Tomato juicer: is electric or manual better for the home?
A tomato juicer can be either electric or manual. According to the type of mechanism, the devices are screw and centrifugal. Each of them has its own strengths and weaknesses. More details about the technical characteristics, as well as selection rules, are described in this article.
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Manual or electric
First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the classification of models into 2 large classes. There are electric and manual tomato juicers. The difference is related to the device and the energy source. In the first case, the device is equipped with a mechanism that operates from an electrical network. The manual tomato juicer is powered by a person, without the use of other energy sources.
Moreover, an electric tomato juicer is divided into auger or centrifugal (this is discussed in more detail in the next section). Each type has its own characteristics, pros and cons.
Pros and cons of manual models
Hand-held devices have the following advantages:
- they are completely autonomous, that is, they do not depend on electricity in any way;
- operate almost silently;
- are much cheaper;
- take up little space;
- durable because the mechanism is reliable and does not require repair;
- Convenient for both storage and transportation.
The most commonly produced type is a manual auger tomato juicer.The principle of operation is approximately the same as that of a meat grinder. The pulp is placed into the loading hole, which is moved by rotating the auger. This is a spiral-shaped device that spins and squeezes fruits or vegetables, so you can get fresh juice.
A manual tomato auger juicer generally copes well with its task, but at the same time it also has disadvantages:
- you need to make an effort - this is noticeable when receiving large volumes (for example, for home preparations for the winter);
- the neck is quite narrow, which is why large pulp has to be cut as finely as possible;
- it is not suitable for fruits that are too soft, because instead of juice, a puree is formed, which is difficult to filter;
- such devices are usually not covered by a warranty;
- A manual juicer is suitable for tomatoes and citrus fruits, but it is completely unsuitable for hard root vegetables, for example, carrots and beets.
Pros and cons of electric models
An electric tomato juicer does not have these disadvantages - it has quite a few advantages:
- high productivity;
- no effort required;
- this is the best juicer for tomatoes and other vegetables and fruits - it can even chop hard carrots;
- is under warranty service;
- the loading hole is wide enough, you can even put in whole fruits, saving effort and time;
- automatic removal of pulp, full push-up;
- A mechanical tomato juicer with an electric motor is usually equipped with a mesh to separate the foam.
But there are also negative points:
- if a manual tomato juicer practically does not break down, then an electric model may fail (but it is under warranty for at least 12 months);
- big noise;
- quite heavy, which makes transportation difficult.
In addition, a manual mechanical juicer for tomatoes does not depend in any way on the presence of current, while an electric one operates only from the mains. But this drawback can be considered conditional, since access to an outlet is available even in the country.
Centrifugal or screw mechanism
When choosing a suitable model, it is important to familiarize yourself with the type of mechanism - it can be centrifugal or screw. In the latter case, the juicer is, in fact, a meat grinder for tomatoes, but not manual, but electric, since it runs on mains power.
They do the job well and are quite reliable. Rotating in a spiral, the mechanism squeezes out juice well, which can be obtained not only from tomatoes, but even from small berries, for example, raspberries or chokeberries. However, an electric auger tomato juicer also has a significant drawback. The pulp in it gets clogged quite quickly, and cleaning is not always easy.
A centrifugal electric tomato juicer works on a different principle. The incoming pulp is first crushed on very fine and sharp graters, after which the pulp begins to rotate at high speeds.
Such models have quite a lot of advantages:
- allow you to squeeze out the juice from raw materials as completely as possible;
- affordable;
- The juice turns out clean, without pulp and foam.
But there are also disadvantages - an electric centrifugal juicer for tomato juice is very noisy. In addition, the mechanism heats up, especially strongly when receiving large volumes. Because of this, some vitamins and other valuable components are destroyed.
Review of the best models
It is clear that tomato juice from an auger juicer is healthier, and it also contains pulp, which enriches its taste.Centrifugal devices are much easier to clean, but they often get very hot.
However, you can find good models among both classes. If we highlight the best options in terms of price and quality ratio, we get the following rating:
- Scarlett Gold is a model with a centrifugal mechanism, reaching a high power of 1200 W. It can process a large volume of raw materials and prepare juice in the shortest possible time. We can say that this is almost like an industrial tomato juicer, although it is intended specifically for home use. Other advantages include 2 speeds, a durable plastic body, and a removable container for raw materials.
- Kitfort KT-1121 – auger device with 2 speeds, power up to 200 W. There is both a forward stroke and a reverse stroke, which makes it easier to clean the cake. Weight is small - within 4 kg. Therefore, if necessary, the unit can be transported to any place.
- Moulinex Juiceo ZU150110 is another screw model that chops tomatoes, berries, fruits, and hard vegetables well. Develops power up to 150 W, has 1 speed and reverse. Equipped with an 800 ml juice container and an anti-drip system.
- Redmond RJ-M908 is a centrifugal type model with a large pulp reservoir (2 l). It also features 5 speeds, smooth adjustment and the ability to operate in pulse mode.
- Moulinex Elea Duo 2 is another centrifugal device with a press.
Develops power up to 300 W, has a tank for raw materials with a volume of 700 ml. The model is equipped with an anti-drip system and a reliable plastic case. Moreover, the device weighs less than 2.5 kg and is transportable.
For tomatoes, you can choose both centrifugal and auger types of juicers.If you need to obtain a small volume, for example, while relaxing in nature, a manual device is quite sufficient. In any case, before purchasing, it is recommended to carefully study the technical specifications, warranty period, as well as reviews from real customers on different sites.