Juicer Buying Guide

Getting started

Citrus juicers and juice extractors are especially appealing if you like the idea of making your own juice from fresh fruits and vegetables. Use this juice maker guide to select one, whether for a glass of fresh-squeezed juice in the morning or a more robust mixture later in the day.

The nutritional benefits of eating fruits and vegetables are undeniable, but what about drinking them instead? Infomercials have made it easy to buy into myriad claims of easing muscle aches, alleviating high blood pressure, and even (in those pre-Viagra days) increasing sexual potency. The evidence says otherwise, because juice cannot be any better than the produce from which it's made. It can even be less nutritious because it lacks most of the fiber of fresh produce.

Still, you might like the taste of fresh juice or find juice more palatable than a plate of produce. Here's a primer on what to look for in choosing a citrus juicer, juice extractor, or an appliance that combines both functions. Whichever you buy, be prepared to buy lots of fresh produce--depending on your fruit or vegetables of choice. Some extractors get more out of produce than others, and the proportion of pulp to juice varies from fruit to fruit. And with extractors in particular, be prepared to clean pulp out of every nook and cranny after each use.

Types

The type of juice maker you choose depends on the type of juice you like to drink. If you plan to make only citrus juice, then a juicer is a fine choice. But if you plan to make your own carrot or vegetable juice, then an extractor is the better choice. Here are the types of juice makers to consider.

Citrus juicers

With a citrus juicer, you press cut halves of fruit onto a motorized reamer that extracts the juice. A trough around the reamer, depending on the model, may strain the juice as it flows into a container. Compared with a juice extractor, juicers we've tested have been a breeze to clean. They have fewer parts and don't accumulate pulp in hard-to-clean corners and crevices. For this reason, we recommend them over extractors for anyone who just wants a glass of fresh-squeezed juice with breakfast.

Juice extractors

Juice extractors use a rapidly whirling disk to cut fruit or vegetables into tiny pieces that are then spun to separate juice from pulp. Once separated from the pulp, the juice flows through a strainer and into a container. Whatever you put in still needs to be cleaned and prepared first. Fruits with waxed or hard peels, for example, need to be peeled--with any large pits removed. Vegetables must be cleaned and, in some cases, scrubbed with a brush. And some extractors, especially those that require full dismantling, can be a bother to clean.

Features

Look for juice-maker features that make the machines easier to use, store and clean. Also make sure that the juicer accommodates the type of fruit or vegetable you wish to use without a lot of prep work. Here are the juicemaker features to consider.

Clear juice container

With a see-through container, you can easily see the juice level. Better, though not universal among units we've tested, are visible markings in fluid ounces and milliliters.

Cord storage

Even models with long cords typically have some way to hide the cord when you're not using the unit.

Dishwasher safe

Removable parts, which must be washed after each use, can be placed on the top rack of the dishwasher.

Dust cover

Protects the opening of the chute where you insert produce for juicing.

Large chute

Accommodates larger pieces of produce to cut down prep time.

Long cord

Cords up to four feet or longer allow more flexibility in where you can place the unit.

Pulp regulator

This allows for some variation of juice pulpiness, though fully pulp free is not necessarily an option.

Brands

There are some familiar players in the juice-maker market, including one brand, Cuisinart, that offers a juicer as an accessory to its other products. Use these profiles to compare juice makers by brand.

Black & Decker

This major brand offers a range of citrus juicers and juice extractors in various capacities, touting one-handed operation and easy cleaning. Black & Decker juice products are available through online retailers, Walmart, Target, Kmart, and other sellers.

Cuisinart

This mid-range-to-premium brand currently offers mostly juicer accessories to products such as stand mixers and food processors. Cuisinart is widely available in department, specialty, and appliance stores, and through online retailers.

Hamilton Beach

This brand offers a selection of low-priced juice extractors in the HealthSmart and Big Mouth lines. The latter can fit some whole foods, such as small apples, without preslicing. Products made by Hamilton Beach, along with those of its sister brand Proctor Silex, are available through department stores, appliances stores, and big-box retailers.

Jack LaLanne

Born in the early days of World War I, Jack LaLanne is a fitness expert whose health and fitness show enjoyed a 34-year run. His Power Juicer, sold in several models, is available today via phone order, over the Internet, and at mass-market retailers such as Walmart, Kmart, and Target.

Juiceman

Now endorsed by the tennis legend Martina Navratilova, the Juiceman line of juice extractors began in the ‘90s with feature-length TV commercials by the pitchman Jay "The Juiceman" Kordich. Available in several models, they’re sold at mass-market retailers such as Walmart, Sears, and Kmart.

Oster

A subsidiary of Jarden Consumer Solutions, which also owns Sunbeam, Oster offers a handful of citrus juicers and juice extractors. You can find the brand online and at mass-market retailers such as Walmart, Sears, and Kmart.