Juicer vs. Blender: What’s the Difference?

If you’re like me, you might have difficulty deciding which appliances deserve a spot on your kitchen counter. There are so many kitchen appliances competing for space, from basics like coffee pots and toasters to innovations like the beloved Ninja Creami. Buying a juicer or blender is a particularly tough choice—the two serve similar functions but excel in different areas.

As a professional product tester, I’ve used my fair share of juicers and blenders, and I can confidently tell you that the two gadgets aren’t interchangeable in your kitchen. You might be able to use a blender to make juice, but you certainly can’t use a juicer to puree soup! To determine which appliance is the better choice, you’ll want to consider the recipes you plan to make.

Here’s everything you need to know about choosing a juicer vs. blender, including what foods you can make with each appliance and what to look for as you shop.

When to Use a Juicer vs. Blender

When deciding whether to use a juicer or a blender, one of the main questions is: Do I want the pulp removed? Both appliances can process fruits and vegetables, but juicers strain out the pulp, while blenders do not. With that in mind, here’s what you need to know about the best tasks for each appliance.

The best tasks for a juicer

As you may have guessed, the best task for a juicer is, well, making juice. These gadgets can juice virtually any produce, from apples to spinach to carrots. They separate the liquid (and nutrients!) from the pulp, resulting in delicious homemade juice that’s fresh and healthy.

However, juicers aren’t just for juicing. Many juicers can extract liquid from ingredients and strain out the solids. The best masticating juicers can often make fresh almond milk or other nut milk—you simply add water and soaked nuts to the juicer and let it do its work. Some juicers also come with special attachments for making frozen desserts or smoothies. (However, if you only want to make smoothies, we’d recommend one of the best blenders for smoothies, which are generally more efficient.)

The best foods to make in a juicer include:

• Fresh juice
• Nut milks
• Frozen desserts (depending on the machine)

The best tasks for a blender

While you can technically use a blender to make juice, it won’t be as easy as using a juicer. A powerful blender has fast-spinning blades that can puree fruits and vegetables, but the problem is that all the pulp, seeds and other solids will end up in your juice, too. You’ll have to strain the mixture through a fine sieve to extract the pulp before you can enjoy the juice, adding another time-consuming step to the process.

While making juice in a blender is possible, it’s not the best task for this appliance. Blenders are better suited for processing liquid ingredients (this is also the main difference between a blender and a food processor, which is better suited for dry ingredients). When using a blender, you need liquid in the jar to funnel the ingredients to the blades.

For this reason, blenders are the best tool for making smoothies, soups and homemade salad dressings. You can also use a blender to make frozen drinks, cocktails and recipes like homemade butter.

To sum it up, here are the best foods to make in a blender:

• Soups
• Smoothies
• Milkshakes
• Frozen drinks
• Salad dressing
• Homemade sauces
• Homemade butter

What to Consider When Buying a Juicer

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If you’ve decided to buy a juicer, there are a few key factors you’ll want to consider as you compare models.

• Juicer type: Many people prefer masticating juicers, also called slow or cold-press juicers, which slowly chew up ingredients to extract a maximum amount of juice and preserve nutrients. However, there are also centrifugal juicers that have a high-speed spinning blade. These juicers work faster, but may not yield as much juice and are often much louder.
• Chute size: Some juicers have extra-large chutes that let you put whole ingredients directly into the appliance, minimizing the prep required. If your juicer has a smaller chute, you must cut ingredients before putting them into the machine.
• Cleaning: One common complaint about juicers is that they’re a hassle to clean. If you don’t like hand-washing dishes, look for a juicer with dishwasher-safe components or special cleaning tools.
• Attachments: If you want to use your juicer to make frozen desserts or smoothies, look for a model with special attachments for these tasks.
  

What to Consider When Buying a Blender

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You’ll want to consider different features when shopping for a blender. Here are the main considerations.

• Capacity: Blenders come in a wide range of sizes. Compact personal blenders can only make around 12 ounces at a time, while oversized blenders can hold 72 ounces or more. You’ll want to consider how you plan to use the blender as you decide what size is best for your home.
  
• Power: Most blenders have a power range of 500 to 750 watts, which is suitable for most household tasks. However, if you’re planning to process hard ingredients, like large amounts of ice, you may want to opt for a higher-powered model, such as the best Vitamix blenders.
• Settings: Some basic blenders have a single pulse option, while others have a wide range of speed and power settings. The latter will give you more versatility when processing different ingredients, but they’ll also cost more.
• Noise level: Blenders, especially high-powered ones, can be quite noisy. If you plan on making early morning smoothies, you may want to look for a model with a lower decibel rating to avoid disturbing your household.

You can learn more about what to look for in a blender in our guide to the best blenders, which includes insights from firsthand testing on popular models.

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