What is the healthiest type of juicer? A Guide to Nutrient Retention

October 13, 2025 •

2 min read

According to a 2022 study, only about 10 percent of Americans get enough fruits and vegetables daily. A juicer can be a powerful tool to bridge this nutritional gap, but answering the question, 'what is the healthiest type of juicer?' is crucial for maximizing your intake of vitamins, minerals, and enzymes.

Quick Summary

Masticating, or cold-press, juicers are the healthiest option for retaining nutrients because their slow, gentle process minimizes heat and oxidation. In contrast, fast-spinning centrifugal juicers generate more heat and air, which can degrade sensitive vitamins and cause faster juice separation.

Key Points

Masticating (Cold Press) Juicers: Considered the healthiest type of juicer due to their slow, gentle crushing method that preserves more vitamins, enzymes, and nutrients. For more details, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.
Centrifugal Juicers: Faster and more affordable, but generate heat and oxidation that can degrade nutrient content and cause juice to separate quickly. For more details, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.
High Juice Yield: Masticating juicers produce more juice and drier pulp from the same amount of produce, making them more efficient and cost-effective in the long run. For more details, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.
Handles Leafy Greens: For juicing fibrous greens like kale and spinach, masticating juicers are far superior and extract more juice compared to centrifugal models. For more details, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.
Longer Shelf Life: Juice from a masticating juicer can last up to 72 hours when refrigerated, while centrifugal juice is best consumed immediately. For more details, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.
Quiet Operation: Masticating juicers run much quieter than loud, high-speed centrifugal juicers. For more details, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.

Understanding the Different Types of Juicers

The two main types of juicers you'll encounter are masticating and centrifugal. Masticating juicers are generally considered the best for preserving nutrients, while centrifugal juicers offer a quicker and more budget-friendly option.

The Masticating (Cold Press or Slow) Juicer

Masticating juicers are often considered the healthiest because they operate at slow speeds (60-90 RPM). They use a gear or auger to crush and press produce against a screen, minimizing heat and air exposure, which helps retain heat-sensitive nutrients and enzymes. For a detailed look at the pros and cons, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.

The Centrifugal (Fast) Juicer

Centrifugal juicers are common and typically more affordable. They use a high-speed spinning blade to shred produce, separating juice from pulp through centrifugal force. They are fast and convenient. For a detailed look at the pros and cons, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.

Twin-Gear (Triturating) Juicers

Twin-gear juicers offer exceptional nutrient extraction using two interlocking gears but are often slower and more expensive than masticating models. Masticating juicers usually offer a better balance for home users.

Juicer Comparison Table: Masticating vs. Centrifugal


Feature	Masticating (Cold Press)	Centrifugal (Fast)
Nutrient Retention	Higher	Lower
Juice Yield	Higher	Lower
Speed	Slower	Faster
Oxidation & Shelf Life	Low oxidation; lasts up to 72 hours	High oxidation; best consumed immediately
Noise Level	Quiet	Noisy
Versatility	Excels with leafy greens; versatile	Best for hard produce; struggles with leafy greens
Cost	More expensive	More affordable
Best For	Prioritizing nutrient quality and versatile ingredients	Prioritizing speed and convenience

Factors to Consider Beyond Juicer Type

Consider what you plan to juice, your budget, ease of use and cleaning, and the juicer's size. For a more detailed breakdown, {Link: Bon Appétit https://www.bonappetit.com/story/best-juicers}.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice for Your Health

Masticating juicers are the healthiest type for preserving nutrients and producing high-quality juice with a longer shelf life. While a greater investment of time and money, they are ideal for those prioritizing nutrient density. Centrifugal juicers are faster and cheaper but sacrifice some nutrient quality due to heat and oxidation. The best juicer aligns with your lifestyle, budget, and health goals. Remember that juicing removes fiber, so it should supplement, not replace, whole fruits and vegetables. For more on healthy eating, visit the {Link: Mayo Clinic website https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/juicing/faq-20058020}.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, 'cold-press' and 'masticating' are two terms for the same type of juicer. Both refer to the slow, chewing action used to extract juice with minimal heat and oxidation.

Centrifugal juicers don't completely destroy nutrients, but the heat and air exposure from their high-speed operation can degrade some heat-sensitive vitamins and cause faster oxidation, which reduces the juice's nutritional quality.

Masticating juicers are significantly better for leafy greens, wheatgrass, and other fibrous vegetables. Their grinding action extracts more juice and nutrients from these ingredients, whereas centrifugal juicers are inefficient with them.

Fresh juice from a masticating juicer, when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, can last for up to 72 hours due to minimal oxidation.

Cold-pressed juice is more expensive due to the higher cost of masticating juicers, the longer time required for extraction, and the greater yield and nutrient retention that results in a higher-quality product.

Masticating juicers often have more parts and finer mesh screens, which can make them more time-consuming to clean than centrifugal models. However, many brands are focusing on easier cleanup.

For beginners focused on speed and affordability, a centrifugal juicer is a user-friendly starting point. However, if your goal is maximum nutrition, investing in a masticating juicer is the better long-term choice.