Juicer vs. Blender – Complete Guide

When most people see a cup full of green liquid, they don’t think twice as to whether it came from a juicer or a blender. In fact, when I first started on my own nutritional journey, I didn’t know the difference between the end product of a juicer, and that of a blender. These two machines are actually quite different and produce two very different products with two very different purposes. If you’re unclear about the difference between juicers and blenders, we are here to help.

Blending & Juicing Basics

Juicers and blenders are two very different beasts. If you’re struggling to figure out which one is best for your specific nutritional needs, the following basics of blenders and juicers can help.

What Makes a Blender a Blender?

As its name suggests, a blenders sole purpose in life is to mix/blend a variety of ingredients together. When you add greens, fruits, and vegetables into your blender and run it, the outcome is a liquidy version of precisely what you put into it.

When “juicing” with a blender, you maintain all of the fibers of the fruits and veggies. This makes for a thicker drink, which is often referred to as a smoothie. 

What Makes a Juicer a Juicer?

Also, as its name suggests, a juicer’s main job is to turn the ingredients you put into it into juice. This means that rather than a fibrous, thick smoothie you get from a blender, with a juicer to get a smooth, fiber-free, nutrient-dense product. The juice is generally easier to digest because it lacks the fibers that a blender leaves behind.

Related: How to choose a carrot juicer

Pros & Cons of Juicer vs. Blender

Before we dive too deep into the types of blenders and juicers available, lets first talk about the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Blender Pros & Cons

Pros:The benefits of blenders are reasonably obvious. Because they don’t extract the fiber from the ingredients, you get the fiber in your system. This can be great for moving along everything in your intestines and is essential for a regular poo schedule. Blenders are generally cheaper than juicers because they are less mechanically intricate devices.

Cons:If you’re looking for the most fruit and vegetable nutrients for your buck, a blender is the wrong choice. Since the product of a blender includes everything you put into it, the volume of liquid you have to consume to get essential nutrients is higher than that of a juicer. Blended fruits and vegetables are also harder to digest. Since the fiber isn’t removed as it is with a juicer, the smoothie you get from a blender is harder for your body to absorb.

Juicer Pros & Cons

Pros:Juicers are known for getting the most nutrient yield from its ingredients. If you’re looking for a small drink that is packed with fruit and vegetable vitamins, the juice produced by a juicer will be much more nutrient-dense than the smoothie alternative produced by a blender. Juice is also easier to digest than a smoothie and can be a great choice if you have existing digestive issues that may prevent you from getting all the nutrients you need in your regular diet.

Cons:Juicers are a more refined product; they only do one thing. Juice. Blenders are more versatile and can be used for more than just making a drink. Juicers are often more expensive than blenders because they are more mechanically complex.

Types of Blenders

There are a handful of different types of blenders on the market, and if you’re in the market to buy one, it is essential to know the key similarities and differences.

Jug Blender

This is probably what you think of when you think of a blender. It is a large jug that sits on a blade connected to a motor. You can fill it with a large number of fruits, vegetables, liquids, and ice. A jug blender is capable of yielding a large quantity of smoothie juice in one go and is great if you want to pre-make a smoothie, or are feeding multiple people.

Personal Blender (Nutribullet)

When you hear the word “personal blender,” what should come to mind is a single serving blender. The most popular brand of these types of blenders is by far the NutriBullet. These blenders work by filling a single serving cup with all the ingredients you want to blend, then attaching a lid that has metal blades which is then attached to a motor. Turn the cup upside down, blend, then add a drinking lid, and you’re ready to go.

Types of Juicers

There are many, many different types of juicers available, but we are going to cover the basics of the two that you’ll likely run across if you’re in the market to buy one.

Centrifugal Juicer

This type of juicer is the most popular because it is generally the least expensive. Centrifugal-type juicers work similarly to a blender, but rather than keep the fiber and juicer together, it separates it. Centrifugal juicers use blades to chop, crush, and otherwise mash up whatever you put into it, and allows the juice to drip down into a catching cup, while the pulp is left out. Due to the nature of how centrifugal style juicers work, the heat involved in chopping and grinding the ingredients leads to a loss of nutrients. These types of juicers are great if you’re just getting into juicing and are on a tight budget.

Masticating/Cold Press/Slow Juicer

All of these names refer to the same type of juicer. With a masticating style juicer, rather than spinning and chopping the ingredients, they are pressed. This process is much slower than that of a centrifugal juicer (hence the name slow juicer), but the juice that is produced has a much higher nutrient yield. Masticating juicers are often more expensive, larger, and generally best if you’re serious about juicing and have some experience already. If you’re just dipping your toe into juicing, a masticating juicer may be overkill.

Juicers vs. Blenders Summary

Juicers and blenders are very different products and will yield drastically different drinks. Before you go buy one, it’s important to know which one is better for you. In summary, juicers are more expensive, product a more nutritious drink and leave behind fibrous pulp. Blenders mix and mash everything you put in them, making a more fiber-rich drink that is lower in overall nutrient density. Which is right for you? Let us know if you think a blender or a juicer is a better choice for your life in the comments section below!