Centrifugal vs. Masticating Juicer: Which One Should I Buy?

The Differences

Both centrifugal and masticating juicers have you insert pieces of fruits or vegetables and spin out juice and pulp in return. The main way they differ is in the speed at which they do that and the inner workings of the machines that create those varying speeds. Centrifugal juicers yield more waste and introduce heat and oxygen to produce, while masticating juicers take more time and produce more juice. A centrifugal juicer cleans up much faster than a masticating one, which has more parts to clean and may prove challenging to put back together perfectly every time. 

Masticating juicers are quieter, and because no heat or oxygen is introduced to the food, more nutrients may be retained. Some studies suggest masticating juicers retain more nutrients as of when the juice is made; all juices will lose nutrients over time stored in the refrigerator. Lastly, centrifugal juicers are best for firmer produce, where masticating juicers can handle leafy greens and perform functions beyond juicing, such as making nut butters.

The Tasks

Green Juice

Winner: Masticating

Green juice is generally centered around leafy greens. It typically has a base of celery, cucumber, and/or apples, which centrifugal juicers can handle, but features leafy greens like kale, dandelion, spinach, and other leafy guys that a centrifugal will spin out as nearly entirely waste. Fresh herbs such as parsley and cilantro are also often added, neither of which will make much headway in a centrifugal juicer. For green juice like you get at a juice bar, you’ll need a masticating juicer. 

Apple Juice

Winner: Centrifugal

Apples are a firm vegetable, but they break down easily, making them a top choice for a centrifugal juicer. You may notice less waste when making apple juice in a centrifugal juicer than when you use it for higher-density items like carrots and beets. While a masticating juicer will retain more of the nutrients in the apples, most people drinking fruit juice are doing it for the best taste rather than the health benefits. And, of course, it will still be much healthier than a shelf-stable bottled juice, because it’s freshly made. 

Nut Butters

Winner: Masticating

This isn’t a fair competition, because a centrifugal juicer simply doesn’t have the capability to make nut butters. The process to make a nut or seed butter in a masticating juicer is the same as it is to make juice: You add the nuts or seeds through the feeder after setting it to the “homogenize” setting, and nut butter will emerge. Seal it in a tight container, and you’ve got a fresher alternative to store-bought butters. You can also mix and match nuts and seeds in ways that are tough to find in grocery stores, and you can add salt or sweetener to taste, which is helpful if you prefer more or less seasoning than average. 

Wheatgrass

Winner: Masticating

Wheatgrass juice is so costly–and so strong in flavor–that it’s sold as a 1- to 2-ounce shot at juice bars. You can buy an entire tray of wheatgrass, which you can then juice on the daily yourself by cutting some of it off, for less money than you’d spend on a few shots. You could also grow your own wheatgrass, for even less money, from seed. But once you’re ready for juicing, you can only juice wheatgrass in a masticating juicer. Centrifugal juicers, even smaller ones, can’t break down leafy greens well, let alone greens as tiny as individual wheatgrass pieces, which are about the same size as the blades of grass from your lawn.

So, Which Should You Buy?

Centrifugal juicers cost less than masticating, but they don’t come cheap. They produce more waste and have a lower yield, so to an extent, you’ll end up paying more for produce than you would with a masticating juicer. Masticating juicers not only retain more nutrients and yield higher quantities, they function more quietly and have multiple uses. They’re the better choice because if you’re going to spend hundreds of dollars, you might as well spend an additional $100 to $200 for the better functionality. The only exception is if you hate to clean, as masticating juicers take far longer to take apart, clean, and put back together than centrifugal ones do. If you find yourself spending a fortune at the juice bar and have time to spare, a juicer is a worthwhile investment—so you might as well get the most out of it and opt for a masticating model. 

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Ariane Resnick is a special diet private chef, bestselling author of five books, and certified nutritionist. She has owned multiple juicers over the years and appreciates their strong resale value after every burst of juicing motivation ends.