Updated 27 Jul 2011

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Introduction

Make your own fruit and vegetable juice with one of our 7 recommended juicers.

Centrifugal juicers are a standby in many kitchens. But manufacturers of non-centrifugal juicers claim that their machines produce better results. We’ve tested 7 new juicers of both types and compared them with 8 models from our July 2009 test.

We also explain what to look for and how to get the best out of your juicer.

Models we tested

This report contains test results and recommendations for the following  juicers:

Checklist

If you're thinking of buying a juicer, here's what to consider:

Types of juicers and how they work

Centrifugal juicers are readily available in kitchenware and appliance stores. They pulp fruit on a rotating blade, then push it against a strainer at very high speeds.

Non-centrifugal juicers are less widely available – try health-food or organic stores, or search online stores. They come in two types:

• Cold-press models use a slow-turning auger to crush the fruit or vegetables. They then push the pulp through a tight cap and the juice filters through a sieve into a bowl. Examples from our test are the LexSun DO-9001, Oscar DA 900 and the Lexen GP62.
  
  Twin-gear cold-press juicers have two gears that rotate inwards, leaving a very small gap between them. The Greenpower Hippocrates Plus 1305 in our test is a twin-gear cold press model.
• Masticating models “chew” the fruit or vegetables. The Champion 2000+ was the only masticating juicer we’ve tested – it uses a combination of tooth-like blades and a fine sieve.

Non-centrifugal juicers are more expensive than centrifugal juicers and are slower at processing. They have a smaller chute size so you need to cut food into small chunks. But they do have some advantages: they’re usually quieter than centrifugal models. And it’s claimed you can use them for other tasks such as mincing, grinding coffee beans, processing wheat grass and alfalfa, or even making noodles or pasta. However, we haven’t tested their ability to perform these other tasks. 

What to look for

• A juicer with a large chute means less chopping beforehand.
• A safety lid lock won't let you operate the juice extractor unless the lid's locked into place. 
• The fewer the parts, the easier it is to assemble, take apart and clean. Also check the machine for parts that fit together and separate easily.
• A streamlined design means less food can get trapped in crevices, making cleaning easier.
• Not all models come with a juice jug. Of those that do, some slot into the juicer, which is less messy as juice is less likely to splash onto the workbench; other juice jugs are separate. On models without a juice jug, check the spout height and position will fit an appropriately sized jug.
• The pulp container may be either a cavity around the sieve (inside the juicer) or a container attached to it (on the outside). With an internal pulp container, check that the sieve and its surrounding cavity can be removed together – if it has to be taken apart before removal, it's messier. With an external pulp container, less pulp is likely to build up around the sieve and clog it, and if you want to juice a large quantity, you don't have to stop and disassemble the juicer to remove the pulp.
• If there are two speeds, the higher is usually better for hard fruit and vegies.
• Dimensions and weight: The small models would be suitable for a couple or single person – they can generally produce a glass or two of juice before the pulp container is full and has to be emptied. They also take up less bench space.

For people with a disability

• Look for a juicer which can be used one-handed
• Keep in mind that if you use a juice extractor you'll need enough hand strength to be able to cut up fruit and vegetables to fit into the food chute.
• Look for a juicer which has minimal parts so it's easy to put together and pull apart
• Look for switches that are bright and large, and don't need a lot of strength to operate.
• Look for a spout that's a good height and sticks out enough that any suitable jug can be used.

About our test

We processed a kilogram each of carrots, apples, oranges and a combination of watermelon and pineapple. Next we measured the quantity of juice produced – and also checked its texture and consistency (we were looking for juice that was smooth rather than pulpy, grainy or frothy).

We also assessed how easy it was to “feed” the juicer, assemble and disassemble the various parts, clean the juicer, collect the juice and remove the pulp.

Finally we looked at safety – how easy it is for your hands to come into contact with the blades through the chute when the juicer is fully assembled.

See What we found for a discussion of our test, and the Test results for full details of how the juicers performed.

Juicing tips

Freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices are a quick, convenient way to get extra nutrients into your diet. But they’re no substitute for whole fruit and vegetables, as most of the fibre is lost in the juicing process.

The pulp needn’t be wasted though. Vegetable pulp can be used to make stock or in mince dishes and soups. Fruit pulp can be added to cake and muffin mixtures for sweetness – just reduce the amount of sugar in the recipe.

What's good to juice?

• For best results, use fresh and well-ripened fruit and vegetables. Wash them and trim away any discoloured or bruised sections.
• Peel fruits with hard or inedible skin, such as citrus, pineapple, melon, kiwi fruit and uncooked beetroot.
• Remove other hard parts, such as stones from stone fruit, peel and pith from citrus fruit, and seeds from melon.
• Chop the fruit or vegies into chunks that'll fit easily in the feeder chute.
• Orange juice made in a juice extractor is generally frothier than squeezed oranges. And it takes more time to make – you have to remove all white skin, fibres and pith, otherwise they can leave a bitter or sour taste.
• Juice apples, carrots, and celery with a chunk of fresh ginger for a delicious winter combination. Adjust the quantities to suit your tastes – add more apple for sweetness or more ginger for extra zing!

What to avoid

• Starchy fruit and vegetables such as bananas and avocados are generally unsuitable for juicing.
• Some manufacturers also recommend avoiding very soft or stringy fruit like some berries, stone-fruit, pawpaw, mangoes and rhubarb.

Safety hints

• Always use the safety plunger supplied – not your fingers – to push fruit and vegetable pieces down the chute.
• Small hands (such as children's) can fit down the chute and reach the rotating blade. Make sure the juicer is unplugged and well out of reach of children if you're leaving it out on your kitchen bench.
• Take care with spilled juice. Don't let spills accumulate under a juice extractor, where they could get sucked up through ventilation holes into the motor. The juicer could become live and give you an electric shock if you touch it. Switch off the motor and unplug the cord before you clean up any spills.

Cleaning

• Wash up straight after juicing so the leftover pulp doesn't harden and get stuck in the sieve or filter.
• Cleaning the sieve under running water with a hard bristle brush is the best way to remove fruit and veg fibres – some juicers come with a special brush to do the job.
• Juicers with lots of cracks and crevices are the most difficult to clean.

 

Report by Bev Frederikson.