Carrots and beets are packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals that provide you with numerous health benefits. Thus, juicing them is a great way to conveniently get these nutritional benefits in liquid form to promote a healthy lifestyle.
Unfortunately, carrots and beets are tough root vegetables that the average juicer has trouble extracting juice from. They will easily blunt and dull the blades unless you use the right model. As such, we have compiled a list of the best juicers for carrots and beets so that you can enjoy these tasty and nutritious vegetables without ruining your kitchen appliances.
Contents
What Type of Juicer for Carrots and Beets?
There are two main types of juicers that can handle beets and carrots, and those are centrifugal juicers and masticating/cold press juicers. Which one you get depends on your budget.
Centrifugal juicers are what most people buy because they are very affordable. They take less time to extract juice, but the shelf life of juice made by centrifugal juicers is approximately 24 hours. This is because the high speed blades of centrifugal juicers kill off the enzymes and valuable nutrients in the produce, whereas the slow grinding process of the masticating juicer preserves more nutrients.
The way centrifugal juicers work is by shredding ingredients by spinning two blades below the sieving basket rapidly. As a result of the spinning force, the juice and pulp separate and are filtered into a jug or container, and the pulp is sent to the pulp bin. Many centrifugal models have two juicing modes, one for softer fruits and vegetables, and one for harder ones. High end models will come with a commercial grade motor that provides more power.
On the other hand, masticating juicers crush fruits and vegetables using rotating gears and squeezes out the juice through the perforated screen. Due to the way it extracts juice, masticating juicers are significantly quieter than centrifugal juicers. Also, the juice it makes has a shelf life of 72 hours, three times longer than centrifugal juicers. However, you have to pay a premium for a masticating juicer, and it requires a lot of maintenance as well.
Best Juicer for Carrots and Beets Review
Omega J8006HDS Nutrition Center Juicer
The Omega J8006HDS is a fantastic juicer for root vegetables like carrots and beets. Its blades operate at 80 RPM; that is slow enough to reduce the chance of bubbling and oxidation, but not so slow that you’re waiting around all day for a cup of carrot and beet juice.
This juicer is not as efficient at juicing berries and soft fruits, but can handle them just fine if you put in some tougher ingredients along with it. This juicer makes quick work of root vegetables, so if you are looking to add carrot and beet juice into your diet, then look no further than the Omega J8006HDS.
If you still aren’t convinced, know that this model is one of the most versatile juicing appliances on the market. In addition to making juice, it can assist you with making milks and butters. The cherry on top is the long fifteen-year manufacturer’s warranty that should cover you in case you experience some issues.
Pros:
- Makes quick work of root vegetables like carrots and beets.
- Extracts juice without ruining nutritional value.
- Versatile, can help you make milks and butters.
- Fifteen-year manufacturer’s warranty.
- Easy to clean.
Cons:
- Some users complained that the auger is on the small side and the resulting pulp that comes out is too wet.
- The small feed chute means you will need to cut ingredients into small chunks, requiring some additional work on your part.
Breville BJE200XL Juicer
Breville is a titan in the world of kitchen appliances, so how does their BJE200XL Juicer live up to the expectations? First, we feel it performs admirably considering its price point. For those who want a solid juicer on a budget, this is probably the ideal choice.
Just so we’re clear, it is affordable because it is a speedy centrifugal juicer. We discuss the differences, as well as the pros and cons of the fast centrifugal juicer versus the slow masticating juicer. But, just understand for now that centrifugal juicers extract juice very quickly at the expense of destroying some nutrition from the ingredients. With that said, the BJE200XL provides excellent juice yield, but make sure you drink it immediately.
This specific model has a wide 3-inch feeding chute that allows you to put in some larger produce without the need to cut it. For those who hate extensive food prep, this is a godsend. However, if you are worried about causing jams, then cutting produce into smaller chunks is not a bad idea either. Either way, after a few minutes, the resulting juice is delicious, with froth kept to a minimum.
The warranty on this model is only for one year, however the construction is solid and sturdy. If you are just getting started with the juicing lifestyle, this is a great introductory product at an affordable price point. The low cost and solid performance allows you to get a good first experience, without feeling bad if you decide to upgrade to a higher-end model a year or two in the future.
Pros:
- Affordable product that provides respectable performance.
- Large 3-inch feed chute means for many produce you don’t even need to chop into smaller chunks before you toss it in.
- Compact size is perfect for kitchens with limited countertop space.
- Great starting product for those interested in juicing.
Cons:
- Loud.
- Only one year warranty.
KOIOS Juice Extractor
There are so many models out there in the juicing appliance market, and choosing the optimal one can seem a daunting task. The marketing for many of these juicers advertise so many bells and whistles, but are they really worth the extra price? If you want a solid all-rounder, then the KOIOS Juice Extractor is not a bad choice.
This juicer has two modes for different jobs, labeled soft and hard. Since you are looking for a juicer that can handle tougher vegetables like carrots and beets, naturally the “hard” setting is what you’ll be using. Flip the switch over and this machine will be ready to handle even the toughest extracting jobs.
With that said, the KOIOS Juice Extractor has a comparatively smaller feeding chute, so you will have to do some prep work by chopping the produce into smaller chunks before putting them in.
The KOIOS Juice Extractor walks a fine line between high performance and cost efficiency. Its powerful motor is backed by a ten-year manufacturer’s warranty as well, while the rest of its components for three years. Cheaper juicers exist, as well as high-end models with more features, but the KOIOS Juice Extractor is a solid mid-range juicer that does the job at a decent price.
Pros:
- Makes good quality juice without breaking the bank.
- Quiet, produces less than 60db of noise when operating.
- Capable of handling a variety of fruits and vegetables.
- High juice yield.
- Has a reverse button.
Cons:
- Can be difficult to clean, particularly behind the auger.
- Electronic controls sometimes have a slight delay.
- Better for juicing harder produce; soft or smooth items should be fed with harder produce.
Breville BJE830BSS1BUS1 Juicer
The name for this product is quite a mouthful, but the real question is will this juicer give you a mouthful of the best juice you’ve ever had? We reviewed another Breville model in this review, the BJE200XL, and the BJE830BSS1BUS1 is the higher-end model.
Like the BJE200XL, this product is also a centrifugal juicer, which are known for how quickly they extract juice. But the downside is the lowered nutritional content. With the BJE830BSS1BUS1, you can get the best of both worlds. It not only provides a high nutritional yield, it is also surprisingly quiet, fast, and easy to clean.
Furthermore, this model is designed to make quick work of tough root vegetables like carrots and beets. It simultaneously squeezes and shreds whole beets and carrots like they are soft fruits. In mere minutes, you can have a refreshing and healthy glass of carrot or beet juice that lasts significantly longer than the maximum 24 hour shelf life most juice made by centrifugal juicers have.
The biggest con for this product that we’ve found is its poor limited warranty. You are only protected for one year. For such an expensive, high-end product like this, it feels less like an investment and more like a risk should any components fail after the warranty period. Take good care of it though, and you will be rewarded with nutritional juice akin to what masticating juicers can make, without the long wait time and arduous clean-up.
Pros:
- Enjoy the taste and nutritional value of cold-pressed juice, without the wait time.
- Beautiful exterior looks right at home in any modern kitchen.
- Juice it extracts has a longer shelf-life than average, up to 72 hours.
- Surprisingly quiet for a centrifugal juicer.
- Large juicing capacity.
Cons:
- Expensive, covered only by a one-year limited warranty.
Selecting the Best Juicer for Carrots and Beets
Whether you are just getting into juicing or a juicing veteran, when you are on the search for a juicer you have to take into account some important factors to find the right one. Especially if you are planning to juice carrots and beets, not any old juicer you grab off the shelf can handle tougher vegetables such as these. However, there are many models that can handle tougher ingredients.
Below, we will go over the criteria to help you select the perfect juicer for your budget. From the amount of juice extracted, to how powerful the motor is, there are a surprisingly large number of factors to worry about. Depending on your budget as well as your needs, the juicer you select does not need to excel in all areas.
Speed
Mentioned above, centrifugal juicers are much faster than masticating juicers, but that is not necessarily a good thing. Lower speeds are often preferred because a slower juicer does not lose as much nutrients in the juicing process.
Nearly all centrifugal models have two modes built-in, a lower speed option for soft fruits and vegetables, and a high speed mode for juicing harder ones like carrots and beets. Masticating juicers will juice slowly, and may have a reverse gear feature that helps to remove any blockages between the gears.
Motor Power
Typically, models with more motor power are better at handling harder fruits and vegetables like beets, apples, and carrots. However, as Uncle Ben once said, “with great power comes great noise level”. That’s what he said, right? Oh wait, I think he said “great responsibility”.
Well either way, a strong motor is a loud motor, and if you don’t want to make a huge ruckus in the kitchen because you are a responsible person, then this is something to keep in mind. If your home or apartment has thin walls and you hate disturbing your neighbors or family members, then we recommend looking for a product with a motor power around 150 watts.
Yield
Masticating/Cold Press Juicers
It shouldn’t be surprising that slow juicers have great difficulty juicing hard fruits and vegetables than any other produce. You can expect the average slow juicer to extract approximately 11 oz. of juice from a soft vegetable or fruit with a starting weight of 16 oz. Likewise, you can expect similar results with leafy greens with 10 oz. of juice extracted from 16 oz. of leafy greens. Thus, the average yield is greater than 55%.
The reason why masticating juicers have great difficulty with hard vegetables and fruits is due to the method in which it extracts juice, which we covered above. The slow crushing and grinding gears excel at extracting juice from soft fruits and vegetables, but requires significant motor power to grind hard produce like beets and carrots.
Centrifugal Juicers
On the other hand, centrifugal juicers are exceptionally good at juicing hard produce. With that said, there is quite a significant variance in yield when analyzing the performance between several models of centrifugal juicers.
Using the same testing methods as above, we found that lower end models yielded about 9-10 oz. of juice. Higher end models, such as those from Breville, typically yielded around 10-11 oz.
To sum it up, centrifugal juicers tend to extract more juice than masticating juicers if we are only juicing hard vegetables and fruits such as beets and carrots. But, there is quite a variance between the yield for different models of centrifugal juicers. Higher end models, most of which are Breville, can extract foam and pulp-free juice. Lower end models will have much more foam and pulp.
Weight and Size
If you don’t have a lot of countertop space left in your kitchen, then a hulking monster of a juicer may not be the right option for you. Unfortunately, a smaller juicer is also a weaker juicer, so you have to consider the kinds of produce you plan on juicing as well as the size and power. Furthermore, weight can also be an issue if you have to carry the appliance in and out of the cupboard every time you use it.
Ease of Cleaning
Life can be hectic sometimes but you still want to live healthy and drink some homemade juice. So what better way to accomplish this by getting a juicer that is easy to clean? Depending on the model, some have a built-in spinning brush that can help you clean the strainer and chamber simultaneously.
Centrifugal juicers tend to be easier to clean compared to masticating juicers as well. Many of the products that we reviewed are easy to disassemble to clean each individual component. Furthermore, some are dishwasher safe as well.
Reverse Functionality
Especially when we are talking about hard vegetables like carrots and beets, you may expect the occasional jam. Thus, it is a big plus if a juicer has a reverse function that can help its gears get unstuck from a jam. This feature is primarily found in masticating juicers.
Noise
If juicing carrots and beets is your goal, then it’s going to be hard to find a juicer that can do that while also being quiet. As discussed above, a centrifugal juicer is better suited for juicing harder fruits and vegetables, however it is much louder than a masticating juicer. On the other hand, masticating juicers may have a tougher time juicing carrots and beets.
You can look for models with motors that require less than 150 watts of power for lower noise levels. Before purchasing, look at the product description to see if there is any information regarding its noise level in dB.
Additional Accessories
Some models come packed with extra attachments and accessories including strainers, residue cups, extra jugs, and so on, that add more functionality to the product. For example, some models can be fitted with an attachment that turns it into a mincer.
The majority of the juicers featured in this review can be used for other jobs aside from just juicing vegetables and fruits. For example, you can use them for soft food or leafy greens, or to make plant milk or nut butter. If you are interested in having your juicer do multiple jobs in the kitchen, then this is something to look into.
Prep Time
If you dislike spending a lot of time preparing your vegetables and fruits before juicing them, then you should look for juicers with larger feed chutes. You can get models with a large external feeding chute so that you can put in entire pieces of fruit and vegetables without having to cut them into smaller pieces. Of course, you should still expect to do some preparations, such as peeling certain vegetables or coring apples before popping them in.
Most centrifugal juicers fit this requirement. They typically have 3-inch wide feedin chutes. Hard fruits and vegetables are usually less than 3-inches in diameter, such as carrots. Even if the carrot (or other such vegetable) is too long and a little bit is sticking out, it is no cause for concern. As long as you push it down into the juicer, or enough time elapses, the blades or gears of the juicer will eventually process the entire carrot without issue.
Masticating juicers, on the other hand, usually have smaller feeding chutes. As such, you will have to cut the produce into smaller pieces, whether it is a hard or soft vegetable or fruit. If it doesn’t fit into the chute, you have no choice but to cut it down to size. If the produce is too large, the gears of a masticating juicer may have trouble crushing it and extracting the juice in the first place.
To sum it up, if you want to avoid as much preparation as possible, then centrifugal juicers are your best bet. You can fit entire carrots into the feeding chute of one. You cannot do the same for twin gear juicer or horizontal masticating juicers. Thus, if you want the juicer with the most hands-off juicing process, look for centrifugal juicers or vertical masticating juicers. Twin gear and horizontal masticating juicers require you to cut everything down to size first.
Warranty
Unlike other kitchen appliances, which you might expect to replace within a year or two, some of these juicers can last for several years and their warranty reflects that. For instance, the Omega models have warranties that last as long as 15 years. Other companies provide limited warranties that cover replacing the motor and a few other components. This means that if your appliance starts acting up or underperforming, you can probably get it covered under the warranty without spending any extra money.
How to Prep Carrots
We’ve been talking about all of these great juicers and the shiny new features that they have. But what are the exact steps you should do to get the perfect cup of carrot and beet juice? Here are a few steps to get you started:
- First, wash the carrots under cold running water and scrub thoroughly using a vegetable brush. Optionally, you can also peel the carrot if you are concerned about any pesticides on its surface. Don’t worry, this will not lower the nutritional value of the juice you will be making.
- Cut off the end with the leafy part.
- If you have a lower end model, you should cut the carrot into 2 to 3-inch length pieces. If you have any of the models we reviewed in this article, you can move on to the next step.
- Double check that the cup you placed under the juice spout is on a stable surface and is big enough for the amount of produce you are able to extract juice from.
- Put the prepped carrots into the feed chute and let the juicer do its job.
- The process of juicing will cause the juice to begin oxidizing and losing nutrients immediately. Juice made from centrifugal models have a shelf life of only 24 hours, but it is recommended you drink it immediately. Juice extracted from masticating juicers last up to 72 hours.
How to Prep Beets
Next up, here are some tips on how to properly juice beets to make a nutritious and delicious juice.
- When selecting beets at the market, choose firm and smooth ones. Size should not be the biggest factor, but rather how fresh it is. Look for vibrant colored beats that seem to shine even when they are not yet washed.
- Of course, once you’ve brought them home, wash them thoroughly under running cold water.
- Chop the beets into small enough pieces to put into the feed chute.
- Optional: You can throw in some other fruits like pineapple for additional flavor and nutritional value.
- Serve immediately before they lose their nutritional value.
What are the Benefits of Carrot Juice?
It is a good idea to drink carrot juice regularly as part of your diet because it provides the following benefits:
- Improved metabolism.
- Improved eyesight.
- Healthier and vibrant skin.
- Strong immune system.
- Lowers cholesterol.
- Sharper brain function and assists with the development of the baby during pregnancy.
What are the Benefits of Beet Juice?
Beet juice also provides a wealth of nutritional benefits, such as:
- Lowered blood pressure.
- Reduced inflammation.
- Healthier liver by relieving oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Improved athletic and physical performance by increasing blood flow and oxygen to your muscles.
- Provides your body with many essential vitamins and minerals like: folate, calcium, vitamin B-6, iron, magnesium, zinc, phosphorous, manganese, and copper.