Having a juicer at your disposal allows you to bump up your nutrient intake and encourage your family to drink more fresh juice. Or, if you’re a cocktail drinker, use your cold press juicer to make mixed drinks. When you start getting deep into the juice world, you’ll soon learn that there’s a big difference between masticating and centrifugal juicers, but ultimately it comes down to preference. That’s why we have two best overall choices per juicer type: the masticating Omega Ultimate Juicer and Nutrition System and the centrifugal Breville the Juice Fountain Cold Plus. “Preparing homemade juice is not only a great way to up your nutrient intake for the day—it’s delicious,” says McKenzie Jones, RDN, CLT, a dietician in Los Angeles. “And if you make juicing a habit, it may also encourage you to embrace other healthy habits.” For juice enthusiasts like me, here are the best cold press juicers for pretty much everybody. May your glass always be full of tasty and smooth juice. What We Don’t Love: Low wattage, no container to collect juice Juice enthusiasts will tell you that a masticating juicer is the way to go. It takes longer to operate, plus fruits and vegetables must be chopped into smaller pieces pre-juicing. However, the slow and cold process used by masticating juicers ensures a smoother finish and they may also extract more juice than centrifugal models. This model by Omega is quiet, easy to clean, and made with professional-grade materials. It has a high juice yield and features 5 adjustable settings to maximize the output of continuous juice flow. Four stabilizing feet at the bottom prevent the unit from wobbling when in use. A container to collect and store juice is not included, so you’ll have to use a glass. Price at time of publish: $370 Dimensions (LxWxH): 14.5 x 6.5 x 15.5 inches | Weight: 19.4 pounds | Speed: 80 RPM | Wattage: 200 W What We Don’t Love: Difficult to clean The “cold” in “cold press juicer” refers to the friction heat that may be created when juicing fruits and vegetables. This juicer operates like a centrifugal juicer, which uses a cutting disc to shred fruits and vegetables and release their juices. While it is not a masticating juicer, the model uses Cold Spin Technology to ensure an insignificant increase in temperature. The feeding chute is extra wide to allow larger chunks of food, which cuts down on preparation time. It also requires less time to operate than a masticating juicer. The juice goes through a micro-mesh filter before emptying into the included 70-ounce jug. Unlike many of the other juicers on this list, this model does have 2 speeds. The slower option is for leafy vegetables and soft fruits, while the higher speed is for denser and firm produce. Overall, this centrifugal model is ideal for people who want juice in a jiffy. Price at time of publish: $280 Dimensions (LxWxH): 13.1 x 8.6 x 17.6 inches | Weight: 13.7 pounds | Capacity: 70 fluid ounces | Speed: 6,500 RPM; 13,000 RPM | Wattage: 1000 W What We Don’t Love: Low wattage, pulp may get in the juice Cold press masticating juicers can be pricey, but this model is an affordable option that doesn’t slack on quality. Its sleek design saves on counter space, plus it comes with a 26-ounce container that makes it easy and mess-free to collect juice. The slow juicing process creates less foam than centrifugal juices, so this is perfect for those that like a smooth juice. However, some reviewers state that some pulp inevitably ends up in the juice so you may need to pour it through a fine-mesh strainer. Best of all, this is made with dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning, and the noise level is minimal. This is a solid budget-friendly option for those that are just entering the world of homemade juicing. Price at time of publish: $150 Dimensions (LxWxH): 18 x 6.7 x 13.3 inches | Weight: 8.75 pounds | Capacity: 28 fluid ounces | Speed: 90-110 RPM | Wattage: 150 W What We Don’t Love: Small chute, low wattage If you love to juice but don’t love bulky juicers, this compact model may be your best bet. Weighing less than 5 pounds, the Dash Deluxe Cold Press Power Juicer is the ideal solution for juice lovers with small kitchens and a lack of storage space. Though it’s small, it’s mighty. This model has a motor powerful enough to juice leafy greens, which is often a complaint of centrifugal juice users. While some of the more premium models have adjustable settings and other bells and whistles, this model is fairly simple which makes it super easy to use. It also includes two juice cups and a cleaning brush. This model is also great for occasional juicers since it can be used to make almond milk and other nut milks as well. Price at time of publish: $100 Dimensions (LxWxH): 4.9 x 3.9 x 14.2 inches | Weight: 3.4 pounds | Speed: 80 RPM | Wattage: 130 W What We Don’t Love: Pricey, heavy When looking for the best cold press juicer, parents and caregivers must take safety into consideration. If small children will be around, this model by Kuvings features a flap gate system near the opening that prevents small hands from entering the chute. The extra-wide feeding chute measures 82 millimeters, which allows larger fruits and vegetables and cuts back on time spent chopping ingredients into smaller pieces. This model is unlike the others in one other important aspect. It’s made with low-speed masticating patented technology that crushes the ingredients before pressing them. This produces the highest yield without aerating the ingredients. Besides making juice, this comes with a strainer for making sorbet and a special tool to help clean up. And, when not in use, it looks quite striking out on your counter. Price at time of publish: $600 Dimensions (LxWxH): 14 x 10.5 x 17.5 inches | Weight: 16 pounds | Speed: 50 RPM | Wattage: 240 W
What to Look for When Buying a Cold Press Juicer
Centrifugal vs. Masticating
The two main types of juicers are centrifugal and masticating, which describes the method of extraction. Most cold press juicers are masticating, so if that is important to you, you can narrow down your selection to masticating models. Centrifugal juicers use high-speed spinning blades that chop fruits and vegetables to extract their juice. This is a quick process, but it can create heat. Masticating juicers, on the other hand, crush and squeeze ingredients. This yields more juice and drier pulp, though it takes longer. The feeding chute may also be smaller, requiring more preparation time to finely chop produce. “Cold press juicers, also known as slow juicers or masticating juicers, tend to yield more juice than centrifugal juicers,” explains Jones. “They also tend to be quieter.” On top of that, they are usually easier to clean. However, they tend to be more pricey.
Power
With masticating juicers, less is more. Instead of looking for the model with the highest wattage, look for the model with a slow revolution per minute. This will ensure that most of the juice is squeezed from the produce, resulting in drier pulp. If speed is important to you, a centrifugal juicer with a higher wattage will be quicker to use than a masticating juicer with a lower wattage. However, the pulp will be wetter, meaning some juice will be discarded.
Maintenance
With any kitchen appliance, cleanup is inevitable. However, some models are easier to clean than others. As previously mentioned, masticating juicers are easier to clean because the mesh strainers aren’t as fine. Some models also have dishwasher-safe parts. With any juicer, there will be leftover pulp. Jones offers a pro tip for juicers who don’t want to waste the leftover pulp: “The ‘by-product’ of the juicing process—a.k.a. the pulp— is a fiber goldmine and it’s super easy to incorporate into all sorts of recipes, from muffins to veggie burgers.” You should thoroughly clean the parts of the juicer that come in contact with ingredients after each use. Remember to wipe down the exterior of the unit on a regular basis.
How long does cold-pressed juice stay fresh?
Generally, cold-pressed juice made with a masticating juicer can last three to five days in the refrigerator. If using a centrifugal juicer, juice may last up to 24 hours in the fridge. Remember to store the juice in an airtight container. While some juicers come with a container, they may not have lids. For best results, opt for a container made of glass.
Can you freeze cold-pressed juice?
You can freeze cold-pressed juice, but it is better to consume it quickly. Freezing and thawing can cause oxidation, which might deplete some of the nutrients in the juice.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Lacey Muinos is a health and wellness writer with a speciality for food topics. She has been enjoying freshly made juices at home with her juicer for nearly three years. While she loves a good green juice, she believes a glass of pure, homemade apple juice can’t be beat. Read Next: The Best Blenders
