Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Deluxe

Earning mixed reviews for performance and durability, the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Deluxe is worth its price tag and not much more. If you have high expectations for a juicer, this is not the model for you.

The bottom line

As one Amazon.com user explains, "What the machine is capable of doing, it does well." However, that ultimately is a pretty limited list. User opinions are mixed (at best) about every facet of this juicer, and although some are happy with it, those with high expectations tend to be disappointed. That includes people who were hopeful after watching the television commercials, but feel the juicer doesn't live up to their standards; they say the wet pulp it produces is a waste of juice. Many owners were interested in this unit for the low cost, but the Breville Juice Fountain Compact BJE200XL (*Est. $100) costs about the same and gets much better reviews.

Performance

For most, satisfaction fades over time. Most owners are excited by advertisements for the Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Deluxe, and a few still stand by it after lengthy use, saying that tolerating the machine's various quirks is "so worth it." But for many, the shine soon fades. "The more I use the appliance, the more it clogs," says one Amazon.com reviewer. It is worth noting that the step-up but very similar Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Pro ranks dead last in a comparative expert test.

There are a number of issues, users report. For example, clearing clogs can require stopping the juicer, unplugging it, removing the chute, unscrewing the blade and removing the filter. Reviewers note that the whole unclogging process is very messy.

Users do agree that the Power Juicer Deluxe handles medium-hard fruits like apples very well, but that soft fruits and greens like spinach clog it, and you glean very little juice from them. "The amount of fruit and juice it wastes could almost be criminal," says one Amazon.com reviewer.

Design issues are also problematic: Reviewers say the catch basin and lid don't line up exactly, and the drain hole is too small and clogs easily; both situations lead to juice or pulp spilling out of the machine. On the upside, users say the Power Juicer Deluxe is quiet for a juicer.

Ease of use

Simple but not necessarily easy to use. The Power Juicer Deluxe is easy enough to operate -- just drop the fruit down the chute or press it down with the plunger -- and owners like that you can tip the spout up to stop the flow of juice while swapping out containers. However, they're not thrilled with having to quarter apples to get them down the feed chute. One Amazon.com reviewer makes the most of things by considering time spent cutting fruits and vegetables as "relax" time.

A few reviewers complain that the spout is located a little low on the juicer's housing, so it's difficult to get anything taller than a low bowl or short glass beneath it. (The juicer doesn't include a juice jug.) Cleanup tends to be a sore spot as well: "My only complaint is there are many pieces that have to be cleaned," writes one otherwise happy reviewer on Viewpoints.com. Another reviewer, writing on Amazon.com, notes that the pulp "seems to migrate" toward a couple of crannies that are difficult to clean. Finally, users are less than thrilled that they need a wrench to assemble or disassemble the juicer for cleaning. On the upside, the large pulp catcher doesn't require frequent emptying.

Durability

The Power Juicer Deluxe looks good, but doesn't always stay that way. The Jack LaLanne Power Juicer Deluxe has an impressive lifetime warranty, but only for the motor. Although we did find a few reviews from people who have had this juicer for years, complaints about its durability are at least as common, with some saying the juicer stopped after just a couple weeks of use.

Everything but the base of this juicer is supposed to be dishwasher-safe, but that comes with caveats. The company does recommend hand washing the juicer, or only placing parts in the top rack. It also recommends against washing in a European or commercial dishwasher (with their higher water temperatures). Those cautions bear heeding since we discovered several reviews reporting damage even when the juicer was run through an "American-style" dishwasher; they say the chrome plating (over plastic) comes off, and the plastic deforms, for example.

One particularly alarming Amazon.com user's comment warns of disintegrating parts: "The plastic chute starts getting eaten by the blade with a moderate amount of pressure, which means I hope you like little bits of plastic in your juice." Others point out the plastic knob that holds the blade in place as a definite weak point. "The parts are cheap cheap cheap," warns another unhappy reviewer, who plans to donate his juicer to charity (along with a warning note).