Being able to make your own fresh fruit (or vegetable) juice is an absolute dream for many people. The benefits of fruit and vegetables for the body are well proven! And it’s a very simple and fun way to eat them. Rich in energy and taste, perfectly preserving all the nutritional qualities of food while avoiding cooking, the drinks made with the cold pressure of a juice extractor will give you everything you need to be in shape all year round!
Because yes, you are surely not fooled, industrial fruit juices are far from being perfectly healthy for our health. These fruit juices often contain more sugar than sodas and, in addition, are poor in vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants. Worse, they could considerably increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular accidents.
So the alternative of making your own fresh juice, by choosing quality products, is undoubtedly the best solution. And what better way to do this than with a juice extractor! It is a very practical device that has a chute through which the fruit and vegetables are inserted. They then come into contact with a pressing screw driven by the motor, which will slowly push and press the food towards a filter that will separate the juice from the fibres. The juice then exits through a first outlet, while another outlet receives the vegetable fiber waste.
But choosing a juicer is far from being an easy thing: there are tons of references that flood the market. As a pastry chef, and a home chef, I had the opportunity to test a lot of these appliances. And I’ve also had the chance to meet a lot of people who have this type of appliance at home. But also because one of my close friends is a sports coach, and he knows on the fingertips all the specificities of each extractor.So the alternative of making your own fresh juice, by choosing quality products, is undoubtedly the best solution.
And what better way to do this than with a juice extractor! It is a very practical device that has a chute through which the fruit and vegetables are inserted. They then come into contact with a pressing screw driven by the motor, which will slowly push and press the food towards a filter that will separate the juice from the fibres. The juice then exits through a first outlet, while another outlet receives the vegetable fiber waste.
So, over the years, I have been able to form a real opinion on the subject! That’s why I decided to write this comparative article, in order to share all this experience with you! I would like to point out that this article is not sponsored by any brand or company and that it is my most impartial opinion!
What are the best juicers in 2022?
Here is our review of the best references available on the market today:
The BioChef Atlas is a vertical juicer, delivering a total power of 150 watts. It has a very good quality of extraction thanks to its very slow rotation speed, around 60 turns per minute. It is also equipped with an enzyme protection system, to preserve all the nutritional qualities of your fruits and vegetables. You can also make two different consistencies of juice because it comes with 2 sieves. One is rather fine and will allow you to obtain perfectly fluid juices while the other, with larger holes, will offer slightly thicker juices.
In use, it is quite quiet and does not take up too much space except on the vertical. Cleaning is quite easy as it has an automatic cleaning feature.
But what surprised me the most was to learn that the motor was guaranteed for life! Rare are the manufacturers to take the risk to propose such a guarantee on the extractors, it is thus a very appreciable plus. The rest of the extractor is guaranteed for 5 years anyway.
Omega is a brand that is very present on the rather small market of juicers. And it’s not for nothing because it offers very good appliances. And it is notably the case with this Omega 8226!
What’s surprising is the quality of the workmanship and finish. The device really inspires an impression of robustness. And the chrome side of the extractor gives it a very successful look.
But it is also a very powerful model. It has a power of 150 watts, delivering a speed of 80 revolutions per minute. The quality of extraction is very good, as is the efficiency thanks to the two-phase extraction. And there is no lack of accessories as it comes with 2 jugs, 2 sieves, 6 specialised nozzles, 1 piston, 1 cleaning brush and 1 housing.
It is a horizontal model, which makes it quite versatile, at the expense of the space requirement which is a little more noticeable on this type of device.
How to choose the best juicer?
- The type of device
But before I introduce you to my favorite models, here are a few categories of important criteria to check before making your purchase:
There are mainly 3 types of juicers on the market:
The vertical juicer: This is a vertical electric appliance that has the particularity of being less bulky because of its shape. In addition, some models can accommodate up to two juicing screws, which allows it to obtain a better yield when juicing. However, most vertical juicers are limited to juicing only, except for a few models that offer the possibility to make vegetable milks.
The horizontal juicer : The horizontal electric juicer differs from the vertical juicer mainly because of its slightly more cumbersome shape (horizontal) and its versatility. Indeed, beyond juices, the horizontal juicer allows a greater variety of preparations such as the realization of purees, sorbets, vegetable milks, fresh pastes, compotes or even oilseed purees. Because it has only one pressing screw, it is also easier to maintain.
The manual juicer : This is the least common model on the market. The manual juicer works without electricity, as its name indicates. The juicing screws turn at a speed proportional to the arm that drives them. This type of juicer is rather light, compact and easy to carry. Moreover, the manual juice extractor allows, because of its very slow pressing, to obtain juices of an excellent nutritional quality. The fact that it doesn’t require electricity makes it cheap to use and very mobile. But also much less convenient unfortunately. The extraction rate is much lower than that of an extractor driven by an electric motor. The extractors are fixed either with a suction cup or with a vice.
- The power
This is often a very important criterion when buying a household appliance and it is also the case for juicers. Indeed, the more powerful your appliance will be, the more efficient and faster the extraction will be. I advise you to choose a model with a minimum power of 150 watts.
- The speed of rotation
This is also an important point to check. The rotation speed defined in revolutions per minute is the number of revolutions that the auger(s) of a juicer makes in one minute.
It is the motor that drives the screw that is set to a specific speed. Most juicers have only one speed and it cannot be adjusted. Some models have a “reverse” speed so you can clear the screw if it gets clogged.
Most juicers have a speed between 20 and 110 revolutions per minute. These speeds are called “slow speed” and refer to the “slow juicer”. This low speed makes it possible to grind the food without heating it between the screw and the sieve. Indeed, in a centrifuge that rotates beyond 1000 revolutions per minute, the juice is slightly heated (due to the speed) which destroys many nutrients. This is why it is better to buy a juicer than a centrifuge, at least if you want to preserve the nutritional quality and vitamins of your fruit and vegetables. A rotation speed higher than 120 rpm could lead to the production of foam, the jamming of the device, and especially a production of heat which would denature the juices.
The ideal is therefore to buy a device with a rotation speed between 40 and 100 revolutions per minute. This is the best compromise between efficiency and extraction quality.
- Number of screws and materials
As we have seen above, having two pressing screws will allow for a better extraction yield. Now one screw will be enough. If this screw is made of plastic, make sure that it is guaranteed free of Bisphenol A. This is a controversial substance that is unfortunately often found in plastic accessories.
- The design
So you might as well have an appliance that is pleasing to the eye. You will take much more pleasure in using it and you will have no worries about letting it sit in the middle of your kitchen without distorting it. You can also find nowadays very aesthetic and modern juicers.
- Dimensions and weight
One thing is certain, vertical juicers are less bulky than horizontal models. But the latter are sometimes more practical and often more versatile than the vertical ones. In any case, be sure to take into account the dimensions of your future appliance to give it a place in your kitchen. As for the weight, this may be important if you decide to place the appliance on a shelf.
- Le prix
A good electric juicer costs between $250 and $1000 on average. The price can vary considerably depending on the model. However, I noticed that prices were generally much lower on the Internet than in stores. Especially during certain periods of the year such as spring/summer, back to school or the end of year holidays when prices are inflated for no apparent reason. In addition, online stores such as Amazon regularly offer unbeatable discounts on this type of machine.
In any case, avoid first price devices. If at first, the purchase could be interesting, you could quickly regret because of the life span of these devices. A quality extractor costs a certain amount of money, but ensures that your investment will be profitable in the medium to long term.
