Compared to centrifugal juicers, masticating juicers can make better quality juice that you can keep in the fridge for longer. Masticators are also more efficient for making juice from leafy greens such as kale or dandelion. Of course, these juicers come at steeper prices than the centrifuge, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a decent one that doesn’t bleed your wallet dry.
This review looks at the features of the Aicok, a masticating juicer retailed at lower than $150 at the time of writing. We will see if it’s one of those rare budget products that actually work or if it’ll turn out to be another useless chunk of metal and plastic.
Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer Review: Defining Features
- Affordable
- Quality build (UL and ELT certified)
- Slow speed to preserve nutrients
- Quiet operation
- Difficult to disassemble
- Not dishwasher-safe
Despite the affordable price, the Aicok has specifications that are on par with most other top-selling cold-press juicers on the market.
The Motor
The Aicok has a 150-watt motor. This may sound low when you compare it to a centrifuge, which is typically 700 to 1,200 in wattage, but it is sufficient for a masticator. In fact, it has the same wattage as the famous Omega NC800HDS, which is sold at more than twice its price. Coupled with a seven-segment spiral auger, the strong motor allows it to handle a wide variety of materials: from thick, hard roots to thin, soft leafy greens. Unlike the Omega, it can’t process frozen products, though, so you won’t be able to make sorbets and smoothies with this juicer.
It also operates at the same revolutions per minute as the Omega, which is 80. The low speed translates to minimal heat generation, which means the heat-sensitive enzymes and vitamins in the juice will be preserved to the fullest.
Quiet Operation
With soft plastic padding under its feet, the machine is very stable in operation. It makes little noise other than the squeaks typically heard in any masticator when the auger spins to take in the produce.
According to the manufacturer, the noise it produces is measured at less than 60 dB. That’s quieter than conversational speech. This is a machine you can run in the morning without fearing you’d wake the whole neighborhood up.
Maintenance
The Aicok isn’t dishwasher-safe, but the manual cleanup is fairly simple anyway. Soak all the removable parts into warm soapy water, scrub them with a brush, rinse, and it’s all good.
Unfortunately, many users find the disassembling of the parts rather tricky. Some have reported total failure to take the machine apart after multiple attempts. You may want to watch their instructional video before using the machine for the first time to make sure you can put it together and take it apart with ease.
Related post: Electric Citrus Juicer Review
Warranty
The Aicok masticating juicer comes with UL and ETL certifications for its quality. The company also offers a 2-year warranty.
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