Juicers are a significant expenditure and should not be taken lightly. Also, entry-level juicers can be costly, so learning how to use and care for your juicer correctly is essential. You will notice that your juice tastes terrible overtime or that your juicer breaks down if you do not maintain it properly. Fortunately, taking care of a juicer is easy, and there are a few simple measures you should follow to ensure your juicer continues to produce tasty, nutritious juice for several years.
We put together this list of handy hints to show you how to take care of your juicer to get the most out of it and enjoy the many benefits of juicing without having to replace it too much.
Removal of seeds/pits
The most common reason that juicers get damaged is that people fail to cut the seeds and pits before juicing. If you juice apricots, peaches, cherries, or other fruits with hard pits, you risk permanently ruining your juicer if one slips between your fingers. Made sure you just use de-pitted fruit in your juicer. And fruit with tiny, softer seeds or pits should be avoided since they appear to produce salty, harsh-tasting juice if not. Some fruits, such as strawberries, peaches, plums, and apricots, have seeds converted to cyanide in the body, which is clearly not a good thing.
Clean the juicer
Cleaning isn’t enjoyable, particularly when you’re itching to get your hands on that delicious glass of juice you just made. Unfortunately, the longer you leave your juicer unclean, the shorter its life expectancy will be. Dried juice and fruit remnants should be collected from your juicer as soon as possible after you’ve finished using it. If you don’t clean the fluid properly, leftover fruit bits and dry juice will taste sour in the future. Furthermore, if you let dried juice build-up, it can harm the internal processes that drive your juicer. Many juicers, thankfully, have conveniently removed sections that can be washed in the dishwasher.
Use the same plunger
When the plunger is on the other side of the kitchen, it can be tempting to drive something into your juicer with the fork you have nearby, but don’t! Almost every juicer comes with a plastic or rigid rubber plunger that fits well in the fruit chute of your system. You risk causing significant damage to your juicer and ending up with a very pricey paperweight if you use anything. Juicers aren’t built to have heavy things stuck into the blades or augers, so you might hurt yourself. And if you believe you should be cautious, the risk is not worth it.
Don’t juice nuts
This suggestion is debatable, as the jury is still out on whether or not it would damage your juicer. It’s a waste of time at all because foods with low water content don’t contain much juice, if any at all. Some people believe that juicing dry ingredients such as coconut, grains, and cereals will damage the juicer over time. To be sure, we suggest avoiding juicing these ingredients because you won’t be losing out on anything if you don’t.
Choose the juicer right for the task.
If you already have a juicer, this isn’t the most helpful tip, so if you’re going to buy one, think of what you’ll be juicing the most to get the right juicer for the job. Blade juicers, also known as centrifugal juicers, are less costly than the cold press or masticating juicers, but they are less effective at juicing leafy greens like spinach and kale.
A blade juicer is suitable for juicing apples or citrus fruits, but it won’t perform well for leafy greens. Masticating juicers effectively juice a variety of fruits and vegetables, but they are more costly. They can also accommodate more fibrous, heavier vegetables than centrifugal juicers. Get a masticating juicer if you know you’ll need it often and want a long-lasting juicer that can withstand the wear and tear of daily use.
Use mason jars or wine bottles
Mason jars are the most popular way to store juice from a masticating juicer. Fill your glass of liquid all the way to the top. Be sure there’s no air in the container until tightening the lid. The juice will spoil faster if there is more air in the container.
An empty wine bottle is an excellent alternative to mason jars for storing juice. If you have a wine saver, you will use it to remove air from the bottle, which can help the juice last longer.
Choose the colder location
The hotter the juice is stored, the healthier. Juice should be held at a temperature slightly above zero. If your refrigerator has a part with a temperature setting, set it to about 35 degrees Fahrenheit to keep the juice fresher for longer. If your fridge doesn’t have an adjustable temperature area, you can take your juice and put it in the back. The back of the house is normally colder than the front.
Vacuum-Sealed
Purchase mason jars as well as a vacuum seal kit. Fill the mason jar halfway with juice, leaving a 12-inch gap at the end. Placing the pump on top of the lid is a good idea. Pump it up and down several times. This can remove all of the oxygen from the container, making it more difficult for bacteria and mold to spread.
This will allow you to keep your juice for an additional two days.
Remove the pulp
Load the juice into a glass jar as close to the top of the tub as possible after you’ve done juicing. Filter out the pulp to save the excess cellulose in the juice from browning.
Add Lemon drops
Adding lemon to your juice is an easy trick you might use. Citric acid is used in lemon juice. You will extend the life of your juice by applying natural citric acid to it. In acidic conditions, bacteria that cause the juice to spoil faster can’t develop as easily. Citric acid is used to prolong the shelf life of certain canned foods, such as rice. If you don’t like a touch of lemon in your drink, it should make it last longer in the fridge. The more citric acid you use, the longer the juice will last.
Peel the skin of the fruit
Before you juice your fruit, remove the skin. Bacteria can be found on the skins of fruits and vegetables, causing juice to spoil faster. Although removing the skin depletes some of the juice’s nutrients, it is preferable if you want to keep it for a longer period of time.
Go organic
Synthetic pesticides, petroleum-based fertilizers, GMOs, and waste sludge-based fertilizers are not used in the production of organic produce. When compared to conventional planting, there are fewer pesticides used. As a result, you will enjoy nutrient-dense juice while avoiding unnecessary chemical pollution. Despite the fact that pesticides and fertilizers used in organic farming have been licensed by the FDA, you must also wash and peel your produce to remove any residual chemical residue. Since there are fewer additives in the juice, it will last longer.
Don’t use freezer
To extend the shelf life of your juice, all you have to do is keep it refrigerated. I don’t suggest freezing the juice because it will alter the flavor. If you just don’t have a preference, make sure there’s enough space for the juice to spread. Don’t fill it to the brim. You don’t want to deal with shattered glass in your fridge, do you?
Signs of degradation
A shift of color and a difference in flavor are two indicators to watch for when storing the juice. To help in the preservation of your juice, juice a lemon with your produce to aid in the preservation of your juice with the citric acid that is naturally present in lemons. Drinking the juice as soon as possible helps you avoid oxidation.
Avoid Oxidation
Consider the following precautions if you’re concerned about oxidation:
Lemon or lime juice should be added to the drinks. Since it avoids significant oxidation, lemon has long been used as an all-natural preservative.
Fill the container of juices all the way to the tip. This would keep the extra oxygen from lingering.
Your juices should be kept in the refrigerator. You should even put the juice in the freezer.
Final Verdict
It’s a pain to take care of your juicer, but it’s well worth it. Juicers are costly, and it would be a waste to have to repair one because of misuse. They’re not impossible to care for, and if you follow the advice in this guide, you should be able to escape much of the typical issues. Juicing
