Juicing what, how & choosing

Juicing – the essentials

When looking for a home juicer and finding juicing recipes that work for you can be daunting. After considering a few important things (how to shop for the right machine, what you need to know to get started, and some basic juice recipes), making fresh fruit and vegetable juice at home can be simple and fun.

Before we dive into recipes and shopping tips, let’s review what juicing is: Unlike making a smoothie in a blender, juicing extracts liquid from raw fruits and vegetables rather than pulverizing the whole plant. While juices have less fiber than smoothies, they aid in detoxifying the body with their high amounts of concentrated nutrients.

Buying A Juicer
Consider the following factors:

Masticating Juicers & Centrifugal

Centrifugal juicers are the most common type of home juicers and are easily found at stores and kitchen shops all around the western globe. Centrifugal juicers chop your fruits and vegetables up into fine pieces while spinning the bits at very high speed, separating the juice from the pulp. These high-speed machines do generate heat, which affects the enzymes and nutrients in the juice. On the plus side, centrifugal juicers are often less expensive and easier to clean compared to masticating juicers.

Masticating juicers: Also known as “cold press” or “gear” juicers, these machines work by grinding the fruits and vegetables to break them up, then pressing the bits through a strainer. Masticating juicers juice greens much effectively than centrifugal juicers do, and this method of juice extraction preserves the enzymes and nutrients, producing very concentrated and wholesome juice. Most masticating juicers, however, are more expensive than centrifugal juicers.

The Type Of Juice You’re Planning To Make
It is important to consider the variety of produce you want to juice when choosing a machine. Some juicers handle all textures well, while others have trouble with specific types of fruits and vegetables. Centrifugal juicers are great for juicing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, but have trouble extracting juice from leafy greens, for example. If you’re trying to get more greens in your diet through juicing, a masticating juicer, while pricier, will do a better job, as it grinds the produce at a low speed to remove the juice from the pulp.

– Clean-Up

Juicing is a messy business which often leaves loads of pulp behind. While all machines require thorough cleaning, some are easier to clean than other machines. Look for easy to remove parts, dishwasher-safe portions, and an easy reassembly process. Halls Intl have a large range of the most innovative and up to date machines out there. Get in touch about any requirements for your establishments and we will guide you on the best option for you.

– Design Details
It’s always important to consider the machine’s design layout and attributes when you are choosing the best juicer for you. Take into account the size of the feed chute, the length of the juice spout, as well the shape and size of the catching jug. Does your choice of juicer have different speeds based on produce density? What is the noise level as you may require a more silent juicer? How much counter/storage space will it take up etc.

Getting Started
– The Best Fruits & Vegetables To Juice
The following fruits and vegetables produce nicely-flavored juice when run through a juicing machine.

Soft fruits: pineapples, tomatoes, berries, citrus, melons, mangos, grapes, peaches, nectarines, plums, kiwis
Hard fruits: apples, cranberries, pears, pomegranates
Soft vegetables: spinach, kale, chard, mint, cilantro, parsley, cucumber
Hard vegetables: cabbage, celery, carrots, beets, ginger root, fennel, sweet potato
– And The Worst
The following fruits and vegetables either do not contain enough water to be juiced through a machine or produce off-putting, unappetizing juice.

Avocado
Banana
Rhubarb
Figs and dried fruits -Onions (scallions, leeks, etc.)
Eggplant

– Avoid These Common Mistakes
Juicing is all about experimentation and finding a machine, method, and flavor combination that work best for you. That said, these are the common mistakes that I think can easily be avoided.

Making one kind of juice over and over again: Your body wants a variety of enzymes and nutrients so don’t get stuck on one blend.
Adding too much fruit: Because fruits are packed with sugar, I recommend at least a 2:1 ratio to vegetables.
Not drinking it immediately: Fresh juiced is best enjoyed soon after it’s made, as the juice separates and the nutrients begin to break down.
Not washing produce well: Dirt and pesticides will make it right into your cup if produce is not cleaned properly. I like to start with organic ingredients whenever possible.
Replacing a meal with juice: Freshly-made juice is not a meal replacement.
Not listening to your body: Pay attention to quantity of juice, the fruit and vegetable combinations that feel best, and what time of day juicing works best for you.