Different juicers for fruits and vegetables use different methods of technology. These different types of juicers each have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Your lifestyle habits will help determine which type of juicer is best for you. Then you can go our and shop for specific makes and models. But first you should learn the types of juicers available.
Kitchen Blender
A common kitchen blender can make fruit and vegetable juice. However, kitchen blenders are not juicers because they do not break down the fiber and separate it from the liquid. So, you get a very thick liquid that many find unpleasant. To render a true liquid, you need to puree the fruit or vegetables, and then squeeze it through cheese cloth. That takes a lot of time and it is inefficient. Most people give up on this idea fairly quickly.
Citrus Juicers
A citrus juicer is for juicing oranges, grapefruit and other citrus fruits, only. They have the traditional cone top and they can be completely manual or they are motor-assisted but manually controlled. In all models you apply the pressure on fruit halves down on the cone. Leading citrus juicers are made by Black & Decker, Cuisinart, Breville, and Metrokane.
Centrifugal Juicers
A centrifugal juicer grinds the fruit and vegetables that are then spun at high speed to extract the juice by centrifugal force through the strainer.
This type of juicer is often called an "extractor." The pulp is naturally separated and is ejected out the back. Centrifugal juicers are high speed juicers that are very quick to operate, should time be a consideration.
However, they tend to be somewhat less efficient in removing all the juice and there is usually a some pulp in the juice, which some people prefer, while others do not. It leaves a larger amount of very moist waste.
Most lower- and medium-end juicers on the market use the centrifugal method. Some extractors require full dismantling to clean, this can be a bother. They are usually more noisy than better quality juicer types but they tend to be the most popular because of lower price. Leading centrifugal juicers are made by Breville, Hamilton Beach, Jack LaLanne, Waring, Acme, and Juiceman.
Masticating Juicers
With a masticating juicer there is a single gear machine that uses blades that cut the fiber and cells apart in a spiral rotating motion that creates a paste that is then squeezed through a screen.
You can remove the screen on some models to allow you to finely homogenize foods for baby food. These juicers can grind seeds, nuts, grains and dried fruit. It can also blend frozen fruit for frozen deserts. The residue pulp is somewhat moist.
This provides a much higher quality juice due to slower speeds that create lower heat than other types of juicers. Masticating juicers are considered better quality machines and the leading juicers are made by Omega and Champion.
Triturating Juicers
Triturating juicers operate in the same manner as a single-gear masticating juicer but they are more powerful and use a twin-gear method that is slower but better. These juicers are sometimes called "twin-gear" juicers.
The twin-gear process is a slightly more efficient method that provides slightly more juice with more fine fiber, vitamins, trace minerals, and enzymes in a richer colored juice. Triturating juicers are slow-speed juicers that use a technology that stops the oxidation process, which improves quality for storage, and produces almost no foam.
These are superior juicers that provide superior juices. They are often used in fine restaurants and institutions and they are heavier and larger and the most expensive. This type of juicer is not for the beginner. Manufacturers include Hippocrates, Kempo, Green Star, and Twin Health.
