Appliances...

[firefaery]

Don't know if this should be in juicing...but I'll start here. I am lovong the raw thing-LOVING IT! My challenge now is my juicer. I have a relatively expensive juicer but it is a centrifugal juicer and everything I'm reading says go for the masticating/auger style. We are quite poor, but now dedicated to this lifestyle. Sooooo, my question is this: I have a birthday coming up. If I were to replace my juicer I would be looking at (and asking for) a green star juicer. Quality-wise is there anything to gain by doing this? If it helps, the one I have now is a Waring juicer-the heavy duty kind. Any advice or feedback? Have any of you done both (centrifugal and masticating) and seen a major difference? Thanks a bunch in advance.

[levamssg]

Firefaery,
I have the Green Star juicer and like it a lot. I also have a juicer (Braun) the same basic type you now have. I don't see a major difference in the juice itself, although I've read the quality out of the Green Star is superior. Also, the pulp from the Green Star is drier than from the Braun, so the Green Star probably gives you a teeny bit more juice.

The Greenstar is VERY quiet - that was a big plus!! However, The Braun works better with juicy fruits like pears, apples, oranges. So I use the Braun if I'm doing that type of juicing exclusively.

I use the Green Star most - the majority of my juice has a carrot/celery base. I use it for my vege burger mix .... and wheatgrass ...and sometimes ice cream. So, you'd definitely get plenty of use out of it.

However, if the juicer you have is working well, and you don't see an immediate need for a machine to do wheatgrass and such, then continuing to use the one you have would work just fine.

[Shivananda]

If it helps, the one I have now is a Waring juicer-the heavy duty kind. . Hi Firefaery,
I have owned both and do own both, and have used everything on the market. My first juicer was the original Acme Juicer that is now the Waring Heavy Duty. Great juicer, and still in regular service at the home of a friend I gave it to. Top quality juice from hard veggies like apples and carrots, but limited to about 2 pounds of produce before you have to stop and clean it out. Kind of hard to learn to use well, and hard to clean. No good for leafy greens. Today I have replaced it in my home with the Brevile Juice Fountain, whch makes my favorite carrot/apple/ginger juice about 4 times as fast at the Acme/Waring. So it's what I use for large batches for entertaining or whatnot. But it is still no good for leafy greens, except adding a touch of parsley or whatever to perk something else up. Sells around $150 US

For wheatgrass and green juices I use the Omega 8001 single auger masticating juicer, in which the auger revolves against a grinding plate and screen, is now replaced by the very similar 8005. I also use it for carrot/apple/ginger if I'm making a green juice too, or if the machine is already dirty... know what I mean? But it is much slower. Much, much slower actually than the centrifugal machines. But still, all in all, if I could only have one machine, that would be it. Samson makes an essentially identical machine. Sells around $230 US

GreenStar double auger masticating juicer (the two augers revolve against each other) has a very slight edge over the Omega and Samson in overall juiicing versatility, but at nearly twice the price and being a much larger size than the Omega/Samson, it's not as good a choice for many homeowners. . I'd rather have the Omega with two complete auger systems (for less total expense) so I could switch between wet and dry functions more quickly. Plus the twin auger machines have a hard earned reputation for quality control issues on the fit of the twin screws and also having to be babied more, whereas the single auger machines are just tough and kid-friendly.

Anyhoo, them's my opinions. I have them so you don't have to. :)

[Shivananda]

Perhaps this is unnecessary here, because I think you're probably already committed to health and juicing before you wind up in a forum like this, but just in case, this is something I would add for those who are brand new to juicing and not sure if it's going to be right for you...

Once you have picked out exactly what you want... and I recommend looking at everything you can, asking juice bars if you can see what they have, etc... buy your first machine from a dealer you know who has a full return, full refund policy. And even on your second machine, or on your first machine if you already know what you are doing, make sure you buy from a dealer that will give immediate replacement for warranty problems.

Why? Because overall juicers probably have a higher return rate, both for warranty problems and also for "I changed my mind," than any other small home appliance. In some locations and with some models it approaches 50%. No kidding. Which is why Omega stopped carrying a twin auger model. And that is part of why the prices on juicers tend to run quite a bit higher than similarly complex other home appliances.

That's an insider's tip you'll probably never hear anywhere else. I hope it is helpful to you.

[firefaery]

Wow-that was so unbelievably helpful, Shivananda! Now I know what to look for. You are correct in saying (for anyone else reading this) that the Waring is TERRIBLE for leafy greens and a huge pain in the butt to clean. Total bummer. I really want to start with the baby grasses which is one major reason for wanting to switch. Now maybe I'll rethink and just add another. I hadn't heard of the double auger causing problems-but it makes sense. More parts, more problems. I will take your advice and check out the ones you mentioned and ask around. I have *most* of what I need, but by the time this baby comes (within two weeks of my birthday) I want to be self sufficient in my kitchen with the juicing. I have been feeling so great going raw, I know I won't be going back. There's no reason to invite bad health back in.

[firefaery]

Sorry, Shivananda-one more question. I will research, but from your perspective...alot of recipes call for a juicer with a blank screen. The Waring (as you know) can't help me there. Is it really something that is important-or will a vitamix or food processor take care of that? I don't know yet if the Omega offers that option. I just want to know if I should be factoring that in.

[JinxieKat]

The Omega does offer that option. I just got my Omega 8005 this past Friday and I love it. It makes juicing so easy and on top of that it is easy to clean. I did alot of researching and digging and thinking.. about a month's worth before I picked the Omega 8005. I was able to get it online for 213.00 including shipping. Of course there is the ease of return if you can find it locally. As long as mine never malfunctions I don't see it going back though. It juiced kale, oranges, apples, and carrots so easily.

Hope that helps!

Jinx

[firefaery]

It does! Thanks a bunch. Did you get it new? Can you tell me where you found it?

[firefaery]

It does, thank you! Ease of cleaning is big with me...I'm glad to hear you like it so far. Now I'm between the Omega 8003 and the Solostar 2...too much information at too late an hour. I'll tackle this one again tomorrow.

[Shivananda]

Sorry, Shivananda-one more question. I will research, but from your perspective...alot of recipes call for a juicer with a blank screen. The Waring (as you know) can't help me there. Is it really something that is important-or will a vitamix or food processor take care of that? I don't know yet if the Omega offers that option. I just want to know if I should be factoring that in. Hey, I just live for questions, so no hay problemo. Bring them on!

What the blank screen refers to... and this ONLY applies to the auger type machines... is that the auger(s) revolve against a peforated screen to make juice.... (the juice goes through the holes into the juice container, while the pulp goes out the end into the waste container) , but when the perforated screen is replaced by a solid (blank) screen with no holes, then it serves as a grinder, because everything goes out the end. That's what you use for nut butters, and if you're into it, pasta and mochi (pretty much NA for the raw community).Oh, but it is also perfect for making "ice cream" from frozen mangos or bananas.

And it is nothing really to be concerned about if you purchase any of the auger machines, because they all come with the blank screen included standard. It's maybe a $10 part.

>>I hadn't heard of the double auger causing problems-but it makes sense. More parts, more problems.

Actually, it is more specific than that. The double auger machines depend on their long tapered metal spiral augers, with threads reversed to each other, being a very, very tight fit. That has turned out to be a manufacturing and QA nightmare. And maintenance is an issue. Those long spirals need to be carefully tended to, and a big accidental ding in one can sideline the whole machine.

In the process of trying to solve the issues with that type of design, it was discovered that a single cone shaped lexan auger, rotating inside a cone shaped metal screen, performed nearly as well, and with much looser tolerances, much lower costs, and much higher durability. And you can now buy hand cranked versions of that design for around $60, and power ones for $150, but I still think the $220 models I mentioned are really optimum.

So while the double auger machines are top of the line, yes, and slightly more refined, they are also much more expensive, are more tempramental (across the whole user base), require more care, and are much easier to break. Single auger machines, by contrast, are very tough and forgiving and are hard to mess up. Besides, they're smaller and faster to clean. If I could only have one, that's what I would buy today.

[firefaery]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I really appreciate the depth of your response. This information is not something I have come across yet. You are much faster and clearer than my search efforts!

[samadhisoul]

OT, but are you from MDC?
I am aceboo, heey mama

[firefaery]

Well hey there! Yes I am! Glad to see you here. It's a great board!