Juicer Buying Guide

Juicers offer a convenient way to enjoy a range of fresh, delicious, homemade juices. Here are some useful hints and tips about things to consider when choosing a juicer.

How to Choose Juicer: Introduction

A juicer works by extracting the juice from fruit and vegetables. Some juicers work manually while others are electrically powered.

As well as the refreshing taste of freshly juiced fruit and vegetables, one of the main reasons why people choose to use juicers is for improved health and fitness. Diet experts agree that we should eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Making your own juice using a juicer is a quick and easy way to get one of your 'five a day' effortlessly, and sometimes creatively!

You can mix and match your favourite fruit and vegetables to create your own individually styled juices - even fruit and vegetables you might not like on their own can taste wonderful when mixed with other fruits or vegetables. For a healthy breakfast, snack, or nutritious dessert, only your imagination is the limit.

Because a juicer breaks down the fibres in fruit and vegetables, important beneficial nutrients are released into the juice. What's more, these nutrients are more effectively absorbed by the digestive system in juice form than if the fruit and vegetables were eaten whole.

With a juicer you get more from your fruit and vegetables - with improved taste unlocked from the ingredients, new flavours from exotic combinations, and a delicious addition to a healthy lifestyle!

Types of Juicer You Can Buy

Although all juicers work on the same principle - extracting the juice and nutrients from fruit and vegetables - there are a variety of juicer types. Each type of juicer works differently, and comes in a range of styles and prices, so you should find a juicer to suit your tastes and budget.

Here are the main types of juicer that you can buy online:

Centrifugal juicer: Using centrifugal force, a fine-holed basket - similar to a sieve - is spun around at high speed. Chopped fruit and vegetables are fed into the spinning basket and forced against the sides, where they are grated into a pulp. The juice flows through the tiny holes of the basket and through a spout for serving. Centrifugal juicers need to be regularly emptied of pulp. For convenience, look out for models with a useful pulp ejection function.
Masticating juicer: Ideal for tougher fruit and vegetables, a masticating juicer works by efficiently breaking down the cell walls in fruit and vegetable fibres to release more healthy nutrients. After chewing up the ingredients, the masticating juicer system then presses them into a reducing space. Masticating juicers work slowly and quietly, trapping much less air in the juice, which keeps it fresher for longer.
Twin gear juicer: These juicers provide long lasting juice with a higher nutrient content than other types. Twin gear juicers work slowly and quietly by rotating two gears. The fruit and vegetables are passed between the gears, where they are crushed and pressed. This process ensures that the fruit and vegetable fibres release a high proportion of the important nutrients into the juice. Thanks to the slow rotation of the gears, less heat is produced, so the juice is kept as close as possible to its natural, great tasting form. Although twin gear juicers are popular for their ease of use and efficiency, they can take longer to clean. Look out for juicers with bio-ceramic magnetic twin gears, which create a magnetic field that keeps the juice fresh and nutritious.

Other Points To Consider When Choosing a Juicer

Before choosing a juicer, it's worth considering the following points, to make sure that the juicer you buy is right for your needs:

Ingredients: Juicers can take a large range of fruit and vegetables, but models may differ according to the types of fruit and vegetables that they can juice.
Ease of use: A juicer is usually easy to use, but some models may need more effort - especially manual juicers. Some people can be confused if there are too many functions, while others prefer as many juicing modes as possible!
Efficiency: Juicers vary in how much juice they can extract - look out for juicers that will get the most from a range of fruit and vegetables.
Cleaning: Consider how easy the juicer will be to clean.
Quality: It's worth going for quality over price, as a juicer that is easy to maintain and long-lasting will be cheaper in the long run.

Should I Buy An Extended Juicer Warranty?

When you buy a juicer it will usually come with a warranty. A warranty ensures that it will be repaired or replaced under certain conditions. If you go for an expensive juicer it may be worth considering paying a little more for an extended warranty.

It's a good idea to keep to a budget when buying a juicer, and not to pay more for unnecessary features that you won't need. Look out for special offers and discounts, and compare prices between the online retailers - you might get a better model of juicer for your money.