How to choose the right juicer for you

Trying to choose the best juicer to help you drink down all those nutrition-filled benefits in a glass? The market can be confusing. Where should you start?

Start by figuring out what it is you’d like from a juicer. What do you want to juice? Is it just for you or for a whole family? How much counter space do you have? Here are some questions to consider:

• How easy is it to use?
• Who will use it in my house?
• Do I just want it to make citrus juice or do I want it to juice other fruits and vegetables?
• How easy is it to clean?
• How much do I want to spend?
• How much space on my counter am I willing to give it?

Looking for a glass of fresh squeezed to start your day? Then you’re probably in the market for a straightforward citrus juicer, which, much like the old-fashioned do-it-yourself manual version, runs cut halves of citrus over a juicer and strains out the pulp. These are usually easier to clean and easy to function, and fruit prep is at a minimum.

If you’re looking for new ways to make carrots more palatable—think mixing their juices with fruit juices such as apple or pineapple—then a juice extractor is what you’re after. This requires a lot more produce prep, including washing produce, peeling it, depitting it, as well as possibly chopping it, depending on how big the feed tube is into the extractor. They also work differently than juicers—they cut the produce into small pieces and whirl the juice out of them. While your juicing world opens up, these are definitely harder to clean and can be more complicated to operate.

These countertop appliances do come with a number of handy extras that may or may not be included on all units. These include:

• Cord storage
• Dishwasher safe
• Lengthy cord
• Pulp regulator
• Quiet to operate
• Has accessories to turn the juices into smoothies
• Juice storage option
• Size of feed chute
• Can multi-function between a citrus juicer or a juice extractor

Once you weigh your needs along with price (extractors are pricier than citrus juicers), your choice should be much simpler. Keep in mind that more expensive isn't necessarily better; prices range anywhere from below $100 to more than $1,000.