Juicer thoughts

[washerboy]

Does anyone have any experience with juicers? good/bad...brands to consider... input would be appreciated.
Thanks!!

 

[rp2813]

Depends on what you're looking to juice. I got the citrus juicer attachment for my KA mixer and it does an OK job and doesn't require another whole appliance for it. But it won't do carrots or anything. I think Champion brand is one of the best ones out there for all-around juicing, if you can maybe find a good used one for cheap. They're pricey brand new. And they're not small.

 

[petek]

To be honest they're more work and a beetch to clean than they're really worth. I have an Omega 1000 and only because I found it at a thrift store looking like it had never been used and it cost me only $10. It's a beautiful piece of machinery though, extremely well built and whisper quiet with its induction motor. It's part of my collection. I also have a Braun and a 70 ish Oster and surprisingly the Oster is even quieter and just as well built. There's no comparison between any of them and the bargain type on the shelves of Walmart etc. Here's a pic of Dave with the little Silex Juice-It electric reamer type he bought a few weeks ago when he was down for the weekend. My Omega beside it

 

[rp2813]

I have seen those Silex ones out there and wondered how well they worked. But when it came time to process oranges off the back yard tree (and it' ain't anywhere near done yet) I needed a juicing option besides the Juice-O-Mat half-at-a-time squasher I've been using and I didn't want to get flack from my partner for trying to shoehorn in another small appliance on the shelf. So I went for the KA attachment as a compromise. Since juicing isn't a year 'round thing for me, it was the right decision to make but also since it's limited to citrus it won't be the right choice for everyone.

 

[countryguy]

I have the Jack LaLanne juicer. It works great on any fruit/vegetable. The feed chute is large, I can put in whole apples, grapes including the stems, etc. It is very quiet and extracts lots of juice. The only drawback is it is cumbersome to clean by hand which is why I put all the pieces in the dishwasher.

Gary

 

[tolivac]

Have the Champion-great machine-and not all that hard to use or clean.Makes the BEST orange juice you ever tasted-so natural and sweet!Unlike the bitter stuff sold at the store.But you do go thru several oranges to make it.Just skin and quarter the oranges and run 'em thru-then juice!Bought mine used from the owner of a vacuum store out here I use a lot.My sister had one of those Silex juicers-neat little machine!Made good juice too.The reamer type machines like the Silex make good juice and are simple-they are designed for citrus juicing.

 

[whirlcool]

I did a lot of research on juicers a few years ago and ended up with the Panasonic Juice Extractor. It can juice just about anything with any kind of liquid in it. I particularly like the Carrot/Green Apple mix. It makes a great afternoon pick me up.
It comes with a toothbrush kind of tool that you can use to clean off the blades and the rest of the parts go right into the dishwasher, top rack of course. Cleanup time is usually less than three minutes.
But it does make a hell of a racket when it's on. But you only run it for less than a minute to get a full glass of anything, so it's bearable.

 

[phillygrl]

Twin Gear Juicer

I used a Krups centrifugal juicer for years and had very good results with it. It worked as well as my friends Omega at half the price. When it was time to replace it, I did a lot of research and bought a twin gear juicer. It is whisper quiet, and produces wonderful juice, with almost no oxidation. I feel it is a superior machine, that is worth the cost. I will pay for good tools. Although a little shopping on the internet will find some discounts. You do have to ignore the bs about magnets adding to the nutritional value of the juice. Some of the twin gear juciers make some pretty silly claims about magnets, including the one I own. See link below for Green Star juicers.

http://www.greenstar.com/index.asp

 

[phillygrl]

Oh, I forgot to add that the Green Star juicer makes some pretty wonderful "ice cream" from frozen fruits.

 

[jetcone]

Nothing like a Vita Mix

I say.

I have an Omega too but Gansky & Unimatic used to like to spin dry wet dishtowels inside it at 3000 RPMS until I CAUGHT THEM AT IT!!!!!!!

 

[phillygrl]

Nothing like a Vita Mix to make the best smoothies you ever had, as well as your own coffee frappes. All for way less than the commercial shops. And most of them use Vita Mix machines. They are built like tanks and will last a lifetime. Made in Northeastern Ohio by a family run company. They have a seven year warranty, which they honor with no questions asked. Their customer service is superb. Can you tell I like my Vita Mix?

Lisa

 

[tolivac]

COOL!!Another VM fan-have several VM machines and really like them.Yes they make the best smoothies and whole frouit shakes out there.And same with Blendtec"Will it Blend?"Also have several Blendtec machines.Both VM and Blendtec make the BEST blenders oput there.Yes-and I still "juice" with the VM and Blendtecs-they will grind up the pulp so you can drink it.The Champion is kinda neat-and was able to buy it at a low price.The VM is more conveniet-less preparation-jusk skin and remove seeds and away you go!

 

[phillygrl]

Yep, I've got two myself. A 3600 bought right from the factory during the Xmas scratch and dent sale. We were the only customers, so the salesman let us put together a perfect machine. Got a good base from one, a good container from another, and put the scratched base and dented container together. Recently snagged a 5000 from an estate sale for $150, with both containers. Love my Green Power for carrot apple juice.

 

[tolivac]

phillygrl:That is really neat being able to get your 3600 from the VM factory.Great that you live close to them.The two 3600 I have got from yard sales-back when you could get neat things at yard sales rather than broken baby toys and old clothes.and the 5000 from an Estate sale is another great find.Had to get my machines new.Have 5 others at this time-a 4000,5000,chef Prep,Max Performance Blend station,and standard Blend station.Right now Blendtec is trying to sue VM over the accusation that VM is using the same design of jar and blade in the Max Performance VM -they are similar to the Blendtec design.-Gull wing blade and 5 side jar.Someday will have to look into a Green Power for juicing-maybe when I can work some OT.On Blendtec machines have 3-The Smoother,Titan,and a Total Blender-same as the one on "Will It Blend".Nice little machine-and powerful for its size.

 

[phillygrl]

The lawsuit was from 2006. Kinda doubt that k-tec would win, as they are the new kids on the block. Found a nice article about Vita-Mix from the Plain Dealer.

http://blog.cleveland.com/business/2008/01/vitamix_blender_keeps_olmsted.html#more