a centrifugal juicer and a masticating juicer is like comparing night to day. On average, a masticating juicer works at 80 RMP to reduce nutrient loss. A masticating juicer doesn’t simply grind whole foods. The augers squeeze every last drop of fluid from the pulp.

Because a masticating juicer runs at low RMP, nutrient loss is reduced significantly. In addition, the juice is more resistant to spoilage because it does not oxidize as quickly. That said, the juice must be consumed quickly because as soon as the plant enzymes are exposed to oxygen, the juice will oxidize. This juicer is perfect for soft and leafy vegetables.

Pros

• Low processing speed prevents juice oxidation
• Nutrient loss is significantly reduced
• High yield of juice
• Compact design
• Quiet operation
• Can be used to make nut milk, baby food, and nut butters
• Efficient juicing

Cons

• Expensive
• Whole foods have to be chopped due to the small chute
• Harder to clean
• Harder to assemble

Despite the price, most juicing purists prefer a masticating juicer because of the superior yield and slow RMP. If you are juicing for health reasons, a masticating juicer is a better choice.

Advantages of a Masticating Juicer

Nutrient-Rich Juice
A masticating juicer yields a healthier, more nutritious drink than a centrifugal juicer. Because a masticating juicer processes wholefoods in slower RMP, phytonutrients and fruit enzymes are 99%intact. These properties strengthen the immune system and promote better health. The juice is vibrant in color, it’s sweeter and it has a thicker consistency than juice from a centrifugal juicer.

Reduced Oxidation
The low RMP is similar to hand grinding the juice to reduce oxidation. This process prevents spoilage from setting in so the juice stays fresh for longer. By storing the juice properly, it can stay fresh in the fridge for up to 24 hours. However, it’s best to consume the juice as soon as you are done processing.

A masticating juicer is perfect for juicing wheatgrass and other greens. The slow RMP means the chlorophyll in the greens is not destroyed. This allows you to take full advantage of its many health benefits. The juice is also less foamy when using a masticating juicer.

Optimal Yield
A masticating juicer squeezes every last drop of fluid from fruits or vegetable. In fact, this juicer produces 20% to 35% more juice than an average centrifugal juicer. The leftover pulp is dry and never mushy so you’re maximizing the juice from your favorite fruits and veggies.

Better Health
Did you know masticating juicers reduce harmful chemicals in the juice? Something about the masticating process minimizes pesticides in the juice. On the other hand, a twin gear masticating juicer can eliminate heavy metals in fruits and veggies. These juicers feature a revolutionary bio-magnetic technology that separates the heavy metals from extracted juice.

Juicing and Dietary Fiber Loss?
We all know dietary fiber is an important nutrient. It lower cholesterol level, improves cardiovascular health, and reduces the risk of obesity. Consuming high fiber foods prolongs the feeling of fullness so you eat less during the day or night. You’ll also crave sugar less and less. All these factors contribute to better health and a slim physique. Dietary fiber also aids in the absorption of certain nutrients.

Unfortunately, the process of juicing eliminates the pulp, which is rich in soluble and insoluble fiber. So how do you reap the benefits of juicing while getting your daily dose of dietary fiber? Unless you have a sensitive gut, you can keep the leftover pulp from juicing for later use.

Add the pulp to your favorite dishes while cooking. Add a handful of fruit/veggie pulp into bread dough or muffin batter while baking. You can also use the pulp to flavor broths, sauces and stews!

The Benefits of Juicing

Not all people can digest certain foods properly. And when digestion is not optimal, you’re not maximizing the nutrients from the food you eat. Juicing is one of the best ways to absorb all the nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Juicing helps extract the nutrient-packed essence of fruits, vegetables, and nuts. The essence is easy to absorb because there is no pulp that binds the phytochemicals and enzymes together.

If say, you eat a lot of carbs, you need to consume about a pound of raw vegetable per “50 pounds of body weight” every day! Needless to say, not all people are able to eat the right amount of fruits and veggies on the daily. Juicing can help with this. It’s a fantastic way of consuming your daily dietary allowance of fruits and veggies. Because the juice is at its “pre-digested” state, you get the most out of the vitamins and minerals effortlessly.

If you’re not much of a veggie person, you can add certain fruits in the juice without any “green” aftertaste. For instance, you can add a handful of kale, a couple of celery sticks as well as carrots with your berries for a sweet drink.

Other benefits of juicing includes reduced calorie consumption as well as better eating habits. If you’re not sure whether buying a masticating juicer is the best thing to do, you can read about different kinds of juicers in this article.

Buying a Masticating Juicer: Factors to Consider

Masticating juicers come in an array of designs and types to choose from. How do you know which is the perfect juicer for your needs? Consider these factors before shopping around:

Single or Double Augers?

Masticating juicers come in two types, single or double augers. The single auger masticating juicer is affordable, compact, and user friendly but it’s not designed for heavy duty use. Because a single auger juicer comes with just one gear, it cannot process a large quantity of fruits and veggies. If you’re planning on juicing everyday, you’ll find that single auger juicers will break down much more quickly.

On the other hand, double auger juicers come with two gears that work at the same time to extract juice from whole fruits and vegetables. More juice extracting gears mean more juice for you to enjoy. If you are planning on drinking juice everyday, opt for the double augers juicer because it’s designed for heavy duty use.

Performance

The force and speed of masticating juicers vary too. One thing to keep in mind when shopping around is the low RMP. The lower the RMP is, the better the masticating juicer is. This is one of the rare moments where slow speed is better. Ideally, get a masticating juicer with an RMP speed of 100 and below. The force or torque of the masticating juicer is worth considering too. The juicer need enough power to achieve maximum output. Our advice is to choose a masticating juicer with the most output for better performance.

Maintenance

Masticating juicers are relatively easy to maintain. However, most juicers have small components that are hard to dismantle during cleanup. Go for a juicer that can be assembled and disassembled with ease. Consult the manufacturer’s manual if you’re cleaning the juicer for the first time. This way, you’ll know exactly which component goes where after cleaning the juicer.

Size and Form

Masticating juicers come in different sizes. Depending on your needs, choose a small juicer for single serve juices. But if you’re juicing for two or more, it’s best to get a large juicer with double augers. Larger juicers can process more fruits and veggies. This allows you to get a virtually endless supply of juice. That said, a large juicer can be bulky so if you have a modest kitchen, opt for compact juicers.