Centrifugal Juicers
How do they work and which is best?
Don’t know what centrifugal juicers are?
Confused by the different types of juicers and don’t know what to do?
New to juicing and just need some help?
Don’t stress! I’ve been there before and I’m fairly confident most people have. Centrifugal juicers can seem like complicated machines but in reality they are very simple.
If you’ve spent any time juicing, you probably used one of these already. They are the most common and are the type you’ll find in retail outlets. Centrifugal juicer brands that come to mind are Breville, Acme, Omega 4000 and Jack LaLanne.
The main purpose of centrifugal juicers is to juice as fast as possible. They do this by cutting and shredding fruits and vegetables at extremely high speeds (1000 – 30,000 rpm). I’ve found them to be super quick; I can usually make a juice in less than 5 minutes!
How do they work?
When you put produce into centrifugal juicers, it is immediately chopped up by a flat, cutting blade. While it is being chopped, it is simultaneously being spun at extremely high speeds. This “centrifugal force” is used to separate the juice from the pulp.
Juice passes through what’s known as the “strainer basket” and flows down to a container at the bottom. The pulp is usually removed by a “pulp ejector” which deposits it into its own container.
When there is no pulp ejector, you will need to empty the strainer basket fairly often as otherwise the pulp will lower your juicing efficiency.
I’ve also noticed that sometimes pulp can get jammed in models with pulp ejectors. When this happens, very little juice comes out as it is all absorbed by the pulp.
Pros
Acme Juicer 6001 Review
- Usually cheaper than other types.
- They are great for beginners and those who simply want to give juicing a go.
- You can find them in most retail outlets.
- Simple and remarkably easy to use.
- Cleanup is generally super easy, though it depends on the model.
- Of all juicers, they are definitely the fastest. The entire process can be done in less than 10 minutes once you get the hang of it!
Cons
- The extremely high speed of the blade tends to create heat. This, along with static electricity and large amounts of air, acts to destroy vital nutrients as oxidation happens. This means you miss out on some of the advantages of juicing.
- Models without a pulp ejector can be a pain to clean. It also makes continuous juicing impossible.
- Some people will hate cleaning the strainer (though I find it simple!)
- The high speed makes for a lot of noise; not something you want first thing in the morning.
- The centrifugal process isn’t 100% effective at removing juice from produce. Often, the pulp will be damp with juice that could have been in your glass.
- If you want to get picky, centrifugal juicers are not actually juice extractors, as the juice they make often contains shredded produce in it. This then creates the clever illusion of a higher juice extraction rate. But hey, it’s essential fiber so see it as a good thing.
- The cutting process is unable to extract absolutely all of the vitamins, minerals and nutrients inside produce.
- Some models make A LOT of foam.
- Leafy vegetables don’t work with these juicers.
Centrifugal Juicers – Reviews
What is the best centrifugal juicer? In reality, it depends what you’re looking for.
Acme Juicer 6001 ReviewThe first thing worth mentioning here is the simple fact that the Acme Juicer 6001 is built like an absolute tank. You could run this thing over with a truck and it would still be spitting out juice for you to drink…. read more >
Breville Juice FountainUsing this juicer is a blast (this one’s mine!). While not as sophisticated as a masticating juicer, it does the juicing job well. I make mine with one of these every morning – it’s the first thing I do… read more >
Breville Juice Fountain Elite Juicer ReviewThe most intriguing feature of the Breville Juice Fountain Elite Juicer is the monstrously large engine sitting inside it. It’s packing 1000 watts of grunt, which is enough to demolish all the fruits and vegetables you… read more >
Jack Lalanne Power JuicerThe Jack Lalanne Power Juicer is a great juicer for someone who is new to juicing. It’s cheap, easy to clean and usually makes good quality juice. You’ll have a blast as you make your own juice from all sorts of fruits and… read more >
