Juicers are able to extract fresh juice from fruits and vegetables and are one of the most popular kitchen appliances in the world today. Juicers have garnered significant attention for their many health benefits and the opportunity to enjoy nourishing, nutrient-rich juices at home.
The benefits of juicing are plentiful. Juicing can be a great way to get an extra serving of fruits and vegetables in your diet. Juicing also helps to give your digestive system a break from eating large quantities of food. In addition to the many health benefits, many turn to juicing as a weight loss aid as fruit and vegetable juices can also help you feel full for longer.
Juicers are in high demand due to the tangible benefits they provide. However, various juicers offer different functions. For this reason, it helps to do some of your research beforehand if you're planning to start juicing.
Let’s get into the difference between a horizontal vs vertical juicer so you can make informed decisions when purchasing one. We’ll also cover some other helpful distinctions:
- Types of juicers
- Vertical juicer vs horizontal juicer comparisons
- Is a horizontal juicer better than a vertical one?
Types of Juicers
Many kinds of juicers are available on offer nowadays, but most fall into two general categories: masticating and centrifugal.
A masticating juicer is a type of juicer that crushes the fruit or vegetable instead of just grinding it. This method can be more time-consuming than other juicer varieties but is also more effective and preserves more nutrients. On the other hand, the centrifugal juicer is a fast juicer that uses a spinning blade to cut the produce and extract the juice. The spinning process breaks down the cell walls of produce and extracts juice from them. It also separates any pulp that might be left in the extract.
Masticating juicers are often more expensive, but the quality of juice they create makes them a worthy investment. They are the perfect choice for those who want to get the most nutrients out of their juices. In contrast, the centrifugal variety is more affordable. However, its blades operate at high speeds, which causes oxidation, yielding more foamy and less nutritious extracts. It's an excellent option for those who are still new at juicing or always on the go. But if you're serious about the health benefits of homemade juices, you'll need to upgrade your juicer to a masticating type eventually.
Vertical Juicer vs Horizontal Juicer Comparisons
Masticating juicers come in two separate model types: vertical and horizontal. So, what's the difference between the two?
- Recency: Vertical models are often newer than horizontal types. Most masticating juicers manufactured today are of the vertical variety because they are more compact and therefore take up less space on countertops.
- Noise-level: Masticating juicers are popular because they don't produce much noise. However, the horizontal variety creates much less sound than the vertical models.
- Juicing produce: Vertical juicers are great for juicing soft fruits like peaches, oranges, berries and kiwis. On the other hand, horizontal juicers work better with dry fruits and root vegetables.
- Juicing greens: For those planning on juicing greens like spinach, kale or wheatgrass, horizontal juicers are the better choice for you. The vertical masticating juicers can have some challenges when juicing leafy vegetables because they sometimes get stuck in the machine. Horizontal models won't have this issue due to their REV (reverse) function. However, there are some exceptions to this. For example, Hurom's vertical juicers are specially designed to process leaf vegetables.
- Pulp: Vertical juicers produce clearer juice since most machines have two strainers. If you want a pulpier drink, the horizontal type is a better option.
- Versatility: Horizontal juicers are more versatile than the vertical models because they can make frozen desserts, salsa, baby foods and others. There are also horizontal juicers that have accessories to upgrade their function. Examples are coffee and spice grinders, pasta extruders and homogenizer screens. Although there are vertical juicer models that can make sorbets, they are still not as effective as horizontal ones.
- Cleaning time: When comparing the cleaning times between a vertical vs horizontal juicer, the vertical type takes a little longer to clean. This is because they have larger screens than the horizontal models, so you may need to spend more time scrubbing them down.
- Cost: If you're weighing the cost of a horizontal vs vertical juicer, the former one is cheaper because it is made out of simpler components. Vertical models often have more parts and run on the latest technology.
Vertical Juicer vs Horizontal Juicer Comparisons
Both masticating models have their pros and cons. However, choosing between a vertical juicer vs horizontal juicer ultimately boils down to your needs.
Vertical juicers are better for those who want to juice softer produce. On the other hand, horizontal juicers are suitable for those who want to extract juice from leafy greens like kale or spinach. They also work well for extracting juice from wheatgrass or other hard-to-juice produce like celery, carrots and beets.
Additionally, the vertical juicer is a popular choice for many people because it has the advantage of being able to make more juice than the horizontal juicer. It yields around 80 percent from fruits and vegetables, while the horizontal juicer only extracts approximately 40 percent. However, it also has disadvantages, such as being less efficient with leafy vegetables and fruits. Vertical juicers also have a higher price making them unsuitable for people trying to cut costs.
It’s best to first determine your unique needs before choosing between the two models. Both models offer varying specifications and abilities. Ultimately, you want to choose the juicer that’s right for you to enjoy fresh and healthy drinks from your kitchen.
Hurom: We Provide the Best Juicers in the Market
Since our inception in 1974, Hurom has consistently developed innovative technology and products that promote healthy lifestyles. Our goal is to make it easy for our customers to integrate nutritious, whole foods into their diet effectively. Therefore, all of our products are created with this mission in mind.
Our juicers feature our Slow Squeeze Technology, which mimics the natural motion of a hand squeezing an orange. This minimizes the damage to the produce, keeping their nutrition and taste intact.