Blenders
A blender works by simply grinding up whatever you put into it. It has blades in the bottom of it that rotate at different speeds to achieve the desired consistency. You can make a chunky mixture or a completely smooth one, depending upon how long you blend it, and on what setting. Even though you can buy different size blenders with anywhere from one to ten speed settings, they all operate in basically the same manner. The ingredients go in the pitcher, the machine gets turned on, the blades revolve, and the contents are broken down and blended.
Juicers
The main purpose (actually, the only purpose) of a juicer is to extract the juice from fruits, vegetables, and herbs. Basically, if it grows and has moisture in it, you can put it in a juicer and take out that liquid nutrition. The key is extracting, not blending. The major difference between a juicer and a blender is that the end product of a juicer is only juice. No pulp, no skins, no extra “stuff.” Just juice.
Pulp vs. No Pulp
This is actually the crux of the entire blender-versus-juicer debate. Many people prefer to have the fiber that’s inherent to the pulp of the produce, but if you’re truly juice fasting, then the pulp is a no-no. If you simply want to add some fruits and vegetables to your diet, then the fiber is a great benefit of the produce. It’s all a matter of what your goal is.
Now that I’ve clarified the difference between a blender and a juicer, I need to discuss the different types of juicers. In essence, there are three styles of juicers — masticating, centrifugal, and triturating — and they are distinguished by the way in which they extract the juice from the produce. Which juicer you buy depends on your needs. Consider the following major factors:
- What you’re going to be juicing
- How often you’ll be juicing
- How much you want to spend
