6 Best Masticating Juicers in 2019

We will be comparing 6 of the best masticating juicers available in this review.

Masticating juicers are work great at juicing leafy greens, which is what you’re supposed to be using.

Despite a lot of negative feedback, juicing remains to be a popular option for those looking an alternative to drinking unhealthy sodas and pasteurized juices.

For drinking cold-pressed juice, you have two options.

First would be buying something already made at your local grocery or juice bar, which can be expensive.

The second option which I like is making your own. Homemade juices are the freshest and nutrient dense drinks you can make.

You control what you put in, and there are no artificial flavors.

Slow masticating juicers are great tools to have to make your juice at the comfort of your home.

After slogging through hours of research and data comparison, the Omega NC800 came out on top as my choice for the best masticating juicer.

None of the other variants has the Omega’s combination of efficiency, easy or use and quality.

Their industry-leading 15-year warranty and sub $350 price point sealed the deal for us. If you’re into juicing green vegetables, this is a no-brainer option though it won’t do as well extracting juice from fruits.

If you’re looking to juice stuff like beet, carrots, strawberries and other fruits, then the SKG Wide Chute juicer is an excellent option. The 3-inch opening means you don’t have to chop as much.

You can put in a whole apple, and this cold press juicer will have enough torque to squeeze out the juice from it.

Warranty though isn’t as good as the Omega as this only comes with a 10-year warranty for the motor and main body.

The rest of the parts only come with a 2-year warranty.

It does have a 1-month free trial to give you enough time to see if this juicer works for your lifestyle.

Both juicers have large chutes, so you don’t have to chop as much.

Chopping produce does take time, and the more time you spend with prep work, the less likely you’ll use the juicer. Convenience is an essential factor to consider when buying juicers.

Here are the Best Masticating Juicers of 2019

Our criteria for selecting the best slow juicer is a combination of usability, how much juice it can extract, ease of cleaning, warranty, and price. Not only should it be able to be efficient at extracting liquid from fruits and vegetables but also easy to clean. You’ll not use a juice extractor if it is a pain to clean up.


Best Overall: Omega NC800 Masticating Juicer

One of the most significant issues with horizontal auger extractors like the Omega 8006 would be the chute. The 1.5″ round opening is just too small if you’re juicing stuff like apple or lemon.

A lot of consumers complained about it, so Omega took the bestselling 8006, tweaked the design and out came the NC800.

This juice extractor is one of the most efficient, easy to clean options available right now. The kicker for me was the price and warranty.

Right now this cold press juicer sells for less than $330 in Amazon. It’s cheaper than the Kuvings Whole slow juicer and Hurom H-AA.

This machine comes with a 15-year warranty, which is one of the longest in the market.

Why is this number 1?

When it comes to efficiency and usability, it is hard to beat the Omega NC800. The opening is almost twice as large as the Omega 8006, which means you’ll chop less. And less chopping equates to time savings.

It also comes with an adjustable cap that results in 15% more juice from green vegetables.

A separate blank plate also allows this to make nut butter, sorbet, baby food, salsa, pasta and much more.

What are the downsides?

This juice extractor isn’t perfect by any means. There are some issues that you need to be aware of before deciding to purchase.

The first issue I see would be, and perhaps the biggest is it isn’t as self-feeding as vertical slow masticating juicers like the Kuvings or Omega VRT.

Self-feeding for those who aren’t familiar means when you run produce through the mouth the auger grabs it and squeezes it against a screen.

Despite all the positives, it failed because of these reasons. First, it isn’t as self-feeding as the Kuvings whole slow juicer. You’ll need to use the pusher a lot particularly with leafy greens.

There is also a learning curve because of the adjustable cap, but once you get the hang of it, it’ll be smooth sailing.

The adjustable end cap presents another issue – back up, so you’ll need to put enough pressure on the pusher to maximize the yield. If you’re juicing leafy greens, set it at 5, for fruits and other non-leafy ingredients set it between 1 and 3.

This cold press juicer also has a large footprint, so this might not be for you if you have a small kitchen.

It would be great for people who want to juice mostly green veggies with some fruit.

It can juice harder ingredients like beet and carrots as well as fruit. It may struggle with soft fruits like pineapple.

If you juice these types of ingredients, make sure to follow it up with a harder vegetable like celery to help push out the pulp.

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Value For Money: SKG Wide Chute Juicer

 

SKG is a relative newcomer it’s, but it’s been making waves in this industry thanks to low cost and high performance.

This juice extractor is strikingly similar to the Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer, but it’s much cheaper at less than $300.

What makes this a great option?

The first and most significant reason why this is an exceptional option would be the wide feed chute.

The 3″ mouth is a great feature to have because this minimizes the need for pre-cutting at least non-fibrous fruits.

Imagine the time savings you’ll have of not having to chop apples into quarters because your juicer has a small, narrow hole on top.

The second reason is the powerful 240 watt DC motor that has enough power to plow through fruits and vegetables. Take note that this spins only at 60 rpm so there very little oxidation.

Quality is also another strong point as SKG uses stainless steel and food grade TRITAN plastic that’s BPA free.

It also comes with a juice stopper that prevents messy drips on the countertop when you turn it off.

What are the downsides?

Unfortunately, this juicer doesn’t match the warranty of the Omega or Kuvings.

It only comes with a 2-year warranty for all the components outside the motor and main body that comes with a 10-year warranty.

Also despite the large opening, you’ll still need to chop fibrous greens like celery because it will clog the ejector port if you don’t.

The SKG Wide Chute juicer will work great for people looking for a cheaper alternative to the Kuvings. It has the same 3″ wide mouth that saves time, but it has a shorter warranty.

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Great for fruits and veggies: Kuvings Whole Slow Juicer

Kuvings boasts some impressive features not found in other vertical juicers.

One of which is the 3-inch feed chute — the widest by far in the industry.

Less chopping

This means that you don’t need to pre-cut fruits like apple, cucumber, and lemon.

Just feed it through the chute and shove it in with the pusher.

The 240-watt motor has enough torque to crush whole apples or carrots without bogging down.

Even though it has a large chute, you still need to pre-cut fibrous ingredients like collard greens and celery.

As with all vertical auger extractors because the pulp has to turn at a 90-degree angle. Long fibers will clog the pulp ejector port so remember to always pre-cut.

What makes this a great option?

Kuvings listened to consumers and designed a product with the largest feed chute in the market today, and the 240-watt brushless motor only rotates at 60rpm.

A slow rotating auger translates to a more nutrient-rich juice because less air goes in. The less air in the liquid means it won’t oxidize as fast as it would in a centrifugal juicer.

Kuvings also made it easy to clean because it has one of these:

Rotary Brush

It is a rotary brush that will help clean the screen faster than with a standard brush found in other juicers.

They also removed the recess areas underneath the auger and inside the juice bowl, making it faster to clean up because there will be minimal pulp build up, a lovely touch.

Also, it comes with a 10-year warranty on the whole juicer, so when you buy this, expect at least ten years of worry-free juicing.

What are the downsides?

First, it is costly at close to $400, but you get a lot for $$$.

Second, it doesn’t come with a strainer so you have to purchase one separately if you don’t want pulp in the juice.

Third, this juicer will not be as efficient as a horizontal auger extractor when extracting from leafy veggies. But it can be remedied by using hard ingredients like a carrot to help push pulp down.

This will work great for people who a mixture of hard and soft fruit and vegetables (including green leafy veggies) in their juices without having to do much pre-cutting because it has a wide feed chute.

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Jack of All Trades: Omega VERT VSJ843QS

The VERT VSJ843QS is the latest in the long line of Omega slow masticating juicers.

This is the upgraded version of the old VRT400 with a larger, squarish body.

The auger rotates at a nice slow pace of 43rpm so there will be very minimal oxidation.

Another upgrade would be the auger. Instead of a single blade, this new juicer now has two blades that chop produce better.

It will work well on both fruit and vegetables which I juice often.

Looks aside, this is somewhat similar to the Hurom HA series which is an Asian version you won’t see in Amazon.

Both come from the same factory, DongAh Ind Co., Ltd, and both have the same auger and strainer design.

What makes this a good option?

It doesn’t have any feature that will grab your attention, but overall, it is pretty robust.

If you follow these best practices, it will work without any hiccups.

I love the tap feature because you can stop anytime and close the tap so that it does not drip. Only the Kuvings has this feature of the five here.

It also comes with a strainer that will fit on the juice catcher that it will fill up pretty quickly so you might still need to buy a sieve if you want a pulp-free juice minus the hassle.

What are the downsides?

Compared to the other two on top, it does not match feature wise and it is quite pricey at close to $400.

But it does come with a 15-year warranty on the whole unit, that’s five years more than the VRT350 plus it has a slightly larger pulp ejector (so less clogging) for less than $100 more.

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A Best Seller: Omega J8006 Nutrition Center

The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center is an Amazon bestseller for slow masticating juicers.

It is an upgraded version of the 8005 and is virtually the same machine as the 8004.

The only difference is color.

If you want something idiot-proof out of the box where you’ll shove produce in without worrying about any settings or best practices, then this is the juicer for you.

If it’s a bestseller, why did Omega J8006 at #4?

Even as a bestseller, it lacks features found in other juicers in this list.

First and the biggest reason is the feed chute. The Omega J8006 measures roughly an inch and a half wide. So you’ll need to chop ingredients like apple and lemon, basically everything that will not fit in.

This need to pre-cutting time all adds up. But the good news is that you don’t need to pre-cut fibrous vegetables like celery or collard greens because there is little risk of clogging.

Another stumbling block is the need to push produce, which adds to the time and effort in making juice.

Other than those two, this is an excellent product because it is efficient in juicing leafy greens.

If you want to juice a lot of green vegetables, stuff like spinach or wheatgrass then get this juicer. It can also juice fruit, but you need to pre-cut to fit in the chute.

However, it will struggle in juicing soft fruits like pineapple or lemon. It needs something hard or fibrous to push it out.

At just under $255, it is roughly $30 less than the NC800, if you don’t mind getting a used juicer to check out this factory reconditioned unit that comes with a 2-year warranty.

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Slowest Slow Juicer: Tribest Slow Star

The Tribest Slow Star has one of the slowest rotating augers right now at just 47 rpm.

It also has one of the most potent motors that produce an equivalent to 9 hp worth of torque, strong enough to crush hard ingredients without too much effort like beet and carrot.

More than just a juicer

It comes with a homogenizing attachment that allows you to make healthy homemade sorbets and peanut butter minus the artificial flavoring.

The low rpm (47 rpm) minimizes the air that goes into the juice, and this reduces oxidation.

Less oxidation means that you can store it longer, as much as three days if you do it right.

Editors note: The difference between 80 and 47 rpm is so minute that you wouldn’t notice the difference.

A close look at the auger reveals that it has two blades. This two blade system based on tests will yield 15% more juice from greens compared to a VRT400.

Double Blade Auger

Any downsides?

The two blade system tough great at yield isn’t as self-feeding as single blade augers. This means you need to exert some effort in shoving the produce through the chute using the pusher.

Not good if you suffer from a debilitating ailment like arthritis; otherwise, this shouldn’t be a big issue.

If you don’t mind the effort and want the maximum yield from vegetables and fruit, then the Tribest Slow Star is the one to buy.

View Deal in Amazon


Are there any budget alternatives?

The good news is there are budget alternatives.

A used factory reconditioned 8003 will cost around $150, but it’ll only come with a 90 warranty. This is virtually the same machine as the 8004.

The most significant difference between 8003 and 8004 would be the auger. The 8003 comes with the standard auger made with inferior material, not the GE Ultem plastic.

It means that it is not as hard (Ultem augers are eight times harder) and it will wear out faster in the long run. If you don’t plan to juice every day, then this is a viable option. The opening on the 8004 is slightly larger.

Another alternative for budget-conscious folks who love green juice would be the Kuvings NJE-3570 that’s around $210.

It only comes with a five-year warranty and doesn’t have the same Ultem auger and strainer as the other five slow masticating juicers listed here so it may wear out faster.

One of the cheapest masticating extractors right now is the Aicok that costs just under $110 in Amazon. It looks like a compressed version of the 8006. The small footprint makes this suitable inside smaller homes.

This brand is relatively new, and they also manufacture other products such as coffee makers, fryers, kettles, etc.

Despite being relatively new, it has gotten pretty good reviews, so it’s worth a try with the 30-day money back guarantee.

For folks who don’t juice every day, the Omega VRT330 (just under $200) with the Ultem strainer would be an exellent choice.

The selection process: choosing a slow masticating juicer

There are a lot of sources of reviews, and I’ve read through them – Amazon reviews, blogs, and Youtube videos to see how these juicers work in the real world.

A lot of consumers put a premium on convenience because of their busy lifestyle; that’s why products like the SKG remains popular.

Those who want to add more vegetables to their diets will opt for a horizontal auger juicer that’s optimal for extracting juice from leafy greens.

All slow juicers have these main essential components: An auger and tapered, cylindrical strainer that work together to squeeze the juice out from any fruit and vegetable you put in. The auger is driven by a motor connected through a shaft where the auger sits.

Depending on the type of juicer you buy, the motor will be either at the bottom or side of the auger.

High-end augers come with an optional stopper that prevents leaks and strainer that removes excess pulp.

Most juicers will still leave a lot of pulp if you don’t use a strainer, so it’s best that you buy something with one or buy a sieve.


How to choose the best masticating juicer?

Choosing one is like buying cars; you can pick one that has an automatic transmission or one that has a manual stick shift transmission.

Learning curve

Cars with a manual transmission have a steeper learning curve, whereas an automatic is much easier to drive at the expense of fuel economy and control.

Each type has its pros and cons.

Juicers, in a way are similar. A horizontal auger extractor is more like an automatic. The learning curve is not as steep as that of a vertical auger style.

What will you often juice?

The former works best with green leafy vegetables because of design.

It has a narrow auger and strainer that will be more efficient in extracting juice from leafy greens.

Plus you won’t need to pre-cut fibrous greens because the ejector port is straight and will not clog.

The downside is that you need to pre-cut fruits like apple and lemon because it has a small chute.

And it isn’t as self-feeding as vertical slow juicers because of the auger design.

Do have any an arthritic condition?

Which brings me to another disadvantage – you need to exert effort shoving produce through the chute.

Not suitable for people who suffer from conditions like arthritis. These also have a large footprint, not ideal for small homes where space is a premium.

The latter has a steeper learning curve because you need to follow some best practices to maximize it and minimize common issues.

Some issues you may encounter with a vertical juicer

A clogged pulp ejector port is a common issue that occurs when too much fibrous produce forced into the juice extrator. Examples of fibrous greens are celery and spinach.

It is a nightmare to clean a clogged ejector port because you’ll have to pull out the pulp.

Not only is it messy, but it’s also a waste of time. You can prevent clogging by chopping fibrous greens into smaller chunks.

I’ve written an article about how to juice celery on a vertical masticating juicer. Make sure to check that guide out.

Also, you will need to alternate soft and hard ingredients to help push pulp down and maximize yield.

Footprint

A significant advantage of a vertical juicer would be space savings. Since the auger sits on top, it won’t take up as much space horizontally.

In the review section, I’ve listed the dimensions so you can check whether or not it will fit on the table.

Horizontal auger juicers are generally easier to clean than vertical juicers because it has a smaller auger and screen, but the difference is minimal, the assembly for the former is a tad bit easier.

Budget

One of the first things you need to look at is how much you’re willing to spend. Top-of-the-line brands like Omega and Kuvings will cost upwards of $300 but this offset by the long warranty.

There are also cheaper options available that cost below $200 and even below $100. But these products won’t have extended warranties. And quality won’t be as good.

Warranty

Lastly, don’t forget to check the warranty.

The juicers featured here have at least ten-year warranty on the WHOLE UNIT!

Take note that some models like the Hurom HH series advertise their product having a 10-year warranty. But that’s only for the motor. The rest of the juicer only has a 2-year warranty.


Why do you need to consider juicing?

No matter how much you exercise, if your diet does not include a lot of fruits and vegetables, your body will eventually suffer the consequences.

I’ve been battling cholesterol for almost ten years right now. And I tell you even if I exercise every day and don’t change my diet that includes a lot of junk, processed and fried food my harmful cholesterol levels will remain.

Why?

Your body can only do so much in terms of flushing out toxins.

Neil Martin, a British based juice blogger, put it best when he said you couldn’t outrun your fork.

Studies have shown that eating at least 5 or more portions of fruit and vegetables will help improve your health.

FYI: According to NHS, a portion is at least 150ml glass of unsweetened natural fruit or vegetable juice. Sorry, bottled store bought juices don’t count.

Here’s more.

A BBC News article mentioned that eating 7 or more portions of fruit and vegetables reduces the risk of death by 42%.

Of course, you have to take into consideration your overall lifestyle and what your diet consists of, but you get the picture.

You need to eat 1.25 pounds of fruit and veggies per day

To put it in perspective, seven portions equal around 1.25 pounds, which is a LOT.

Drinking fresh green vegetable juice is one of the best ways of getting these portions into your diet.

Masticating or slow juicers are one of the best at extracting juice from vegetables and fruit because it crushes produce instead of shredding them in high speed like what a centrifugal juicer does.


The Verdict

Choosing the right juicer isn’t rocket science. The first thing to consider would be your budget – how much you’re willing to spend.

After setting a budget, figure out what types of produce you’ll be juicing. If it’s a mix of fruits and vegetables, then go with a vertical slow juicer like a Kuvings or SKG Wide Mouth because it has a wide chute that works best with fruit.

It’s a bit pricey at over $400 and if that’s out of the price range then opt for an Omega VRT400 that’s almost $100 cheaper.

But if you’re planning on making lots of green juice, then you should go with a horizontal masticating juicer like the Omega NC800 or 8006 or Aicok.

Please leave a message below or contact me if you have any suggestions or questions.

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