The best juicers, smoothie makers and blenders
Juicing is a convenient way to hit your obligatory 5-a-day. If you haven't already got one, you will undoubtedly be in need of a juicing machine. Meghan Markle relies on a green juice blended in her Vitamix (her preference is apple, kale, spinach, lemon and ginger) for a boost, while Kate Middleton is said to be a fan of the Nutribullet.
That said, juice cleanses and hydrating post-workout juices are no longer just a fad associated with Californian lifestyles, but a way of life for many of us here in Blighty. But how to select the best juicer for you?
Thanks to a new wave of juicers to hit the market, it’s easier than ever to squeeze the nutrients you need out of a whole rainbow of fruit and vegetables. At the same time, it’s also become harder to choose the right one to suit your budget, your specific nutritional requirements and your day-to-day routine.
You may already know the difference between juices and smoothies (if not, FYI, juicing is the process of extracting the liquid content only, while a smoothie is made by blending whole fruits and vegetables) – but do you know your centrifrugal from your masticating or cold-press juicer?
Sage by Heston Blumenthal Nutri Juicer
Healthy eating queen Ella Mills, aka Deliciously Ella, uses the sage by Heston Blumenthal Nutri Juicer at home. It’s a centrifrugal juicer, which means that it extracts juice by pushing either hard or soft produce into a spinning plate with cutting blades, while simultaneously squeezing the juice through a mesh – similarly to how a washing machine spins to wring out excess water. The large feeding tube minimizes preparation time spent chopping up your ingredients, while 5 different settings are designed especially for various fruits and vegetables. It’s worth noting that this is at the top-end of the market, and that other juicers which use similar centrifrugal techniques can be purchased for less.
Breville Blend-Active family blender pack
This is a smoothie maker which blends whole fruits and vegetables. While not super powerful, and not suitable for large or very hard chunks of fruit and veg, it scores highly on convenience, since it allows you to blend and go and requires a minimal amount of washing up (you drink from the portable bottle you blend in). It doesn't leak, and it's perfect for busy mornings and this family pack means you can whip up a smoothie or protein shake for the whole family to take in the car or on the commute in minutes. It works well with ingredients such as frozen berries, ginger, spinach, apple, banana, milks, protein shakes, coconut water and even cucumber, but isn't hefty enough for whole fruits (chopping is usually required) and it will struggle with tougher veg, like kale.
Omega MMV702 Mega Mouth slow juicer
It's not an exaggeration to describe this premium centrifrugal as "mega". It boasts a 76mm, extra-wide whole fruit feeding chute. It's quiet, and results in a litre of goodness that's not foamy at all (thanks to a strainer). You can also use it to make nut milks and sorbet, and it comes complete with a recipe book. It's not dishwasher safe, but it's easy to clean.
Magimix Le Duo XL juice extractor in black
Unlike the Sage by Heston Blumenthal model, this is a masticating juicer. It uses a drill-like technique to compact and crush produce before squeezing the juice out and expelling the surprisingly dry pulp from a separate outlet. Masticating juicers like this are more efficient when it comes to juicing leafy greens such as kale and spinach. It’s a good choice for those who are serious about retaining nutritional benefits. Another bonus is that the juice lasts longer (this is because less oxidization occurs, due to the fact that it generates less heat energy than a centrifugal juicer). This model is sleek and attractive. If you prefer, you can pay a little more for one with a satin finish (£179.99). It’s dishwasher safe, and the spatula provided makes cleaning a little easier. It’s versatile too, thanks to a range of attachments available, including a smoothie mix add-on which works equally well for blending baby food. It shakes a lot, though, so beware of spillages.
Braun J500 juicer
This offering from Braun is another centrifrugal juicer and gets top marks from us for efficiency and speed. It’s neat-looking and boasts an anti-splash, non-drip spout. It’s perfect for speedy morning juices pre-commute or pre-school run in kitchens that are shorter on space, and makes up to a litre of fresh juice from whole fruit and vegetables in just 15 seconds thanks to a 900w motor. It has just two settings, so it’smeasy to use even on the most bleary-eyed of mornings. One setting works best with squashy whole fruits such as ripe pears or apples, while the other is geared towards harder ingredients like carrots. There’s 2 litres worth of space for pulp, and a handy foam separator, too. It’s much less laborious than fiddlier, larger masticating juicers,and is a great bit of kit for juicing beginners looking to add a juice or two into their routines. Job done.
Vitamix A3500 Ascent blender
The price tag on the latest model from Vitamix is hefty, but trust us, it's oh-so worth it. The Ascent can't really be described simply as a blender, since it can also be used for ice creams, spreads, hot soups and dips - but there's no doubt that it also whizzes up a mean smoothie. It makes the most of smart technology and wireless connectivity, and can be controlled remotely: it's even self-cleaning, and a programmable timer which will conjure up your favourite recipes automatically, whatever texture you're going for.
Fridja f1800 cold pressed whole fruit juicer
Cold-pressed juicers, also known as ‘slow juicers’, are popular with those who are seriously committed to juice. They tend to be a little pricier, but are the most advanced in the market. Cold-pressing is a technique used in a lot of juice bars and is the most nutrient-rich option. The friction-free (and therefore oxidisation free) mechanics result is a remarkably fresh and clean tasting juice with a shelf-life of up to 3 days. This Fridja model has a huge three inch feeding tube, and also makes for incredible nut milks and nut butters (Madeleine Shaw is a fan). Three separate attachments allow you to make either juice, smoothies or healthy fruit ice cream and sorbets. Unlike some juicers, it’s not too noisy, and leaves only a minimal amount of dry waste.
Philips Compact juicer in black and red
This Philips model is widely available at Tesco, Currys, Argos and Amazon, and is a good choice for would-be juicers looking to spend a little less but still enjoy a fuss-free homemade juice every day. It takes up barely any surface space and allows you to fill your glass directly courtesy of a handy integrated tap. You can still make up to 1.5 litres of juice in one go, and a ‘QuickClean’ sieve ensures that you’re able to wipe away leftover fibres easily with a standard kitchen sponge, while the round, smooth surfaces also make it easy to rinse under the tap. It works well with ingredients such as beetroot, oranges and kiwis, and is the perfect way to introduce goodness into your diet without too much ado.
Nutribullet 600
You may be forgiven for thinking that we've already reached peak NutriBullet, but there's a reason why this brand is so enduringly popular: by breaking down fruits, vegetables, seeds and nuts through the extraction blades, it's said to retain a large, amount of nutritional value, and results in a smooth, delicious drink every time. Plus, it's dishwasher-safe, and affordable.
Our conclusion?
For a convenient, portable smoothie blender for the whole family, you can't go too far wrong with the easy-to-use, affordable Breville Blend-Active family blender pack (£25, johnlewis.com). However, if you want to step up your game and upgrade from a blender to a high-end juicer, which will extract liquid content, then a centrifrugal juicer like the Sage by Heston Blumenthal Nutri Juicer (£138.99, John Lewis) might be the one for you.
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