Using cold press juicers to create a healthy blend of your favorite fruits and veggies is more popular than ever. Currently, centrifugal is the most commonly used juicer, but masticating juicers are also a popular option and are often available at a higher price. But what is masticating juicer? Does it offer a higher juice yield compared to centrifugal juicers? Let’s find out.
What is masticating juicer? A masticating juicer uses a large auger to crush the fruits and veggies in order to extract the juice. This method allows the enzymes found in the fruits and veggies to remain intact. With centrifugal juicers, which use a fast spinning blade, heat is generated from the blade which kills the enzymes in the juice. Since no heat is generated during the masticating juicer juicing process, the enzymes will remain intact, resulting in nutrient loaded juice.
As you can see, masticating juicers can prevent the loss of important enzymes during the juicing process, which is just one of the many reasons fitness enthusiasts opt for this style of juicer over centrifugal models.
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Masticating Juicer Design
The masticating juicer, also known as a slow juicer, contains an auger, which crushes the veggies and fruit once they have passed through a chute. Next, the juice and pulp are then separated. The juice then runs through a fine mesh screen as the pulp is pushed into a large container. Compared to the centrifugal juicing process, the masticating juicing process really is significantly slower. Additionally, these juicers also require more prep time, since the veggies and fruit must be chopped up small enough to fit through the chute.
A Tougher Juicing Alternative
While slow, these juicers do have some benefits that a centrifugal juicer does not. Masticating juicers tend to work well on very soft materials such as leafy greens, and harder materials such as apples. The juice yield is also very high and contains little to no foam. It also keeps better in the fridge and does not froth up or separate if left covered for a few days. Since the veggie and fruit matter is slowly squeezed, no friction is created. With this lack of friction is a lack of heat. Without heat, the antioxidants and enzymes in the fruits and veggies remain intact.
The Multifunctional Juicer
These multifunctional juicers can also act as grinders and food processors. Because of this, they tend to come with more parts compared to other types of juicers. Obviously, the juicer’s slower speed is a big drawback for some, but this type of juicer also comes with plenty of benefits.
Yield
First, is the higher juice yield. This is due to juicer’s design, combined with a lack of sharp blades and fast-moving parts. If you’re looking for the type of juicer that can maximize the output, then a masticating juicer is a perfect choice.
Low Maintenance
Taking apart a masticating juicer is fast and simple because they’re not screwed together like a basic electronic juicer. This simple design allows you to easily disassemble the juicer and thoroughly clean it.
A More Durable Design
Masticating juicers tend to last for more than eight to ten years, unlike electronic juicers which have an average lifespan of five to six years. This is also due to the fewer moving parts.
But what are the downsides of owning this type of juicer?
First, these juicers are definitely pricier than centrifugal juicers. Of course, considering they can easily last twenty years or more with proper care, the higher initial cost is often worth it.
Next, cleaning masticating juicers can be difficult. On average. It can take approximately fifteen minutes or more to clean a masticating juicer after use. The various parts including the chimney, blades, and rotary must be cleaned after each use. Fortunately, in most cases, disassembly isn’t very difficult and each juicer will usually come with a special cleaning brush that’s designed to reach those hard to access spaces.
Since they weigh much more than other appliances such as a coffee maker or blender, finding a permanent home on your counter for these larger juices can be a challenge. Most masticating juicers will weigh around twenty pounds or more, so moving the juicer from the counter to its designated storage space can also be difficult.
Benefits of Masticating Juicers Machine
Not only can this type of juicer produce a higher juice yield, but it’s also known for its ability to extract more nutrients from fruits and veggies, compared to centrifugal models. Because of this, the cost of Hurom HU100 Masticating Slow Juicer delivers the best bang for your buck, especially if you’re on a tight budget and want to cut down on the number of fruits and veggies that are wasted during the juicing process.
Nutrient Loaded Fruit Juice
Most people who decide to give juicing a shot often do so with the idea that they’ll use fresh veggies such as red chard, broccoli, spinach, or kale. These leafy green veggies are popular choices for their high antioxidant and nutrient loads, but not every type of juicer can extract juice from these veggies. As we mentioned earlier, a masticating juicer will use a slow juicing process with the use of a single auger. As the veggies move along, the auger will grind them down, turning them into pulp. Next, as the veggies progress down toward the end of the cap, pressure is built up. At this point, the veggies are squeezed in order to extract the juice. When the pulp leaves the juice, it’s very dry.
Many fitness enthusiasts know that leafy green veggies are often the best choice if you’re looking for nutrient dense options. Because of this, most people who are new to juicing often opt for a combination of these leafy greens, with a little fruit added to minimize the bitterness of the kale and chard. However, centrifugal machines often struggle to juice these types of veggies and often get jammed up when dealing with the thick, slippery leaves. But not the masticating juicer. If you’re interested in learning how to make green juice, then a masticating juicer is the only way to go. Click here to read our buyer’s guide to learn more.
Quality of Machine Where it Matters
Since the masticating juicer extraction process results in a reduced risk of oxidation, this means your juice will have a much longer fridge life compared to the fridge life of juice that was extracted from a centrifugal juicer. So, not only does this juicer help the juice to retain many of its important vitamins and nutrients while producing a higher juice yield, but it also prevents your fresh squeezed juice from spoiling, a day or two after the extraction process. This is just one of many cold press juicer advantages.
Related Questions
Is the Masticating Juicer the Same Thing as a Cold Press Juicer?
Yes. Slow juicing and cold press juicing both refer to the same juicing method. Traditionally, when juicing, a juicer will use a spinning blade to separate and crush pulp and juice. The fastmoving blade works up against the mesh filter, generating heat. This heat can destroy essential enzymes, which can cause the juice to lose many important nutrients. With cold press juicing, the process is much slower. It doesn’t involve a fast spinning blade. Instead, an auger slowly crushes the veggies and fruit to extract the juice, which keeps the enzymes intact. This is why many juicing enthusiasts believe that masticating juicers are a much healthier option.
Can Juicing Help You Lose Fat?
Yes. There are many different types of juicing diets to choose from. A juice fast is the most common. This juicing diet involves replacing food with freshly juiced fruits and veggies. By abstaining from solid food and replacing two meals a day with sixteen ounces of juice, this type of juicing diet can help you drop weight fast. In general, these juicing diets are very low in calories. In order to lose weight, you must create a calorie deficit, which basically means you must burn more calories than you consume. By drinking fresh squeezed fruit and veggie juice, you can easily abstain from processed foods, and other high-fat food options and lose two to four pounds per week.
Can Long-Term Juicing Be Bad for Your Health?
Yes. Generally, juicing is very healthy. Even juice fasts can be great from time to time, but only if you do them for two to three days at a time. However, there are some risks associated with juice fasts if you’re replacing several meals a week with juice. First, whole fruits and veggies are an excellent source of fiber, however, most fiber is removed during the juicing process. Since fiber is such an essential part of a healthy diet, eating an adequate amount is important for optimal digestion since it helps to prevent constipation and will keep beneficial bacteria in your gut. Nutrient deficiencies are another risk. Since juicing diets lack any animal products, they’re low in certain nutrients such as zinc, vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin D. The lack of these nutrients can lead to anemia and osteoporosis.
Final Thoughts on Juicing Machine
So, what is masticating juicer? It’s a cold press juicing process in which an auger is used in place of a fast spinning blade. The auger crushes the fruits and veggies, slowly extracting the juice. The lack of heat generated by the blade allows the enzymes in the fruits and veggies to remain intact, instead of being destroyed by the heat generated by the fast spinning blades found in centrifugal juicers. Because of this, many juicing enthusiasts believe that masticating juicers are a much healthier option.