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Best Juicer for Leafy Greens
Review and Buyers Guide
Edited by: Isabel Stewart , Last updated: November 23, 2020
Leafy greens should be in a superfood juicing category of their own due to the extremely high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants found within these green powerhouses.
For every 2 cups of chopped greens, you get a whopping 113% of vitamin A and 97% of vitamin C plus a whole host of other beneficial nutrients.
With such a wide range of leafy greens available, from kale and spinach to cabbage and mustard greens, you would be absolutely crazy not to have them as key players in your juicing game.
The issue with juicing leafy greens is that it’s hard for some juicers to extract the nutrients out from the wafer-thin leaves. Some greens like kale have such a thick stem that its inevitable for a suboptimal juicer to get clogged or stuck during the juicing process.
To help you sift through the ineffective juicers for leafy greens and find the best tools for the job, we have analyzed and researched all the relevant juicer options out there and whittled them down to our top 5 picks that at green juicing.
In this article we will show you:
- Exactly what qualities we look for in an excellent juicer for leafy greens
- Provide you with the best juicer picks available
- And answer the most frequently asked questions related to juicing greens, empowering you with the knowledge to make the best juicer choices for your situation
Read on to find out more!
Best juicers for leafy greens at a glance:
- Editors Choice: Omega NC900hds
- Best premium leafy green juicer: Tribest GSE 5050
- Best budget friendly green juicer: Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer
- Best vertical cold pressed slow juicer for leafy greens: Omega vsj843
- Best juicer for leafy greens with fruit: Hurom Elite Slow Juicer
In-Depth Review Of The 5 Best Juicers For Leafy Greens (2021 updated)
1. Omega NC900hds – Editor’s Choice
FEATURES:
Juicer Type: Horizontal Masticating Juicer
Power: 150w
Speed: 80 rpm
Warranty: 15 years
Dimensions: 14.5 x 6.5 x 15.5 inches
REVIEW SCORE:
95/100
The Omega nc900hds is a slow masticating cold press juicer that we have found to be one of the best juicers for dealing with the variety of shapes and textures found in the range of leafy greens available.
The Omega comes with a 150w motor which is quiet enough to be used without waking the neighbors. The 150-watt motor is used to power a single horizontal auger that rotates at 80 rpm (revolutions per minute). The single-auger system is perfect for leafy greens since it prevents excess air from getting into the chute allowing for a higher amount of pressure when squeezing and less oxidation.
Clean up is one of the most significant factors when it comes to juicers, and we can happily say that the Omega nc800HDS is pretty easy to clean. The low amount of parts that are easy to assemble and disassemble and efficient pulp collector make clean up a quick process.
Being a horizontal juicer, the Omega tends to take up quite a bit of countertop space, but a bonus is it comes with an inbuilt handle for effortless movement wherever you need to place it. If kitchen space is a limiting factor for you when juicing leafy greens, then a more compact option is the Omega VSJ843.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
2. Tribest GSE 5050 – Best Premium Leafy Green Juicer
FEATURES:
Juicer Type: Horizontal Masticating Juicer
Power: 200w
Speed: 110rpm
Warranty: 12 years
Dimensions: 18.6 x 6.8 x 12.4 inches
REVIEW SCORE:
94/100
Tribest, known for their premium quality and efficient range of juicers, the GSE 5050 is no exception. It delivers the fastest juicing speeds for a masticating juicer, meaning you can obtain the main benefits of a slow juicer, such as higher yield and lower oxidation, without the long juicing times.
The twin gear juicers system, which uses the power of two augers rather than one, can extract a high yield from all leafy greens that you throw at it. The two augers are a fantastic feature for vegans who enjoy adding ingredients like kale or cabbage into their juices since they can sometimes be tough to breakdown.
The pressure adjustment mechanism gives you the capability to control pulp filtration and adapt the juicer to the type of greens being used for more efficient juicing and pulp extraction.
Although the Tribest is reasonably easy to use and assemble, it ends up being harder to clean than the other juicing options due to having so many parts. This is more than made up for with its wide range of juicing capabilities, turning the Tribest 5050 into much more than just your standard juicer.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
3. Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer – Best Budget Friendly Green Juicer
FEATURES:
Juicer Type: Horizontal Masticating juicer
Power: 150 W
Speed: 80 rpm
Warranty: 3 years
Dimensions: 16.1 x 7.9 x 11.6 inches
REVIEW SCORE:
93/100
The Aicok slow juice extractor (amr521) takes our slot for best budget slow masticating juicer for greens.
Leafy greens such as spinach, kale, and cabbage, require a slow speed juicer than can apply high levels of pressure with the least amount of oxidation. The Aicok was surprisingly able to provide exactly what is needed to extract a high green juice yield and a fraction of the cost compared to premium alternatives. With its upgraded spiral horizontal auger system, 150w motor, and speeds of 80rpm (revolutions per minute), the Aicok makes light work of even the toughest greens.
While using the Aicok, the yield extracted from typical leafy greens is much more than what you would find in a centrifugal juicer, and the low temperature while juicing allows a high level of nutrients to be retained.
The cleaning process for any juicer is usually the most stressful part, but thankfully, the Aicok is pretty easy to clean. It comes with brushes to clean the difficult areas with greens tends to get stuck and is made of dishwasher safe parts for easier cleaning.
The majority of the Aicok is made of plastic and are less durable than our other top picks. The lower durability means users need to be more careful with usage to avoid accidental breakage.
Juicing with the Aicok is a straightforward and intuitive process, but be cautious of placing large unchopped greens in the chute with soft fruits and vegetables since it creates a higher potential for clogging. If a clog does occur, the Aicok AMR 521 has a reverse function that helps to alleviate the problem quickly.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
4. Omega vsj843 – Best Vertical Cold Pressed Slow Juicer
FEATURES:
Juicer Type: Vertical masticating juicer
Power: 150w
Speed: 43rpm
Warranty: 15 years
Dimensions: 15.51 x 6.97 x 15.47 inches
REVIEW SCORE:
93/100
The Omega vsj843 is one of our favorite juicers overall, and our top pick for a vertical masticating juicer for leafy greens.
It comes with an extremely quiet 150w motor that powers a dual-edged auger at a low speed of 43 rpm ( revolutions per minute). The slower masticating speeds ensure the juicer has enough time to squeeze out maximum nutrients, while maintaining low temperatures, making light work of most leafy greens.
Vertical masticating juicers are generally able to extract a much higher yield from greens then a high-speed centrifugal juicer but always come second to horizontal masticating juicers. Horizontal masticating juicers can apply higher levels of pressure on leafy greens with minimal oxidation, which results in a higher yield but can sometimes be limited with the items they can juice.
The plus side of a vertical auger over horizontal is the versatile range of foods that can be efficiently juiced. Plus, the self-feeding function found on the VSJ allows you to juice on auto-pilot for effortless green juice.
A handy feature on the front of the side of VSJ is the reverse option that is a lifesaver when you get a bit carried and cause a clog while juicing.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
5. Hurom Elite Slow Juicer – Best For Leafy Greens and Fruit
FEATURES:
Juicer Type: Vertical Masticating Juicer
Power: 150 watts
Speed: 43 rpm
Warranty: 10 years
Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.4 x 15.7 inches
REVIEW SCORE:
91/100
The Hurom hhsbb11 elite vertical slow juicer, with its “slow squeezing technology” and their twin winged auger they claim to be able to extract 35% more juice than a typical centrifugal juicer. No doubt, it will extract more juice than a high speed juicer, but the amount will depend on the actual fruit or vegetable being used.
The Hurom masticating juicer does an outstanding job juicing leafy greens due to its low speed auger that rotates at 43rpm, matching the Omega vsj843 for speed. Although the slower-speed result in a longer juicing process, it gives more time for maximum juice extraction. With a high level of pressure applied over a longer duration, the Hurom is able to withdraw a higher-quality juice from your favorite leafy greens.
This model is an upgrade from their older version where they have taken on board customer issues and simplified a lot of the parts to make assembling and cleaning an easier process than before.
Large feed chute making it an excellent option for those who tend to throw in bigger chunks of leafy greens, which can save you time in preparation. The easy close hopper allows for drip-free pouring which is a nice convenient addition.
Why we love it
things to be aware of
Leafy Green Juicer Buyers Guide
So what qualities do we look for in the best juicers for leafy greens?
Juicer type and juicing speed
The main two juicer types that you should be aware of when it comes to juicing leafy greens are masticating (slow juicer) and centrifugal (fast juicer).
Masticating juicer
Masticating juicers are by far the best juicer type for leafy greens. The low-speed rotations (which spin 80 rpm on average but can range between 45rpm -110 rpm) are mandatory for efficient leafy green juicing.
Leafy greens require squeezing with a lot of pressure to draw out maximum nutrients and keeping temperatures low while doing this allows for high nutrient retention, which is also what the term cold-pressed juicer relates to.
The main drawdown of masticating juicers is that they are typically more pricey than centrifugal juicers.
Centrifugal juicer
Centrifugal juicers use a flat blade and strainer that spin at high speeds between 10,000 and 13,000 RPM (revolutions per minute) to break down your vegetables.
The juice and pulp are separated using “centrifugal force” during rotation, which can be effective with firm fruits and vegetables, such as carrots, beets, or apples. For leafy greens, the fast speed and sharp blades end up slicing the leaves but not resulting in much juice, making centrifugal juicers inefficient for juicing leafy greens.
All of our top juicers for leafy greens are of the masticating kind since they provide the best green juice yield and ensure we get maximum extraction from our favorite greens, fruits, and vegetables.
Motor & Power
High amounts of power while juicing can be both good and bad.
Harder vegetables can be broken down easily with a high powered motor, but the downside is that too much power can cause excess heat which has the potential to affect the nutrient quality negatively.
Centrifugal juicers have the highest power, usually ranging between 600-1000 watts, but masticating juicers, on the other hand, only require between 100-200w to run at peak efficiency and extract maximum yield from leafy greens.
Bear in mind that high power is usually synonymous with a higher noise level, so take this into consideration before deciding which leafy greens juicer is best for your household.
Pulp extraction
The juicer’s ability to maximize pulp extraction is a significant factor in how far your produce can stretch. The dryer the extracted pulp, the higher the yield, resulting in a larger amount of nutritious green juice.
The best juicers come with a large pulp container or pulp jug, which helps for a smoother juicing experience.
Masticating juicers tend to have more ways to adjust for pulp extraction, which in most cases means a higher yield in comparison to centrifugal juicers.
Automatic pulp filtration is a handy feature.
Look out for additional features such as adjustable end nozzles that allow for better pressure control and pulp filtration, especially when mixing your leafy greens with carrots or apples.
Ease of use
Key things to consider:
How easy is it to put together and take apart? Are there a lot of overall parts, do they seem delicate or durable and do they fit on easily without you having to google precisely how to piece everything together? Simplicity is key in this regard.
How long does it take actually to start juicing? We all just want to juice and go, so a simple interface with easy to understand buttons is paramount to minimal stress while juicing.
The size of the feed chute is another aspect to consider since the bigger the feeding tube, the less time you will need to spend preparing.
If the feeding chute is small, you will need to chop your fruits and veggies into smaller pieces unless you have a vertical self-feeding juicer, which can generally deal with leafy greens with ease.
Extra features like adjustable speeds help when juicing greens with other veggies, and reverse buttons help if any leaves get clogged during the process.
Clean up
How difficult it is to clean can be the make or break attribute that stops you in your track on your juicing journey simple because no one wants to do it.
Main things to consider are:
The amount of parts– More parts equals more things to clean. Single auger slow juicers tend to be the easiest to clean since they have minimal parts and minimal places for greens to get stuck.
Are they dishwasher safe? Some parts may need a cleaning brush to make the juicing machines easy to clean. Other components can be thrown in the dishwasher providing that the parts are dishwasher safe.
An extra feature to look out for on some juicers is the self-cleaning function that cleans out the space between the auger and the screen. This saves overall clean up time and can be a nice bonus when picking out a leafy green juicer.
Size and appearance
How much space does the juicer take up, or what is its counter footprint? Some juicers especially ones with horizontal augers can take up a lot of space so knowing ahead of time where you want your kitchen appliance to sit and how much countertop space you actually have for it alongside space for you to chop and prep your produce is important.
A vertical juicer may be the best option for those with limited space since they can fit nicely in most kitchen counter corners without edging over the side.
Chute size is another thing to consider before purchasing. What fruits and vegetables do you plan on juicing the most? A larger chute will allow you to place much larger greens in your juicer, whereas a smaller chute will require precutting, especially if the greens have a thick stem.
Value
The main things to consider when trying to determine value are price, parts, and warranty.
You may be able to find a cheap juicer that looks like a brilliant deal, but if the warranty is short and doesn’t cover all product parts you may end up spending much more in the long run.
Warranties will vary depending on the budget:
- the lower range of juicers providing 1-3 years
- mid-range providing 5-10 years
- Upper ranges providing 10-15 years
The durability of the parts is key in our reviewing process and should be one of the main factors to think about before you purchase. Questions to ask yourself before purchase:
- Are the parts made of stainless steel or plastic?
- Is the plastic BPA free?
- Are the parts easy to replace if broken?
The more stainless steel parts that make up the product, the longer your juicer will tend to last.
If the juicer comprises of mainly plastic parts, it will tend to be cheaper but may not hold up as well over a considerable period of use.
Frequently asked questions
Feeling inspired?
Why not try out some of our alternative green juice recipes that use a blend of different fruits and vegetables to achieve a delicious yet healthy result. These recipes allow you to get a bit creative with your leafy green juicing while adding extra nutritional benefits that enhance the overall juice result.