What is a Vegetable Juicer?

A vegetable juicer is a small kitchen appliance that is used for extracting the nutrient-rich juice from raw fruits and vegetables. It is believed that each day, the human body needs one pound of raw fruit and vegetable juice for every 50 pounds of body weight. Consuming this amount is believed to be a preventive strategy against certain cancers, while assisting the body in maintaining its proper PH functions, a crucial element against environmental ware. One way to obtain the benefits of raw fruits and vegetables is through juicing — a term populated during the 1970s and 1980s.

Juicing involves using a variety of vegetables or fruits that are placed into a machine called a vegetable juicer. The juicer then extracts vegetables into a juice form — making the juice rich in nutrients, more palpable to taste, and easier to digest. There are three varieties of vegetable juicers on the market — centrifugal juicer, a masticating juicer, or a triturating (twin-gear) juicer. The type of model you require is dependent upon your needs and the performance options of each vegetable juicer.

One of the most widely used and inexpensive vegetable juicers is the centrifugal juicer. They operate very quickly using high speeds where fruits or vegetables are inserted in an oval shaped chute. Vegetables are then held in a chamber where they are cut and grated into a pulp against a screen. They are then spun by a centrifugal force, resulting in a juice.

Since centrifugal juicers produce juice at such a rapid speed they are not advisable to be used for soft fruits such as bananas, berries, or leafy vegetables. Additionally, the fast processing may cause oxygen bubbles to be dissolved during processing, resulting in a shorter shelf life.

A second type of juicer is the masticating variety. Quieter than a centrifugal juicer, masticating juicers employ one gear or auger that uses force and crushes fruits or vegetables against a screen. The force used by the machines rotating mechanism pushes the juice out of fruit or vegetable, resulting in a dry pulp. Due to its slow rotating process, oxygen and temperature are retained. This results in juice that has less foam, more nutrients, and an extended shelf life.

A third type of vegetable juicer is the twin-gear or triturating juicer. These juicers are usually the most costly, but this is usually justified by some unique benefits to the consumer. The triturating juicers function by placing pressure on vegetables by forcing the juice out. They are placed between two interlocking roller gears where vegetable cell walls are squeezed open. This results in a dry pulp with less oxidation, more retention of nutrients, and longer freshness. They are also recognized for their ability to extract difficult vegetables such as spinach, pine needles, wheatgrass, and other greens and herbs. Additionally, since they operate at slower speeds, these vegetable juicers are adaptable to any fruit or vegetable and produce a larger amount of juice.

When opting for a vegetable juicer, consumers should seek a model with special features, including low speed performance options, which allows for less oxygen, foam, and longer storage of juice. Also, a user-friendly, quiet, and easy-to-clean model is advisable. With all the of its health benefits, using a vegetable juicer is a quick and easy way to retain nutrients and obtain the recommended amount of vegetables and fruits needed to support wellness and longevity.