What exactly is a masticating juicer?
When it comes to juicing, the masticating juicer is by far the most versatile of the bunch. Most of the common household
juice extractor models are based on a spinning cutting disc or basket (known as centrifugal method). The disc cuts the fruit or vegetable into extremely small bits that are spun at high speeds to extract the juice from the pulp. This form of juicing can cause heat to build up in the juice. This is not good because temperatures above 117 degrees Fahrenheit begin to destroy the live enzymes in the juice. The other disadvantage is that you cannot process anything that does not have a high water content, such as lettuce or
wheat grass. Another form of juicing is done by a masticating juice machine.
A masticating juicer is better at preserving nutrients
The big advantage of a masticating juice is that is uses as auger (corkscrew) to push, grind and chew the fruits and vegetables into juice. This form of juicing is done at lower speeds which means better nutrient preservation. In addition, these juicing extractors actually get more liquid out and produce a dryer pulp. They also can be used to process green leafy vegetable like wheat grass and vegetables. There is another bonus too. Some are equipped with grinding attachments that are useful for making baby food, grinding coffee and making nut butters. Lastly, masticating juice machines operate more quietly since the motor spins slower.
Some examples of masticating juicing extractors include the Omega 8002 juicer and many from the Champion juicer line. The Omega model even has an attachment for making pasta. There is one small disadvantage of this style of juicing. It typically is slower and the feed chute is more often smaller than centrifugal juicers. This means it takes longer for one to extract the juice. If you are not in a hurry and have a bit larger budget for a juicer, you may consider buying a masticating model for all of their advantages.
