juicer suggestions?

November 24, 2009 12:56 PM

looking for some suggestions for a juicer. i really want to buy a fruit/vegetable juicer. something that can handle carrots, beets, oranges, etc. i know from friends that some machines break down really quickly but i am having trouble navigating online reviews. any suggestions would be super appreciated!
posted by anya32 to food & drink (14 comments total)

Sadly, I do not yet have a juicer. So far I think I want one of the Jack LaLanne juicers based on the review of a smart friend: ~$100, works well and has lasted him 7+ years with no trouble.
posted by a_green_man at 1:07 PM on November 24, 2009

Champion and Vitamix are probably the best available. I have a Champion which I've been using for decades.
posted by torquemaniac at 1:22 PM on November 24, 2009

I've been really happy with my Breville juicer.

But if you really want to step it up, just get a Vitamix blender. It will juice anything and there's no pulp to clean out or throw away (not the mention the 1,000 other fantastic things it can do). I haven't used my juicer since I got the Vitamix.
posted by bengarland at 1:22 PM on November 24, 2009

I got this one as a present. Works fine.

The best juicer is of cause the Ruby 2000. Works also to annoy you neighbors, since it sounds a little bit like an airplane when used...
posted by yoyo_nyc at 1:27 PM on November 24, 2009

Seconding Breville juicers. I worked at a coffee shop that made fresh-squeezed juices. Boss said it was in the $150-200 range. We did have to buy a new one about once a year, but only after using it thousands of times and putting huge chunks of carrot into it on a daily basis.
posted by futureisunwritten at 1:29 PM on November 24, 2009

There are different types of juicers. I'd recommending a masticating juicer, such as the Champion. Centrifugal juicers, like the Breville and L'Equip and others, don't do nearly as good a job. The pulp ends up wet (containing juice you want).

I disagree with the comment about the Vitamix. It's not a juicer and shouldn't be used as one. They server completely different purposes. I use my blender (a Blendtec, which replaced my Vitamix and is far superior) more often than my juicer and if I only was allowed one item, I'd keep the blender, but if you just want juice, get a Champion.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 1:43 PM on November 24, 2009

when i worked at a "healthy" cafe/deli, we used a champion to make oceans of carrot juice. it stood up to years of commercial use, including not only juice for customers, but for cooking with. i seem to recall that you can leave the screen off while juicing if you want to use the pulp in soups. or maybe we just did that and the champion people would have been horrified! heh.

the only problem, if you want to call it that, is that if you get the light-colored one, it will stain. not a big deal, really, and if you rinse with cold water before throwing the bits in the dishwater, that reduces the staining, but it will eventually be pretty orange.

champion is rather expensive, but assuming the company has remained consistent, quality-wise, one of their machines should hold up to whatever you can throw at it and will be well worth the investment.
posted by miss patrish at 1:53 PM on November 24, 2009

Yes, Champions last for years. Mine's so old (I think I got it in the late 80s) that the plunger is made of wood.

Also, the only negative I have with the Champion is that it's a bit of a pain to clean. As result, I have a Breville Citrus juicer for doing oranges and grapefruits.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 2:00 PM on November 24, 2009

I got a used Champion off craigslist at a significant discount. since the things last forever and its easy to break down to be thoroughly cleaned, I figure I got a great deal. Could be a good way to go if you're budget conscious and don't need it right away.

Anyways, it's easy to use and makes terrific juice. The leftover pulp can (sometimes) make a good addition to cakes and other baked goods.
posted by cubby at 3:00 PM on November 24, 2009

Another vote for Champion.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 3:04 PM on November 24, 2009

You can make juice (sludge, really) out of bricks with a Vitamix. I may grind up the turkey this thanksgiving, maybe even before it's killed. I don't use mine often, but I think it disassociates matter on the molecular level. Bad ass mambo jambo. Expensive. Good reputation for reliability.
posted by FauxScot at 9:23 PM on November 24, 2009

I too have had experience with the Jack LaLanne juicer; I recommend it. The only fact I know about it though is that it's not very loud, and the juice is pretty good...only one odd stem, but that's because we leave all the stems in and whatnot.
posted by lhude sing cuccu at 10:22 PM on November 24, 2009

FWIW get one thats;

easy to clean ( otherwise you'll loose interest)
accepts larger pieces
has a good, heavy duty motor
posted by Taurid at 10:57 PM on November 24, 2009

I had an Omega centrifugal ejection juicer that way okay, but the snaps on the side broke, so I got another Omega... a masticating juicer. Less a juicer and more of a GRIND THE SHIT OUT OF SHIT machine. I's good for nut butters, or, like, baby food, but not for juicing.

Now I have a L'Equip XL (centrifugal ejection) that was under $100. It's got a huge chute. I hardly even have to cut things up. It's faster, and has much drier pulp than the old Omega. I did way too much research on two separate occasions about juicers and it seems like this is one of the better ones for the price.
posted by cmoj at 1:13 PM on November 25, 2009