We Tested the 8 Best Cold Press Juicers of 2024 (2024)

Juicing fresh fruits and veggies is a refreshing, convenient, and delicious way to get a concentrated array of nutrients in one glass. You can use just one type of fruit or veggie, find your favorite combination, and even mix the juice into co*cktails (or mocktails).

There are two main types of juicers: centrifugal and masticating (or cold press). Centrifugal juicers use high-speed spinning blades, which some studies suggest can create heat that destroys heat-sensitive nutrients found in fresh produce and certain fruits. Cold press models, on the other hand, slowly crush and squeeze produce. Because of the lack of heat and speed, they’re also quieter than their centrifugal counterparts.

We brought some of the best cold press juicers on the market toour Labto put them to the test. To do so, we made several glasses of three juice combinations: orange-carrot juice, strawberry-pineapple juice, and green juice with kale, cucumber, and apple. Then, we evaluated each juicer based on attributes like design, performance, and ease of cleaning.

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How We Tested

We tested 19 juicers side-by-side in our Lab. We made three types of juice in each machine and evaluated their ease of use, durability, and performance. We also judged the quality of juice and ease of setting up, taking apart, and cleaning each machine. Durability, versatility, and overall value were among the other key considerations.

We then sent several cold press juicer models to our home testers, who evaluated them with the same criteria. Home tests included a variety of juices and other items, like sorbets and smoothies, to put the machines through their paces.

We Observed

• How the cold press juicers performed when making various juices: We used each juicer to make a carrot-orange juice, a green juice, and a pineapple-strawberry juice. We noted whether we had to precut the produce, anything got stuck, or hands-on intervention was needed, timing the process.
• How effectively the cold press juicers made juice: For each machine, we recorded how many ounces of juice were extracted, how dry the remaining pulp was, and how much foam (if any) sat atop the finished juices. We checked for juice that leaked out or other messes caused by the machine. Messiness when pouring finished juice was also noted.
• How easy the cold press juicers were to assemble, disassemble, and clean: After unboxing, we paid attention to any issues with setting up each juicer, looking for straightforward instructions and pieces that fit smoothly together. After testing, we noted any issues as we took apart each juicer, cleaned it, and emptied the pulp collector, following the manufacturer’s instructions.

We Rated

• Durability: We noted whether the juicer was made with high-quality materials and had a powerful motor that seemed unlikely to wear out, even after years of juicing tough fruits and veggies. We watched for wobbles and squeaks while in use and signs of damage after testing.
• Versatility: Beyond design features, like bulkiness, footprint, and size of various parts, we assessed the options and features of each juicer. Some allowed control over the amount of pulp in the juice, and some offered useful attachments or screens for sorbet, plant-based milk, baby food, and nut butter.
• Value: To determine each juicer’s value, we looked at all of our testing notes and the unit’s price. Juicers received high marks if they seemed a great deal or reasonably priced given their performance. We rated accordingly for those that seemed pricey yet worth buying if deeply discounted.

Other Options We Tested

• Omega Ultimate Juicer and Nutrition System: This juicer claimed to have many functions but consistently produced juices that were very thick and pulpy—more like a purée. It has a 15-year warranty and was very easy to assemble, but there were other performance issues, such as juice coming up the chute as the plunger was being pushed down. Our testers found this machine to be quiet, sturdy, and easy to take apart (and it also produced very dry pulp), but we couldn't get past how chunky all of the juices were.
• Nama j2 Cold Press Juicer: Our testers said, "If you want to spend the big bucks, this is a great option. [It's a] top-of-the-line product." They noted that it's incredibly hands-off to operate and produces great juice and bone-dry pulp, but it costs quite a bit more than its brand-mate, the Nama Vitality 5800, which was our best overall pick. It's easy to assemble, take apart, and clean, and you can pre-load the basket before starting the machine, which is unique. It's a lightweight, compact machine, but it's got a fairly small capacity and small chute as a result. Overall, this was a close contender for best splurge.

What to Look for in a Cold Press Juicer

Size and Capacity

A high-quality cold press juicer can get lots of juice out of fruits and veggies (and do all kinds of other tasks), but for more functions and higher capacity, you're going to have to give up more counter space. Part of this is up to the compactness of design, but part of it is unavoidable: A larger amount of juice simply requires a larger container to hold it. Attachments and accessories extend the possibilities of what you can do with your juicer, but they also have to go somewhere. On the other hand, if you're only planning to make a single glass of juice every morning, a smaller and less powerful juicer could be a money-saving option that also saves on room in your kitchen. There are also vertically oriented juicers that have a smaller footprint but are taller than other models.

Ease of Cleaning

Juicers are notoriously labor-intensive appliances to clean, with tiny bits of pulp that have to be washed out of screens and strainers, so choosing one that's easier to clean will likely impact how much you'll end up using it. Juicer parts are not usually dishwasher-safe, and if there are lots of complex parts and places for pulp to get stuck, washing by hand is a real pain. Many machines come with a cleaning brush that works well on its strainer in particular: Accessories like this are easy to lose but can be a big help. You'll also need to clean off the machine body, and probably the countertop beneath it, especially if the juicer doesn't come with a drip catcher or pulp catcher. Pro tip: Dry pulp is also a lot harder to scrub off, so cleaning your juicer immediately after use is a much better idea than waiting until hours later.

Power

As with all electrical appliances, the power of cold press juicers is measured in watts. More power is generally better, especially if you're looking to juice leafy greens or hard vegetables. But more power is also typically more expensive, and you don't need a particularly powerful juicer to handle things like watermelon, pineapple, and oranges. If you're trying to choose between a cold press juicer and a centrifugal model, comparing the wattage unfortunately isn't helpful, as cold press juicers work more slowly and need less electricity than centrifugal ones to juice the same ingredients.

Design and Features

Probably the most important design element to consider on a cold press juicer is the width of the feed tube: The wider the chute, the less chopping you'll have to do to make your produce fit. If it's easier to feed items into the juicer, it's going to be easier to use in general. The material the housing and motor are made of matter, too, as a heavy, stable juicer will make less noise and bounce around on the counter less than a flimsy plastic one.

Another factor to consider is versatility; some juicers are designed to be able to make frozen desserts, smoothies, nut milks, nut butters, and more, whereas others are intended to just make juice. Whether a more versatile model is worth the extra cost depends on whether or not you'll ever make use of its extra functions.

FAQs

What is the difference between cold press and centrifugal juicers?

What makes cold press juicers (also called masticating juicers) special is that they crush fruits and veggies and then squeeze to separate juice from solids gently and without heating, which helps retain flavor and doesn't break down enzymes and other nutrients. On the other hand, a centrifugal juicer (AKA a juice extractor) spins at high speed against a sharp blade, which produces juice more quickly but also generates flavor- and chemistry-altering heat while it does so. Because they spin faster and have more powerful motors, centrifugal juicers are generally louder than cold press ones, too.

How long does cold-pressed juice last?

Generally, cold-pressed juice can last three to five days if refrigerated properly in an airtight glass container. The acid in the juice can degrade plastic containers, and air will oxidize the juice, degrading the nutrients. Juice from centrifugal models lasts only about 24 hours.

According to Alyssa Pike, RD, a manager of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council, "Cold-pressed juice in its raw form only has a shelf life of three to four days before microbes begin to spoil it. To solve this problem, most of the [pre-packaged] cold-pressed juices on the market have undergone a method known as high-pressure processing (HPP). In HPP, already-bottled juices are submerged in cold water under high pressure, which kills pathogens and increases the shelf life from three to five days to 30 to 45 days."

Does cold-pressed juice taste different from juice from a centrifugal machine?

The taste is similar, but not exactly the same. The high-speed shredding a centrifugal juicer does raises the temperature of the juice slightly, and its high-speed centrifuging accelerates the oxidation process, both of which affect flavor. A cold-press juicer also yields more juice from the same amount of fruit or vegetables than a centrifugal machine.

Can you freeze cold-pressed juice?

You can! But you're better off making only the amount you can consume within a couple of days because the freezing and thawing cause oxidation that can deplete the nutrient content of the juice and give it a "faded" flavor.

Why does cold-pressed juice separate?

Cold-pressing makes juice that tastes very smooth, but all fruit and vegetable juices are composed of tiny particles suspended in liquid. When the liquid sits in the fridge for a few hours, the particles settle to the bottom. It's a natural process for cold-pressed (or any) juice to separate, and separation doesn't mean the juice has gone bad. Just give it a shake and enjoy.

What ingredients can you cold-press?

Your options are wide open: A cold press juicer can handle fruits, vegetables, and herbs of most any kind. Produce with lower water content, such as leafy greens or wheatgrass, can be more tricky to juice, but well-designed machines have no problem with it. Check out some of thesetasty juice recipesfor inspiration.

Why Trust The Spruce Eats?

Sharon Lehman is a registered dietitian nutritionist who encourages everyone to maximize their fruit and vegetable consumption. She’s a longtime fan and advocate of getting more servings and a variety of products through fresh fruit and veggie-packed smoothies and juices. She has owned and used juicers from Breville and Omega and tested the Omega Ultimate Juicer and Nutrition System for The Spruce Eats.

This roundup was updated by Katya Weiss-Andersson, a writer and editor who has nearly a decade of experience as a professional vegan chef. Katya is a big fan of green juice and once juiced one large bunch of celery every morning for 45 days as an experiment for her podcast. It was further updated by The Spruce Eats commerce writer Jason Horn, who loves carrot juice, both as a breakfast beverage and in the occasional co*cktail.

Sources

• Alyssa Pike, RD, a manager of nutrition communications at the International Food Information Council

• Small Appliances