Best Blender for Juicing
While it’s commonly thought that juicing is reserved only for juicers, and understandably so, blenders can also be a great way to make healthy homemade juices.
What’s more, by choosing to use a blender for making your juices, you’ll likely save time and space, and maybe even money.
How you make a juice with a blender will very much depend on the model you use, and the accessories it comes with. But don’t worry, we’ll take you through some of the better options in this guide.
Let’s dive into the best blenders for juicing on the market! Here are our top picks…
👑 Our Pick for Best Overall
⭐ Our Other Top Juicing Blender Picks:
- Best of the Best: Vitamix 5200
- Best on a Budget: Oster Pro 1200
- Best Compact Blender: NutriBullet Pro Plus
Reviews: Best Blenders for Juicing
Vitamix 5200 (👑 Top Pick)
The best blender for juicing has to be the Vitamix 5200. What makes this blender such a great choice for juicing is mostly in its power. Due to the 1,400 watt motor, any fruits or vegetables you add to this blender will be pureed in no time. So smooth is the result, that you’ll easily be able to take the liquid and feed it through a strainer to get a perfectly fine juice. This is reinforced by the aircraft-grade stainless steel blades, which should make short work of any ingredient, and ensure a thorough blend.
The variable speed control will also help you achieve your desired juice consistency. All you have to do is turn the dial on the base to adjust the speed at which the blender operates, which will give you much more control over how the juice ends up.
If you blast the ingredients using a higher speed, then you’ll blend them into a fine puree which will then just take a bit of straining to turn into a juice. The different speed settings will also make it easier to blend tougher vegetables like leafy greens, so your juices can be as varied as you want them to be.
Then there’s the 64oz pitcher, which is large enough to create big batches in a single blending session. This is ideal for juicing, since you probably don’t want to be going through the effort of straining a series of single serve smoothies. All you need to do is create a large quantity, then take all that liquid and work with it until you get the desired end result. It’s also convenient to have a lot of juice on hand so you can enjoy a glass later in the day too.
This blender also has multifunctionality, and can double up as a food processor if need be. You can use it to make hot soups, sauces, and a lot of other dishes. This way you can save yourself some money on kitchen appliances, and use the Vitamix 5200 as your go-to appliance. So an investment in this model is like buying a juicer, blender, and food processor all rolled into one convenient unit.
Plus cleanup with this blender is an absolute breeze with the self-cleaning functionality it offers. All you have to do is pour warm water and soap into the container, press a button, and the blender will take care of the rest. This is something you’ll find yourself especially grateful for after making a large batch of juice.
Features:
- 1,400-watt motor
- Aircraft-grade stainless steel blades
- 64oz pitcher
- Food processor functionality
- Self-cleaning functionality
- 7-year warranty
Ninja Duo
The Ninja Duo is one of those rare models that has been made to both blend and juice just as well. With Micro-Juice technology, Ninja have created a blender that has solid built-in juicing functionality.
The Micro-Juice technology takes the shape of a filter that you place down into the pitcher before blending. This filter then works together with the integrated vacuum to remove air, and more importantly, separate out the pulp from the fruits and vegetables.
Fitted with a 1,400-watt motor, you can be sure that anything you make in this hybrid blender will come out just as you want it to. That isn’t limited to just smoothies and juices either, you can make everything from dips to sauces at the touch of a button. Throw in their Total Crushing blades, and you also have a machine capable of making light work of ice. This versatility makes the Ninja Duo a great multifunctional kitchen appliance.
You’ll also be able to benefit from Ninja’s auto-iQ smart programs with this blender. Each program corresponds to something you can make in the blender, and all you need to do is add the ingredients and hit the right button. Some of these programs include smoothie, frozen drink, and most importantly for our purposes: juice. This means unlike a lot of other blenders, making juice in this model is no hassle at all.
Features:
- 1,400-watt motor
- Micro-Juice technology
- Total Crushing technology
- Auto-iQ smart programs
- 72oz pitcher
- 20oz cup
- 1-year warranty
Oster Pro 1200 (💸 Best on a Budget)
The reasonably-priced Oster Pro 1200 is a solid option for juices with a budget blender. This model goes to show that you don’t need to pay a lot of money to have the dual-functionality of making both smoothies and juices at the same time.
With a 1,200-watt motor, this budget blender doesn’t compromise on power. It even has 900-watts of ice crushing power, making it ideal for making your juices extra cold. The dual direction blades are what really sets this blender apart from other budget options though. Working in combination with the high-powered motor, the ingredients flow down into the blades to ensure you end up with the smoothest end result possible. This will make converting your smoothie into a juice feel incredibly straightforward.
Aside from the power, you also have several speed settings which should also help make the process easier. With 7 speeds, and 3 pre programmed settings, you can blend to your heart’s content, and stop only when you achieve the perfect consistency. You might even find that by time you’ve finished, the consistency of the blend is more similar to a juice than a smoothie anyway. But just to be sure, make sure you have a strainer nearby so you can separate any remaining pulp, and make a smooth juice.
Finally you’ll have a generous 6 cup glass jar and a 24oz cup to make the most of. While you won’t be able to make huge batches, you will be able to enjoy your juice on the go with the travel-friendly cup. This is hugely convenient if you like to drink your juice on your way to work in the morning.
Features:
- 1,200-watt motor
- 7 speed settings
- Pulse function
- 3 pre programmed settings
- Dual direction blade system
- 6 cup glass jar
- 24oz cup
- 10-year warranty
NutriBullet Pro Plus (🤏 Best Compact)
The NutriBullet Pro Plus is a conveniently portable model which has everything you need to blitz ingredients well and make smooth juices to enjoy wherever you are.
What we love about the NutriBullet Pro Plus, and most NutriBullet models in general, is the portability. Due to the compact design, you’ll feel like you can take this bullet blender with you wherever you go. That means healthy juices for that short business trip, at work, or even at the gym.
With a 1,200-watt motor, this model is definitely up to the task of juicing. Although what makes this one a really great option for making juice is the high torque power base. If you were wondering how compact blenders manage to generate enough power to blend ingredients into a fine puree, it’s partially due to the base. So you can rest assured that this small blender has the ability to take care of most ingredients you’d want in a juice.
To achieve the best results with regards to juicing, you’ll want to add a splash of water (around ¼ of a cup) to make sure you don’t end up with too thick a blend. Then you want to leave the blender running for a good amount of time to give it enough time to fully grind down the ingredients, and minimize the amount of pulp. You can also strain after you’ve done this if you want an even smoother juice.
Features:
- 1,200-watt motor
- Pulse option
- High torque power base
- Hands-free auto-off
- 32oz capacity
- 4-year warranty
How To Make Juice With a Blender
While I’m sure you’re well aware that a blender’s main function is to make smoothies from fruits and vegetables, it can also be used to make a variety of healthy juices.
The main difference between a juice and a smoothie is in the consistency, which is largely determined by the amount of pulp left over from the produce. As a result, smoothies are far more fibrous than juices, because you have all the benefits of consuming the whole fruit or vegetable and not just its juice.
However, smoothies aren’t everyone’s first choice of morning drink. They can be thick, pulpy, and hard to digest. So it’s natural that you might want to give juicing a go to see if you enjoy drinking juices better. The good news is, if you already have a blender, you can juice straight away. Even if you don’t, we’ll tell you what to look out when selecting a blender to get the best results for juicing.
There are 3 main ways you can make juice with a blender, which are as follows:
Using Your Blender
If you already have a blender, and you don’t want to splash out on a new one just to be able to make juices, you can still do so with a bit of effort.
In order to get the most out of your blender and turn it into a multifunctional kitchen appliance, you just need to apply some creative thinking to the process.
One option is to blend the fruits or vegetables as you normally would, then take the smoothie you’ve created and pour it through a strainer. This way, you’ll get most of the juice, just without all of the fibre and pulp. Of course, this method might take a while, but if you’re patient you can transform a smoothie into a juice well enough.
Another option is to simply alter the process by adding water to the blender before you hit the button. This’ll obviously water down the contents, and slightly affect the flavour, but will give you more of a juice than a smoothie in terms of consistency. This is a great option for those who like the benefits of drinking smoothies, but find them hard to digest.
The last option is one we’re going to take a look at next: using a juicer attachment. While some blenders come already fitted with a juicer attachment, you can also buy one for your existing blender, and use it to make juices just as easily as you would smoothies.
Using a Juicer Attachment
If you really want a blender that can both make smoothies and juices, then an affordable option is to find one that has a juicer attachment built-in.
The juicer attachment will allow you to do what all juicers do: separate the pulp into a different container than the juice. This will leave you with pure juice, without the extra fibre.
For an existing blender, you can buy a universal juicer attachment, and put it in the center of the model yourself. Acting as a strainer, the pulp will collect, allowing only the juice to pass into the container.
This is a surprisingly effective method to get great juice every time, even if you already own a blender.
Buying a Juicer-Blender
The last option is to invest in a specialist juicer-blender model which is equipped to do both just as well.
While these models will generally be more expensive than ordinary blenders, they have the dual-functionality that you’re looking for right out of the box with no additional investments needed.
This is the best option if you don’t already have a blender or juicer, and you foresee yourself wanting to make both smoothies and juices on a regular basis.
Related: Best Juicer Recipes for Weight Loss
Frequently Asked Questions About Juicing Blenders
Can you use a blender for juicing?
Yes, you can. It will take some effort and/or an extra cash investment though.
Basically, you have 3 options available to you if you want to juice with a blender.
- Get creative and strain the smoothies you make until you remove enough of the pulp for it to be considered a juice.
- Invest in a juicer attachment, which can then be fitted to your blender. This will act as a strainer, and conveniently separate the pulp from the juice.
- Buy a blender-juicer model. One which can do both just as well. This will serve you best if you make both smoothies and juices in equal measure.
Is blending better than juicing?
Blending and juicing both provide plenty of health benefits, just in different forms.
Smoothies are great for supplementing your fibre intake, as well as helping you stay full for longer.
Juices on the other hand will provide a more concentrated liquid which will contain a lot of valuable nutrients.
Whichever method you use to consume more fruits and vegetables, you will receive plenty of overall health benefits. It really boils down to personal preference. Some prefer how smooth and easy to digest a juice is, whereas others prefer the high fibre content of a smoothie.
Is Ninja blender good for juicing?
Yes, Ninja blenders are great. Specifically we like the Ninja Duo model for juicing.
It is designed with dual-functionality in mind, so that you can make both smoothies and juices easily enough. If you have a hard time deciding which you prefer, then this is a great option as you can decide in the moment which sounds better.
The Micro-Juice technology sets it apart from other blenders, since it gives the model the ability to juice just as well as it can blend.
Is juicing or blending better for weight loss?
There’s no clear-cut answer here, since both juicing and blending can be used for weight loss. The most important thing to consider when using either for the purpose of shedding pounds is to do so in moderation. Due to the high-sugar content present in fruit-based juices or smoothies, you’ll want to limit your consumption if you’re on a diet.
With that said, let’s take a brief look at the weight loss benefits that each process offers.
Juicing is perhaps the more obvious choice for weight loss since you won’t be getting all the extra fibre and pulp, so overall you’ll take in less calories. While this may be true, fibre is very important for a healthy diet, and it can help you feel fuller for longer, which is arguably necessary if you want to substitute meals with drinks.
However, where juicing shines is in its ability to make vegetables much more digestible, and in all the nutrients you will take on board in a small glass.
Blending retains the whole fruit or vegetable in the smoothie, which as we’ve already mentioned, can help you feel full a while after you drink it. This is helpful for preventing excessive snacking, and also gives you all the benefits of the produce.
But smoothies aren’t palatable to everyone, especially if you’re forcing yourself to drink them on a daily basis. So this is arguably not the most sustainable way to lose weight.
A Final Word on Blenders and Juicing
Using a blender for juices is a great idea for anyone who wants greater flexibility in their kitchen appliance. It will also save you from buying both a blender and a juicer if you like making both juices and smoothies.
For detailed health information about blending and juicing, visit these websites:
- How Strategic Blending Can Delay Hunger – The Atlantic
- Juicing vs Blending: Which is Better? – Healthline
