What every best juicer has

  • Masticating gears or centrifugal operation. Which type of juicer you choose depends on whether you intend to use it primarily for juicing wheatgrass and other fibrous greens (go for masticating gears) or a wider variety of fruits and vegetables (in that case, go for a centrifugal juicer).
  • A wide feeder chute. This isn't an absolute deal breaker, but it cuts down on the slicing and dicing you have to do before you juice.
  • Dishwasher-safe parts. This makes for quick, easy cleanup and relatively few nooks and crannies where food can get stuck.
  • Multiple speeds for juicing a variety of produce. This isn't a consideration for masticating juicers, but having an extra, slower speed can make a big difference when juicing greens with a centrifugal model.
  • A one-year or longer warranty. However, longer isn't always better; several Breville models with one-year warranties rank much better when it comes to durability than the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Deluxe (*Est. $100), which has a lifetime motor warranty. Also be sure to read the warranty's fine print to see what is -- and what isn't -- covered.

Know before you go

What are the measurements of where you want to store your juicer? Sometimes buyers are surprised by just how big and heavy juicers are; this way, you'll know right away if it will fit where you want to put it.

Do you have housemates to consider? Many juicers are loud enough to wake up a person sleeping elsewhere in the house or disturb phone conversations. If either will be a problem, opt for a relatively quiet model (some are no louder than a dishwasher); masticating juicers tend to be the quietest, but are also very slow.

How much time are you willing to spend juicing? Masticating juicers take much longer than centrifugal juicers to go through the same amount of produce -- so if you're always in a rush, go centrifugal. Also, exterior pulp collectors are faster and easier to empty (and clean) than internal pulp baskets.

Do you like a lot of pulp in your citrus juice? If so, shop for a citrus juicer with a pulp regulator or filter that allows you to control how much ends up in the juice (instead of straining it out completely).

Is slow, low-heat juicing important to you? If so, choose a masticating juicer.

Do you want to make other raw foods, like nut butter or baby food? Again, some masticating juicers (like the Omega J8005) have the ability to do this; centrifugal models don't.

Value expectations: The dollars and cents of it

A juicer's initial cost isn't always the bottom line. When you have to replace that low-end juicer you bought a few weeks ago, it's not much of a bargain -- so it's often worth setting your sights higher and paying a little more for something with better durability. Ease of use is also important as the easier your juicer is to use, the more likely you are to get your money's worth.

Here's another value consideration: The best high-end juicers can extract 25 percent more juice from the same amount of produce than a cheaper model. Depending on how much and how frequently you juice, these savings can quickly account for the more expensive purchase price.

Finally, be realistic. If you think you'll save money squeezing your own juice, think again. It can take several pounds of fresh produce to make a single quart of juice, so unless you grow your own fruits and vegetables, your homemade juice will probably cost more than juice from a supermarket. Also, no matter how good your juicer is, the juice you extract will never provide as much fiber and nutrients as eating the same fruits and vegetables whole.

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