Ever wonder what the difference between a cold press juicer and a centrifugal juicer is? Or maybe you didn’t even know there were different type of juicers out there, well there is! Not all juicers are created equal. If you are new to the world of juicing I hope to shed some light and let you know that in the world of juicers, the first thing that you need to know is that juicers fall into two main categories: centrifugal juicers and cold press or also known as masticating juicers. Juicing has become a fashionable and “In” thing to do and with great reason…it is great for you!
Whichever type of juicer you chose to buy the important thing is to use it and juice. Some juicing is better than no juicing, so what is the difference between a cold press juicer and centrifugal juicer?
Centrifugal juicers are more common, and in general, more affordable. They typically have an upright design in which food is pushed into a rapidly spinning mesh chamber with sharp teeth. The teeth shred the food into a pulp, and pulls the juice out of the pulp and through the mesh filter, where it is funneled out of the juicer. Centrifugal juicers work best with soft and hard fruits and vegetables, but not quite as well with leafy greens like kale or spinach two vegetables I love to juice and are very healthy for you.
Centrifugal juicers are a great starter juicer as they require very little investment with most good-quality models ranging in price from $100 to $199.
Popular centrifugal juicers include Jack LaLanne’s Power Juicer which was the first juicer I bought and wrote a review on it here. This one from Breville, is in my opinion the best centrifugal juicer on the market.
Cold Press/Masticating juicers typically have a horizontal design in which a spiral tube called an auger that lays horizontally.
The pieces of fruits and vegetables are pushed into the top of the auger, and they are crushed and squeezed by the spiral tube.
Juice drains out of the underside of the tube, while the pulp is squeezed out at the end of the tube. I like to give my dogs the left over pulp as a treat, they love it!
Because of the slower crushing and squeezing action, cold press juicers can process leafy greens like spinach and kale. The most important thing in my opinion is that the juice that they produce will last much longer than juice made in a centrifugal juicer, which should be consumed right away as it starts losing nutrients nearly immediately. When I made my fist juice using a cold press juicer I immediately noticed the difference. These juicers produce the type of juice quality in those cold pressed juices selling for like $8 a serving with minimal foam and separation. The difference is very noticeable. Since the juice you can make using a cold press machine is ‘Living Juice’, retaining its nutritional integrity 48-72 hours after extraction, I usually make a juice to use for the next 2 mornings. Cold pressed juicers are tested and proven to extract the highest yield of nutrients and enzymes than any centrifugal juicer in the market.
The quality remains the same and you will notice there is no juice separation. Cold press juicers are pricier than centrifugal models; starting at around $230 for most models. Some of the brands to look for are Champion, Omega, and Green Star. I personally have tried 3 different juicers; the Jack Lalanne, a Breville and now I own this one: An Omega 8006. ( thanks future hubby for the birthday gift! 😉 )
So Which Is Better?
With both juicing machines you are going to be able to extract juice from fruits and vegetables.
When purchasing a juicer it is important to pick one which caters to your lifestyle and needs.
Cold press juicers do have some design elements which require you to be more thorough when preparing to juice. Cold press juicers have a smaller feeding chute than a centrifugal juicer which means you need to be more patient when making the juice as it will take longer. So if you are on the run every morning this may not be the best for you and you may be better off with a centrifugal.
As an estimate in time, if all fruits and vegetables were prepared and ready for juicing:
Cold Press Juicer – Approximately 9-10 minutes
Centrifugal – 5 minutes
Clean Up Time
Cold Press Juicer – 2 minutes
Centrifugal – 7 minutes
Juicing is for the serious. The ones who want to make a difference in their health. Opt for buying fruits and vegetables that are organic unless you will be removing the peel. It really takes discipline to continue to juice and make it a habit. I promise you if you do you will notice a difference in your energy levels, skin clarity and your digestion. I gave up coffee nearly 2 years ago and now only drink it on occassion. My skin used to have many breakouts, but I can say it is pretty clear now. My digestion has improved and do not have an poo problems! 🙂 And my dogs even enjoy the juice! Just Juice It!
