If you’re trying to add more fruits, vegetables and super foods to your diet, you may be wondering what the difference is between a juicer and a blender. While both make healthy drinks, these two appliances differ in just about every other way.
Let’s take a closer look at the major differences between a juicer and a blender.
Blenders Blend; Juicers Separate
The primary difference between a blender and a juicer is this:
- A juicer separates juice from fiber, while a blender blends all ingredients together.
- Every time you toss a beet, carrot or any other fruit or vegetable into a juicer, the juice gets separated from the pulp (or fiber). The liquid is poured into a glass, while the leftover pulp is collected in a container. Juicers work by pressing the food against a set of blades to literally push or squeeze the liquid out.
Blenders, on the other hand, blend all the ingredients together. This means that you’re also getting the pulp, or fiber, found in the foods you blend. There’s no waste left behind, and no complicated prep work involved.
Most juicers have multiple parts, which can make clean-up and operation a bit more time-consuming and complex. Blenders have just a few basic parts, and clean-up is virtually effortless.
How Juicers and Blenders Work
Juicers
There are a variety of different juicer types on the market, and each comes with its own set of pros and cons. The two primary types are:
- Masticating
- Centrifugal
Centrifugal is the most common type of juicer, and it works by rapidly spinning foods in its chamber to extract juice. Food is passed through a chute at the top of the juicer, and the food then falls into a chamber with razor sharp teeth. The teeth shred the pulp, and the food is spun at high speeds to remove the juice.
Masticating juicers are also known as cold-pressed juicers, and tend to be more expensive. Foods are squeezed and crushed at a slower rate than a centrifugal juicer. They also produce less heat, which keeps more of the nutrients intact.
Blenders
While you’ll find a variety of different brands and models on the market, blenders generally all work the same. Speed and jug size will be the main differences between most models. The higher the speed, the better the blending quality.
Juicers Can’t Make Smoothies
Juicers have one function: to make juice. You will be able to make smoothies like you would with a blender. And unlike blenders, you can’t create other things, like sauces, mixed drinks, salsa or soup. The only thing a juicer can do is make juice. Period.
If you’re hoping to keep all of the fiber and nutrients of your food intact, a blender is the better option.
Juicers and blenders can both play a role in a healthy diet. Which one is right for you? That depends on your needs. If you have issues digesting fiber, a juicer may be the better option. However, if nutrition is your top concern, blenders are the better option because you retain all of the fiber in the foods you blend.