NutriBullet vs. Juicer

If you’re like me, you love getting a fresh juice or smoothie from the juice shop but don’t love the cost. After I got fed up with paying up to $12 for a smoothie, I started looking into how I could just make them right at home. My research online quickly led me to ask myself, what is the difference between a juicer and a NutriBullet? While they both can make awesome drinks, the creations you can make with each are actually quite different.

This difference is mostly due to how the machines differ in construction. A juicer is going to create more of a juice while a NutriBullet is a blender which will create more of a smoothie. To dive deeper into this topic and ultimately help you decide which would be better for you, we will start by defining just what each of these machines are. Then, we will go into the pros and cons of each. By then you should have a much better idea of which would be the right fit for you! With that in mind, we will look at a couple models in particular that may be good fits. Let’s get started!

How Does a Juicer Work?

You can think about a juicer like a fruit juice extractor; it’s a machine that pulls the juice and nutrients out of a fruit or vegetable, creating a smooth drink that should contain a high nutrition yield, no pulp, and very little foam. It does this by separating the juice and the pulp from whatever it is your juicing. When you look up juicers, you will mostly likely find some confusing terms, so let me break down the two types of juicers you need to know about and how they function.

Centrifugal Juicer

Centrifugal juicers are characterized by their fast spinning blades used to grind the fruit against a mesh filter. They work by separating the juice from the fibers so that you’re left with juice with a smooth consistency. They are good budget juicers, but their affordability signifies a trade off in quality. They do not produce as high a juicer yield as our next type of juicer, meaning you get less out of your fruit or veggie in terms of quantity and quality. Your juice will have more foam because the process involves fast spinning blades that introduce heat and oxygen into your foods. Oxidation takes place in the process, making your final juice product taste less fresh and it loses some nutritional value.

Masticating Juicer

Unlike a centrifugal juicer, a masticating juicer is characterized by its slow turning. They work using an auger that slowly pushes your fruits and veggies through a mesh screen, separating the juice from its fiber. Masticating juicers are also called “cold press juicers” and “slow press juicers” because the process itself is slow and no heat is generated by the process. You end up with a nutritious, fresh tasting juice that can be stored for the next couple of days. The trade off with these juicers are that they’re a bit more expensive and they take more time to use.

Bottom line, juicers are made to make, well, juice. It’s in the name!

What is a NutriBullet?

A NutriBullet is a popular brand of blenders that are more geared towards making smoothies. When most people hear NutriBullet, they are thinking of the commonly advertised personal blender. These blenders are great for making 1 or 2 servings of smoothie at a time. Blenders such as the NutriBullet work by using a strong motor and sharp blades to cut through your foods. A blender is different in that it does not extract or separate the juice and fiber; it simply blends everything together. Because of the blending process, NutriBullets are much better for making thicker blends like smoothies as opposed to juices. They are definitely faster and easier to clean than juicers, but don’t expect smooth, water like consistency.

Bottom line here, a NutriBullet is a blender!

When it comes to cost, NutriBullets (especially the personal ones) are going to be cheaper than a juicer. If you are looking for the personal NutriBullet with a good amount of accessories, you can expect a price point under $100.

What is the Best Pick for You?

Now that we have covered the basics, how do you know if a juicer or a NutriBullet is right for you? The answer to this question will depend on what it is you are looking to achieve. Do you want to turn vegetables and fruits into pure, drinkable juice? Or are you looking to make things like smoothies and shakes at home? Let’s reiterate two key points before we move on:

1. A juicer creates juice by extracting it from your fruits and vegetables. It removes any pulp/seed and leaves you with a smooth liquid. 
2. The NutriBullet Blender uses fast spinning blades to chop up whatever food you place inside the pitcher, and turn it into a liquid substance (that isn’t quite like juice because of all the pulp that will be blended into the liquid).

Juicer Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. They typically tend to be built to last. Juicers are pricey for a reason, and that is because they are typically well made. In fact, many come with warranties over 5 years. You can expect this big one time purchase to get you through the next few years without any problems.
2. You do not need to add a liquid like you would for a blender. The whole point of the juicer is to extract the juice from your fruits and vegetables. All you really need is the fruits or vegetables!
3. It is a wonderful way to meet some of your needed daily intake of vitamins and minerals through fruits and vegetables. You can juice just about anything like an iron rich beet, to thin green kale. Juicers produce a high juice yield with high nutrient content.
4. You can store any leftovers or use them for meal prep for an additional 2-3 days. So in that sense, it can save you time.

Cons:

1. They can be pricey, especially for masticating juicers. If you are looking for something more affordable or are still new into the world of juicing, a centrifugal juicer is a good place to start. 
2. Juicing is not as beginner friendly. Prepping your foods to juice and taking care of your juicer can be quite a bit of work when compared to using a NutriBullet.
3. Storage can be an issue especially for horizontal shaped juicers. They are long and awkward to store. If you have a spacious kitchen counter or sufficient storage space, this should not be an issue.
4. The process is time consuming!

NutriBullet Pros and Cons

Pros:

1. They are very simple to use. If you are someone who is constantly on the go, it is definitely a time saver. They’re also dishwasher safe!
2. The smoothies it produces are filling. Unlike a juice that compliments a meal, a quick smoothie can replace a meal because of how many ingredients you can pack in. To make it a complete meal, you can add protein powders or other ingredients.
3. The NutriBullet is really convenient as you can drink right out of the container. This eliminates the need for additional dishes.
4. The NutriBullet and blenders in general are much more affordable.
5. They are very beginner friendly and easy to care for.

Cons:

1. It’s difficult to pack as many nutrients into a smoothie when compared to a juice. For example, you could juice 4 beets to make 1 glass of beet juice but this will be much more filling when blended together.
2. Your drink should not be stored. You should drink what you make within the day.

What Products Should You Consider?

Omega NC900HDC – A Great Juicer to Start With

The Omega NC900HDC is a top of the line masticating juicer that defines everything that a juicer should be. I chose to highlight this one in particular because of the versatility, durability, and overall efficiency it has to offer. It has a warranty of 15 years, so you can expect it to last for years to come. 

This particular product has special features including 5 different settings to ensure max extraction and output power. It is also quite versatile. I went on and on about juicers being great for making nutritious drinks, but it can also do much more like grind coffee and spices, extrude pasta, and turn nuts into nut butter. If you’re looking to go the juicer route, this would be a great product to get into your kitchen.

NutriBullet NB901301 W Pro – A NutriBullet Starter Pack

Next we have the NutriBullet NB901301, a great home blender that works for anyone looking to start blending at home. You get a lot for what you pay as this blender set comes with two 32 oz. cup, two to-go lids, and a nice little recipe book. For an at home blender at this price, it is actually quite powerful. It has 900 watts of power, way above my standard of 500 watts for an everyday blender. I talked about some neat little features, but I want to explain how one should use the NutriBullet, because honestly, the lack of buttons threw me off in the beginning.

I’m sure you can picture a classic blender having multiple settings to choose from like a pulse or grind setting. I suppose this is something I liked and disliked about the NutriBullet. I liked it because of its simplicity since I was just using it to make smoothies. If you are looking for a high end and versatile blender, you may not be too pleased about the lack of settings. You simply toss your ingredients inside the pitcher then seal it shut. Turn the pitcher around aligning the blades to the bottom of the blender, then, you simply push down. It’s really easy to use and I actually found it to be quite fun. It’s a nice buy for anyone who loves morning smoothies. In terms of convenience, NutriBullet would take the cake in the debate over NutriBullet vs juicers.

Wrapping Up

Hopefully you gained a better understanding of which kitchen device is the best fit for you. At the end of the day, NutriBullets and juicers are both great products. It’s not so much about pitting them against each other as it is figuring out what you’re looking for. I personally started off with a NutriBullet and still have mine because I love how easy it is to use. I’ve also discovered the world of juicing at home so I have a masticating juicer of my own.

That doesn’t mean I’m getting rid of my NutriBullet though; I’ll just be adding to my collection of kitchen appliances since the two are fundamentally designed to provide different things. So if your goal is to enjoy a nutrition filled and refreshing juice, juicers are the way to go. If you want something to make smoothies or shakes, a NutriBullet is a great choice for you.