How to Get the Most From Your New Juicer

Do you know how to get the most from your new fruit and vegetable juicer? If you've recently been given a juicer, you bought one, or you're considering buying one, here are a few helpful tips.

Some juicers are better than others. They can vary widely in the amount of juice they produce, how quickly they fill a glass with fruit or vegetable juice, how easy clean-up is, and the best ways to enjoy your juicer.

Since most people choose centrifugal-style juicers, I'll share tips for them. However, some of this advice will help people with other kinds of fresh fruit and vegetable juicers.

How much juice do you want?

Different fruits and vegetables produce different amounts of juice. It may surprise you when a carrot produces plenty of juice, but juicing a winter squash - which can seem just as dry (or moist) as carrots - isn't recommended. Winter squash provide almost no juice.

Many people expect zucchini to be great for juicing. Weirdly, zucchini are also on the "not recommended" list, because they produce very little juice.

Then there are the fruits and vegetables that can jam, plug, or overheat your juicer. Then include bananas and avocados, which can clog the juicer's filter. Leeks, broccoli, and brown-skinned coconuts can jam or overheat your juicer.

If you want lots of juice, quickly and economically, choose watermelon. Peel or cut off the hard exterior so it doesn't slow your juicer. The juicy pink, red, and white fruit will fill your cup with lots of fresh, nutritious juice.

In fact, watermelons are so easy to juice, I use them to flush thicker juices through the filter. That's especially useful if you've been juicing strawberries, blackberries, or other seed-type berries.

How quickly do you want juice?

There are two ways to fill a glass with fresh juice, quickly. The first is to buy a juicer like Breville's centrifugal juicers. They can fill an 8-ounce glass in five minutes. Brevilles also produce up to 30% more juice from produce, which can save you a lot of time and money over the long term.

The other way to speed juicing is to use very juicy or watery fruits or vegetables. Watermelons are at the top of that list. Apples, cucumbers, and some berries can also give you lots of juice per cup of produce.

If you're juicing a fruit or vegetable with a firm exterior or cell-type sections (like citrus fruit), it's best to prepare them for juicing by chopping them up. You'll want to expose as much of the juicy interior as possible, to give your juicer a head start.

How easy is clean up?

If you have a centrifugal juicer, only a few parts need washing each time: The stainless steel filter, the pulp cup, and the parts the juice go through, usually just a spout.

The metal filter should be brushed from the outside, using the brush that came with your juicer (if you bought a Breville) or a new toothbrush, vegetable brush, or nail brush.

I stress new brushes so the bristle ends aren't frayed. Since the edges inside the filter can be sharp, a frayed bristle can leave plastic pieces behind.

You'll brush from the outside to push the produce bits back into the center of the filter. Don't try to push them from the inside to the outside. If the whirling motion of the centrifuge didn't push those bits through, no brush will improve on that.

Then, soak the filter for a few minutes to soften any remaining bits of fruit or vegetables. Finally wash it with hot, soapy water and then rinse with clear, very hot water.

The spout usually requires a quick wash with soap and hot water, followed by a rinse with clear, hot water.

The pulp cup is often the messiest part of the clean-up process. If you can, line the cup with a plastic bag before juicing. A clean plastic grocery bag can be ideal.

Remember that pulp can be used in compost, and sometimes as bird food. (However, most pulp and fresh juices won't be good for Fido or Tabby. Check with your vet before giving them pulp or juice.)

You may also find recipes for some kinds of pulp. Fruit leathers are among the more popular uses for leftover fruit pulp.

In addition, if the pulp is especially moist, try running it through the juicer a second time. This is rarely worth the effort, but - with some juicers - you can extract as much as 20% more juice by using this two-step method. (If you're using a Breville juicer, don't waste your time with this. It's already highly efficient, which is why Breville juicers produce up to 30% more juice than other brands.

Enjoying your juicer more

Whether you're juicing for health or as a gourmet treat, juicing can become tiresome. The food preparation, the time it takes to make the juice, and then the cleanup... it can be exhausting.

However, that's no reason to give up fresh fruit and vegetable juices. Here's the simple solution: Plan to juice for an hour or two, every couple of weeks. Then, freeze the juice you make. I use jelly jars and Mason jars, allowing plenty of extra space at the top of each jar, so the juice can expand as it freezes.

Before long, you may have a nice selection of different juices in your freezer.

Freezing fresh juices

Some juices freeze better than others.

For example, if you freeze pure carrot juice, it will separate into a watery solution and something that looks and tastes like sludge. (I'm not kidding.) For food safety, it's wise to add a tablespoon of lemon or lime juice to carrot juice, to prevent bacteria buildup. However, there's only one way to avoid the separation issue: Mix carrot juice with other juices. I recommend at least two parts apple juice to one part carrot juice, plus a tablespoon or two of lemon or lime juice.

Carrot juice freezes well for up to a month, but that can vary with how cold your freezer is. Other juices will freeze well for about the same amount of time. To store them longer, freeze at below zero degrees Fahrenheit.

Mix your juices

I've found an easy way to avoid the dreaded separation in frozen carrot juice: When I make juices, I usually throw lots of ingredients together. They include fresh berries, melons, carrots, apples, some citrus juice (oranges, grapefruit, lemons,and limes), sliced and peeled cucumber, chopped celery (with most of the strings pulled off it), and a little kale.

Kale is one of those "green" vegetables that have a distinctive taste. Some say kale juice has the flavor of moldy gym socks. Others suggest even less appealing comparisons.

The problem is, kale is one of the healthiest vegetables you can add to your juice. Find ways not to gag when you taste it.

Start with just a little kale - like half a leaf - in your first batch of juice. Increase the amount very gradually as you get used to it. In addition, add lots of very sweet berries, such as strawberries or blackberries. They offset that vile, second-hand perspiration flavor.

Once you're used to the taste of kale juice, you can focus on additional green juices. You've already been through the worst!

Owning and using a juicer can be one of the most enjoyable, nutritious things you can do for yourself and your family.

Start by choosing the right juicer for your needs. Then, make sure you actually use your juicer and get the most from it.

As you gain more experience with different kinds of juices, you'll develop your own recipes that will delight your family, and friends when they visit. It feels good to serve delicious, gourmet fruit and vegetable juices, when you know you're sharing nutrition at the same time.

If you're not sure if fresh juice is right for you, see my advice in Fresh Juice - Getting Started. If you're not sure which juicer to buy, check my tips for choosing the right juicer.

Posted in: Juicer