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Which high-speed juicers press leafy greens?

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5 years ago

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Finding the best centrifugal juicer on the market can be tricky, especially if you’re someone who doesn’t know the first thing about juicers or juicing. If all you know is that it sounds kinda healthy and fun, then keep reading. 

Is juicing healthy?

A juice cleanse sounds nice in theory. It’s an easy way to feel like you’re a part of the modern wellness cult, lose some pounds, and feel like you’re making healthy decisions by getting more fruits and vegetables into your daily diet.

But it should come as no surprise that these cleanses do more harm than good.

Using juice as a literal meal replacement can actually inhibit weight loss in the long run (so, the same lesson as every fad diet?), and not even the most glorious, cold-pressed beverage can offer the vitamins and fiber that eating whole fruits and vegetables can. 

According to a Harvard food health publication, a glass of orange juice and a can of Coke both contain about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Brands like Jamba Juice and Naked Juice have also run into legal trouble for misleading nutrition labels about ingredients and low-calorie food claims. 

So green juice isn’t a magical elixir, but the trend isn’t complete misguided. Even if you don’t see yourself sipping kale juice every morning, centrifugal juicers offer the chance to up your vitamin intake if you know you’re not staying on top of those leafy greens. These high-speed machines are less intensive than cold-press juicers and require little experience, making them a great choice for beginners or people who aren’t about to become a juicing diehard.

So if juice is what you crave, a centrifugal juicer can make a much healthier alternative that most store-bought items since you’re the one in control of the ingredients going in the feed chute.

How do centrifugal juicers work?

You know those carnival rides that spin so fast they pin you to the wall? That’s centrifugal force at work, and it’s also how a centrifugal juicer whips the juice out of fruits and veggies. An online war has been waged over whether the heat created from spinning juicers kills a significant amount of heat-sensitive vitamins and whether cold-pressed juice is actually notably healthier.

Food Nature, a commercial press juicer manufacturer, runs a blog all about juicing. As part of a series devoted to this debate, the company worked with a lab to test the vitamin content of juice from both a cold-pressed and centrifugal juicer using the exact same ingredients. (Vitamin A in carrots, vitamin B9 in beets, and vitamin C in kale were the main focus). The cold-pressed juicer did come out with higher amounts of all three compared to the centrifugal-made juice, but that vitamin count was only 13% to 16% higher. So sure, the cold-press technically has more effective nutrient extraction, but the assertion that a high-speed juicer destroys all of the nutritional benefits is exaggerated. (If those stats have you feeling some kinda way, check out our guide to the best cold-pressed juice machines instead.)

Leafy greens are one proven blind spot for centrifugal juicers. While the fierce blade action pulverizes most fruits, hard veggies, and roots like the best of them, the blade spins so fast that it usually skips over the likes of spinach and Swiss chard and deposits the leaves right into the pulp container. Folks trying to follow a high-fiber diet might choose cold-pressed juices because the slower process has a lower chance of destroying folate or fiber. 

Folks with kids, spastic pets, or touchy neighbors may prefer the quieter cold-press method over a centrifugal motor, which can be quite loud.

The speed and convenience of centrifugal juicers are what sets these devices apart. Slow, masticating juicers aren’t agonizing per se, but they do take a few minutes to juice whereas centrifugal juicers can pop a glass out in seconds. The auger in a cold-press juicer also needs to pace itself, giving most slow juicers smaller chutes (around 1.5 inches) that require smaller amounts of ingredients at a time. Chutes on centrifugal juicers are double the size and usually require less chopping beforehand. It could be the difference between missing the train in the morning or opting for Pressed Juicery instead.

How long does fresh juice last?

Where centrifugal juicer stans may have a harder time arguing their point is shelf life. The heat produced by the spinning breaks down enzymes and speeds up oxidation, lightening the color and giving juice a not-so-fresh taste. Even after just 20 minutes of sitting, the ingredients in centrifugal juice will start separating, the color starts lightening, and some foam forms on the top. This won’t matter if you’re planning to drink your juice directly after making it, but the three-day shelf life of cold-pressed juice will appeal more to people who are planning to make a big batch and have it on hand (like meal prep, but for juicing).

If you’ve never used a juicer before, it can be hard to picture how the two different types of juicers work, how loud they are, or how big the juice yield is. Cold-press juicery owner Lauren Mattice makes exceptionally helpful YouTube threads of juicer reviews and side-by-side comparison videos, which taught us a lot about how these juicing machines compare.

That centrifugal Breville went hard on those celery stalks. Though the cold-press juicer produced a slightly larger yield and the timelapse proved the oxidation thing is legit, it’s notable that she didn’t notice a real flavor difference between the two.

What are the best centrifugal juicers?

We’ve read the reviews, looked at what other sites have to say, and have watched way too many juicer videos to come up with this list. As a surprise to no one, Breville juicers come out on top. But they’re not the only company with skin in the game.

Here are the best centrifugal juicers on the market right now:


13,000 RPM motor lets nothing by • Gets moisture out of leafy greens surprisingly well • Die-cast stainless steel is gorgeous — and will last forever • Large-capacity jug and pulp container • Dishwasher safe

Heavy and hard to store • Leafy veggies need to be chopped first

One of the fastest, prettiest, and easiest juicers on the market makes for simplicity that you’ll want to show off.

1. Breville Juice Fountain Elite (800JEXL)

The die-cast stainless steel is to die for, but this juicer’s revved-up motor proves it’s more than a pretty appliance.

  • Power:
    1,000-watt motor
  • Top speed:
    13,000 RPM
  • Dishwasher safe:
    Yes
Start your engines, folks. It’s no surprise that Breville’s army of pretty and powerful centrifugal juicers dominate this list, but this one’s the granddaddy of them all. Competing with a 1,000-watt motor, speed of 13,000 RPM, and weighing in at a hefty 17.2 pounds, the Breville Juice Fountain Elite is referred to as the Rolls Royce of the brand by Breville itself. (Good thing it’s pretty enough to leave on your counter, because it’s too heavy to move in and out of a cabinet.)
Justifying that elite price tag isn’t hard. The high-wattage motor blows even the Breville JE98XL’s 850-watt motor out of the water, pummeling both hard vegetables and soft fruits into pristine yields that fill the huge juice jug. Two speed settings let you hone in on the best speed for different textures, with the low 6,500 RPM speed able to suck the moisture out of leafy greens much more effectively than other centrifugal juicers, making this our pick for one of the best centrifugal juicers for leafy greens. (That said, it can also tackle fruits and vegetables like a pro.)
That intense spinning might cause the 800JEXL to produce more heat than its 800-watt competitors, which is important to note if you are concerned about wasting nutrients.
And can we talk about this gorgeous die-cast metal body for a second? The fact that it’ll blend seamlessly with stainless steel appliances seems worth the price on its own, but it’s nice to know that you probably won’t have to replace this centrifugal juicer for another 10 years. The luxe look might give off the vibe that this is a better option for experienced users, but this juicer gets a lot of praise for being super easy to use and clean — it’s even dishwasher safe.

Just as good but more affordable than other Breville models • Extra safety features • Dishwasher-safe parts

Filter clogs easily • Sometimes leaves froth on the juice • Has trouble pulling moisture from leafy greens

This luxe juicer is easy to use and can pump out a full glass quickly, but it struggles with leafy greens.

2. Breville Juice Fountain Plus

The low price tag on this big, beautiful Breville almost feels too cheap for how efficiently it juices fruits and hard vegetables.

  • Top speed:
    12,000 RPM
  • Power:
    850-watt motor
  • Speeds:
    2
  • Dishwasher safe:
    Yes
Breville shines as a trusty manufacturer of juicers, and not just because its shiny stainless steel has become a sort of status symbol in the juicer world. These machines sport a sturdy build, are equipped with blistering-fast motors to destroy pulp, and have a locking safety arm. Their high-end price makes these geared toward folks who are experienced in juicing, but Breville’s no-frills Juice Fountain Plus adds a lower point of entry to one of the market’s fanciest brands.
Speaking of experienced juicers, the fact that the Juice Fountain Plus’ range stops at leafy greens will likely be a turn off for people who really care about vitamin K, vitamin A, and folate. It struggles with pulling moisture from such fibrous vegetables and greens (like kale) and produces a yield that’s just not worthwhile if these ingredients are your focus.
But where the Juice Fountain Plus is good, it’s really good: The stainless steel cutting disc packs a serious punch on citrus, hard fruits like apples, and dense vegetables like beets. Toggling between the low or high setting gives you extra control over speed depending on how soft the fruit is. Breville claims that it can pull 30% more juice than competitors, and other reviewers have pointed out that it has the second-highest yield compared to other models during a string of comparison testing. 
At 33.8 ounces (1,000 mL), this Breville’s dishwasher-safe juice container is one of the tallest on the market and can hold more juice in a single batch. Speeding things up even more is the 3.3-inch wide feed chute, which can process most whole fruits and vegetables with a rare need for chopping beforehand. It’s an smart choice if you’re frequently making juice for multiple people at once.

Proprietary tech aims to fix the issue of heat and oxidation • Almost all parts are dishwasher-safe • 70-ounce jug is ace if prepping for multiple people • Super easy to disassemble

Not effective on leafy greens • Takes up a lot of counter space

Extend fridge life with Breville’s oxidation-reducing tech that works efficiently on hard (not leafy) produce.

3. Breville Juice Fountain Cold

Breville reasserts itself as juicer royalty with spinning technology that reduces heat and oxidation while staying speedy.

  • Top speed:
    13,000 RPM
  • Power:
    850-watt motor
  • Dishwasher safe:
    Yes
If the new technology in this revolutionary juicer catches on with the rest of the centrifugal market, cold-press juicers are going to be in big trouble. The Breville Juice Fountain Cold sounds like any other Breville juicer, but the “cold” part makes a huge difference: It’s a 13,000 RPM juicer that spins sans heat. Less heat means less oxidation, and less oxidation means longer shelf life.
Upon debut in 2017, Breville (vaguely) described how this patented breakthrough is able to serve chilly juice while still spinning and juicing instantaneously: It “allows juice to flow up and through the stainless steel cutting disc surrounded by an Italian-made mesh filter to ensure an insignificant temperature increase, less than two degrees Fahrenheit.” 
So while we don’t fully get what “Cold Spin technology” means, Gear Patrol found that it does what it says: In a side-by-side comparison, the Juice Fountain Cold and the Hurom H-AA slow juicer produced juice that was essentially the same temperature, and the Breville’s new tech still juiced in a second or two. In theory, more vitamins would stay intact with Cold Spin compared to a traditional spinning blade, but it hasn’t been tested for sure.
Coming as a shock to no one, the 850-watt motor absolutely obliterates vegetables like carrots, plus citrus and even apples with no need to double strain. 

Slick blue LED knob controls speed settings • Inexpensive for 1,000-watt motor • Die-cast body • Dishwasher-safe parts

Disassembling and cleaning is a chore

Get down to the nitty gritty of produce textures with the five speed settings of this affordable die-cast juicer.

4. Cuisinart Die-Cast Juice Extractor

Juicing enthusiasts are obsessed with Cuisinart’s specs and speed control — and the fact that it beats Breville on leafy greens.

  • Top speed:
    13,000 RPM
  • Power:
    1,000-watt motor
  • Dishwasher safe:
    Yes
Most centrifugal juicers have one speed setting: fast. Setting the motor low regardless of how coarse, stringy, or hard the produce is can seem chaotic, whether you’re a beginner without a solid method or a seasoned health nut who knows that some fruits or vegetables require different speeds to wring out the most juice.
Cuisinart puts the power in your hands with its Die-Cast Juice Extractor. A blue LED-lit knob on the front offers five speed levels from 7,000 to 13,000 RPM. That peak blade action can demolish whole apples, oranges, carrots, beets, and other dense fruits and vegetables without flinching, but being forced to use that same speed on leafy greens is just asking for super juicy pulp and disappointment. Amazon users have found that, while a masticating juicer is still ideal for leafy greens, speeds 1 through 3 offer a much better chance of pressing those leaves to shreds. Just don’t get excited about wheatgrass.
Handy speed controls are just the start of what people love about this juicer. A die-cast metal body is the gold standard. It’s sturdy, prevents vibrating and splatter, looks slick, and stands up to the test of time. The fact that this Cuisinart matches the Breville Juice Fountain Elite’s motor and speed specs also rocks.
Taking it apart to clean (most parts are dishwasher safe) is more annoying than usual, but that seems like a small inconvenience when you consider how reliable it is with a variety of ingredients.

Motor is on plane with Breville • Handles celery surprisingly well • Lightweight • Price is unbeatable

Vibrates too much • Splatters on the counter • Juice cup not included • Loud

There’s no reason to drop a couple Benjamins for occasional juicing when this powerful Hamilton Beach model is more than capable.

One major issue with specialty kitchen appliances is that newbies can get stuck with a cheap brand that no one has ever heard of if they don’t do their proper research. For juicers, this usually means wet pulp and constant jamming.
Hamilton Beach deserves some respect for consistently mending the gap between quality and price. This affordable model sits on nearly every “best juicers” list on the internet due to the fact that it’s an easy in-and-out job. The plastic (albeit cheap looking) design churns out 800 watts of power at two speed options, a mere 50 watts slower than the Breville Juice Fountain Plus and Juice Fountain Cold. (The motor is actually so powerful that the lightweight build will rumble off the counter if you don’t hold it in place.) Juicing takes seconds and clean-up is mostly snappy — just throw the parts in the dishwasher and grab a towel to wipe the splatters on the counter.
A 3-inch chute usually gives the green light for feeding whole fruits or large handfuls of vegetables, but folks have had different experiences with this model. Some customers insist that most ingredients needs to be chopped first, but the customers who swear by it have no problem with carrots, beets, whole pieces of celery, and pears. Any way you dice it, you can’t argue with the fact that this mighty budget juicer costs less than four or five bottled juices.


Stainless steel looks more expensive than it is • Effective reamer cycle with three pulp settings • No pushing by hand • Final spin and auto reversing features

Pulp sometimes has to be manually removed • Some skins and seeds slip through • No built-in bowl

Unlike most budget juicers, this one tackles citrus fruits without pushing by hand — but pulp probably needs to be strained twice.

6. Cuisinart Pulp Control Citrus Juicer

Vegetables are not this juicer’s friend, but vitamin C lovers will obsess over how effective the reamer is for tackling citrus fruits.

  • Top speed:
    N/A
  • Power:
    25-watt motor
  • Dishwasher safe:
    Yes

This is not your mother’s citrus juicer — nor is it the lazy person’s citrus juicer just because it’s not manual. You might enjoy the freshly squeezed carnival vibes of a mini citrus juicer (the cute ones that look like food processors) and the kind with a lever, but the manual labor they require isn’t for everyone. 
Cuisinart’s electric citrus juicer really does a number on oranges, limes, and grapefruits, providing a powerful mid-range citrus juicer that does the work for you if that’s truly all you want to do. Closing the clear lid activates the final spin feature to perform one last squeeze on the remaining pulp, wringing out that last bit of juice that non-centrifugal juicers often leave behind.
The adjustable stainless steel reamer makes a world of difference compared to a wood reamer, and three pulp settings give you some control over how texturized you like your drinks. (Pulp? No pulp? Somewhere in between?) Though auto reversing provides backup if a large batch starts to jam the machine, skin or seeds that caused the issue might still fall through the cracks.

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