Is it better to choose a centrifuge or a juice extractor?

The terms extract, centrifuge, juice, and squeeze are often mentioned as if they were synonyms, but in reality all of these preparations differ in many ways, and the only thing they have in common is that they are processes that aim to make beverages from fruit.

The difference between centrifuges and extractors is in the grinding technique. The centrifuge has blades that spin at high speed to grind food, while the extractor allows you to make juice by slow cold extraction.  This means that a juice made with an extractor can keep much longer, while one made with a centrifuge tends to turn dark within a short time.

 Centrifuges have a power rating of about 1000 W, while extractors vary between 200-400 W, having more power a centrifuge will extract juice in about 5 minutes, while an extractor in about 15 minutes.

Extractors have motors with speeds between 40 and 100 rpm, while centrifuges reach as high as 15000 rotations per minute. 

Speaking of yield, it can be said that the extractor can produce about 20% more juice than the centrifuge.

An important difference is the difference in flavor between a centrifugate and an extract. This does not mean that one is better than the other, but that in this case the choice depends very much on the palate, since the juice of the cold extractor is much more full-bodied and dense, while that of the centrifuge is more fluid.

Centrifugation tends to destroy the fibers, as a blade cuts through them and the high speed causes a centrifugal force that pushes the food against the filter walls, thus separating the liquid component from the residue, but sacrificing some of the fibers. The extractor, on the other hand, tends to retain a little more, squeezing it through the filter with the auger. 

A smooth, dry juice is perfect for any aperitif cocktail, so a centrifuge should be used in this case. A fresh, fiber-rich juice is perfect to enjoy freshly made, and in this case it is good to use an extractor.

The extractor is easy to clean and wash, while the centrifuge takes more time, especially to disassemble and reassemble all the parts. The extractor requires you to open the lid, remove the auger, filter, and containers, while the centrifuge requires a little more time to disassemble the different parts.

Whether you purchase centrifuges or extractors, you will find numerous models to choose from on our website at www.ristorazione-refrigerazione.it.