Mixer Grinder or Juicer Mixer Grinder? Most common your kitchen counter crowded with appliances that all seem to do almost the same thing? You’re not alone. The choice between a standard Mixer Grinder and a more versatile Juicer Mixer Grinder is a common kitchen conundrum.
Choosing wrong can mean wasting money on features you’ll never use or, worse, ending up with a machine that can’t handle your daily needs. This ultimate guide will cut through the confusion.
We’ll break down the key differences, core functions, and hidden pitfalls to help you find the perfect culinary partner that matches your cooking style, saving you time, money, and precious counter space.
Mixer Grinder or Juicer Mixer Grinder
Feature | Mixer Grinder | Juicer Mixer Grinder |
Primary Function | Grinding, blending, and mixing. It excels at making batters, powders, and pastes. | All the functions of a mixer grinder PLUS dedicated juice extraction. |
Juice Extraction | Can blend fruits to make smoothies or milkshakes, but it doesn’t separate pulp. The final product is thick and fibrous. | Extracts fresh, clear juice by separating the pulp using a sieve. The result is a smooth, drinkable juice. |
Versatility | Focused on traditional cooking tasks. | Highly versatile. It’s a complete food preparation tool for both cooking and a healthy lifestyle. |
Number of Jars | Usually comes with 2-3 jars (wet, dry, chutney). | Typically comes with 3-4 jars, including the dedicated juicer jar with a sieve and pulp collector. |
Space & Size | More compact and takes up less counter space. | Slightly bulkier due to the juicer attachment and larger motor housing. |
Ease of Cleaning | Generally easier to clean with fewer parts. | Takes a little more effort due to the juicer sieve and pulp collector, but most parts are detachable. |
Cost | More affordable. | Generally more expensive due to the added juicing functionality and specialized parts. |
Best For | Home cooks who primarily need to grind spices, make batters, and blend milkshakes. | Health-conscious individuals, large families, and those who want a single appliance for all their grinding, blending, and juicing needs. |
What’s the real difference between a Mixer Grinder and a Juicer Mixer Grinder? Is the extra cost for a juicer function worth it? And which one truly deserves a permanent spot on your kitchen counter?
If you’ve ever asked these questions, you’ve come to the right place. Forget sifting through confusing marketing specs.
What is a Juicer Mixer Grinder?
A mixer grinder is a versatile, essential electric kitchen appliance popular primarily in South Asia, but used worldwide. Its core function is to automate the repetitive tasks of grinding, blending, mixing, and pureeing ingredients, which are fundamental to many cuisines.
Think of it as a powerful, multi-tasking workhorse that combines the functions of several Western appliances into one compact unit.
Key Components:
A typical mixer grinder consists of three main parts:
- Main Motor Body/Unit: This is the base of the appliance that houses the powerful electric motor. It has buttons or knobs to control speed (usually 2-3 settings) and often a pulse function. The motor drives the attachments that sit on top.
- A Removable Jar Set: This is what makes it so versatile. A mixer grinder comes with multiple jars that lock onto the motor base. These jars are typically made of stainless steel or high-quality plastic and have sharp, blunt, or serrated blades attached to their lids.
- Small Jar: A “chutney jar” for grinding small quantities of wet or dry ingredients like herbs, spices, garlic, ginger, or coffee beans.
- Medium Jar: A “grinding jar” for grinding lentils, grains, and spices into powders (like idli/dosa batter flour) or for making thicker pastes.
- Large Jar: A “blending jar” for making shakes, smoothies, liquidizing mixtures, and grinding larger quantities.
- Lids & Blades: Each jar has a lid with a specific blade assembly designed for different tasks (e.g., a blunt blade for grinding, a sharper blade for blending).
What Does It Do? (Primary Functions)
The name says it all: it Mixes and it Grinds.
- Grinding: This is its standout feature. It can grind dry ingredients into fine powders.
- Examples: Grinding whole spices (cumin, coriander, pepper) into spice powders, grinding lentils and rice into flour for traditional batters (dosa, idli), grinding coffee beans, making nut powders.
- Mixing & Blending: It blends wet and dry ingredients together to create smooth mixtures.
- Examples: Making smoothies, milkshakes, pureeing soups, blending ingredients for curries and gravies.
- Grinding Pastes & Chutneys: It excels at making wet and dry pastes.
- Examples: Making coconut chutney, mint chutney, ginger-garlic paste, tomato-onion paste for curries.
- Whipping & Aerating: Some models can be used for whipping cream or beating small quantities of batter (though it’s not a full replacement for a stand mixer).
What is a Juicer Mixer Grinder?
A Juicer Mixer Grinder is a versatile, all-in-one kitchen appliance that combines the functions of three key devices:
- A Mixer Grinder (for grinding and blending)
- A Juicer (for extracting juice from fruits and vegetables)
- (Often) a Food Processor or other attachments for chopping, pureeing, and more.
Think of it as a complete kitchen workstation centered around a powerful motor base to which you can attach various jars and accessories for different tasks.
Its core purpose is to handle almost every preparatory job—from making juice for breakfast to grinding spices and making pastes for dinner—without needing multiple separate appliances cluttering your countertop.
Key Components:
A typical Juicer Mixer Grinder comes with a set of attachments:
- Main Motor Body/Unit: The powerful base that drives all the attachments. It’s the “engine” of the system.
- Standard Jars (The “Mixer Grinder” part):
- Small Chutney Jar: For grinding wet and dry ingredients into fine pastes (e.g., ginger-garlic paste, coconut chutney).
- Medium Grinding Jar: For grinding dry spices, lentils, and coffee beans into powder.
- Large Blending Jar: For making smoothies, shakes, batter, and purees.
- Juicer Attachment (The “Juicer” part): This is what differentiates it from a standard mixer grinder. It’s usually a centrifugal juicer that consists of:
- A Feed Chute: Where you push in fruits and vegetables.
- A Spinning Mesh Basket: Extracts juice by separating the pulp from the liquid through centrifugal force.
- A Pulp Container: Collects the dry leftover pulp.
- A Juice Jug: Collects the extracted juice.
- Other Optional Attachments: Many models also include accessories like a whipper for whipping cream, a citrus press for oranges and lemons, dough makers, or even mini food processor bowls for chopping and shredding.
What Does It Do? (Primary Functions)
A Juicer Mixer Grinder is defined by its multi-tasking ability:
- Juice Extraction: Its flagship function. You can make fresh, pulp-free (or low-pulp) juice from hard fruits and vegetables like apples, carrots, cucumbers, pears, and beets.
- Dry and Wet Grinding: It performs all the tasks of a standard mixer grinder, such as making spice powders, grinding dal and rice for batters, and making smooth pastes and chutneys.
- Blending: Perfect for making smoothies, protein shakes, milkshakes, and soups. (Note: It can make a smoothie where the entire fruit is blended, and it can make extracted juice where the pulp is removed).
- Other Tasks: Depending on the model, it can also whip cream, knead dough, chop vegetables, and shred cheese.
Mixer Grinder or Juicer Mixer Grinder
Now that we understand the basics, let’s get into the nitty-gritty of the comparison. This is where you can really decide which appliance will make you happier in the long run.
Pros & Cons of a Mixer Grinder
Pros:
- Simplicity and Focus: It does a few things, and it does them exceptionally well. If you don’t need a juicer, you’re not paying for a feature you won’t use.
- More Affordable: Mixer grinders are generally less expensive than their juicer-equipped counterparts, making them a great budget-friendly option.
- Easier to Clean: With fewer parts and simpler jars, cleaning up after cooking is a breeze.
- Compact Design: They take up less space on your counter and in your cabinets, which is a huge plus for small kitchens.
- Power and Durability: Many mixer grinders are built to be powerful workhorses, capable of handling tough ingredients and heavy-duty grinding without a problem.
Cons:
- No “Real” Juicing: You can make thick fruit purées, but you can’t get a clear, pulp-free juice. You’ll need a separate juicer for that.
- Limited Versatility: While great at its core functions, it can’t handle tasks outside its main purpose. This means you might need to buy another appliance down the road.
Pros & Cons of a Juicer Mixer Grinder
Pros:
- The Ultimate All-in-One: This is its main selling point. You get a mixer, a grinder, and a juicer all in one convenient appliance.
- Saves Space and Money: Instead of buying a separate mixer grinder and a juicer, you can get a single appliance that does both jobs. This saves you money upfront and frees up valuable kitchen space.
- Promotes a Healthy Lifestyle: Having a juicer on hand makes it easier and more convenient to make fresh, healthy juices from scratch, helping you get more vitamins and minerals into your diet.
- Great for Families: For families with varied needs—one person wants a smoothie, another wants a fresh juice, and you need to grind spices for dinner—this appliance can handle it all without a second thought.
Cons:
- Higher Initial Cost: The added juicing functionality means a higher price tag.
- Bulkier Design: The juicer attachment and powerful motor can make these appliances larger and heavier than a standard mixer grinder.
- More Parts to Clean: While the juicing attachment is a great feature, it also means more parts to wash and maintain.
Key difference between Mixer grinder and Juicer Mixer Grinder
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about the details that really matter and that you won’t find in those surface-level competitor blogs. These are the things that will truly help you make an informed decision.
1. The “Juice” from a Mixer Grinder isn’t the same as from a Juicer Mixer Grinder.
The biggest misconception is that a mixer grinder can “juice.” It can’t, not in the way you probably think.
- A mixer grinder uses its blades to chop and blend fruits into a thick, fibrous pulp. The result is more of a smoothie or a thickshake. It’s great if you want to keep all the fiber, but it’s not a clear juice.
- A juicer mixer grinder uses a centrifugal mechanism. It spins at very high speeds, forcing the juice through a fine sieve and separating it from the solid pulp. You get a clean, refreshing, and pulp-free drink. This is crucial for things like a carrot-apple juice or a classic orange juice.
The distinction is important. If you’re a fan of thick smoothies, a regular mixer grinder is more than enough. But if you’re dreaming of that perfect glass of pure, restaurant-style juice, a juicer mixer grinder is your only real option.
2. The Power and RPM Myth
Many articles will tell you that a higher wattage is always better. While it’s true that a 750W or 1000W motor is more powerful, the RPM (Revolutions Per Minute) is just as important, especially for juicing.
- For juicing, a high RPM is key to extracting juice efficiently. Juicer mixer grinders like those from Sujata are famous for their high RPM (often 22,000 RPM), which makes quick work of hard fruits and vegetables like carrots and beetroots. A mixer grinder with a lower RPM will struggle with these tougher ingredients.
- For grinding, the RPM and wattage work together. A high-wattage motor with a moderate RPM is perfect for wet grinding batters, while a high-wattage motor with a very high RPM is a beast at grinding tough dry spices into a super-fine powder.
3. The Cleaning Factor: A Realistic Look
I’ve seen many blogs mention cleaning, but they often make it sound like a simple, non-issue. Let’s be real—cleaning a juicer attachment can be a pain.
- The fine sieve on a juicer needs to be thoroughly cleaned to prevent pulp from getting stuck and drying out. A small brush is often required to get into all the tiny holes.
- Juicing ingredients like carrots or beets can also stain the plastic parts over time.
- Mixer grinder jars are much easier to clean. A simple rinse and a quick scrub are often all you need.
So, when you’re deciding, think about your lifestyle. Do you have the time and patience for a little extra cleaning to get that perfect juice? Or do you value the quick cleanup of a simple mixer grinder?
4. The Brand and Warranty Perspective
Choosing a brand isn’t just about the name; it’s about the motor, the quality of the jars, and the after-sales support.
- Brands like Prestige, Philips, and Sujata are known for their powerful motors and durability.
- It’s crucial to check the warranty on the motor, as this is the most expensive part to replace. A 2-year warranty is standard, but some brands offer a 5-year warranty on the motor, which is a fantastic peace of mind.
- Read reviews not just about the product itself but also about the brand’s customer service. Does the brand have good support in your area? Are spare parts easily available? These are practical questions that will save you headaches in the future.
Mixer Grinder or Juicer
- The “Why” for the Mixer Grinder: You’re a traditionalist. You love to cook from scratch. The smell of freshly ground spices is a key part of your culinary experience. You don’t buy ready-made masalas. You’re not big on juicing and prefer a thick smoothie as a treat. For you, the simplicity, power, and durability of a dedicated mixer grinder are a perfect fit. It’s a tool, not a gadget, and you appreciate its focused efficiency.
- The “Why” for the Juicer Mixer Grinder: You’re a modern, busy individual or a family that values health and convenience. You know that making fresh juice at home is healthier than buying store-bought ones. You want a single appliance that can do it all without cluttering your kitchen. You don’t mind a little extra cleaning for the sake of versatility. For you, the juicer mixer grinder isn’t just an appliance; it’s a lifestyle upgrade. It’s the multi-talented member of your kitchen team, always ready for the next task.
Mixer Grinder or Juicer Mixer Grinder: Which One is Right for You?
Choose a Mixer Grinder if:
- Your cooking needs are primarily grinding spices, making chutneys, and preparing batters.
- You have a small kitchen and need to save on counter space.
- You’re on a budget and want a reliable, no-frills appliance.
- You either don’t drink juice often or are happy with thick, pulpy smoothies.
- You want a simple, easy-to-clean appliance.
Choose a Juicer Mixer Grinder if:
- You or your family members drink fresh, clear juice regularly.
- You want to get into a healthier lifestyle and make juicing a regular habit.
- You want an all-in-one appliance that reduces clutter and the need for multiple machines.
- You’re willing to spend a little more for the convenience and versatility.
- You don’t mind a few extra minutes of cleaning for the added functionality.
In the end, the choice between a Mixer Grinder or Juicer Mixer Grinder comes down to your personal needs and lifestyle. There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Both appliances are excellent at what they do. The key is to understand their strengths and weaknesses, think about what you actually do in your kitchen, and then choose the one that truly feels like the perfect partner for your culinary adventures. Happy cooking (and juicing)!
What is the difference between a mixer grinder and a juicer mixer grinder?
A mixer grinder is mainly used for grinding, mixing, and blending dry or wet ingredients. A juicer mixer grinder comes with an additional juicer jar for extracting fresh juices.
Which is better for home use: mixer grinder or juicer mixer grinder?
If you mostly cook Indian dishes, a mixer grinder is enough. If you also enjoy fresh fruit or vegetable juices daily, a juicer mixer grinder is the better choice.
Can a juicer mixer grinder do everything a mixer grinder can?
Yes, a juicer mixer grinder can perform grinding, blending, and juicing. However, a regular mixer grinder is usually more compact and slightly more durable for heavy-duty grinding.
Is a juicer mixer grinder more expensive than a normal mixer grinder?
Yes. Juicer mixer grinders are generally more expensive because they come with extra attachments and features.
Which is easier to clean: mixer grinder or juicer mixer grinder?
A regular mixer grinder is easier to clean as it has fewer jars and parts. Juicer mixer grinders require more effort since juice jars and filters need extra care.
Which one lasts longer: mixer grinder or juicer mixer grinder?
Durability depends on the brand, motor power, and usage. In general, a mixer grinder may last longer with heavy grinding, while a juicer mixer grinder offers versatility but needs careful maintenance.
Can I grind spices in a juicer mixer grinder?
Yes, most juicer mixer grinders come with grinding jars that can handle dry spices, just like a regular mixer grinder.
Which is better for small kitchens?
A mixer grinder is more compact and better suited for small kitchens. Juicer mixer grinders take up more counter space due to extra jars.
What motor capacity should I choose for a mixer grinder or juicer mixer grinder?
For regular home use, 500W–750W is sufficient. If you plan to grind tough ingredients or want faster juicing, consider a 1000W motor.
Which brands offer the best juicer mixer grinders in India?
Popular brands include Preethi, Philips, Bajaj, Sujata, and Butterfly. They provide reliable performance, good warranty, and easy after-sales service.
Related Post:
- Difference between 500w and 750w mixer grinder
- Mixer Grinder vs Food Processor: Which One is Better?
- What to do when Mixer Grinder Stopped Working Suddenly
- 6 Must-Have Best Mixer Grinders for South Indian Cooking
- How To Sharpen Mixer Grinder Blades