Cold press juicers are the best juicers you can use. They’re a bit more expensive but worth the money.
They are called cold press juicers because there’s very little change in temperature during juice extraction. Centrifugal juicers use fast spinning blades to pulverize produce causing higher temperatures.
It is said that this can affect juice quality. Masticating, twin gear, hydraulic press, and manual citrus press juicers all fall under the cold press category.
To see which one is right for you, go to HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST JUICER and you’ll be able to do a comparison.
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WHY CHOOSE COLD PRESS?
Cold press juice is of higher quality and much of the enzymes and nutrients are preserved during extraction. There is less foaming with bigger bubbles, compared to centrifugal juicers. The bigger the bubbles, the better. Also, there is less juice separation.
In the cold press juice extraction, slow cool speeds keep liquids from heating up. There is more of a chewing, crushing and grinding action that extracts the liquid from produce, leaving dryer pulp. This cuts down on oxidation (loss of electrons) and preserves nutrients. Because these juicers express higher quality juice, their shelf life is longer.
Yes, these take more time, but you only need to juice every 72 hours. Just make sure to store your juice in air tight, filled to the top, containers and store in the fridge. Not only is the quality higher but you’ll also get higher juice yields.
I do not like waste and if a juicer can leave me with dry pulp after the process, then that’s a winner for me. I like to use organic produce and as we all know they are expensive, so I like it when I get the maximum yield for my buck.
COLD PRESS CATEGORY JUICERS
Manual Hand Press
These are mostly used for oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit. They are made of cast iron and stainless steel which makes it strong to last a lifetime. A lot of them also have suction cups at the feet so they’ll stick to your counter top. You don’t have to worry about it raising up as you’re trying to press the lever down. If it doesn’t have this feature, you can hold the back down as you push down the lever.
They make them so some parts that come in contact with the fruit, are detachable to make cleaning up easy. Just make sure to oil the shaft that it slides along, for easy operation. There’s a seed catcher also, that comes off. I like this feature, so you can avoid having those annoying little seeds getting in your lemonade.
This is not a pretty gadget and can be clunky, but people love them. Especially those who used to use the little hand press ones where your hand can get tired quickly. Bar tenders find this tool a lifesaver as they use a lot of citrus in cocktails. Because of the way it’s designed, it’s definitely an ergonomic product.
Masticating
Masticating juicers used to be big, clunky and hard to clean, however, the juicers of today are much better. Manufacturers understand that people value their time and they have improved on design. They are user friendly and easier to clean.
What I like about masticating juicers is they extract the maximum amount of juice from fruits and vegetables. They can handle just about any produce you feed it, especially leafy greens. Some brands do better than others, so be sure to look at reviews, star ratings, pros and cons. These juicers use low speeds at about 80 RPMs which results in minimal heat build-up.
They use augers to chew, crush and grind liquid out of produce then separates the juice from pulp in separate containers. They come with powerful motors and are quiet compared to centrifugal juicers. You can also place it on top of a thin towel to mitigate noise if it’s not quiet enough for you. Many masticating juicers also perform a number of functions, not just juicing. Some can be used as a nutrition center as they come with other attachments. They turn nuts into nut butter, extrude pasta, grind coffee, make baby food, make nut milk, mince herbs, etc.
They can be expensive but when you can do all this, it’s worth it! This is the type of juicer I use. It falls in the middle range when it comes to the price tag, not too cheap and not too expensive. There are better juicers out there, but for my current purposes, this is all I need.
Twin Gear
This is a luxury and premium machine, and depending what your reasons are for juicing, can be worth every penny. These juicers have two gears instead of one, therefore, it’s more powerful.
You’ll get much higher quality and quantity yields. These machines use a trituating action to crush, grind, and pulverize fruits and vegetables to extract the juice.
They have the ability to open up cells membranes of the produce to get maximum vitamins, enzymes, minerals and phytonutrients. Phytonutrient is a substance found in certain plants which is believed to be beneficial to human health and prevents diseases. These will usually come with different attachments to be able to accommodate different types of vegetables.
They are great for leafy greens but you will need to cut your harder vegetables, like carrots, into smaller pieces. There is very little foaming and separation, and will yield more juice than your single gear masticating juicers.
These types of juicers are probably not for the beginner juicer as there is a learning curve and is complex. However, if you’re like me, if you want something bad enough, you’ll invest the time to learn it.
Never in my life have I gone with a ‘beginner’ product, or craft or anything else. If I’m going to spend money, I want something that will last me a long time.
Hydraulic Press
If you are serious about juicing and you want the highest quality and yield, then these are the juicers for you. They will take more work than other type of juicers but the results are the best. These are recommended by most natural cancer treatment facilities, like The Gerson Institute.
There are two brands of the hydraulic press that I know of. There’s the Norwalk press and the Welles/Peoples Press. One cost a lot more than the other but there are reasons for that and I’ll list them below. Welles/Peoples Press You can purchase one of these for under $400.
What this basically does is press juice left in the pulp that’s been separated after using a masticating juicer. It doesn’t have its own grinder. You’ll have to have access to another machine to do the grinding. The way to use this press is to place the pulp in the provided pressing cloth (2 are provided when you make the purchase). Fold the bag, then place it in the drip tray. The tray is raised up using the jack handle and the pulp will be pressed against the drip tray and juicing plate. The liquid will then pour off the drip tray and into your container.
If you make wine, this is good to use to press your grapes. No need to put through a grinder. Just put in the pressing bag and press. The quality of grape juice for your wine will be exceptional. Norwalk This is one of the most expensive juicers you can buy. Many people who are juicing to treat cancer will invest in it because it is said to produce the highest quality juice. It sells for approximately $2600.
Over 80 years of research and manufacturing is behind this juicer. It is made of food grade stainless steel and will last a lifetime. It is said to produce the most yield from produce and puts out the highest quality of all juicers.
It has a built-in vortex cutter that will cut the fiber of raw food down to it’s cellular level. You will then place it in the filter bag and use the presser. It comes with everything you need, bags, filter cloths and grids. It also comes with a warranty of 12 years against defect of materials and workmanship to the original owner.
There are many parts to this juicer and I’ve going to include a YouTube video to give you an idea.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU DON’T HAVE TIME TO JUICE
What To Do If You Don’t Have Time To Juice Cold press juicers take more time to use, especially the hydraulic presses. People just do not have time to juice every day and making a big batch all at once makes sense.
Here are some ideas on how you can do this. Pick your juicer wisely. Some juicers produce extracts that lasts longer than others. These are the twin gear or the hydraulic press. If you use a centrifugal or blender type, then I would not recommend storing the juice overnight.
Store your freshly made juice in glass or stainless steel containers. We use mason jars that are enough for a single serving, where you can drink it all at once. Make sure they are filled to the top with no air gaps as much as possible. Keep them in the refrigerator. They can last up 72 hours.
Here are some other ideas to help preservation:
- You can squeeze a lemon or two into your juice before placing in your containers.
- Start out with cold fruits and vegetables to keep temperatures cool.
- Use organic produce as they are higher in nutrients without some of the ‘nasties’ that come with non-organic.
- You can freeze your juice in single servings using plastic containers.
Get a family member or friend to help you juice. If you or a close family member is ill or fighting cancer, you’ll often get offers of help. I say, take them up on it. Ask them to juice for you! That’s what we did.
My late husband and I were busy with medical treatments, work, and preparing raw vegan meals that we had so little time left. Family members wanted to help, so I asked his mom to juice for us. She was more than happy to take on this chore. She would juice enough for 3 days then deliver them to us. It took a load off and was a big help. Juicing problem solved.
4 Common Questions People Ask About Juicing
Which juicers is the best one?
The best juicer for you, is the one you’ll use. Think about the types of fruits and vegetables you want to include in your juice. Find out which one will process those the best. How much time do you have for juicing? What’s your budget? When you have answers for these questions, then look for the extractor that will work the best for you.
Should produce be peeled first?
If you’re using non-organic, then yes. I recommend peeling carrots, apples, cucumbers, beets and ginger. If in doubt, peel it. If you’re using organic, then just give them a good washing and that should suffice. If they have a bitter outer layer, like oranges, then peel it. However, if the source of the bitterness is good for you and you don’t mind drinking it, include it.
What’s a good way to clean fruits and vegetables?
A good way to clean your fruits and vegetables is to squeeze a lemon into a small bowl, then pour into a spray bottle. Add a cup of water and 2 teaspoons of white vinegar. Spray your produce well, then rinse with cool water.
Is drinking fruit juice bad for you?
There’s a lot of sugar in fruit juice. So, yes, if you drink too much of it, it’s bad for you. The rule is, juice your vegetables and blend your fruits. Vegetable juice, especially leafy greens are low in calories and sugar, but is nutrient dense.
If you want to sweeten your vegetable juice, then the ratio is 80% vegetable and 20% juice. Blending your fruits in a smoothie is a healthier way than juicing it. The fiber is still in the drink and your body needs digest it first, so it’s slow to enter the blood stream.
DISCLAIMER
The content of this website is research done by me, Linda Edwards, author of blossomingwidow.com.Everything you find here is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, cure, prevent or treat any medical condition. The information you find here is not to replace your relationship with your physician or other medical professionals. The information is not intended for medical advice but rather, sharing with you knowledge I have gained through research and experience. If you apply any information you find here, it is based solely on your own discretion, and at your own risk. Linda Edwards / blossomingwidow.com shall not be held liable for any reason.