We describe types of juicer in general terms. We don't review, rank or recommend brands or models. Before buying, read the maker's manual for what a specific machine can and can't handle.
Citrus reamers and presses
A reamer is a ridged cone. You press a halved lemon or orange onto it and twist. Hand reamers are cheap and small, and electric versions spin the cone for you. Lever presses squeeze a citrus half between two cups and work well for lemons, limes, oranges and pomegranate halves.
They only handle citrus and a few similar fruits, but for those they are hard to beat. Cleanup takes a minute.
Centrifugal (fast) juicers
A centrifugal juicer has a flat cutting disc at the bottom of a fine mesh basket. The disc spins very fast and shreds the produce, and the spinning throws the juice out through the mesh while the pulp collects in a bin.
- Good with hard produce such as carrots, apples, beets and cucumbers.
- Usually have a wide feed chute, so there is less chopping.
- Work quickly, but are loud while running.
- Less effective with leafy greens, herbs and soft fruit.
- The juice tends to be foamy and separates sooner, since the spinning mixes in air.
Slow (masticating) juicers
A slow juicer uses a single auger, a thick screw that turns slowly and crushes produce against a screen. Some stand upright and some lie horizontally. They are often sold as "cold press" juicers, though the auger itself does the pressing and there is no separate press stage.
- Handle leafy greens, herbs and wheatgrass much better than fast juicers.
- Run quietly and make less foam.
- Often need produce cut smaller, and take longer to fill a glass.
- Stringy celery should be cut short so it doesn't wrap around the auger.
Twin-gear juicers
Twin-gear juicers, also called triturating juicers, crush produce between two interlocking gears. They are a heavier, slower relative of the single-auger juicer. They are thorough with greens and hard vegetables, but tend to be large and take longer to clean.
Presses
A press first grinds produce into a mash, then squeezes the mash under pressure inside a cloth bag. Small home hydraulic presses exist, though they are uncommon and slow. Many people make a simple version by grating or blending produce and squeezing it through a cloth by hand.
Blender and strainer
A blender with a fine mesh strainer or a nut milk bag makes good juice from soft produce: melon, berries, cucumber, pineapple and peeled citrus. Blend with a small splash of water if needed, then strain and squeeze the pulp. It costs nothing extra if you already own a blender.
Side by side
| Type | Best with | Struggles with | Cleanup |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reamer or citrus press | Citrus, pomegranate halves | Anything else | Very quick |
| Centrifugal | Hard fruit and roots | Greens, herbs, soft fruit | Moderate; mesh basket needs a brush |
| Slow single auger | Greens, most fruit and vegetables | Very soft fruit, long strings | Moderate; several parts |
| Twin-gear | Greens and hard vegetables | Soft fruit | Slower; heavy parts |
| Press | Most produce once ground | Speed | Bags must be washed and dried |
| Blender and strainer | Soft fruit, melon, cucumber | Hard roots, ginger | Quick |
Cleaning any juicer
Pulp left on a screen or in a bin goes bad quickly and dries hard. Rinse every part that touched produce right after use, scrub screens with the brush most machines include, and let the parts dry fully before you put them back together. Unplug electric juicers before taking them apart. The food safety page covers this in more detail.