Cheapest and best juicer and dehydrator?

[wtng4amiracle]

I am gearing up to start this change, and am researching to see what the best and cheapest juicers and dehydrators are. I am on a budget and want to get the best "bang for my buck." :)

What would you all recommend?

Thanks,

Cheri

[145ish]

Well the cheapest isn't always the best. I have a juicer called a Juiceman Jr. it sells for about $60 and they have it in most departments stores like Wal-Mart or Target...It will not do wheatgrass and it does not have a blank blade like some models. It just juices veggies & fruits. Apples, carrots, spinach....If this one ever dies I may buy a better one but probably not. I'm a simple girl and I don't need the fanciest of things.

I have a cheap citrus juicer that couldn't have been more that $15 bucks that is also at most department stores.

I have the Excalibur dehydrator. The one with 4 drawers and the main thing that I don't like about it is it does not have an on/off switch, you have to unplug it to get it to stop and of course plug it in to use it. Other than that it's fine. Make sure you get a dehydrator that has a temperature control. The ones in the stores normally do not have this feature and it is a must.

[RawVee]

I got a Breville Juice Fountain and I love it. Best thing is that Bed Bath and Beyond, of all places, has quite a few different juicers. And if you get those monthly 20% coupons, you can get quite a deal!!!

[dustandbreath]

I can't help you on cheapest. But I can tell you what we have done: we bought a champion juicer (2-250 bucks) and a cheap black and decker processor, and b&d coffee grinder (for flaxe seed, etc) and don't have a dehydrator. The juicer is great for fruits and my favorite: CARROT JUICE!!! In fact it is better than the more expensive Green Star for fruit juices, I think. But it does not do greens as well, even though we juice them, and just alternate carrots or zucchini with them.

The thing about cheaper juicers, even though it may seem it is the same, is the way they extract the juice. Some use methods that actually generate more heat (killing good stuff) and others don't break down the fibres that well. You can find info on them all over on the web. I think there was a bit of a comparison on discountjuicers.com (or something). It is nice having at least one item (Champion Juicer) that you know is very good. And durable. But you do have to parcel out your money a bit more and wait to buy additional items (or get as a gift . . .)

[Rawkinlocs]

I have a juicer, a Champion that I bought second-hand from someone on this forum a few years ago. But I rarely use it.

As for dehydrators, my very first dehydrator was a Nesco American Harvest Snackmaster WITH temperature control - that's important...don't get sucked in by a cheaper price for a model that doesn't as they are preset at a temp higher than what is considered still raw/living temps!

It's a round model and it isn't as "flexible" as the Excalibur, but it did the trick for me to make things such as crackers, pizza, flat breads, fruit leather, dried fruit, etc. You won't be able to fit a whole pie plate into it and stuff like that, but most stuff you can manage in there although some things may be odd-shaped and not perfectly square and you'll have a nice round pizza but it'll have a hole in the center, but who cares...long as it TASTES good, right? :)

You can usually get them from either Walmart (sometimes if they have them on sale you can find them for under $50) or www.Walmart.com (around $50 plus shipping) or you can go to www.Everythingkitchens.com or the direct website (costs a little more there) at www.Nesco.com Also, if you buy one, it only comes with ONE "fruit roll tray" (their equivalent to the teflex sheets) however, you can order extra ones along with extra trays and even what they call "Convert-a-Trays" that are deeper for taller items (loaves, pesto-stuffed mushrooms, etc.) by going to either Everythingkitchens.com or Nesco.com

I still have mine but I have an Excalibur now and that's the one I primarily use...but that American Harvest served me well for 2 years until I got the Excalibur.

[RowanC]

Honestly, for a juice and especially a dehydrator, you may want to just wait and save and buy the BEST.

The BEST dehydrator in my opinion is the Excalibur.
Nothing else comes close.

The BEST juicer is a toss up. People have their favorites.
I have a juiceman and a Jack LaLain and I love them both.
Go to Goodwill and find one used.. they're cheap there.

Put an ad on your local craigslist and you just might find yourself a used Excalibur. I've seen them!

[lavendarJ]

I bought the Nesco (Rawks recommended to me last year).. and it's true... it works great if you can deal with a hole in the center... just have use your creative energy...

I don't dehydrate a lot but if I do get to a point where I want to do more dehydrating (like for family and other events)... I might consider buying again.. I'm waiting for the premiere of Alissa's dehydrator

[SchoolOfRAWk]

Best "nice" juicer is the Omega, imo.

But I use my Juiceman Jr so much more, and it's cheap at WalMart or some similar, less-offensive store. (lol)

Dehydrators...get the excalibur. I also got a vitamix. Not cheap but well worth it. Got my vitamix for $300, new, on ebay.

www.discountjuicers.com is a great site, full of reviews.

[portiz]

Of course, Alissa is coming out with her dehydrator model soon!! ;) :) ;)
You might want to wait for that one.

[FirstGarden]

Hi - There's a few dedicated threads on juicers here in the forum. A lot of great info is in them. You must check them out! :p

As for best for price, for general juicing purposes, get a high quality one used off ebay or recycler.com.

I've had my Champion for almost 30 years and it refuses to die. It's a real powerhouse -- heavy (over 30 lbs) -- and rugged.

I also hear good things about Samson and Greenstar. Samson weighs a lot less :confused: but has more attachments.

If you plan on juicing grass, the top model of Greenstar would be your huckleberry. Look for it used.

I plan on getting a manual juicer, which is a very rugged, metallic construction and available new for well under $80.

There are several good juicers on the market. Avoid centrifugal juicers as they heat the produce somewhat and have to be cleaned out often along the way; that is, if you are juicing a lot. As far as I know, all centrifugal models contain the pulp. The others expel the pulp as they go.

Hope that helps. ;)

[mlwaug]

I got a 5 tray excalibur for $140. That is the cheapest I have seen on the internet or any where else.
http://www.samshealth.com/index.html

[ashleighan]

I got a 5 tray excalibur for $140. That is the cheapest I have seen on the internet or any where else.
http://www.samshealth.com/index.html

I just ordered one from Excalibur MFG that is due tomorrow wish I would have know about this place first... I'll have to look into the other things they have thanks for sharing.

[belleadonna]

Yeah, that's a great site for stuff. Really cheap and includes shipping.

[Boo Radley]

I was reading about juicers and juicing. I have read from more than one source that masticating juicers are better than centrifugal juicers, because they don't cause as much heat on the foods/juice. Heat is supposed to kill the enzymes.

Centrifugal juicers have a spinning basket. Masticating juicers have an auger which crushes the food and squeezes the juice out.

Masticating juicers are more expensive than centrifugal juicers, but most of the time they can get more juice from the foods than centrifugal juicers.

I found out about a high end masticating juicer called the Green Star juicer. It's about 400 bux, which is not something I'm going to spend, even though I would love a green star juicer.

I looked high and low, and found something for about half the price which has rave reviews, and an excellent warranty. It is called the Omega 8003 masticating juicer.

This juicer outperforms the centrifugal jucers I used to have, I get more juice from the foods I put into it, and the juice tastes better. Also, I notice a change in how I physically feel after I drink juice from this juicer. This change didn't occur when I drank juices from centrifugal juicers.

I bought mine from livingright.com . That was about the cheapest price I could find. Somewhere like 200 bux with an instant rebate and free shipping.

I have no experience with dehydrators. :(

Good luck to you, doll. :)


EDIT:
I forgot to add, it takes me about 60 seconds to dissassemble and clean the parts, and maybe 30 seconds to put it all back together and attach it to the machine.

[Eva]

Cheri:

I went to Sam's Health, and I just got an Excalibur dehydrator for $93!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There is a spot on the right side of the page that says to click for an email of the lowest possible price. It was $93/$120/$165 for the different models. That is sooooo cheap for the supposedly best dehydrator out there, especially considering NO ONE sells it that cheap. Anyhow, that was at samshealth.com

If I looooove the dehydrator and use it all the time, I will totally get the second big one. My stepkids keep asking when I'm going to make some raw pizza, and I have been telling them I wasn't ready to buy the dehydrator yet. We're doing fine on money now, so I got it, but still.... That felt like a real rush to get a better deal (and it includes FedEx shipping!).

Ah.

And I just got this: 1 of: Waring JEX328 Health Juice Extractor
from Amazon.com for $70 incl. shipping. I don't think it will juice wheat grass, but it does a GREAT job with carrots. If I had waited I probably would have gotten an Omega Juicer (which they also have at Sams, but apparently you have to call to find out the cheapest price they'll give you) so that I could do the wheat grass too. Or I would maybe just get a "healthy juicer" since it's manual and cheap and good with wheat grass.

Good luck getting the right stuff.

[snowdrop]

thanks for the lead!
i have talked up the raw life to my friends and a few are seriously considering getting these items.

[Eva]

It's just samshealth.com I had never heard about it until I saw another post in the same thread. Here is the dehydrator I got:

http://www.samshealth.com/DEHYDRATOR_EXCALIBUR_MODEL_2400.htm

[wtng4amiracle]

You guys are awesome. Thanks for the link. I think I will have to talk to DH....:) !

Cheri

[GHOST27M]

I have not been raw that long but I have juiced since 97 with this juicer .

http://www.lequip.com/visor/index.asp

I have made pasta with it back in the day also.

for your money this thing rocks! has a blank for nut butter also. My model is 10 years old and the motor works as if new . Great for ALL juice types! does not harm the delicate stuff like them loud spinner juicers BUY THIS ONE!

also I found Craig’s list is helpful for the expensive stuff. I just bought a model 4000 commercial vita-mix for $200 bucks.

These things are beyond awesome and really quiet!

[mmttw]

I tried this link, and my computer said it didn't exist. I tried googling the name, and got nothing.
I really need a dehydrator, and would prefer to not pay a million dollars for it. Do you know if
they still exist, or have changed names or something?

[RawDad]

Yeah, lemme give you some links that work. I use a L'equip (http://www.lequip.com/catalog.php?ctgy=Dehydrators) dehydrator, but would recommend an Excaliber (http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/Dehydrators-37-cat.htm), it is much better because it dehydrates things more evenly and there is less chance you'll get stuff in the fan. Also I believe you can vary the height available for your dehydrated creations with the Excaliber (http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/Dehydrators-37-cat.htm), which you can't with the L'equip (http://www.lequip.com/catalog.php?ctgy=Dehydrators).

I use a Breville (http://www.brevilleusa.com/beverages/juicers.html) centrifugal juicer, but would recommend an Omega (http://www.omegajuicers.com/juicers/juicer-8006.html) masticating juicer instead and hope to get one come tax return season along with an Excaliber (http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/Dehydrators-37-cat.htm).

Funny thing; the Breville (http://www.brevilleusa.com/beverages/juicers.html) and L'equip (http://www.lequip.com/catalog.php?ctgy=Dehydrators) were bought with last years tax return, wish I'd done more research. But I don't think having different machines for different purposes is a bad thing. The L'equip (http://www.lequip.com/catalog.php?ctgy=Dehydrators) is great for making sweet potato chips and I think I'll continue to use it for drying fruits and veggies when the Excaliber (http://www.excaliburdehydrator.com/Dehydrators-37-cat.htm) is making crusts, crackers, and breads. Likewise, the Omega (http://www.omegajuicers.com/juicers/juicer-8006.html) can do a lot more, but if I want to make something with a wetter juice pulp the Breville (http://www.brevilleusa.com/beverages/juicers.html) ain't bad.

Breville (http://www.brevilleusa.com/beverages/juicers.html): 60-75 percent efficient juicing | Omega (http://www.omegajuicers.com/juicers/juicer-8006.html): 75-85% efficient juicing | Norwalk (http://www.norwalkjuicers.com/new-juicers) - 85%-90%+ efficient juicing but costs a lot.

[FantasticSarcastic]

I have a Juice Man Jr that I got a very long time ago. I may need to replace it as it isn't up to par like it used to be. It isn't the best, but it does the trick. As far as dehydrators go, I plan to hit thrift shops and find one.