A Guide to Juicers and Blenders
Fresh juices and smoothies! Who doesn’t like those? Seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever met such a person and for good reason. Both are delicious and to top if off, with the right ingredients, they’re pretty darn good for you. As it so happens we are currently in, what juice heads of the future will refer to as, the Golden Age of Juicing. Juicers, blenders and smoothie makers are everywhere and they range from affordable to house-mortgageable. In amongst the chaos of whirring blades, we’re on a mission to separate the juice from the pulp with a helpful starter guide to juicers, blenders and smoothie makers for your home.
Without getting too technical, there are four categories of juicers and blenders: centrifugal, masticating, blender and citrus. It sounds complicated but it’s really quite simple.
Centrifugal juicers (spinny ones) use a motor to spin the produce against a fine mesh to separate the pulp from the juice. The drawback is that this can generate heat and heat breaks down nutrients in the produce. The good thing is that they’re fast, so the contact time is short.
Masticating juicers (munchy ones) slowly chew through the produce to extract the juice from the pulp. The benefit here is that there is no heat in the process, which means the juice will last longer, but it takes longer to process.
Blenders (whizzy ones) blitz everything up in one go – the benefit here is that you retain all the fibre and nutrients, plus they are pretty versatile for other uses too.
Citrus blenders (rotatey ones) are purely for juicing citrus fruits. They’re the modern version of that old plastic hand juicer we all grew up with in the bottom kitchen drawer.
Picking an appliance like this is ultimately up to the individual’s needs. Centrifugal juicers are faster, louder, require less preparation, and they are generally more affordable. The drawback is the juice doesn’t last as long. Masticating juicers are the exact opposite: slower, quieter, and they require more preparation but the juice lasts longer. The drawback is they can be very pricey. The pro with blenders is they have many uses, think soups, sauces and… did somebody say cocktails? Citrus juicers are singular in their purpose.
As they say, knowledge is power but by now I’m sure you’re saying, let’s get to the nitty gritty already!
NutriBullet Pro
NutriBullet burst onto the scene a little over four years and changed the face of blending forever. It’s a simple, no frills approach that’s based on clever design and a powerful engine. Its cyclonic blending action gives super smooth results while extracting maximum nutrition. They’ve sold over 50 million worldwide making it the fastest-selling and probably most successful kitchen appliance of our time.
Key features of the (bigger, better) NutriBullet Pro:
- 900-watt motor.
- Enough power to grind the toughest ingredients including carrots, ice and nuts.
- Sleek, upside-down design and innovative operational action.
- Stainless steel blades.
- Cyclonic blending action to ensure an even and smooth blend.
- 710 ml and 945 ml cup capacity.
- Comes with one year guarantee and industry leading sales service.
Price: R2999
Russell Hobbs Power Gear Super Juicer
This stylish brushed stainless steel Russell Hobbs juicer uses cold press technology (also known as a masticating juicer), and a bladeless screw system to extract juice. It’s a smart system that produces 30% more juice than a traditional centrifugal (or spinning) system. Cold pressing means there’s no heat generated during the extraction process, which preserves vitamins and nutrients for longer.
- Masticating juicer.
- A quiet 400-watt engine.
- Soft squeeze cold press technology.
- Produces little heat to help preserve nutrients.
- Extracts fruit and veggie juice as well as nut milk.
- Juice stays fresher for longer and contains X 5 more vitamins in every glass.
- 1 L dry waste container and a 1 L juice container.
- Comes with a safety lock system and anti-slip feet.
Price: R2000
Philips Viva Collection Blender
If you’re looking for the silkiest juice and smoothies in seconds then step right up and take a look at the Philips Viva Collection blender. This modern blending machine is everything a blender should be. It’s powerful, it has a large capacity, and it has a 5 blade setup that will slice through the toughest jobs. It also comes with a handy mill attachment that lets you grind wet or dry ingredients.
- Blender juicer.
- 600-watt motor.
- Blitzes the toughest ingredients including ice.
- 2 L toughened jar.
- Comes with a juice filter.
- Comes with a mill accessory.
- The parts are dishwasher safe.
- Comes with a 2 warranty.
Price: R1400
Smeg Slow Juicer
Only Smeg could make a juicer that looks like it comes from a time when juicing wasn’t even a thing.
- Masticating juicer.
- 150-watt motor.
- Looks ultra Smeg retro cool.
- Runs cool to preserve nutrients.
Price: R8000
Breville Juicer & Blender
Struggling to decide whether to spend your money on a juicer or a blender? With this product you don’t have to – the two in one design that combines power and utility in one appliance.
- Centrifugal juicer.
- A hefty 1500 watt motor.
- Juicer and blender with an interchangeable base.
- Has a micro mesh filter to extract more vitamins and minerals.
Price: R5000
Salton Stainless Steel Juicer
A solid entry level juicer to kickstart your juicing journey!
- A centrifugal juicer.
- 350-watt motor.
- 2-speed control.
- Extra wide chute to fit whole fruits and veggies.
Price: R500
Farre Juicer
If you are really into the natural approach then apply some elbow grease and go manual. No electricity required.
- Masticating juicer.
- Great for camping and load-shedding.
- Made from ultra tough Lexan.
- Suctions to any smooth surface.
Price: R800
Katana 2L Power Blender
An industrial strength blender that has a motor with enough power to blend even the toughest ingredients. Built to last.
- Commercial grade motor.
- Strong enough to blend tough ingredients like ice and nuts repeatedly.
- Large jug capacity.
- Comes with an extra serrated blade.
Price: R3999
Kenwood Citrus Juicer
If you think the only fruit worth juicing is citrus then this one’s for you. A step up from doing it yourself manually.
- Citrus juicer.
- Sturdy yet elegant design.
- A 40-watt motor with one speed.
- Removable parts are dishwasher safe.
Price: R400
Oscar DA1000 Cold Press Juicer
There’s serious about juicing and then there’s Oscar serious about juicing.
- Masticating juicer.
- 150-watt motor.
- A masticating juicer that’s built to last.
- It so efficient it can even juice pine needles.
Price: R7000
Bump up the nutritional punch of your smoothies with this list of Superfoods to add. Also, check out this list of easy mistakes you might be making when making your smoothies and juices.
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