How to choose a juicer? What to pay attention to?

When it comes to nutrition, the first association that comes to mind is a glass of healthy freshly squeezed juice. If you decide to become an adherent of a healthy lifestyle, then you probably already thought about buying a juicer. Families with young children can not do without this device, because store juices are far from natural and can not be compared with freshly squeezed ones in terms of utility.

A wide variety of these devices are presented on the market, differing in their main purpose and characteristics. To make it easier for you to make a choice, we will consider how to choose a juicer for the house, what types of them exist, and what parameters are worth paying attention to when buying.

Varieties of juicers

People squeezed juice from fruits and vegetables from time immemorial. For a very long time, the main tool for this was hands or simple mechanical devices. And only in the middle of the last century in Austria was the first electric juicer invented. Now, devices with a motor almost completely replaced mechanical products for juice, because they do not require effort and significantly save time, so we will take a closer look at electric juicers. Among them, the following varieties are distinguished:

• universal centrifugal;
• auger;
• citrus.

There are also combined types of devices that combine several varieties at once. For example, combinations of a universal juicer with citrus sow are often found. Also, nozzles for juice can be equipped with meat grinders and food processors.

You need to choose a specific variety based on which products you prefer to make juice from. Consider the characteristics of each of the devices in more detail.

Centrifugal Juicers

This is the most common type, designed to produce juice, both from hard and soft fruits and vegetables, citrus fruits, berries. The principle of operation of the device is to chop the fruit into a pulp with a disk grater, which then passes into the separator and is passed through a sieve under the action of a centrifuge.

The separator is of two types:

1. Cylindrical, which squeezes juice from the product by 95%, but is not able to discard the pulp. Such devices must be manually cleaned during operation.
2. Conical, squeezing juice only 70%, but self-removing cake.

Devices with a cylindrical separator are suitable for people who do not make more than a few glasses of juice at a time. Those who plan to process large volumes of products, it is better to opt for a conical variety.

The advantages of a centrifugal type of device include:

• Juice preparation at high speed, because the devices operate at speeds of 10,000-40000.
• Reasonable price in comparison with screw devices.
• Juice is maximally cleared of oilcake.
• Suitable for fruits and vegetables of any consistency.
• Easy to use.

Disadvantages of centrifugal juicers:

• Due to the high revolutions, the juice is heated during manufacture, which reduces the amount of nutrients in it.
• When the centrifuge rotates, the juice gets in contact with air, due to which it quickly oxidizes. Such a product must be drunk within 20 minutes; it is not suitable for longer storage.
• High consumption of raw materials. For example, to make a glass of apple juice, it is necessary to process 4-5 apples.
• High noise level.

Choosing a universal juicer is for those who make juice in large quantities. This is a good option for summer residents making blanks for the winter.

Unlike screw devices, which will last no more than half an hour, centrifugal devices can be operated almost without interruption.

A centrifugal juicer for fruits and standard vegetables is a good fit. If you want something more exotic, for example, juice from herbs or seedlings, you better look at the screw juicers.

Screw Type Juicers

By design, the screw model resembles a meat grinder. In them, the fruits are pushed to the sieve with the help of a slowly rotating shaft, which squeezes them dry. The juice is discharged into the glass through the spout in the front of the case, and the cake is periodically removed from the back.

If you are interested in the question of how to choose a juicer for vegetables, then this appliance can easily meet all your requirements. It allows you to make juice from any vegetables, including cabbage, as well as all types of herbs. He will also please fans of a healthy lifestyle, because with it you can make juice from cereals and seedlings and even make nut or soy milk.

The advantages of screw devices include:

• Save energy through lower power. Unlike centrifugal juicers, high speed is not required here.
• Due to the slow operation of the device, the juice does not heat up, so all vitamins are stored in it.
• During the operation of the device, the juice does not have direct contact with oxygen, it does not oxidize and retains its properties for 2 days.
• Quiet mode of operation.
• The mechanical parts of the device will last a long time because they do not wear out due to the rotation force.
• The self-cleaning function will save time on device maintenance.
• Screw devices allow you to extract juice from a wide variety of products. This is a juicer for vegetables of any type, for berries and fruits, including with seeds and even for greens and cereals.
• The amount of waste after work is minimal.

But they have screw type devices and a number of disadvantages:

• Juice from them is concentrated with a lot of pulp. In the case of using overripe or very soft fruits, the output will be mashed.
• This variety is not suitable for commercial use. The device will not be able to work for more than 30 minutes without damage to the mechanism.

It is worth choosing a screw juicer for the home, it is ideal for making juice for no more than one family, and thanks to the quiet work it will not disturb neighbors in the early morning.

Citrus Juicer

Citrus juice can be prepared using any type of device, but if you use it more often than others, it makes sense to buy a specialized citrus juice squeezer. With it, the process of making juice will be faster and easier.

The device is a ribbed cone, rotating due to the motor. On top of it, fruit is cut into halves and pressed by hand or by a special mechanism that a number of models are equipped with. Squeezed in this way the juice passes through the filter element and flows from the nozzle of the juicer - the flesh remains inside. Typically, such devices are equipped with a set of interchangeable cone-shaped nozzles for citrus fruits of different sizes.

Citrus juicers do not require a lot of power to work, it usually is 20-80 watts.This makes them economical and virtually silent. It is better to choose a model that has the function of alternating rotation. When rotating the nozzle alternately in both directions, you can get a maximum of juice from one fruit.

These are the main types of devices for obtaining juice. If you have decided on the type of appliance, then we will consider the criteria on the basis of which you need to make a choice of a specific model of juicer.

Juicer options to look for when buying

Power

Devices with high power it makes sense to buy only for commercial use or for winter harvesting. For domestic use with the aim of processing a small amount of products, high power indicators are not required. For a universal juicer, the optimal indicator is from 500 to 1000 watts, for a screw juicer 200-400 watts, and citrus fruits will have enough power up to 100 watts.

Speed

It is important that the device has several high-speed modes of operation, because soft products require slower rotation than solid products.

Smooth motor start

The parameter is especially relevant for centrifugal juicers. With a slow start of rotation, the juice will not be sprayed, and the device itself will last much longer.

Automatic cake cleaning

Devices with this function are more convenient to use and save time on cleaning the housing from waste.

Material of work parts

The separator in universal models must be made of stainless steel, because it is subjected to heavy loads due to the high speed. For screw and citrus fruits, plastic parts are also acceptable. The rotation speed there is small, plastic will be able to withstand such loads.

Drop-stop function

An optional but useful parameter. In such devices, after squeezing the juice, the spout can be turned up so that the last drops do not stain the table.

Diameter of loading neck

It is good if it is wide enough, and the fruits do not have to be finely chopped to fit in the juicer. The safe height of the loading neck is also important, so that a person could not reach through it with a finger to a grater or auger.

Body material

It can be plastic, metal or a combination of both. The material does not directly affect the operation of the device. Metal devices are more durable, but they are more noticeable dirt and fingerprints. A plastic case with careful use will last a long time, while the price for it is several times less than for a metal one.

Safe operation

This includes the function of automatically turning off the device when the motor overheats, as well as protection against switching on if the device is not assembled correctly.

Manufacturer

If you can not decide which juicer to choose based on the technical characteristics, then focus on the reliability of the manufacturer. Bosch, Philips, Bork, and Braun are most often rated in the best home juicer ratings.

Which is the best juicer for your family? To answer this question, determine the needs and taste preferences of each family member and pre-set the maximum amount that you are willing to spend on the purchase of the device. It is not always advisable to purchase expensive models with high power and great functionality for home use, so think carefully about all the details first so that you don’t regret the money spent in vain.