Juicer buying guide: How to find the best appliance for you
Learn what to look for when choosing a juicer for your kitchen.
If you're looking for an easy way to include more fruit and veggies in your diet, a juicer can help. There's a wide variety of products to choose from and an even broader price range – anywhere from $60 to $1,000 or more for commercial-scale models – so you'll need to compare different juicers and their features to find the one that's right for your needs.
Compare some of the best juicers
Data obtained December 2018. Prices are subject to change and should be used only as a general guide.
What is a juicer?
A juicer is a kitchen appliance designed to extract the liquid from fruits and vegetables. It separates the pulp from the liquid to create smooth and (hopefully) delicious-tasting juice.
Juicers shouldn't be confused with blenders, which process the whole fruit or vegetable and produce thicker drinks, such as smoothies. If you want to buy a blender, check out our guide to the best blenders.
Why buy a juicer?
There are several reasons why a juicer could be a handy addition to your kitchen:
While infomercials make some outlandish (and untrue) claims about the health benefits of fresh juice, a juicer can make it easier to squeeze more vitamins, minerals and nutrients into your body – and without any of the additives or sweeteners found in some store-bought juices.
Juicers can also be fun, allowing you to try new fruit and vegetable combinations to create delicious juices for different situations – a thirst-quenching beverage for summer, a post-gym cool-down juice or even a hangover cure for the morning after a big night.
Got a stray carrot or a couple of tomatoes left over from last night's dinner? Instead of throwing them out, include them in your next juice and take advantage of the nutritional benefits they offer.
When don't I need a juicer?
If you're tossing up whether to buy a juicer, the key factor to consider is how often you will use it. Waking up to a glass of fresh juice every day sounds inviting, but the novelty can quickly wear off.
Simply put, using a juicer isn't instant. It takes time and effort, so you need to be willing to put in plenty of hard work peeling, chopping and cleaning regularly if you're going to get your money's worth. If you're not committed to using a juicer several times a week, chances are you'll end up shoving it to the back of a cupboard and forgetting about it.
Juicers can be quite expensive appliances, so think twice before handing over a big pile of cash. They're also highly specialised pieces of equipment, so you might decide that the versatility of a blender or a food processor – some high-end food processors come with a juicer attachment – better suits your needs.
Centrifugal juicers. Centrifugal juicers (sometimes called juice extractors) work by feeding produce through a spinning blade and relying on centrifugal force to separate the juice from the pulp. They're quick and easy to use, producing juice in well under a minute.
Cold-press juicers. Also known as masticating or slow juicers, these models usually produce better-quality juice than centrifugal juicers and can extract more liquid from your fruit and vegetables. Cold-press juicers operate at much lower speeds than their counterparts and gently compress and crush fruit and vegetables to extract the juice within.
Pros
Cons
Centrifugal juicers
More affordable
Quick and easy to use
Often easier to clean
Noisier
Bulkier
Can produce frothy juice
Cold-press juicers
Juice stays fresh for longer
Better-quality juice
Quieter
More expensive
Slower juicing time of around 5 to 6 minutes
Produce usually needs to be chopped into smaller pieces to fit into the machine
How do I compare juicers?
Centrifugal juicers generally range from $60 up to $400, while cold-press models start at around $200 and can cost as much as $1,000.
Before buying a juicer, you'll need to consider the size of the appliance, how easy it is to use and clean, and how much it costs. Make sure you take the following factors into account:
While basic juicers have little more than an on/off switch, more advanced centrifugal models come with different speed settings to suit different foods. Cold-press models commonly have a reverse feature if you need to unclog your machine.
Check whether the controls are well laid out and simple to understand as well as if there's an LCD display for extra convenience. Also consider how easy the juicer is to put together before use and how easy it is to take apart for cleaning or storage.
Chute. The chute size determines whether you can insert whole pieces of fruit straight into the juicer or whether you'll have to take the time to cut them up into smaller segments.
Pulp container. Check the size of the pulp container. The larger it is, the less likely you are to have to stop the machine while juicing to empty it out.
Jug. Many models come with one or two juice jugs. A 1L jug should be enough to hold juice processed from 1kg of produce. If you choose a model that doesn't include a jug, make sure there's sufficient room under the spout to place your own container.
Attachments. Many juicers come with attachments to help you produce other homemade treats including smoothies, sorbets, purees and ice creams.
Juicers can be quite sizable appliances, so check the dimensions in the specs sheet to find out how much space each juicer will take up on your kitchen bench. Of course, you can store it in a cupboard if you want, in which case its size is still important, but keeping it in plain sight will encourage you to make full use of your juicer.
Models with in-built cord storage are also handy for reducing clutter on your benchtop. If you'll be keeping your juicer on your kitchen bench, make sure you're happy with the design and that its look matches your existing decor.
Check how easy it is to disassemble the juicer to clean its parts. Is it dishwasher-safe? Are there any cracks and crevices where food waste could accumulate? Some juicers come with their own brushes for cleaning those hard-to-reach areas.
As a general rule, cold-press juicers come with multiple parts that you can't place in the dishwasher. However, some models do feature self-cleaning systems to help take the hassle out of the process.
Check that there's no risk of fingers coming into contact with any blades, especially if kids are around.
Read the fine print to find out the length of the manufacturer's warranty and what it covers. For example, while some models come with a blanket three-year warranty, others will come with a one-year replacement warranty and a five-year warranty on the motor.
Which juicer is best for me?
The best juicer for you will depend on the types of juice you want to produce, how often you plan on using your machine and your budget.
In order to find an appliance that meets all your needs, you'll need to shop around and compare a variety of options. As a guide on how to do this, we've compared the pros and cons of five popular juicers in the table below:
The good
The bad
Cuisinart CJE-1000
Powerful
Reasonable yield with little froth
Some chopping required
Difficult to clean
Breville Juice Fountain Plus JE98XL
Plenty of positive user reviews
Quick and easy to use
Only a one-year warranty
Hard to clean
Hamilton Beach Big Mouth 67601
Easy to use
Big chute
A little difficult to clean
Can produce excess froth
Hurom H26 Alpha
Performs well with soft and hard fruit
Impressive yield
Pricey
Narrow chute
Kuvings Chef CS600
Heavy-duty performance
Dual-feed chute
Easy to clean
Costs a lot of money
More than most home users need
While juicers won't find a home in every kitchen, they can be a very handy appliance for the right owner.
A writer with a passion for the written word, Tim loves helping Australians compare and find the right products. When he's not chained to a computer, Tim can usually be found exploring the great outdoors.
In the market for a food processor, or just curious if a product is right for you? Consult this guide for the best food processors on the market – for every budget and cooking ability.
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