5 Best Juicers, Evaluated and Reviewed
We juiced 10 pounds of fruit and veggies in eight juicer machines from Breville, Kuvings, Nama, Ninja, Nutribullet, and more to find the fastest, high-yield picks
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Store-bought juice is convenient, but if you’ve ever had freshly squeezed green juice or citrus juice, you probably already know they aren’t cut from the same cloth. Many bottled juices are highly processed, lack nutrients, and contain added sugars or artificial sweeteners. A few years ago, CR even tested 45 popular fruit juices and found concerning levels of heavy metals in over half of them. If you love the taste and the idea of getting a variety of vitamins and minerals from a wide array of produce, without all the sugar and other additives found in bottled juice, investing in a juicer is a solid choice.
- Juicers We Tested: Breville Juice Fountain Plus Cuisinart CSJ-300 EasyClean Slow Juicer Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor Hurom H310 Easy Clean Slow Juicer Kuvings Hands-Free Slow Juicer Nama J2 Cold Press Juicer Ninja NeverClog Cold Press Juicer Nutribullet Centrifugal Juicer Pro
- Plus: What Are Centrifugal Juicers? What Are Masticating Juicers? Is Cold-Pressed Juice Better? Why Juicers Create Foam How We Tested Juicers
Centrifugal Juicers
Centrifugal juicers are known for their speed and high juice yield. They can handle tough produce well (like carrots) and are often less expensive than masticating juicers. They are typically noisier and (sometimes, but not always) contain fewer parts that are often dishwasher-safe, making them easier to clean. However, their fast-moving blades generate more heat and can cause oxidation, leading to pulpier juice and reduced nutrient content.
Masticating Juicers
Masticating juicers, also known as cold-press or slow juicers, feature a slow-rotating metal press and extract juice without generating heat, which helps preserve vitamins and minerals. They can be more expensive and work at a slower pace, but are also quieter than centrifugal juicers. They tend to come with more parts, too, and aren’t always dishwasher-safe, so expect to spend more time cleaning them.
Is Cold-Pressed Juice Better for You?
Cold-pressed juice is all the rage, but is it really better for you? Interestingly, one study found that cold-pressed juices were not more nutritious than those made with a standard centrifugal juicer, with no significant differences in vitamin C, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, or antioxidant capacity between the methods.
The study also found that storage mattered more than the extraction method: refrigerated cold-pressed juices maintained their nutritional quality for about five days, while room-temperature storage led to noticeable declines within 48 hours, and refrigerated juices also began to lose nutrients after day five.
Juicing actually removes fiber from fruits and vegetables. The best ways to make a healthier juice at home include following the 80/20 rule by picking 80 percent veggies and 20 percent fruits to limit sugar content, watching your portion size, and not treating juice like a substitute for food.
Why Do Juicers Create Foam?
How much foam you see in your cup after juicing depends on both the juicer and the fruits and veggies you use. High-speed centrifugal juicers whip more air into the juice than slow cold-press models, so they typically create more foam. But some fruits and vegetables naturally contain proteins, pectin, and other compounds that help those tiny air bubbles stick around, resulting in an even thicker layer of foam.
To test eight juicers, we followed a typical green juice recipe: 1 cucumber, 2 green apples, and 2 cups of spinach. We weighed all ingredients on a food scale to ensure the same amount of produce was added to each juicer. Here’s what we found.
