What Is A Masticating Juicer? All You Need To Know About This Popular Juicer

A masticating juicer is a type of juicer that is designed to extract juice from ingredients by grinding, crushing, and then pressing out the juice from the produce. When it comes to juicing and being healthy, there’s no better way than by eating whole, natural fruits and vegetables. If you’ve been looking for the right juicer to get started, then a masticating juicer may be just the thing you need. A masticating juicer is a great alternative to a centrifugal or single auger juicer.

It operates at high speeds but low pressure which makes it a popular choice among chefs because of the how little it takes to process ingredients compared to other types of juicers. With all the features that a high-end masticating juicer should have, let’s take a closer look at what these appliances can do for you and your kitchen…

What Is A Masticating Juicer?

Masticating juicers essentially function like a blender, extracting nutrients and enzymes from fruits and vegetables while also retaining significant amounts of fiber and minerals. They do this by crushing the produce against a comparatively low amount of pressure, resulting in a very low heat generation while leaving behind no foam.

Masticating juicers can be somewhat confusing to new buyers because they’re often found under the category of “cold press” juicers, which refers to a specific type of high-end single auger juicer. Masticating juicers are typically much quieter than other types of juicers, relying on augers that operate much like a blender to grind up produce. This means you don’t have to listen to the loud high-speed noises that are often associated with juicers.

Types of Masticating Juicers

  1. Twin Gear Ultramountain – The Twin Gear Ultramountain is a masticating juicer that looks and operates like a blender. It’s designed to do high volume, large-batch juicing with its two high-speed gears that function well at crushing produce while also providing the coldest extraction.
  2. Single auger (Centrifugal) – The single auger juicer extracts juice from produce via centrifugal force. They’re often cheaper than other juicers but usually produce less juice due to the high speed that spins at 9,000 RPMs that quickly shred produce.
  3. Twin Gear Masticating – The Twin Gear Masticating juicer is a combination of the Ultramountain and Centrifugal juicers. It operates much like a Twin Gear Ultramountain juicer with the addition of a masticating auger.
  4. Twin Gear Compact Masticating – The Twin Gear Compact Masticating juicer is a smaller version of the Twin Gear Masticating juicer. It has a smaller footprint and smaller stature than other juicers, making it ideal for people with limited kitchen space.

Benefits of Masticating Juicers

  1. Low Production – Masticating juicers create low pressure and low heat (around 80 degrees) when juicing, which allows for the extraction of nutrients from produce without potentially damaging its flavor.
  2. Less oxidation – Masticating juicers produce less oxidation than centrifugal juicers because they create low pressure and low heat.
  3. Less foam – Masticating juicers don’t produce as much foam compared to centrifugal juicers.
  4. Less cleanup – Masticating juicers only require minimal cleanup compared to other types of juicers which often require rinsing and scrubbing.
  5. Less noise – Masticating juicers operate quietly than centrifugal juicers, making them ideal for use in small kitchens.
  6. Indirect water consumption – Masticating juicers use less water to produce juice, making them ideal for people who enjoy drinking fresh juice but don’t want to waste as much water.

Key Things to Look for in a Masticating Juicer

  1. Quiet Operation – Juicing is supposed to be calming and soothing, not loud or distracting. If possible, look for a juicer that operates quietly and is designed to keep your kitchen space as calm as possible.
  2. Compact & Silent Operation – Some people simply don’t have the space or the budget to fit a larger-sized juicer into their kitchen. If this is the case for you, then you may benefit from a smaller and more compact masticating juicer.
  3. Energy Saver – Some people prefer to juice with a machine that’s designed to use less energy, e.g. for automatic shut-off or low energy consumption.
  4. Low-Speed Operation – A low-speed setting is ideal for soft produce e.g. leafy greens, while a high-speed is better for hard produce, like carrots and apples
  5. Low-Speed Juicing Option – For people who have difficultly using low-speed juicing, a high-speed option is ideal.
  6. High-Speed Gear Option – For people who prefer to juice with less heat and pressure, a low-speed option would work fine. However, for people who want a bit more control over the process, a high-speed option is better.

Should you Buy a Masticating Juicer?

There are many advantages to purchasing a masticating juicer, especially if you’re a juicing beginner and want to get the most out of your kitchen gadgets.

Less oxidation than centrifugal juicers – Masticating juicers produce less oxidation than centrifugal juicers because they create low pressure and low heat.

Less foam than centrifugal juicers – Masticating juicers don’t produce as much foam compared to centrifugal juicers.

Less cleanup than centrifugal juicers – Masticating juicers only require minimal cleanup compared to other types of juicers.

Less noise than centrifugal juicers – Masticating juicers operate more quietly than centrifugal juicers, making them ideal for use in small kitchens.

Indirect water consumption – Another benefit to purchasing a masticating juicer is that it’s designed to use less water, which means you’re less likely to waste water.

Should you Buy An Ultramountain or Centrifugal Juicer?

The answer to this question depends mainly on your budget, how much space you have in your kitchen and what kind of produce you want to juice. If you’re interested in buying a masticating juicer and don’t have a lot of money, then an Ultramountain or Centrifugal juicer is a great option because they’re often cheaper than a Twin Gear masticating juicer.

The only downside with these cheaper models is that they may break down easier than high-end Twin Gear masticating juicers. If you have a large enough space in your kitchen, or if you’re interested in juices with more fiber like wheatgrass and kale, then a Twin Gear masticating juicer is a great choice. These juicers are quiet, compact, efficient, and don’t require much space.

Is masticating juicer the same as a cold press?

No. Cold press extraction refers to the process of pressing fruits and vegetables against a low amount of pressure to retain nutrients and remove any excess water. Cold press juicing is a type of high-end single auger juicer that operates at low pressure, like a masticating juicer.

It uses a slow pressing mechanism that relies on the produce’s own enzymes in order to break down the fiber without any additional nutrients. Cold press juicing retains very little of the original vitamins and minerals from the produce, though, making it less beneficial than other juicers.

In many cases, yes. Cold-pressed juicing refers to juicing for juice that is extracted without heat. Cold-pressed juicing is a popular method of juicing in Europe but is still relatively new to North America. Cold-pressed juicers do not use centrifugal force to break down products and are extracted using a pressing technique.

This method preserves the nutrients in produce as it does not alter the cellular structure. Masticating juicers are also commonly referred to as slow juicers. This comes from the fact that these juicers operate at low speeds, with very little pressure.

Centrifugal vs masticating juicer

Masticating juicers are the quieter, slower, and more efficient cousins of centrifugal juicers. These juicers primarily rely on a low amount of pressure to break down produce while also retaining significant amounts of fiber and minerals. They do this by crushing the produce against a comparatively low amount of pressure, resulting in a very low heat generation while leaving behind no foam. Centrifugal juicers, like single-auger models, spin at high speeds and rely on centrifugal.

What is the difference between a masticating juicer and a regular juicer?

A masticating juicer operates at low speeds and produces low pressure. It does not have a sharp blade that will chop through produce as a centrifugal juicer does. A masticating juicer extracts the juice from produce by crushing and crushing and then pressing the produce.

It does not have sharp blades that cut through produce as a centrifugal juicer does. A masticating juicer has a horizontal auger with a large feeding chute. It also has a large container for collecting the pulp after the juice is extracted and a large spout for pouring the juice out.

How long does it take to juice with a masticating juicer?

The time it takes to juice with a masticating juicer depends on the type of juicer you buy and how much produce you put through it. A twin gear juicer will take a bit longer to juice because it operates at low speed whereas a cold pulp juicer will take less time because the product is not being exposed to high-speed shear. For example, a masticating juicer takes less than 15 minutes to juice a large apple whereas a centrifugal juicer would take about 25 minutes.