Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to prepare produce for – little to no cutting of produce is required because of the juicer’s wide feed chute
- Average to only slightly below average performance in most of our juicing performance tests
- Reasonably easy to clean and keep stain free because of its dark color (at least for the version of the juicer we tested for review)
Cons
- Terrible performance juicing apples
- The juice it extracts contains a lot of pulp – this is especially true for harder produce
- Some unique aspects to its design hurt more than they help the durability of the juicer
Contents
Jack Lalanne Juicer Assembly
Parts List
- Food pusher
- Juicer cover (and feed chute)
- Filter basket
- Filter bowl
- Motor base (body)
- Juice container
- Froth separator
- Pulp container
Despite the fact that it’s marketed as a “fusion” juicer, the Jack Lalanne SLH90 features all of the same parts as a centrifugal juicer, all of those parts fit together the same way as they do on a centrifugal juicer, and all of those same parts work together to process juice in exactly the same way as they do on a centrifugal juicer.
The bottom line – the Jack Lalanne’s 100th Anniversary Fusion Juicer (sometimes called the Fusion Juicer 100) is a centrifugal juicer. As such, its assembly difficulty is no different than it is for most other centrifugal juicers we tested. As we explain in our general buyer’s guide, juicers of this type (centrifugal) generally receive a 5 out of 5 for assembly difficulty (meaning they’re very easy to assemble) unless they feature additional uniquely complicated difficult to assemble parts. This is not the case for the Jack Lalanne SLH90 and so it receives a perfect 5 out of 5 for assembly difficulty just the same as most other centrifugal juicers we tested.
Note
The only unique part that may or may not be assembled with the Jack Lalanne SLH90 is a removable anti-drip attachment that can be installed over the juicer’s juice spout. This attachment is nothing more than a plastic sleeve that can be rotated around the spout to keep it from dripping juice. Note that we did not install this attachment for testing the Jack Lalanne juicer SLH90 for this review.
Food Preparation
For a centrifugal juicer such as this Jack Lalanne juicer, the only factor that determines how much and to what extent produce needs to be cut before it can be juiced is the size of the juicer’s feed chute. We measured the diameter of the SLH90’s feed chute and determined it to be 3 inches in diameter. This is the exact same diameter as the diameter of most feed chutes of most other centrifugal juicers on the market. For example, all of the Breville centrifugal juicers we tested also all had 3 inch diameter feeding chutes. Those centrifugal juicers manufactured by Cuisinart, Hamilton Beach, and Jamba that we tested also came equipped with 3 inch diameter feeding chutes. As such, all of these juicers required that we cut the produce we juiced for testing their performance to the exact same size. That being said, the only fruit or vegetable that required any cutting at all for these juicers were apples. They were the only fruit or vegetable that wouldn’t fit into the 3 inch diameter feeding chutes of these juicers whole.
Most Centrifugal Juicers (including the Jack Lalanne SLH90)
| Fruit/Veg. | Size of Cuts | Time to Cut | Avg. Time to Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | no cutting required | ||
| Grapes | no cutting required | ||
| Carrots | no cutting required | ||
| Celery | no cutting required | ||
| Apples | quarters | NA | 18 |
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 3″ diameter |
Note: the time above is in seconds.
For comparison, the tables below list the food preparation requirements for a few of the slow juicers we tested. Note how much more cutting was required for them and how much time, on average, was required for making the same cuts.
Omega 8006
| Fruit/Veg. | Size of Cuts | Time to Cut | Avg. Time to Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | eighths | 62 | 59 |
| Grapes | no cutting required | ||
| Carrots | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 53 | 50 |
| Celery | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 59 | 66 |
| Apples | sixteenths | 100 | 99 |
| Spinach | pre-cut | ||
| Wheatgrass | pre-cut | ||
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 1.5″ diameter | ||
| Type | Horizontal Masticating |
Tribest Solostar 4
| Fruit/Veg. | Size of Cuts | Time to Cut | Avg. Time to Cut |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oranges | eighths | 50 | 59 |
| Grapes | no cutting required | ||
| Carrots | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 52 | 50 |
| Celery | 1″ to 2″ pieces | 62 | 66 |
| Apples | sixteenths | 84 | 99 |
| Spinach | pre-cut | ||
| Wheatgrass | pre-cut | ||
| More Information | |||
| Chute Size | 1.25″ diameter | ||
| Type | Horizontal Masticating |
Note: All times are in seconds. For a comparison of “time to cut” vs. “avg. time to cut” see here.
The takeaway here is that the Jack Lalanne fusion juicer requires exactly the same food preparation (very little) as most other centrifugal juicers on the market. At the same time, it requires much less food preparation (cutting of produce) than a typical slow juicer.
Performance
Those fruits and vegetables listed in the table above (that we had to prepare for juicing) were the same fruits and vegetables we juiced with each of the centrifugal juicers we tested, including the SLH90. We juiced exactly 1 lb. of each fruit or vegetable in the list. We then measured the weight of the juice that was extracted by the juicer – this weight we refer to as “out of juicer yield”. We then poured the out of juicer yield through a fine sieve into another measuring cup to determine a new virtually pulp-free yield which we refer to as “after sieve yield”. This table shows (in oz.) the weight of each yield in each test not only for the Jack Lalanne, but also for all of its competitors.
Juicing Performance Summary and Score
The Jack Lalanne’s performance in our juicing performance test varies from average to below average to well below average. It was an average performer juicing oranges, grapes, and celery. It was a slightly below average performer juicing carrots. And it was a well below average performer juicing apples. It was actually the worst centrifugal juicer we tested for juicing apples. Its out of juicer and after sieve yields for apple juicing were the worst results recorded in our apple juicing test. As the photo below shows, most of the apple “juice” extracted by the juicer was actually more of a puree than a juice. This puree couldn’t be strained through a sieve even after several minutes of attempting to do so during the test. Needless to say, we do not recommend this juicer for those users looking to juice apples frequently. It is a decent option for juicing most other fruits and vegetables. That being said, there are several much better options (better performing centrifugal juicers) available should juicing performance be a priority for you. The Jack Lalanne’s 100th Anniversary Fusion Juicer earns a well below average 2.5 out of 5 for overall juicing performance.
Cleaning
The Fusion Juicer 100 (as it’s sometimes called) comes in a variety of different “color” options, namely blue, black, and stainless steel. These “colors” or finishes apply to the main body of the juicer, the juicer’s pulp container, its food pusher, and its juice container’s lid for the blue and black versions. In other words, these are the only parts of the juicer to which the unique color or finish is applied. For the stainless steel version, only its body is stainless steel while the rest of its parts are black like the black version. All three juicers appear to have the same clear (but tinted) plastic filter bowls and juice containers.
Depending on which version of the juicer you buy, you may find it just as easy, easier, or slightly more difficult to clean than the black version we tested and cleaned for this review. Based on our experience with other juicers, we believe that both the blue version and stainless steel version will be slightly harder to clean and keep clean than the black version. The blue plastic parts (body, pulp container, etc.) of the blue version, because they’re made of a light blue plastic should be more susceptible to staining orange (from carrots) or green (from green vegetables) than the more stain resistant black plastic parts of the black and stainless steel version. It’s likely that the stainless steel finish of the stainless steel version’s main body is of a similar low quality to that of the Breville Multi-Speed Juicer, for example. In our Breville Multi-Speed review we talk about how a low grade stainless steel finish is even more difficult to clean and keep clean than a low quality plastic finish. The same reasoning can be applied here. We think it’s reasonable to assume that the stainless steel version of this particular juicer (the Jack Lalanne fusion juicer) is just as difficult to clean and keep clean.
Otherwise, we feel it would be remiss of us not to mention the cleaning brush included with the juicer (the same brush is included with the juicer no matter which version you buy). Note that a cleaning brush (included for the sole purpose of cleaning the juicer’s filter basket) is also included with most other centrifugal juicers we tested. However, most other juicers we tested come with a cleaning brush with a much different design than that of the cleaning brush included with the Jack Lalanne. Most other cleaning brushes we used before using the Jack Lalanne’s came with short, thick handles with a round brush head and black tough bristles. The cleaning brush included with the SLH90 looks like a toothbrush. Its handle is long and sleek. Its brush head is rectangular like a toothbrush’s. And its bristles are white. It also has an extra set of bristles extending from the top of the brush head.
We have three things to say about this juicer’s unique cleaning brush. First, the brush’s design is much more likely to what is common for those cleaning brushes included with slow juicers than those included with centrifugal juicers. The long thin handle of the brush makes cleaning a slow juicer easier (because of the design of some of a slow juicer’s parts – it can be used to push pulp out of such a juicer’s pulp outlet, for example) but really doesn’t make cleaning a centrifugal juicer any easier at all. Thus, it’s quite odd that this type of cleaning brush was included with a centrifugal juicer like the SLH90. Second, the brush did a fairly good job of cleaning the juicer’s filter basket despite its unique design. We really didn’t have any more trouble cleaning the juicer’s filter basket with the brush included than we would have had we used a more typical cleaning brush such as those included with Breville juicers, for example. Third, the only real complaint we have about the included brush is the fact that its bristles are white. Even after using the brush for only a few cleanings during testing, we already noticed the white bristles staining. Sure, the brush’s bristles staining really doesn’t affect how well it works and it could be left in a solution overnight to remove the stains. But, we did want to make note of the fact as it may be a concern for some users.
Dishwasher Safe Parts
The SLH90’s user manual states that “all of the (juicer’s) components with the exception of the motor base” can be washed in a dishwasher. It goes on to recommend that they be washed in the dishwasher’s top rack. Most other centrifugal juicers we tested are also composed of mostly (for many entirely) dishwasher safe parts. However, it is our recommendation that juicer parts not be washed in a dishwasher despite the fact that manufacturers make allowance for it. We detail all of the reasons why we make this recommendation here.
Cleaning Summary and Overall Score
The black version of the Jack Lalanne fusion juicer we tested for this review earns above average marks in the category – a score of 4 out of 5. Its black plastic parts are easy to clean and highly stain resistant. We also didn’t have any trouble cleaning its filter basket with the included cleaning brush. The blue and stainless steel versions of the juicer would have earned a slightly lower score in the category. We believe the blue version’s light blue plastic parts would be more stain susceptible and that the stainless steel version’s stainless steel finish is likely to be difficult to keep clean and smudge-free.
Ease of Use
Juicing Speeds
The SLH90 can be set to two different speeds, depending on the type of produce that is to be juiced. Harder produce should be juiced on the higher speed setting while softer produce should be juiced on the lower speed setting. We discuss the disadvantages of multi-speed functionality, in terms of ease of use, in detail in other reviews such as this one.
Manual Quality
The juicer comes with a very high quality, clear and comprehensive manual. We especially like the “Juicing Tips” section of the manual in which the manufacturer goes into quite a bit of detail explaining proper juicing techniques and what to expect juicing different types of produce (that certain fruits and vegetables have a higher water content and produce more juice than others, for example).
Weight, Power Cord Length, Juice and Pulp Containers
The Jack Lalanne’s 100th year anniversary juicer was definitely one of the lighter centrifugal juicers we tested for review. Fully assembled, it weighs only 5 lb. 14 oz. The only two juicers we tested that were lighter fully assembled than the Jack Lalanne were the Black and Decker JE2200B and Juiceman JM250. Both the JE2200B and JM250 were much smaller in size compared to the Jack Lalanne, which makes the SLH90 the lightest full-size centrifugal juicer we tested. If you’re wondering how its light weight improves its ease of use please see here for a discussion detailing how all of the juicer characteristics we cover in this section of the review, including weight, impact ease of use.
The SLH90’s power cord was measured to be about 48 inches long – a longer than average length in the centrifugal juicer category.
The Fusion Juicer 100 comes with a juice container with a measured volume of 36 oz. and a pulp container with a measured volume of 60 oz. – both measurements are fairly close to average for the centrifugal juicer category. Do note, however, that there are centrifugal juicers on the market that come with much larger containers. The Breville Juice Fountain Duo, for example, comes with a 48 oz. juice container and a 108 oz. pulp container.
Ease of Use Summary and Score
Each juicer’s ease of use score takes into account a variety of juicer characteristics – those discussed above but also certain characteristics discussed much earlier in the review such as ease of assembly, food preparation, and cleaning difficulty. That being said, taking all of those characteristics into account, the Jack Lalanne fusion juicer earns a 3.5 out of 5 in the category.
Versatility
See here for more information on centrifugal juicer versatility (or lack thereof).
Durability
Build Quality and Materials
The SLH90’s build quality and the quality of the materials used for its construction, for the most part (no pun intended), match its price point. In other words, the quality of most of the parts used for its construction is similar to the quality of those same parts as they’re found on other juicers at the same price point.
That being said, the SLH90 does have certain parts that are less durable than those parts as they’re found on juicers that retail for the same price and even juicers that retail for less (that we would expect to have lesser quality parts). Those certain parts are the juicer’s juice container and the froth separator that fits inside of its juice container. The juicer’s juice container’s handle is attached to the container and extends from the container in such a way that it is highly susceptible to breaking over continued use. Take a look at the photo below. Note how the handle is attached only at one point and that it extends away from container at the angle that it does. Now imagine picking up this container by its handle when the container is full of juice. You don’t need a physics degree to realize that it’s only a matter of time before the force exerted on the handle at the point of contact between it and the container, when the container is full, is sufficient to break the handle right off of the container.
Another concern (in terms of durability) is the froth separator that’s attached to the juice container’s lid. The froth separator consists of thin plastic pieces that form a sort of sieve over the front of the container when juice is poured out of the container into a glass or some other container for consumption. It’s only a matter of time, once again, before these thin plastic pieces break off of the juice container’s lid even under normal everyday use.
Brand Reputation
For a detailed breakdown of who exactly stands behind Jack Lalanne products please see the brand reputation section of our Jason Vale Fusion Juicer review. The same review also discusses support and the warranty included for both juicers.
Summary and Score
The SLH90 receives a below average score of 3 out of 5 in the category, mostly because of the flimsy design of the two parts we discussed above. Otherwise, its build quality and the quality of the rest of its parts are very similar to that of other juicers that retail for the same price.
Value and Recommendations
The Jack Lalanne fusion juicer normally retails for between $60 and $70 online. At this price point, we recommend the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juicer instead. A much better juicer that’s only slightly more expensive is the Breville Juice Fountain Compact.