Doctor’s, nutritionists, and probably your mom have long agreed that you should eat your fruits and veggies. Manufacturers and celebrities have taken that nostrum a step further by pushing juicing as an easier way to wolf down those nutrients—and help prevent everything from memory loss to diabetes.
The jury’s still out on juicing’s medical claims. But a recent Consumer Reports test shows that a good blender beats juicers when it comes to versatility and easy cleanup.
A juicing faceoff between the top-scoring, $450 Vitamix 5200 blender and the $250 Bella NutriPro and $140 Dash JB001CM juicers gave a slight edge to both juicers when it came to consistency and flavor (apple, carrot, and orange juice was thicker and a bit more bitter with the Vitamix). But unlike the juicers, the Vitamix can also make frozen drinks and even soup. Frequent jam-ups with the Bella and lots of parts to clean with both juicers—compared with a quick wash and rinse for blenders—also put the Vitamix on top overall.
And if you think Vitamix blender’s $450 price tag is over the top, we have more good news: The Ninja Master Prep Professional QB1004 also topped our latest blender tests, makes less noise, and is a CR Best Buy at just $60. For more details, as well Ratings to dozens of models, see our full reports on blenders and juicers.
—Bob Markovich
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