Super Juicers: Fruitstar vs Omega

Let’s be honest:  a lot of us don’t eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables every day, so we don’t get the recommended daily amount of vital nutrients and minerals. We know that a balanced, diverse diet gives us more energy, helps us feel better about…well, everything, and makes it easier to not use all of our sick days in a month. That’s why juicing can be such a boon to our health. It’s so much easier to drink a smoothie a few times a day than to choke down a kale bale for lunch and dinner. We decided to search out the Best juicer for greens.

If you’re looking to get into juicing, or if you’re just looking to upgrade your current juicer, then let’s compare two top-of-the-line juicers to help you decide which one is for you!

Best Juicer For Greens – The Players

Fruitstar (Fs-610-b)

·         Price:  Aim to pay under $144

·         Type of Juicer: Vertical masticating (Cold press)

·         Dimensions: 11″ W x 8.8″ D x 16.3″ H

·         Motor: 240-watt

·         Warranty: 10 years

Omega J8006 Nutrition Center

·         Price: Grab it at  $299 or better.

·         Type of Juicer: Masticating (Cold press)

·         Dimensions: 14-1/2” W x 6-1/2” D x 15-1/2” H

·         Motor: 150-watt

·         Warranty: 15 years

The Fruitstar (FS-610-b)

Let’s start with the Fruitstar. The FS is a vertical-auger masticating juicer. Masticating juicers juice produce at a lower speed than traditional centrifugal juicers, which has many advantages. Firstly, masticating juicers, because they spin at a lower speed and produce less heat (hence, the alias “cold-press”), preserve more of the produce’s enzymes, and these enzymes help your body perform essential tasks like digestion. Secondly, the lower amount of heat generated means less oxidation occurs in the juicing process. Oxidation is what occurs when plant matter encounters oxygen, and this process kills off nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Heat accelerates oxidation, so cold-press juicers produce more nutritious juice.

Anyway, back to the FS. The first thing that probably jumps out to you, after looking at the little side-by-side above, is the price. Compared to other juicers you’ll find out there, the Fruitstar is relatively reasonably-priced (especially when it’s on sale!). Considering that other high-end juicers can go for hundreds of dollars brand-new, this juicer is a bargain. The 240-watt motor is pretty powerful, but the blade spins at a low 80 RPM, meaning that you can still hear the TV while you juice. Also, this juicer is pretty easy to use/figure out. All juicers require some preliminary knowledge, but this one is pretty user-friendly, especially for juicing rookies.

Now the cons. The FS is a vertical-auger juicer, which means its juice is going to have more pulp than other juicers. Sure, the Fruitstar comes with a strainer, but that means more work for you. So, keep the pulpiness in mind. Also, though the FS juices fruit pretty well (as the name suggests), it is not so good with vegetables and leafy greens. Even if you prep and cut your greens and roots, you risk clogging the juicer and getting more frustration than juice.

The Omega J8006 Nutrition Center

The Omega is one of the best-reviewed juicers out there, which is why it’s one of the best sellers online. However, the nutrition center is so much more than a juicer: you can also make almond butter with it, you can grind coffee with it, and you can puree food with it. Though this healtherific Frankenstein is a bit more of a financial investment ($299…whoa, Nelly), you get a one-stop shop for healthy eating.

But, for now,  let’s treat the Omega strictly as a juice. Unlike the FS, the Omega will juice anything….ANYTHING (that has juice in it.) The powerful motor and sleek design allow you to juicify both fruits and veggies. Also, the Omega is extremely efficient, so you’ll get the most juice from your produce. Like the Fruitstar, the Omega blade spins at a low 80 RPM, so you won’t have to worry about getting noise complaints from the neighbors when you’re juicing.

And now, the cons. The Omega, as you know, is quite expensive. You really have to be dedicated to juicing and healthy eating if you want to invest in this juicer. Also, because this machine has so many bells and whistles, it could be overwhelming for a first-time juicer to figure out. The Omega is obviously designed more for experienced juicers than for people looking to try something new. Finally, a multitude of functions means a multitude of parts, which means assembling and disassembling the Omega, as well as cleaning it, could be quite the chore.

So which one should I buy?

As with all juicers, it depends on the person. If you’re a first-time juicer or someone on a budget, the Fruitstar is probably the better choice. If you’re a hard-core juicer and healthnut who’s willing to shell out some money for an all-in-one experience, then you should definitely opt for the Omega. As long as you are realistic with yourself and know what you’re looking for in a juicer, you can’t go wrong either way!