A cold-pressed juicer, also known as an auger juicer, grinds fruits and vegetables into a paste. The presser then forces the paste through a shaft that extracts more juice out of the fruits and vegetables.
I fell in love with fruits and vegetables when I started cold-press juicing every morning. It gets me energized and gives me a lift to get my day going. Juicing is now one of my daily rituals because it just makes me feel good and tastes incredible.
After experimenting with different juicers, I found that my cold-pressed juicer made a glass brimming with fruit and vegetable goodness.
When you start searching for juicers, it can be confusing to choose the right style of juicer. Here are a few facts about cold-pressed juicers that I’ve learned through experience.
What is a cold-pressed juicer?
Unlike centrifugal juicers that use rotating blades, similar to a blender to blend fruits and vegetables, a cold-pressed juicer crushes the products into pulp. These juicers cost more than centrifugal juicers, but they leave more nutrient-dense pulp in the juice.
Most cold-pressed juicers for the home also work as meat grinders, slicers, and shredders. Depending on the model, you can also get other culinary attachments.
How do cold-pressed juicers work?
A cold-pressed juicer works slowly to transform fruits and veggies into juice. Here is the basic process of a cold-pressed juicer before you get to feel the amazing life-changing effects of juicing.
Once you add the produce into the juicer, it presses the fruit and vegetables slowly using an auger. This forcefully crushes the produce without creating any heat.
Because the pressing process is slow, it doesn’t cause oxidation, which can decrease the life of your juice. This boosts shelf life.
What is cold-pressed juice?
Cold-pressed juice is a simple and powerful way to support your health with fresh, quality nutrients from fruits and vegetables. Whether you enjoy sweet juices, savory juices, spicy or creamy nut milks, a cold-pressed juicer makes it simple and delicious.
How long does cold-pressed juice keep in the refrigerator?
Since cold-pressing juice doesn’t create oxidation, it stays fresh in the refrigerator for more than two days. Of course, most cold-pressed juice doesn’t last that long in my fridge because it’s too delicious to resist.
The most important thing for preserving the freshness of your juice is to start with fresh ingredients. You might be tempted to use overripe produce for juicing, so it doesn’t go to waste.
But, fruit and veggies that have already been sitting on your counter or fridge may have already begun oxidizing. When oxidation begins, your fruits and vegetables start losing antioxidants and vitamins. Then your juice won’t offer you the nutritional health benefits fresh produce offers.
Is there a way to extend the shelf life of my cold-pressed juice?
The more acidity that juice has, the longer it will last. For example, the shelf life of citric fruit juice, such as orange juice, has a lot longer shelf life than apple juice.
If you’re cold-pressing non-acidic fruits and vegetables, adding lemon or lime juice to the contents will increase shelf life.
What are the health benefits of using a cold-pressed juicer?
If you’re tired of spending your money on a juice manufacturing company that squashes the juice and pours it into a trendy bottle, then a cold-pressed juicer is for you. On top of saving money, you’ll know you’re getting the freshest produce and all its nutrients.
Here are a few of the health benefits of cold-pressed juicing:
1. Detoxifies your system
The reason juicing detoxifies your system is that it increases alkalinity. This causes your body to release the toxins that can cause fatigue, bloating, inflammation, and digestive problems.
When you use organic fruits and vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables like broccoli and cabbage, to make your cold-pressed juice, they detoxify your liver, kidneys, and digestive system.
Detoxifying your body also improves your circulation, and energy level, and gives you healthy skin.
2. Boosts your daily vitamin intake
According to Michigan State University, the most common vitamins in fruits and vegetables are vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, C, and folic acid.
To get all the nutrients from produce, such as apples, peaches, pears, zucchini, and cucumbers, leave the skin on when juicing.
Since no heat is involved in cold-pressed juicing, all of these nutrients remain in the juice.
3. Supports your immune system
Choosing fruits and vegetables that support your immune system for cold-pressed juicing is a healthy way to protect your body from infections.
Healthy produce provides vitamins and minerals that prepare your immune system for fighting off toxins, bacteria, and viruses that cause disease and infections.
4. Helps you shed those stubborn pounds
The antioxidants that cold-pressed juice provides for your body increases your metabolism. Did you know that your metabolic rate is linked to your weight?
Your metabolism turns the food you eat and drink into energy. Since juicing provides energy, you’ll be able to increase your metabolism even more with exercise that burns more calories. Not only that, the fruits and veggies you use are already low-calorie foods.
5. Keeps your digestion running smoothly
Cold-pressed juicers maintain the fiber-rich pulp in fruits and vegetables. This has a healthy impact on your digestion. This is because your body can’t digest the plant fiber in fruits and veggies.
This helps move food through your digestive tract for gut health. It also helps you to feel full and keeps your blood sugar stable.
6. Maintains healthy skin
The antioxidants in cold-pressed juice protect your body from free radicals that cause cell damage. This includes your skin cells.
Every day you expose your skin to the sun, pollution, chemicals, and air-borne toxins. These result in wrinkled, aging skin.
The antioxidants in fresh, cold-press juice combat the free radicals that damage skin, making it look younger and healthier.
Can I get all the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables with a cold-pressed juicer?
Simply put, yes. Most people don’t even come close to eating the daily nine servings of produce recommended by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). It’s easy to see why this happens.
Imagine munching on a half-cup of strawberries, half an avocado, a banana, an apple, a half-cup of carrots, a half-cup of green beans, a half-cup of green peppers, a cup of kale, and half of a large zucchini every day.
But, with juicing, you get all these nutrient-rich foods in one tall glass of juice. You literally crush all the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your homemade cold-pressed juice.
How do I choose the right cold-pressed juicer for my needs?
At first glance, most cold-pressed juicers might look the same, but they all have various features. Of course, the more features it has, the higher the price tag.
You might see them advertised as masticating or slow juicers. These are the same as cold-pressed juicers. You can’t beat cold-pressed machines for maximum extraction of juice, fiber, pulp, and nutrients.
Even an inexpensive cold-pressed juicer will squeeze out thicker, richer, oxidation-free juice than centrifugal juicers. Also, cold-pressed juicers last longer because they don’t have the wear and tear of rotating blades.
There are two versions of cold-pressed juicers. One of these is a horizontal model and the other is a vertical model.
Horizontal cold-pressed juicer
The horizontal cold-pressed machine is more versatile because you can also use it as a food processor for making nut butter, pasta, hummus, tomato sauce, apple sauce, and baby food.
So, if you can use the additional features, a horizontal cold-pressed juicer would be a good choice.
Vertical cold-pressed juicer
Most vertical cold-pressed machine models have a larger mouth, so it takes less time to squeeze out the fruits and veggies. They also take up less counter space.
For those who have limited counter space, a vertical cold-pressed juicer is a practical option.
Sources:
- What is Cold-pressed Juice? – Food & Nutrition Magazine (food nutrition.org)
- The Consequences of Eating Oxidized Fruit – Step To Health
- 5 Simple Ways to Detoxify Your Body | Bastyr University
- Preserving vitamins in fruits and vegetables – MSU Extension
- 8 Vitamins for an Immune System Boost – Cleveland Clinic
- Eating fruits and vegetables for healthy digestion – Half Your Plate
- Fruits and Vegetables Serving Sizes Infographic | American Heart Association