What did I get into with this massive juicer?

[RawTruth]

Finally! My Green Power (now called Green Star) Gold twin gear juicer arrived. I bought it used online. I had done a bunch of research and, since Fern's is just 20 minutes away, I walked in there (he has a small storefront in addition to the huge warehouse where he sends his online stuff from) and saw all of them and talked to him about all the types. So, I know this is a really good one.

But the thing is huge! I could go into business keeping the neighborhood well juiced (well, my neighbors are all big drinkers, so they are good at keeping themselves well juiced)! It takes up a huge amount of space on my counter. It looks like the commercial Champion at my local juice bar.

Well, I can deal with the lack of counter space; that's not that big of a deal when it comes to making healthy stuff, after all. Here's the problem. Well, I actually have two problems, but here's the first: it came without the manual. I've emailed the people and they're going to look around their house for it (yeah, right). I really wanted to make nut butters and "ice cream" with it, but I've noticed people saying to use a "blank plate" and I have no idea what that means. There are two screen/mesh/grater times things that the gears go through, but I wouldn't consider them blank. Can anyone tell me how to do that?

Meanwhile, I figured out how to juice (did a carrot/apple) and immediately found out that the cleanup is a ... uh, well (no profanity!) .... it's a huge job. Taking the thing apart -- both gears, the screen thingie, the whole front part that turns out to be three parts. Yikes!! All that for just a glass of juice?!?! Oh, yeah, this is the 2nd problem, if I hadn't mentioned that. Can I just use it several times during the day, not wash it then, and just wash it that night? I would think the pulp that's left in there, even though it's just a little, would harden after each time I used it. But, if I could do that, I'd be willing to go on a juice fast forever! Just so I wouldn't have to clean up after only one glass a day! Serously, though, even though I'm sure I'd get faster with practice, cleaning it is really time-consuming and cleaning it every single time would be such a drag. I know this isn't such a huge problem with the centrifugal juicers. What do you experienced similar juicer-owners say? Should I just turn it back around and sell it?

But I want some juice <whimper>!

[levamssg]

RawTruth:
I have the green star and YES it is huge and takes up a lot of counter space. And YES it is a chore to clean -so I don't do it every time I make juice. What I do is run a couple cups of water through to clean out most of the pulp if I plan on juicing something later ... then do a complete clean of the machine when I figure I'm finished for the day.

To make ice cream, you use what is called the "open blank". It is a plastic sleeve like the mesh ones with an opening in the bottom.

(However, you can make banana ice cream in your food processor as well. Takes a bit longer, and is noisy, but you get the same result).

It took me a while to get used to the juicer. My centrifugal juicer is much faster, but very noisy, and the leftover pulp is really wet in comparison to the green star. The thing that I found was because of the cleanup and effort required to make juice using the Greenstar, I haven't been making as much juice. Yesterday I've set my centrifugal juicer back on the counter and found I've already consumed a lot more. So I don't know --- some days I'm glad I have the green star, and other days I wonder if I should keep it.

Re: nutbutter: I don't use the greenstar to make nutbutter. Haven't figured out how, so I just throw the nuts in the food processor and make it like that.

If you plan on juicing wheatgrass, alfallfa and things like that, I've heard the greenstar is the machine to have. Haven't tried that yet.

So let's see: Pros of Greenstar are:
It is Quiet; It produces more (supposedly healthier) juice; It can do wheatgrass and other grasses.

Cons: It is huge and cumbersome to assemble and disassemble
It is a royal pain in the ... to clean

[caramba]

Sorry...I'm not familiar with the Green Star...I have a Samson and it's really easy to clean...

But certainly whatever brand...the juice that comes out is SOOO much nicer - and better for you, right?!

[RawTruth]

Thanks, Terry. I guess mine didn't come with the blank. However, if I can do ice cream in the processor, I'll definitely use that. I feel more justified in my reaction now that I've read about your experience. Yes, I know that the twin gears make the juice healthier, and I do like the extra dry pulp. But, dang, it's horrid to clean! I'm pretty sure that I'm going to get a less complex juicer; I don't plan to juice wheatgrass. I think that the most difficult thing I want is to be able to juice greens (kale, spinach, etc.).

[caramba]

If the Champion's a twin gear, maybe a single gear will be enough (and easier to clean??)

[RawTruth]

I think that's something to consider. Thanks, Fiona.

[PixieGreen]

http://www.greenstar.com/gs_manual.pdf

There is a manual at the green star website. If this doesn't fit your model you could email them for yours.

Christa

[rawpriestess]

Hi,

I have had about a dozen different juicers, used to have a centrifugal one, and it was okay, It also did citrus, again it was okay.

then I got two different citrus ones, they are soooooo easy to clean, you just pick up the top,run it under warm water, you are done.

then I bought a champion. I leave it on my counter, I use it almost every day for juice, or nut butters, or pate's or ice cream, it comes apart in a second, and it rinses clean with warm (never hot because it is nylon) water, and I just lay it out on a cloth to dry.

Now, let me say this is my second champion juicer, as the first one I bought about two years ago, looked exactly the same, but it leaked like a sieve all over the counter, I had to take it back, and then I bought this one on line, from discount juicers, and it works perfectly, plus being about $75 cheaper.

So, I have seen the green star and all that, but the raw chef who was using it said it was a big challenge to clean, so I asked around and found out that although the champion didn't magnetize the juice, that if you went slow, and didn't push too much stuff through too fast, it never got too hot and oxidized the juice.

I have found the juice to be superior to any I can even buy at the health food store, in taste especially, and the pulp is dry like powder.

I use the pulp in burgers and crackers and cakes, especially the carrott, the best chocolate cake I know of used carrot pulp and it isn't near as good with fresh carrotts, so I just freeze my pulp, until I have a bunch, then make chocolate cake, yummy.

Good luck with your juicer raw truth, I am sure if you aren't happy with it, you could sell it to someone here.

Rawpriestess

[RawTruth]

Thanks for all the info, Rawpriestess. It really helps. Is your chocolate cake raw? If so, I'd love to know the recipe. Sound great with the carrot pulp.

[Wendy]

I don't juice much, usually if I want to make a juice I just put it in my Vitamix with a little water. Cleaning up is a hassle with juicer. I saw a Jack Lalane juicer infomercial on tv and he had a super wide opening for the mouth and it got a lot more juice out of the food than others, and was dishwashable.

[AutumnBreezColordLeavz]

Sorry...I'm not familiar with the Green Star...I have a Samson and it's really easy to clean...

But certainly whatever brand...the juice that comes out is SOOO much nicer - and better for you, right?!

I looked this one up- Samson Ultra. Easy to clean is what all the testimonies indicate as well as your word on it. You have saved me some money. I had been looking at the Green Star/power juicers, but I now will consider this one over it just for the simple fact it does all the same things plus it is easy to clean. I am seeing so many complaining about the ease of cleaning with the other one.
Link I found for the Samson: http://www.wheatgrasskits.com/sampsonultra.htm
other kits found there for wheatgrass, herbs, kitchen garden kits. Very nice.

I have a vitamix and an omega centrifugal with spinning basket.
Think I would sell the omega, I don't think I would have a need to keep it, would you? The Samson does not look like it takes up too much room as the other....hmmmm...

[LindyLoo]

Hi RawTruth

I have the GreenStar and yes it is big but I love it!! You get used to the assembly bit quick. I know when I first had mine it seemed a mammoth task - now I hardly give it a thought.

Secondly, I only clean it once a day (sometimes less!) It is fine, in the summer, I juice throughout the day - so I just bung a couple of sticks of celery and cucumber through and voila! No problem, quick and easy.

Good luck

[rawpriestess]

Yes, Rawtruth, the chocolate cake is raw.

I will try to find the recipe for you.

I got it when I went to a raw chef training, I only use Alissa's book now, so I'll have to figure out where I put it.

But, when I do, I will get it to you.

[Revvell]

I agree with Lindy. Clean up is soooo easy, once you know how.

As someone here said, after you're through, keep the motor running and run some hot water through it. That pretty much cleans it for the day. When you are through cleaning for the day, then take it apart, wash, re-assemble. I love my juicer!!!

The Champion has a single rotor btw.

Revvell

[sailaway]

I have a Greenstar, I bought it after looking at all the different modles and almost order the champoin. Then I went to a few raw food stores and juice bars and the recommended to Greenstar. They said the champion was good but the GS could do more things. I wanted a one time purchase so I bought it. At first I d the clean up, the general mess I made and the time it took. After using it now almost daily for over 1 month I can say it does get easier and I am glad I went with it. My kids love putting the greens in and watching them go down. The big carrots I cut lenght wise just so they go through faster as I usually do 5 lbs at a time. Uncut they are harder to push through as they flatten on the twin blades and why do the extra effort? I didn't know about putting hot water in after I am done to help clean though so I will try it. My friend did buy the champion and now wishes she had GS. If you don't have luck getting the mannuel from GS you can send me an email and I will scan mine in and forward it to you.