Be honest. Are you eating five portions of fruit and veg a day? Really? Every day? You are? That’s great – you should still eat more though because it seems that the benefits keep growing the more fruit and veg you eat. So a small, 150ml glass of fruit or vegetable juice, or even a concoction of the two, is a great way to chalk up one of those servings. (Only one, though, remember – however much juice you drink in a day it only counts as one serving, because the process strips out some of the fibre.)
Juice is also, more importantly, tasty, and shop-bought conconctions can be ever so more-ish. Add up all those purchases and investing in an electric juicer is a great way to make a healthy habit more affordable in the long run.
There are two main types of juicer to consider: centrifugal (or fast juicers) or masticating (also known as cold press or slow juicers). Centrifugal juicers work by pushing fruit and veg down a feed tube onto a blade at the bottom of a spinning sieve, which separates the juice from the pulp. They tend to be speedy and affordable compared with masticating juicers which use augers (which looks like a drill bit) to slowly squeeze fluid from the pulp to extract a more nutritious, fibrous drink. In addition, masticating juicers are better at blitzing through tough greens like kale and wheatgrass and use less oxygen in the process, which means that juices can be kept for longer.
Whatever your reason for juicing, and whatever your budget, we’ve highlighted the best juicers available to buy right now, all of which come with dishwasher-friendly parts so that the clean-up can be as smooth as your juice.
Best For Making Orange Juice: Dualit Dual Max
If OJ is an essential part of your morning routine, this is the machine for you. It’s adept at producing smooth orange juice and it makes light work of other fruits (and vegetables too, which machines in this price range can struggle with). The centrifugal juicing process is quick and you can pop all the parts in the dishwasher when you’re done for easy cleaning. The chute is big enough to squeeze whole apples and pears through and the two-tiered sieve is designed to squeeze that little bit extra out of the remaining pulp. It comes with an 800ml jug, a two-litre pulp container and a froth separator. £100, buy on amazon.co.uk
Most Versatile Juicer: Magimix Le Duo Plus XL
This sleek-looking gadget is more than just a juicer. It’s also a smoothie maker, a coulis maker and a citrus press, making it a handy addition to the kitchen, especially if you’re a parent looking to whizz up purées for a baby. Best of all, it’s easy to clean and comes with dishwasher-friendly parts. The extra large feed tube on this centrifugal juicer means that you can stuff in fruit and veg whole to save on chopping time, and there’s a helpful attachment that deals with soft fruit like berries and tomatoes. £180, buy on amazon.co.uk
Best All-Round Juicer: Braun J500 Spin Juicer
This best-selling blitzer wolfs whole fruit down its extra-large chute to produce smooth juice with very little waste at all. It’s simple to put together and a doddle to clean too – all the removable parts are easy to slot back in after they’ve been scrubbed, which is something that can prove rather fiddly with other models. There’s no annoying dripping after juicing and it’s much quieter than similar machines in this price bracket. For quick, effective, mess-free juicing, this is a top choice. £115 (RRP £140), buy on amazon.co.uk
Best Budget Juicer: George Home Full Fruit Juicer
Despite its budget price tag, this machine makes great fruit juice with ease, although the narrow chute means you’ll have to spend a bit of time prepping by chopping up larger pieces. It’s straightforward to set up and the parts are all dishwasher safe, and although it’s a little on the noisy side and the juice isn’t as smooth as with more expensive brands, it’s a solid buy as an introduction to the world of juicing. £40, buy on asda.com
Easiest To Clean: Kuvings Slow Juicer
Lord help you if you don’t have a dishwasher but do have a juicer, even if it comes with a brush. We assume Kuvings didn’t have a dishwasher, which is why the company developed a cleaning brush that neatly encases the juice strainer. Twist it around a few times under water and hey presto, one clean juicer. The cap on the spout is also designed to avoid spillages and drips, which should also help keep your kitchen spotless. The juicer’s not just for clean freaks, though – the low-speed masticating action helps to retain nutrients and extend the shelf life of the juice. There are paddles in the drum which turn with the auger to create well-mixed concoctions, the hopper’s wide enough to fit whole fruit and veg, and it’s quiet to boot. £286, buy on amazon.co.uk
Best Juicer For Greens: Omega VSJ843RS Slowjuicer
This hi-tech masticating juicer blitzes through fruit and veg efficiently thanks to its double-bite auger, which pummels ingredients twice as it rotates. It whizzes through tougher vegetables like kale and fennel with ease and leaves hardly any pulp. And you won’t have to worry about using it every day because it comes with a 15-year warranty. The juice tap is a nifty addition, assembly is a breeze and there’s a handy self-clean programme, plus the machine is slim and tall enough not to dominate your worktop. If your budget can stretch to it, this is a healthy investment. £399, buy on ukjuicers.com
