Fresh juice every morning: how to choose a juicer

Types of juicers

All juicers are divided into four main types according to their design features:

Centrifugal. These juicing machines have the presence of a fruit and vegetable chopper (knife), as well as a centrifugal separator. After the ingredients are crushed to the consistency of porridge, they fall into a separator that looks like a drum. There, during rotation, under the action of centrifugal force, the "porridge" is pressed against the walls of the tank and the juice is separated from the cake. The advantages of centrifugal machines are a high degree of extraction (the juice comes out almost without pulp) and a fairly large neck, allowing some fruits and vegetables to be put whole without additional slicing. Juice is almost always obtained with foam. The disadvantage is high noise (louder than citrus or screw).

Centrifugal juicers

Screw. The device is equipped with a rotating screw cylinder (screw), around which there is a filter (sieve). Rotating, the auger presses the contents down and the juice comes out through the sieve, and the cake comes out through a small rectangular hole. Screw juicers work quite quietly, which is very convenient for making juice in the morning when everyone is asleep. Also, screw devices, when pressed, leave a certain amount of pulp in the juice, making it saturated with useful fiber. However, such aggregates do not cope well with vegetables and fruits, which have a hard peel — sometimes thin strips are wound and the auger is jammed. Also, unlike centrifugal, two tanks are required for operation: one for juice output, and the other for cake. Users note that in screw juicers, the taste of the contents is more saturated than in centrifugal juicers, due to the remainder of the pulp.

Screw juicers

Combined. These are essentially centrifugal devices with an additional citrus nozzle included. Thanks to this, juice can be obtained from almost all fruits and vegetables, as well as citrus fruits. Some units are equipped with blender or coffee grinder modules. In particular, such squeezers are suitable for those who want to have all the necessary functions for the hostess in one device.

Juicer of the combined type.

For citrus fruits. Here, in the design, a plastic cone with ribs acts as a squeezing device, which squeezes out the juice when rotating. You can get juice only from fleshy fruits, such as orange, tangerine, lemon, grapefruit. It is worth noting that such devices are small in power and relatively inexpensive. They are suitable for athletes and just lovers of fresh juice in the morning.

For citrus fruits.

Parameters to pay attention to when choosing

When choosing a suitable model for yourself, look at the following indicators:

Power. For the processing of citrus fruits, as well as most fruits and berries, the engine power of 600 – 700 watts is enough. However, if you often make juice from carrots, radishes or squash (and other hard vegetables), then you should pay attention to more powerful models. Also, the more powerful the device, the more performant it is, so it processes the contents faster. And the pressing speed may be needed if you plan to harvest juice in large volumes (canning).
Type of juice container. There are built-in and freestanding containers. Built-in containers save space on the table during cooking and are convenient for storage. Freestanding ones take up more space and are less convenient for storage. However, their main advantage is the possibility of replacement — for example, instead of it, you can put a large pot suitable for height and prepare juice for preservation.

Juicers with built-in juice container

Volume. It all depends on the size of the family for which the juice will be prepared. On average, one person drinks a glass of juice at a time (200 – 250 mL). Therefore, to prepare "fresh" for breakfast for a family of 3-4 people, you will need a tank of up to 1 liter. Bowls of larger volume will be required only for large families, cafes or for conservation preparation. Containers for cake are usually made according to the size of the juice container, but filling it is faster.
Type of control. Most devices have mechanical control, that is, all parameters are set manually. Only some expensive models have electronic control, represented by a display with a choice of several operating modes, for example, "drop-stop", the inclusion of a foam separator or reverse. Units with electronic control speed up the work a little, but they are much more expensive than models with mechanical control. Therefore, if saving a few minutes (and sometimes even a few seconds) is not important for you, then buy a juicer with mechanical control.

Additional functions that affect the choice of the model

Depending on the operating conditions and the intended tasks, it is worth paying attention to the following additional functions:

Pulse mode. This is a mode in which the engine will not work constantly, but jerkily, thereby extending its service life. To squeeze juice from soft vegetables and fruits, a pulse mode is not needed. However, if you plan to process solid vegetables or fruits in large quantities, as well as use the blender module, it is better to take an impulse model.
Turbo mode. The function is found exclusively in centrifugal models and is designed for self-cleaning of the inner drum from the remains of cake. It is convenient because you do not need to pick out the remnants of products from the holes of the centrifuge, thereby saving time on washing the device.

Turbo juicers

Profi Cook PC AE 1156

from 4 931 ₴

Reverse. The function provides reverse rotation of the screw in screw juicers. Sometimes, with a large load, the pressure increases and the auger rises up, pressing the fixing "eye" — because of this, the auger jams and it becomes very difficult to release it. The reverse also spins the working organ back and releases it.
Additional modules. The juicer can be additionally equipped with blender or coffee grinder modules. Thanks to this, the hostess can cook delicious mashed potatoes, twist minced meat or make a delicious cocktail. Such models are suitable for those who want to have several devices in their kitchen at once and at the same time save money and storage space.
Foam separator. This design feature allows you to remove the foam after juice preparation, which is formed in all centrifugal and screw juicers. If you don't like foam, and you don't always want to wait until it settles — in this case, a model with a foam separator is the best option.
The clamping mechanism. The constructive detail is found exclusively in powerful citrus models. Thanks to her, the hostess will not need to hold the fruit with her hand — it is enough to press the lever. In many ways, the function is convenient if you need to "crush" a lot of oranges.

Drop-stop. The function is represented by a rotary nozzle-spout, through which the juice is drained into the tank. This spout simply turns up, and thus prevents the juice from dripping onto the table. There are models in which the spout does not turn, but closes with a valve.

The spout is of a rotary type.

Round neck. Models with a round neck allow you to lay some fruits and vegetables whole, which will not work with oval necks. For example, if you prepare apple juice for the winter, then models with a round neck are the best option.
Material of manufacture. Plastic models have a beautiful appearance and light weight, but are less durable than metal ones. Metal products (part of the body with the engine) are durable and have an aesthetic design, but are somewhat more expensive than plastic ones (much depends on the functionality).

Conclusion

Obtaining pure juice without excess pulp will provide centrifugal juicers. If you need juice with pulp, then you should look at the screw models. For fans of units of the "all inclusive" type, combined models are suitable, additionally equipped with blender and coffee grinder modules. To prepare juice for preservation, it is better to purchase a pulse device with a free-standing capacity. The selection of other additional functions depends on the individual needs and low-cost of the buyer.