Using a juicer involves the following steps – assembling the juicer as outlined in the instructions, turning the juicer on, slowly feeding fruits and vegetables into the opening at the top of the hopper, and collecting the processed juice in the collection container. Now you know how to use a fruit juicer.
Juicers are an easy and efficient way to extract nutrient-rich juices from fruits, vegetables, and some nuts/grains. Unlike blenders and food processors, juicers separate juice and hard matter, meaning your juice is 100% pulp-free.
If you would like to learn more about how to work a juicer, refer to the detailed guide below – it contains everything you need to know about juicer use.
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1. Assemble The Juicer
The first step in the assembly process is to place the chamber (the plastic container) onto the base. Some chambers will have a pulp control lever that must be set to the closed position before being connected. Next, place the spinning brush into the strainer. On some models, these two items come combined as a single unit.
Next, place the blade (also called the auger) into the spinning brush and place all three items into the chamber. The last step involved placing the hopper on the top of the strainer and turning it clockwise until it locks into place.
Finally, place the juice collection container directly under the output channel. This container is responsible for collecting all juice produced by the juicer. Most juicers also come with a pulp collection container which is placed directly under the pulp output channel.
2. Prepare Fruits And Vegetables For Juicing
Some fruits and vegetables need to be sliced or diced before being placed in the hopper. The most commonly used types of fruits and vegetables that require prepping include Apples, Pineapples, Cantaloupes, and Watermelons
Soft fruits and vegetables, like most berries, can be fed into the hopper as is and don’t require any preparation.
3. Turn Juicer On And Feed Fruits/Vegetables Into The Hopper
Now that your juicer is properly assembled and all ingredients have been prepped, it’s time to turn the juicer on. Once switched on, you can begin feeding your prepped fruits and vegetables into the hopper where they will be processed by the blades and filter.
If you’re juicing several different fruits and vegetables, feed them in layers. Doing this will ensure a more even mix. Additionally, it’s good practice to mix up the order of ingredients based on hardness.
For example, if you’re juicing a mix of Apples, Spinach, Pineapple, and Kale, alternate between hard and soft. Don’t overload the hopper as this can result in poor extraction levels and possibly cause the juicer to jam.
If the feed tube becomes clogged with pulp, use the push stick to lodge the stuck material free. Never use any other object besides the provided push stick as doing so can cause damage to the blades or container.
4. Empty The Chamber
The juicer chamber will likely fill up before you’re finished juicing. Once full, simply open the output port and allow all processed juice to flow into the collection container. On most juicers, the output port is opened by toggling a small level located on the side of the juicer.
Depending upon how full it is, you may also want to drain the pulp from the container. Like the juice output port, the pulp output port can be opened by moving a small lever on the side of the juicer.
When draining the juice chamber, you don’t have to turn off the appliance or stop juicing.
5. Clean Up
When you have finished juicing, make sure all output ports are closed and run the juicer in reverse for 15-20 seconds. Doing this will make the cleanup process easier.
To clean the juicer, remove the hopper and chamber from the base and take it to the kitchen sink. Don’t detach or remove any components until they are placed inside the sink.
Next, begin detaching components from one another while giving them a good rinse. Most juicer parts are dishwasher safe, meaning once you’ve successfully rinsed all pulp/fruit residue, they can be placed in the dishwasher.
What Should You Know Before Using A Juicer
What is a juicer? A juicer is a small kitchen appliance that extracts liquid from fruits and vegetables. Juicers can be used to make nutrient-rich juices from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
When it comes to home juicers, two types are the most popular, Centrifugal and Masticating juicers. Centrifugal juicers use flat blades that break down fruits/vegetables. The centrifugal spinning separates the juice from pulp and the juice is collected in a large chamber.
Masticating juicers (sometimes referred to as cold press juicers) operate on the principle of cold pressing. Unlike Centrifugal juicers, which use blades to tear apart fruit and vegetables, masticating juicers use compression to squeeze out juice.
Centrifugal juicers are more common as they are more energy-efficient and take less time to prepare juice. That said, centrifugal juicers cannot be used to extract liquid from oats, barley, and many flat greens like spinach.
Most centrifugal juicers come with an 850-watt motor and can reach an RPM as high as 14,500. Almost all parts are made out of plastic and most juicers stand around 15 inches tall.
Masticating juicers come with around 150-watt motors and run at a much slower RPM of 60 – 250. Masticating juicers extract more nutrients from fruits/vegetables compared to centrifugal juicers but are more expensive, harder to clean, and take longer to produce juice.
What Are The Stages Of Using A Juicer
Using a juicer can be broken down into three main main steps:
- Assembling the juicer and turning it on
- Feeding fruits/vegetables into the juicer
- Collecting the fresh juice in a container, turning the juicer off, and cleaning its parts
Does The Juicer Type Affect The Usage Stages?
No. The juicer type doesn’t affect the usage stages. That said, Masticating juicers take almost twice as long to prepare juice compared to centrifugal juicers. Many of the best juicers have advanced setting options that may change the usage stages.
Is Using A Juicer For Food Better Than Using A Blender?
No. Using a juicer for food is not better than using a blender. Juicers are limited to fruit, vegetables, and some grains and nuts. By contrast, blenders are built to handle a wide array of food materials.
Blenders and juicers also operate entirely differently. Blenders chop and cut food material into one homogenous mix. Juicers, on the other hand, work to separate liquid from pulp and other hard matter, leaving you with a mix of pure fruit juice.
When it comes to the question of juicer vs. blender for processing food, the blender is the clear winner.
Smoothies made with blenders can be healthier and more nutrient-rich as they contain plant protein, enzymes, and many amino acids that are contained within the pulp. Still, when it comes to highly concentrated fruit juices, juicers can’t be beaten.
Is Using A Juicer For Oranges Better Than Using A Cold Press?
No. Using a juicer for oranges is not better than using a cold press. That said, the two produce a nearly identical product although the cold press is capable of extracting a higher nutrient value.
One aspect in which a juicer is better than a cold press for oranges is speed. Standard centrifugal juicers are much quicker than cold presses and can prepare several glasses of orange juice twice as quickly as cold press juicers.
Is A Centrifugal Juicer Better Than A Masticating Juicer For Fruits
No. A Centrifugal juicer is not better than a Masticating juicer for fruits. While both options are excellent choices for making fruit juice, masticating juicers have several advantages, including:
- More Efficient Nutrient Extraction: Because masticating juicers use compression, they can extract over 20% more juice from fruits, leading to a higher concentration of nutrients.
- Less Oxidation: Centrifugal juicers spin at several thousand RPM. This process produces heat and can lead to the partial oxidation of the fruit juice it’s processing. Because most masticating juicers operate at an RPM of around 100, this isn’t an issue.
- Greater Yield: Although masticating juicers are much slower than centrifugal juicers, they are capable of extracting more juice from fruits, resulting in a greater yield.
When considering the different types of juicers for making fruit juice, both centrifugal and masticating juicers have their pros and cons.
How To Use A Juicer For Other Uses Besides Blending Fruits and Vegetables
There is only one main use of juicers – turning fruits, vegetables, and some grains into highly-concentrated and nutrient rich juices.
How To Use A Juicer As A Food Processor
You can’t use a juicer as a food processor. Juicers are designed to extract liquid from fruits and vegetables by separating the liquid from the pulp and other hard material. Food processors are designed to process a wide array of foods that can’t be processed by a juicer, including dough, ice, and meat.
Moreover, food processors can be used to process dry foods. Besides some nuts and grains, juicers can’t be used to process dry foods.
How To Use A Juicer As A Smoothie Maker
A Juicer cannot be used as a smoothie maker directly. However, it is possible to extract highly concentrated fruit juice using a juicer and adding the mix to a blender with other ingredients like ice, yogurt, or milk.
By doing this, you get the best of both worlds, and is a great option for those who want to make a thick smoothie without fruit/vegetable pulp.
How To Use A Juicer As A Juice Extractor
To use a juicer as a juice extractor, follow these steps:
- Make sure all juicer parts are clean and assemble the juicer according to the instructions
- Turn juicer on and slowly feed fruits and vegetables into the hooper
- When the juice chamber is full, toggle the release lever. Doing so will cause the newly processed juice to flow out of the output port and into the collection container.
When these steps are followed, you’ll be left with highly concentrated fruit juice extract.
