The 7 Best Masticating Juicers of 2023
Updated: Jan. 17, 2023We researched (and tested!) a range of appliances to find the best masticating juicer on the market. Here's what we discovered.
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Learning how to make cold-pressed juice is a skill worth investing in. Not only will it save you money in the long run (no more $13 green juices!), it’s a fun way to consume your daily fruits and veggies. To get started, you’ll need one of the best juicers, specifically a masticating juicer. Here’s everything you need to know about masticating juicers, plus seven of our favorite models.
What is a masticating juicer?
If you’re hoping to make healthy drinks at home, you need a masticating juicer, also called a slow juicer or cold-press juicer. The word masticating literally means “to grind or crush food with or as if with teeth,” and that’s exactly what these countertop appliances do! They have an auger inside that slowly crushes and chews up produce, forcing the pulp against a strainer to push all that delicious juice out into your cup.
Wonder why they’re also called slow juicers? Masticating juicers operate much slower than centrifugal juicers, typically turning the auger only 40 to 100 times per minute. Not only does this slow speed allow them to extract as much juice as possible, but it prevents the machine from heating up, which helps to preserve the nutrients from the produce. It also results in less foam on top of your drink. Slow juicers work well on both hard and soft fruits and vegetables, and they’re often quieter than centrifugal juicers, as well.
Of course, this style of juicer isn’t without its drawbacks. People do find that masticating juicers take longer to process juice and are more expensive than centrifugal-style juicers.
What to Consider when Choosing a Masticating Juicer
There are lots of masticating juicers out there today, so you’ll want to look at a few key features to figure out which option is best for your needs. In particular, the following factors are what set different models apart:
- Orientation: Masticating juicers can either be horizontal or vertical, and there are a few benefits to each type. Vertical juicers have a smaller footprint, and they’re generally self-feeding, saving you from having to push produce into the auger. Horizontal juicers, on the other hand, are more efficient at juicing leafy greens like kale, and some are also able to make nut butters and baby food.
- Chute Size: The size of the chute where you feed in produce will determine how much prep you have to do before juicing. You’ll have to cut up produce to fit it into a small chute, while other juicers have large chutes that can accommodate whole fruits and vegetables.
- Cleaning: Juicers have lots of moving parts that get quite messy during the juicing process, and if you don’t like hand-scrubbing dishes, you’ll want to look for a juicer that has dishwasher-safe components. Some are even marketed as “easy-clean,” which typically means they have fewer pieces to wash.
- Additional Functions: Some juicers come with additional accessories that allow them to be used for different tasks. Some are able to grind coffee, mince herbs or even make sorbet, which makes them a more versatile addition to your kitchen.
Overall Best Masticating Juicer
Hurom HP Slow Juicer
Not only is the Hurom HP slow juicer attractive and compact, it’s also incredibly effective at juicing all sorts of produce. Our pick for the best masticating juicer comes in three pretty colors, and it’s small enough to keep on your kitchen counter for daily use. It’s also our Test Kitchen’s favorite overall juicer.
In terms of its performance, this machine is able to chew up all sorts of fruits and vegetables, from juicy pineapple to leafy kale, with no problem. Its auger grinds up ingredients easily with little to no feeding necessary, and it slowly extracts the nutritious juices and pushes pulp out into the included collection bin. The appliance is surprisingly quiet during operation, and its chute is big enough to accommodate a quartered apple piece.
This machine comes with both a fine and course strainer, as well as several brushes to aid in clean-up. It does need to be hand-washed, which can be a bit tedious, but its ease of use and reliable performance are worth the hassle, if you ask us.
Pros
- Extracts a lot of juice out of each item
- Quiet
- Includes cleaning tools
- Available in different colors
Cons
- Requires hand washing
Best Horizontal Masticating Juicer
Omega Juicer
If you’re willing to splurge on a versatile horizontal juicer, the Omega juicer is an unbeatable option. It features a three-stage auger that extracts as much juice as possible from ingredients, and the end cap has different settings that you can adjust based on what you’re processing.
“Other juicers can be really loud, but this Omega juicer I run while my family is sleeping, and it does not disturb them,” writes verified Amazon reviewer, Amanda Lyn. “By far the easiest to clean too.” The components of this juicer are top-rack dishwasher safe, saving you from having to hand-wash them.
Additionally, this appliance comes with several extrusion nozzles, so you can even use it to make different types of pasta!
Pros
- Horizontal design extracts a ton of juice
- Different nozzles allow you to make more than just juice
- Easy to clean (dishwasher-safe components)
- Quiet
Cons
- One of the most expensive options out there
Best Compact Masticating Juicer
NutriBullet Slow Juicer
Juicers can be quite large, and if you have a relatively small kitchen, you’ll likely prefer a compact masticating juicer like the NutriBullet slow juicer. “I don’t have much storage space, so I appreciate that it is slim, sleek, and compact.” says one reviewer. “However, don’t let the size fool you. This is a powerful little machine.”
The Nutribullet slow juicer has an extremely durable steel-tipped auger, and the lid on its chute flips open, revealing a 3-inch opening that’s big enough for many whole ingredients. Plus, many of its pieces are dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean after you finish your drink. Nutribullet’s sister brand, Magic Bullet, also makes a mighty mini juicer that we love.
Pros
- Small footprint
- Large chute
- Dishwasher-safe components
Cons
- Harder to clean than other models
Best Easy-Clean Masticating Juicer
Cuisinart Juice Fusion EasyClean
You’ll be able to spend less time cleaning up after each juicing session with the Cuisinart Juice Fusion EasyClean slow juicer. This model uses special mesh-free filter baskets that are much easier to get clean, and all its parts are dishwasher safe for hands-off clean up.
“This juicer is not as cumbersome or large as previous models I have owned,” writes one buyer. “It is super easy to disassemble to clean and just as easy to reassemble.”
The appliance has a wide-mouth tube that can fit a whole apple, and it can even be used to make nut milks and smoothies. All that, plus it’s more affordable than many other slow juicers.
Pros
- Easy to clean
- Large chute
- Ability to make nut milks and smoothies, in addition to juice
- Affordable option
Cons
- Doesn’t work as well for leafy greens
Best Budget Masticating Juicer
Hamilton Beach Slow Masticating Juicer
When it comes to affordability, our Test Kitchen named the Hamilton Beach slow masticating juicer the best budget-friendly option. It costs less than $150 and performs like a champ.
Shannon Norris in our Test Kitchen noted that this juicer created less foam, which is a plus. It also worked well with ginger, apples and other fruits that are on the firm side.
While this model is slower than others, it’s worth it for the low price, easy set up and easy cleaning.
Pros
- Affordable price tag
- Easy set up
- Easy-to-clean features
Cons
- Works slower than other juicers
- Larger footprint
Best Pulp Control Masticating Juicer
Ninja Cold Press Juicer Pro
High-end masticating juicers can cost hundreds of dollars, but the Ninja cold press juicer pro delivers all the performance for a more reasonable price. It has a compact horizontal design, and it comes with three interchangeable filters, allowing you to select how much pulp ends up in your drink.
Verified Amazon reviewer, MC Jones, adds, “I picked this cold press juicer after reading many reviews. The price was affordable and this is a brand I have used in the past. I love how easy it is to assemble, disassemble and clean. I use it twice a week to make juices for the whole week…it’s one of my favorite buys.”
Pros
- Three filter sizes for pulp
- Affordable option
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Horizontal design takes up more counter space
- Takes some time to clean
Best Wide-Mouth Masticating Juicer
Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer
No time to prep your fruit? The Kuvings whole slow juicer has an extra-large chute that can fit whole apples, as well as other fruits and vegetables. “I really appreciate that the Kuvings whole slow juicer has a wide feeding chute (82mm) that allows me to add larger ingredients without having to cut them up much first,” writes verified Amazon reviewer, Jeff. “This is a huge time-saver and helps to streamline my juicing process.”
The appliance has a powerful motor to crush up the produce, and it even comes with an additional strainer that can be used to make delicious fruit sorbet.
Pros
- Extra-large chute is large enough for whole apples and cucumbers
- Powerful motor
- Capable of making sorbet
Cons
- Expensive option
How We Found the Best Masticating Juicers
As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.
To find the best masticating juicers, we used a combination of hands-on testing and diligent research to find the best option for every kitchen. We scoured the internet for the best slow juicers available, reading dozens of user reviews to get an idea of each product’s strengths and weaknesses. Using this information, we sorted them into categories based on who they’re best suited for. We even tested our top pick over the course of several weeks to ensure it deserved the top spot, using it to make all types of fresh juice and evaluating its performance and ease of use.
FAQs
Is a masticating juicer better than a centrifugal juicer?
Masticating juicers are more efficient than centrifugal juicers, meaning they extract more juice and nutrients from fruits and veggies. They take a bit longer to juice because of this, but the process results in a higher quality juice. Plus, they’re quieter than centrifugal juicers.
How long does juice last from a masticating juicer?
About two days. Juice lasts a little bit longer when using a masticating juicer versus a centrifugal juicer. A good rule of thumb is juice from masticating juicers last up to two days versus one day for juice from centrifugal juicers.
How do you clean a masticating juicer?
Start by turning off the juicer and unplugging it. Then, disassemble the parts and remove the pulp. Individually rinse the parts and wash with a sponge in warm soapy water, making sure to remove leftover fruit or veggie remains. Be careful not to dump electrical components (aka the motor/base of the machine) in water. Wipe down the motor base with a cloth and reassemble when parts are dry.
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