Juicers

Study after study shows that most Americans don't eat enough fruits and vegetables. Appliances such as juicers, food processors, and food dehydrators make it easier to consume more servings of these healthy nutritional elements. Plus, vitamins and minerals extracted from fresh fruits and vegetables are absorbed more quickly and efficiently into our bodies.

After you insert fruits and vegetables, a juicing machine uses various spinning, grating, squeezing and pressing methods to separate the liquid from the pulp. Juice pours out of one area, while the pulp is stored either inside the machine or in an external bin. Fiber-rich, leftover pulp can add both texture and flavor to soups, pasta dishes, muffins, cakes, and more.

There are a number of features that could factor into your juicer buying decision. Many juicers have multiple speed settings to accommodate a wider variety of produce sizes and textures and to customize juicing speeds to extract maximum juice with minimal waste. For instance, slower speeds work better for soft fruits like grapes while higher speeds are preferable for vegetables like carrots. There are even options if you plan to use your juicer for greens. The ability to manage juicer settings can save you time and frustration.

Juice and pulp container sizes are an important consideration for many buyers. If you're juicing for a crowd, you may want a larger pulp bin and juice container. You may also want to consider the noise level of your juicer. Do you plan to make a lot of juice in the morning when others are still asleep? Centrifugal juicers, because of their high speeds, tend to be louder, while the slow speeds of masticating juicers make them much quieter.

Lastly, it is important to check out the construction and aesthetics of your juicer. You want your juicer to stand the test of time. Look for quality, metal parts, and stainless steel blades. As with all appliances with blades and gears, your juicer should be heavy enough to stay stable on your countertop and have rubber feet to deter movement while it's operating. Consider options that might complement the look of your kitchen décor and other appliances, like a stainless steel juicer that matches your toaster or fridge.