The trends we hear, read and see in recent times are often relating to shrinking waistlines, shedding weight, diet-control, or gym-freaks, etc. All of these fitness fundamentals have a vital thing in common, i.e. intake of fluids. Over the decade, renowned chefs, dieticians, fitness gurus’ have all come up with innovative and lip-smacking recipes of concoctions, juices, drinks, and milkshakes, etc. to aid the process of fitness. Well, agreed! These juices are necessary and you are ready to have them regularly but how do you make them? Yes, a juicer is the answer but the kind of juicer you need and choosing the best one for that perfect glass of rejuvenation and energy is another question.
| Masticating | Centrifugal |
|
Masticating Juicer (MJ) or Centrifugal Juicer (CJ) – This one or that one???
- Taste Test: First things first, it is the taste of your juice which shall shape your decision over buying any juicer.
- MJ: Masticating juicer squeezes out all the juice from a fruit/vegetable and leaves the pulp parched – dry, thus, tasting the juice in its purest form.
- It also keeps the bitter seeds away from the juice. (You don’t want those bitter seeds in your orange juice or lemon sorbet!
- Also, the slow process of masticating doesn’t affect the temperature of the food being juiced.
- CJ: Centrifugal juicer increases the temperature and the process of juicing is based on friction which is a big no-no for making that perfect glass of juice.
- The centrifugal juicer may expose the juice to oxidation and that affects the taste of the whole concoction, which might incline you towards a masticating juicer.
- Quantity check: As the masticating juicer slowly churns out each drop of the fruit/vegetable, it ensures you get the best out of every ounce of the juice ingredient. It is also a fact that masticating juicer produces 20% more juice out of the same ingredient than off a centrifugal juicer.
- The Heat Factor: The fast press/squeeze of the centrifugal juicer produces heat while juicing and that degrades nutrition due to breaking down of crucial enzymes as the temperature caused due to spin is at the “killing temperature” for the enzymes.
- The test of times will tell: The functioning of a masticating juicer is made to minimize the stress caused to its hardware and thus it is easier to maintain; the lifespan is quite high as well. The cost of masticating juicers may be high, but they are designed to last at least for the next 2-3 decades. Centrifugal juicers have a lower lifespan for obvious reasons but choosing the high-end designs and maintaining it well won’t have you disappointed soon enough.
- The Cost Factor: Masticating juicers are quite pricy, starting from a range of £70 and hitting the £300 mark, while, a centrifugal juicer will cost you between £15-20 and £150.
- Juicing Leafy Greens: Masticating juicers can evidently juice leafy greens very well. This includes wheatgrass, kale, spinach, chard etc. Centrifugal juicers on the other hand are clearly not designed to juice leafy greens and you will not obtain any juice from leafy greens by using a centrifugal juicer. If you intend on juicing a lot of leafy greens, then a centrifugal juicer is a complete no no.
The big question of choosing the right juicer for yourself ends with the cost factor involved and the application you need it for. If you are a gym/fitness freak and you require juicing for yourself regularly or if you have 5-6 glasses of juice to make in the morning for your young ones, family, etc. then a masticating juicer will be the best investment for you.
Or, if you don’t want to spend that extra investment and only want to juice fruits and vegetables (not leafy greens) as well as not being too concerned about the quality of your juice then go for that centrifugal juicer.
In conclusion, buy a suitable juicer for yourself and your needs and keep juicing!