We Talked to Chefs, Bloggers and a Test Kitchen Head for the Hands-Down Best Juicers—Here's What They Said

We're sharing the best juicers for a healthy start to the year.

Ahhh…there’s nothing quite as refreshing as a cold glass of freshly squeezed juice. But having to trek to your local juice bar and shell out a pretty penny anytime you want to sip a cup of nutrient-rich green juice or citrus-packed orange juice isn’t exactly convenient (or cost effective).

Luckily, there is another way: You could invest in a juicer to create delicious and nutritious cold-pressed juices at home any time you want! Keep reading to find out which type of juicer is best and how to choose the best juicer machine for you.

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What Is a Juicer and Why Do You Need One?

A juicer (sometimes called a juice extractor) is a small kitchen appliance that extracts juice from fruit and vegetables. It separates the juice from the pulp, seeds and skin by crushing, grinding or squeezing the liquid out. What you’re left with is a thin liquid that’s chock full of vitamins and minerals.

So, why do you need a juicer? There are a couple of big benefits. For starters, using a juicer can help you add more nutrients to your diet if you find it difficult to eat the daily recommended amount of fruits and veggies. Plus, because juicers leave you with a thin, concentrated liquid, you can pack a lot of produce into a single glass of juice.

Which Type of Juicer Is Best?

It turns out there are three different types of juicers on the market and the best one for you really depends on your needs and preferences.

“If you want a quick and easy way to make juice, a centrifugal juicer may be the best option,” says Julia Chebotar, private chef, culinary nutrition consultant and owner of Health Chefs. “If you want to extract the maximum amount of juice from your fruits and vegetables, a masticating juicer may be a better choice."

Here’s a rundown of how the different types of juicers work so you can choose the right one for you:

Centrifugal Juicers

“Centrifugal juice extractors have a blade that spins quickly to grind the produce,” explains Lynne Just, consumer test kitchen manager for Hamilton Beach Brands. “It then extracts the juice by forcing it through a strainer basket. The fresh juice comes out of the spout while the remaining pulp is ejected into the pulp bin.”

Just says centrifugal juicers are best for at-home use. “For most people, especially beginners, a centrifugal juicer is ideal,” she says. “It’s easy to operate and makes juice quickly, plus it’s more affordable than a masticating juicer.” However, Chebotar adds that centrifugal juicers can be noisy and may not extract as much juice as other types of juicers.

Masticating Juicers

Masticating juicers (also commonly known as slow juicers or cold-press juicers) use a different extraction method. “Fruits and vegetables are slowly ground to a pulp and juice is squeezed out by an auger,” explains Just. “Masticating juicers may produce a smoother juice — and do the job more quietly — but they take significantly longer to create juice than centrifugal ones.”

Just says masticating juicers are also a little easier to clean since they don’t have a strainer basket that needs to be brushed clean after each use. Keep in mind, though, that they’re generally more expensive than other juicers, notes Chebotar. “Because masticating juicers use a slower-speed, gentle pressing action, they are well-suited for making cold-pressed juices,” adds Chebotar.

Citrus Juicers

“Citrus juicers are specifically designed to extract juice from citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes and oranges,” says Chebotar. “They usually have a small cone-shaped head that you press the citrus fruit onto and a handle that you use to squeeze the fruit and extract the juice.” Electric citrus juicers exist as well.

Chebotar notes that citrus juicers are easy to use and clean but not suitable for juicing other types of fruits and vegetables. Just adds that a citrus juicer is the best option for juicing citrus fruits because you don’t have to peel the fruit first.

“Additionally, citrus juice has the best taste when using a citrus juicer because there is no bitter taste from the pith that could be found when using a centrifugal juicer for citrus,” says Just.

12 Best Juicers For Your Kitchen

What is the best juicer machine to buy? Find the best cold-press juicer for you among the following centrifugal, masticating and citrus juicer picks.

1. Breville Juice Fountain Plus, $179.95 on Amazon

This Breville juicer is an excellent choice for at-home juicing. The centrifugal juicer has a 3-inch extra-wide chute so you can juice whole fruits and vegetables without having to cut them first. Plus, the titanium reinforced disc and mesh filter basket are made out of durable stainless steel and work together for optimal juice and nutrient extraction. There are even two speeds, including low for softer fruits and leafy vegetables and high for denser fruits and harder vegetables. Breville Juice Fountain, $179.95 on Amazon

2. Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Juicer Machine, $109.99 on Amazon

If you’re looking for a centrifugal juicer with some nice extra features, Just recommends this one from Hamilton Beach. It’s a two-in-one juicer and blender, meaning you can create a variety of drinks with one space-saving appliance. The extra-wide 3-inch chute fits whole fruits and vegetables, and the blender jar is shatterproof. Whipping up juices, smoothies and shakes has never been easier. Hamilton Beach 2-in-1 Juicer Machine, $109.99 on Amazon

3. Mueller Ultra Power Juicer, $59.97 on Amazon

This is a high-quality juicer at a reasonable price, which is something that’s not always so easy to find, says Shakzod Khabibov, co-founder of Natura Market, a health food store in Canada. Khabibov explains that this centrifugal juicer has stainless steel blades and two speed settings that let you adjust the amount of juice extracted based on the type of fruit. It also has a locking bar and on-off button to prevent accidents if it’s left unattended or overheats. Mueller Ultra Power Juicer, $59.97 on Amazon

4. NutriBullet Juicer Pro, $119.99 on Amazon

Another good centrifugal juicer option is this one from NutriBullet. It has three speeds and a no-drip spout so you can make smooth, flavorful juices without the mess. It also has a 3-inch chute and dual-size food pusher to accommodate a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Even better? It comes with accessories, including two glass bottles and a freezer tray. NutriBullet Juicer Pro, $119.99 on Amazon

5. Hurom Elite Slow Juicer, $438 on Amazon

If you’re looking to splurge and really treat yourself to a high-end kitchen appliance, then look no further than this sleek masticating juicer recommended by Raymond Neil, professional chef at TD Kitchen. “This masticating juicer is designed to maximize nutrient extraction while preserving the natural flavor of fruits and vegetables,” he says. Neil explains that it has a powerful motor and low-speed auger that can easily grind and press fruits and vegetables. “Additionally, the juicer is equipped with a unique Drip-Free Smart Technology that allows for continuous juicing,” he adds. “The juicer is also easy to assemble and clean.” Hurom Elite Slow Juicer, $438 on Amazon

6. Omega Masticating Juicer, $285.87 on Amazon

“This masticating juicer is designed to extract maximum nutrition from fruits and vegetables,” says Neil. “The juicer has a powerful motor and an auger design that can juice a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.” Neil adds that this juicer has an auto-pulp ejection system that allows for easy and quick clean-up. “It also comes with a variety of accessories that make it easy to make a variety of juices, nut milks and smoothies,” he says. Omega Masticating Juicer, $285.87 on Amazon

7. Hamilton Beach Cold-Press Masticating Juicer, $139.99 on Amazon

This is Just’s favorite slow juicer because it has the ability to turn a large range of fruits and vegetables into nutrition-packed juice. What's more, it's incredibly easy to clean up since it comes with a cleaning brush and dishwasher-safe pieces. This slow-masticating juicer extracts twice as much juice from leafy greens as centrifugal juicers with minimal noise. Hamilton Beach Cold-Press Masticating Juicer, $139.99 on Amazon

8. Cuisinart Easy Clean Slow Juicer, $159.95 on Amazon

This masticating juicer slowly presses fruits and vegetables for the freshest cold-press juices. It has dishwasher-safe removable parts and a mesh-free filter that’s easy to clean. The pulp is ejected into its own pitcher, while the juice pitcher holds up to a liter of liquid. Cuisinart Easy Clean Slow Juicer, $159.95 on Amazon

9. Extra-Large Lemon Squeezer, $26.99 on Amazon

An all-time favorite of Jessica Randhawa, head chef, recipe creator, photographer and writer behind The Forked Spoon, this good old-fashioned manual press is fun to use and easy to clean. “Once the citrus has been halved, it takes less than five seconds a squeeze and about 15 seconds to rinse off before air drying,” says Randhawa. She adds that stainless steel (which this one is made from) is a must for citrus presses as the citric acid eats away any coated products over time. Extra-Large Lemon Squeezer, $26.99 on Amazon

10. Citrus Juicer Machine and Squeezer, $22.99 on Amazon

Just is a fan of this electric citrus juicer with the cutest design. It was created in memory of a young girl who started a lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research, and $1 from every purchase goes to her foundation. You can use it to juice small to large citrus fruits to make everything from lemonade to salad dressings to marinades. It has a pulp control dial so you can enjoy the right amount of pulp and discard the rest. Once you’re done juicing, you can use the pitcher to serve. Citrus Juicer Machine and Squeezer, $22.99 on Amazon

11. OXO Good Grips 2-in-1 Citrus Juicer, $16.99 on Amazon

For an affordable citrus juicer, you can’t go wrong with this option from OXO. It has a measuring cup so you know exactly how much juice you’re getting. The measuring cup is even marked with standard and imperial measurements so you don’t have to worry about conversions. It has two reamers (one for small fruits like lemons and limes and one for large fruits like oranges and grapefruits) and is easy to take apart and clean. OXO Good Grips 2-in-1 Citrus Juicer, $16.99 on Amazon

12. Black+Decker Citrus Juicer, $23.12 on Amazon

This budget-friendly electric citrus juicer gets the job done. With auto-reversing juicing cones, clear measurements on the pitcher, a drip-free pour spout and adjustable pulp control, it makes juicing citrus fruits a breeze. It also has a storage cover so you can keep your juicer dust-free between uses. Black+Decker Citrus Juicer, $23.12 on Amazon

Sources

• Julia Chebotar, private chef, culinary nutrition consultant and owner of Health Chefs

• Lynne Just, consumer test kitchen manager for Hamilton Beach Brands

• Shakzod Khabibov, co-founder of Natura Market, a health food store in Canada

• Raymond Neil, professional chef at TD Kitchen

• Jessica Randhawa, head chef, recipe creator, photographer and writer behind The Forked Spoon