Masticating vs Centrifugal Juicers: What Are the Differences

There I was staring at the shelves asking myself what the heck is a masticating vs centrifugal juicer and which one do I need to meet my health goals?

If you are reading this, clearly you have the same question, so below I talk about what I learned during the research process. While my first investment was a hand press juicer, and I still use that often, I wanted something that could minimize the manual effort of making a drink.

Since I am creating so many more low sugar juices and vegan smoothies these days I wanted something to speed up the process!

I found that juicers can range from $20 to $500 and sometime more.

This left me wondering what in the world made such a difference. Should I opt for a cheaper juicer to save money? Or was the more expensive option a better long term choice?

The cost of a juicer was just the beginning, though.

As I dug more, I found out there are a handful of different types of juicers as well. Who would have known that there are multiple “right” ways to make homemade juice?

Not me.

So, I hope you find the article a bit helpful in choosing the right juicer for your needs. Whether you opt for a masticating or centrifugal juicer, I am just happy you are investing your health.

masticating vs centrifugal juicer

Choosing A Juicer

When it comes to juicers, you shouldn’t just go for the cheapest or most expensive. The cheaper models may not have all the functionality or durability you need. The more expensive models may have more features than you need.

This is why it is important to first understand what you need a juicer for. What kind of juice will you be making and how often will you be making it?

There are two common types of juicers out there, masticating and centrifugal. While they are similar in what they do, how they do it is a bit different.

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Below are the distinctions for you to understand before making a purchase.

What Is A Centrifugal Juicer?

Centrifugal juicers are the second most popular style of juicer, behind the masticating. In essence, a centrifugal juicer is a blender meant to make juice.

The centrifugal juicer uses a blade that rotates at high speed to slice and cut up whatever you want to make into juice. This process is effective and is relatively easy to manufacture, making centrifugal juicers a most cost-effective option.

What Is A Masticating Juicer?

Masticating juicers are popular with juice fanatics because of the method they use to produce juice. Similar to chewing (aka masticating!), these juicers grind up foods to extract juices.

Generally speaking, this yields a more nutrient-dense juice, which is appealing to a lot of people.

Masticating juicers are also called “slow” juicers because unlike centrifugal juicers; masticating juicers use a slow grind to product juice, rather than a quick chop.

Choosing Between Masticating and Centrifugal Juicers

When looking as masticating vs. centrifugal juicers, the main difference is how they process the juice. Masticating uses a slow grind, and centrifugal uses a quick chop. Masticating juicers are useful if you’re trying to get the most nutrients out of your food. Centrifugal juicers are helpful if you’re trying to get into juicing on a tight budget.

Ultimately, the choice is up to you. Do you value the cost-effective qualities of a centrifugal juicer or the high-quality yield of the masticating juicer?

If you’re in the market for a juicer, let us know what style of juicer you’re considering in the comments section below!