Many people are introduced to the wonderful benefits of incorporating juice into their diet with lower-end juicers often referred to as centrifugal juicers. While these juicers are an excellent way to start improving one’s health, lifestyle and well-being, the centrifugal design is not optimal for extracting juice from some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet: leafy greens like spinach and kale. Certainly, some juice can be extracted with even the most affordable juicer, but to truly get the maximum amount of nutrition from these wondrous superfoods, it’s important to use a juicer designed for these types of soft, leafy greens.
Both spinach and kale were popular vegetables in Europe throughout the Middle Ages having been imported from Asia via the trade routes known today as the Silk Road. Easy to green and hardy enough to withstand colder temperatures, both of these leafy greens are packed full of minerals, nutrients, and essential vitamins.
While many sometimes exaggerated health claims have been made concerning the consumption of kale and spinach, there is no controversy whatsoever that these are two of the most nutrient-dense vegetables on the planet, ideal for incorporating into juice as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Nutritional Content in Kale and Spinach
Spinach
Many nutritionists consider spinach a “superfood” due to its high concentration of vitamins, minerals and essential trace nutrients. Popularized in the series of Popeye cartoons for its dense concentration of nutrients, spinach is one of the oldest plants cultivated by human beings and is now consumed all over the world.
The biological name of spinach is spinacia oleracea and the plant is related to other nutritionally-dense plants like quinoa, chard, and beets.
Nutritional information for one cup (about 30g) of raw spinach:
Fat: 0.1 g
Cholesterol: 0
Sodium: 24 mg
Potassium: 167 mg
Carbohydrates: 1.1 g
Protein: 0.9 g
Calcium: 3% of RDA (recommended daily allowance)
Vitamin A: 56% RDA
Vitamin B6: 5% RDA
Vitamin C: 14%
Magnesium: 6%
Spinach is particularly rich in dietary iron, vitamin K, folates, copper, vitamin E, potassium and vitamin A (the all-important carotenoids). Spinach is also a good source of zinc, phosphorous and vitamin B1.
Kale
The last 10 years have seen the emergency of kale as the new hot superfood thanks to its dense nutritional value and unique taste. A popular vegetable in the Ancient Roman Empire as well as in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, kale was largely forgotten until recently. Kale is sometimes known as “leaf cabbage” and is related to broccoli, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and collard greens.
Kale contains large amounts of polyphenols, a known anti-oxidant, and is an outstanding source of many vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin A and Vitamin C.
Nutritional information for one cup (about 65g) of raw kale:
Fat: 0.6 g
Cholesterol: 0
Sodium: 25 mg
Potassium: 329 mg
Carbohydrates: 6 g
Protein: 2.9 g
Iron: 6% RDA (recommended daily allowance)
Phosphorus: 4% RDA
Calcium: 9% RDA
Vitamin A: 206% RDA
Vitamin B6: 9% RDA
Vitamin C: 134% RDA
Vitamin K: 684% RDA
Magnesium: 7% RDA
Zinc: 2% RDA
Many juicing enthusiasts have nicknamed kale as the “queen of greens” for its high concentration of phytonutrients, vitamins, and essential minerals.
Best Juicers for Kale and Spinach – Comparison Table
 | Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush | Extracts maximum juice yield from soft fruits and vegetables Ultra quiet 240-watt motor Direction control ensures fruit or vegetables can be dislodged from juicing screw | 4.2 out of 5 |
 | Omega NC900HGC Juicer Extractor and Nutrition System | Using a low speed of 80 RPMs results in minimal heat buildup Oxidation promoting healthy enzymes Dual Stage masticating extraction | 4.7 out of 5 |
 | Mueller Masticating Slow Juicer | 100% High quality New and improved design Unmatched Quality And Safety | 4.1 out of 5 |
 | Lexen GP27 | Multipurpose Juicing Designed For Easy Cleaning Ease Of Use | 4.1 out of 5 |
 | AICOOK Juice Extractor | Extracts up to 26% more juice and 36% more vitamins and minerals 3'' Wide Feed fit whole fruits & vegetables 3 speed design | 4.3 out of 5 |
5 Best Juicers for Kale and Spinach
Both kale and spinach are packed full of highly nutritious juice but many juicers can struggle to extract the essential liquid goodness locked inside of these soft leafy greens.
Below are five juicers ideal for juicing kale and spinach:
Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush
The Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush is a unique vertical masticating juicer that uses a whisper quiet 240-watt motor to efficiently extract juice in a compact machine. With a footprint of just 8.5 by 7.5 inches, this single-auger “cold press” juicer uses an advanced filter to maximize the amount of juice extracted from soft, leafy greens like kale and spinach. With a very attractive chrome and black design and weighing just 14 pounds, the Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush looks good on any kitchen countertop and is easy to clean and store when not in use. The extra large vertical feed chute design makes it easy to push through soft leafy greens like kale and spinach, resulting in very dry pulp and delicious juice. To prevent clogging and overheating that could oxidize or damage the enzymes in the juice, the Breville BJS600XL Fountain Crush comes with a convenient reverse function.
Key Features:
- Extracts maximum juice yield from soft fruits and vegetables
- Ultra quiet 240-watt motor
- Direction control ensures fruit or vegetables can be dislodged from juicing screw
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Omega NC900HGC Juicer Extractor and Nutrition System
The metallic finish on the NC900HDC Juicer from Omega has a sleek and modern look that works in any kitchen. Weighing only 15 pounds, it’s easy for anyone to use and makes storage a breeze. Thanks to the five settings that you can choose from with a twist of the cap, it produces juice and becomes the ultimate appliance. You can use it to create baby food for your child and soy milk for those with allergies as well as create ground coffee and herbs. The two-horsepower motor provides all of the power that you need to juice carrots and hearty vegetables, but it produces only 80 revolutions per minute to help it run quietly. Omega also gives you a 15-year warranty that covers both the motor and all other parts. This warranty lets you exchange the juicer for a full refund.
Key Features:
- Using a low speed of 80 RPMs results in minimal heat buildup
- Oxidation promoting healthy enzymes
- Dual Stage masticating extraction
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Mueller Masticating Slow Juicer
Designed to work with all types of fruits and veggies, this Mueller juicer works slowly to break down the natural fibers in your ingredients and deliver more of the juice that you want. You get up to 40% more juice than you would from similar juicers along with up to 42% more Vitamin C and 60% more Vitamin A. the suction base is strong enough to support it on any flat surface such as a table or counter and keeps it from wobbling as you use it. As the juicer does not require power the way that others do, you can even take it camping or on vacation with you. You can turn the crank as slowly or quickly as you want to get the juice. All of the parts come apart to make this one of the easiest juicers to clean.
Key Features:
- 100% High quality
- New and improved design
- Unmatched Quality And Safety
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Lexen GP27
The Lexen GP27 gives juicing enthusiasts a unique opportunity to have better control over the juicing process. Available in two different stylish colors, the Lexen GP27 is a hand-cranked juicer that requires no electricity to easily and efficiently extract juice from soft leafy greens like spinach, kale, and collard greens as well as wheatgrass. One of the most affordable juicers on the market designed for soft greens, the Lexen GP27 is extremely easy to operate and clean after use.
Designed by juicing enthusiasts with more than a decade of experience in creating fresh, tasty juice from nutrient-dense foods like kale and spinach, the Lexen GP27 is ruggedly built and yet amazingly lightweight at just 2.4 pounds. The Lexen GP27 is designed to be portable, attaching to any flat surface with both a clamp and a suction base, this juicer is ideal for RVs, camping, or juicing on the go.
Key Features:
- Multipurpose Juicing
- Designed For Easy Cleaning
- Ease Of Use
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
AICOOK Juice Extractor
AICOOK helps you get more of the yummy and healthy juice that you want with this stainless steel model. The wider three-inch chute cuts down on prep work and allows you to put entire vegetables and fruits inside the juicer without chopping them. Thanks to the three speeds, you can work as fast as you want. Though it has a low speed for masticating ingredients, there are also fast and faster speed settings for days when you’re in a hurry. The included brush makes clean up a snap and comes clean with just a little water. You can safely use this to make juice for all members of your family as the parts are BPA-free. As a bonus, it has two built-in safety features. While one offers protection against overload issues, the other stops the motor from working until you snap and lock the lid in place.
Key Features:
- Extracts up to 26% more juice and 36% more vitamins and minerals
- 3” Wide Feed fit whole fruits & vegetables
- 3 speed design
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Conclusion
Juicing professionals know that adding nutrient-dense foods like kale and spinach to a juicing lifestyle is a great way to maximize the amount of essential vitamins, phytonutrients and minerals into your diet. Whether you select a sophisticated multi-stage masticating juicer or a well-designed manual juicer, it is essential to use a machine capable of efficiently extracting the invaluable nutrient-dense juice of leafy greens like spinach and kale in order to gain the benefits of these superfoods.
