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The top picks in 2020

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5 years ago

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Centrifugal juicers might work instantaneously, but cold-pressed juice has triple the shelf life.

By Team Commerce

Raw. Organic. Superfood. Buzzwords that would have been roasted in an early 2000s episode of Sex and the City have turned into the pillars of modern wellness. The green juice trend is one that has really taken off, and drinks made with nothing but fruits and veggies can be a really good thing — when done right.

For people who don’t buy fresh produce regularly (or who simply don’t want a salad for every damn meal), juicing is a way to keep up with vitamin intake in a few swigs. Consistent supplement takers might switch their loyalty to raw juice after finding out that their vitamin C capsules probably aren’t doing much. Though juiced fruits and veggies are not a meal replacement and can’t take the place of eating a regular old carrot, they’re still a healthy, refreshing drink with less sugar than a smoothie or orange juice from the carton.

Grabbing a spinach-apple-whatever from Pret might save time in the morning, but green juice ain’t so green when it comes in a single-use plastic cup with a plastic lid and straw, which is the norm over the few places that use glass. The habit doesn’t make for responsible spending, either.

If you’re going to drink juiced fruits and veggies, we ask one thing: Skip the daily juice bar grind and buy yourself a cold-press juicer. Even an expensive model would pay for itself in a few months of skipping the bar.

Is cold-pressed juice better for you than juice from a centrifugal juicer?

Both types of machines allow you to control the ingredients in your juice, which is a step in the right direction. But the meticulous juicing process performed by a cold-press juicer is probably the better choice for anyone on a hardcore quest to keep up with daily nutrient values. Cold-press juicers (also referred to as slow juicers or masticating juicers) use an auger that chews up and wrings out produce, releasing juice from one spout and pushing pulp out another. This slow and steady extraction process typically derives cleaner, better-tasting juice.

Spinning centrifugal juicers can fill a glass in seconds rather than five minutes, but that spinning creates heat that potentially destroys water-soluble vitamins along the way. You know, kind of defeating the whole purpose of juicing in the first place. A few food scientists argue that there’s not enough evidence to assert that centrifugal-made juice has less nutrients, and no one is saying that centrifugal-made juice isn’t healthy at all. 

Of course, juice of most kinds is loaded with sugar and the best way to ingest your vitamins is alongside some insoluble fiber, but if juicing is your thing, a cold-press juicer is where it’s at.

How long does cold-pressed juice last?

One difference that’s hard to ignore is how fast a centrifugal juicer’s juice loses its natural colour. The heat produced by the spinning breaks down enzymes and speeds up oxidation, lightening the colour and giving it a not-so-fresh taste. Many people who use a centrifugal juicer are planning on drinking that juice within the hour, as separation of the ingredients due to oxidation can happen in as little as 20 minutes.

Cold-pressed juice doesn’t oxidise nearly as quickly and has a shelf life of up to three days, which makes much more sense for a serious juice drinker who would like to do some meal prepping.

Which is the best cold-press juicer?

There are plenty of juicers to consider from a number of big brands. This is good news, but it does make picking just one device quite tricky. We’ve tried to make the process a little easier by lining up a selection of some of the best cold-press juicers for every budget. There should be something for everyone on this list, even you.

These are the best cold-press juicers on the market in 2020.


Can also make butter, pasta, and frozen desserts • Automatic pulp ejection • All parts are dishwasher-safe

Small chute can only take diced/chopped produce • Takes up more room than a vertical juicer

Omega’s most capable juicer makes up for the awkward size with a high yield and versatile attachments.

Omega J8006

Choosing between a juicer and a blender? This Omega can make anything from wheatgrass juice to ice cream.

  • Power:
    200-watt motor
  • Slowest speed:
    80 RPM
Any veteran foodie would have every kitchen appliance if they could, but in homes with limited storage, you may find yourself weighing how much usage you’d get out of a juicer versus a blender versus a food processor. 
The Omega Slow Juice Extractor is not only one of the best masticating juicers you can get, but it’s also a complete nutrition centre. Included attachments can whip soy butter, extrude pasta, mince garlic, grind coffee, or make thick frozen desserts like ice cream. If you prefer juicing over making smoothies, you may consider this powerhouse over a high-end blender.
That versatility also applies to the ingredients that it can juice. High-speed juicers (and even a few cheap slow juicers) will get caught up on high-fiber foods. Wheat grass is one of the most challenging, but the Omega J8006 manages to do so and proves it via super dry pulp. 

Self-cleaning feature • Antibacterial stainless steel body • Can make ice cream • Motor is extremely quiet • Slowest RPM

Super expensive • Really aimed at professionals

The most expensive juicer on the list also features the slowest RPM, quietest motor, and coolest tech features.

Hurom HW

An impressive product dedicated to professional activities.

  • Power:
    150-watt motor
  • Slowest speed:
    17 RPM
Frequent juicing probably means that your juicer will have a permanent spot on your counter. Hurom is known for its luxe metallic juicers, and the Hurom HW features the company’s latest slow juicing technology.
The prettiest juicer in the bunch also features the slowest speed. At just 17 RPM, this juice-optimising technology mimics the motion of squeezing produce by hand to ensure juices have unsurpassed quality and taste. Included is a BPA free squeezing bowl, a narrow hole filter, a filter with wide holes, a jug for the juice, a jug for the pulp, and a cleaning brush.
It’s probably no surprise that this high-end juicer is also the most expensive on the list, but at least it can make ice cream, too. This is a product that’s dedicated to professional activities, and guarantees continuous work of over 8 hours. 

Dual chutes for whole and chopped fruits and veggies • Reverse button is great at unclogging • High juice yield with long shelf life

Parts aren’t dishwasher-safe • Hard to open after juicing • Louder motor than competitors

Minimize prep time with Sage’s dual chute juicer, which can take leafy greens and whole fruits at the same time.

Sage Big Squeeze

Breville’s cold press provides a high yield of gloriously clean juice.

  • Power:
    280-watt motor
  • Slowest speed:
    80 RPM
Sage’s arsenal of centrifugal juicers is one of the best on the market, but for a company trusted by so many juicing aficionados, it was odd that a slow juicer — which are typically seen as more professional — was basically MIA until 2018 (the brand’s first slow juicer was discontinued).
The Sage Big Squeeze closed that gap and is a great option for anyone who wants to make the switch to a less-damaging cold press while keeping the extra wide chute that most high-speed juicers have.
Compared to the measly 1.5-inch chute of the Omega Juice Extractor, the Big Squeeze’s dual chutes can chop a lot of time off of your prep. The 3-inch one can swallow whole tomatoes and pears. The 80 RPM process manages to squeeze every last bit of juice out of greens and tough-fibered veggies like carrots, and it’s especially good for celery juice. You’ll still have to cut those stalks to avoid pieces getting stuck, but the handy reverse button efficiently clears the pipes almost every time.
This beloved juicer sees one glaring negative comment: It can be tough to open after juicing. The locking issue seems to be a pretty commonly-experienced thing, but most reviewers are able to look past it due to how thorough the actual juicing process is. What’s a little extra elbow grease when your juice has 72 hours of shelf life? 

Duoblade auger does more work in less revolutions • Juice cap to pre-rinse before cleaning • Mincing attachment can make salsa, butter, and more

Steep learning curve • Model hasn’t been updated in a few years

Make perfect cold-pressed juice when you want it, switch to the mincing attachment, or easily store it in the corner.

Tribest SlowStar

Make perfect cold-pressed juice, switch to the mincing attachment, or easily store away.

  • Power:
    200-watt motor
  • Slowest speed:
    47 RPM
The most obvious case for choosing a vertical masticating juicer over a horizontal one (like the beast that is Omega’s nutrition centre) is the fact that they’re more practical for cramped counter space. The Tribest Slowstar combines space-saving potential with the ultra-slow rotations of a slow juicer and the extra speed of a double-edged auger.
As the body of a vertical juicer is literally turned sideways, that auger is typically three or four times larger. The Tribest’s Duoblade auger can process more ingredients in less revolutions, increasing juice yield while decreasing time and production of foam. According to the listing, it produces two to four times the crushing force of other masticating juicers. This exceptionally high torque, in tandem with the three-stage gear reduction, also helps to prevent jamming.
The included mincing attachment expands your options tenfold, turning your compact juicer into a sorbet, nut butter, paté, and sauce maker.
Unlike constantly-evolving models from Breville and Hurom, the Slowstar has been on the market for quite a number of years without change, which is a concern.

Quieter than most • Squeezes leafy greens relatively well • Very easy to clean

Might have issues with overripe tropical fruits • Auger gets backed up

It’s not a mincer or an ice cream maker, but this inexpensive juicer handles greens and hard fruits well.

Aicok Slow Juicer

Juicing newbies will like how this budget device handles the basics.

  • Power:
    150-watt motor
  • Slowest speed:
    80 RPM
Getting into juicing can be intimidating if you’ve never been big on vegetables or fancy kitchen appliances. Learning the ropes of slow juicers — like how different RPM speeds handle different produce textures — doesn’t require spending hundreds on a high-end juicer. 
Aicok is a budget-friendly Amazon favourite that teaches the basics without a steep learning curve. Though it’s half the price of a Sage, some Amazon reviews say it’s better than their previous, more expensive juicer. The Aicok takes on the same clunky horizontal design that the Omega does and runs at the same 80 RPM, but might actually be quieter thanks to the 150 watt motor versus Omega’s 200 watt one. Just don’t expect it to make ice cream or nut butter.
Skepticism about a cheap juicer’s ability to handle leafy greens like kale and red cabbage or firm vegetables like carrots or beets is inevitable. However, this Aicok’s seven segment spiral seems to do a decent job of thoroughly squeezing produce that needs more attention instead of shoving it through with big chunks still left. It handles apples surprisingly well and doesn’t really require celery to be chopped beforehand. In less than five minutes, it can produce a full glass without heavy foam.  

Parts are easy to clean and take apart • You get to control the speed • Technically for leafy greens but shreds carrots and fruit • Less than half the price of other slow juicers

Even slower than motorised slow juicers • Juicing multiple batches is physically tiring

This hand-crank juicer is one of the best ways to turn leafy greens like kale, spinach, and wheatgrass into nutritious juice.

Original Healthy Juicer

Probably the best option for anyone interested in the kale, celery, or wheatgrass game.

  • Power:
    Manual
  • Slowest speed:
    N/A
Squeezing leafy greens takes a special amount of care. If you want it done right, the Lexen GP27 lets you manually grind your wheatgrass or kale while controlling the speed.
There’s no reason to pay hundreds for a whole masticating juicer if you’re set on a specific category of green juice. The manual crank and spiral auger create the pressure necessary to really wring out stubborn greens and grasses that are typically too fibrous for cheaper juicers. The dry pulp that comes out the other end is the real tell-all here, proving how much juice has truly been squeezed out of your veggies. 
As the folks at The Healthy Juicer say, this thing was designed to be “simple, mobile, versatile, and easy to clean.” Simple is right. To use, just put a juice cup under the spout, place your greens into the chute, and start churning. 
Cleaning this thing is much less of a hassle than more intricate machines, too. Just unscrew the handle from the chamber, rinse the parts in the sink, and clean-up is finished in 30 seconds. Wheatgrass and other similar greens don’t need a screen, so you won’t have to scrub one of those — but no screen also means that most other fruits and veggies that produce big chunks are off the table. 

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