omega or vitamix - help!

[MyRedPanda]

Hi! I am looking for a multipurpose machine to make nut butters and baby food. I also would like something to juice wheatgrass with, as I have currently just been using my magic bullet and adding water. I have thought about getting a manual juicer for the wheatgrass and then getting a vitamix, but after doing some research I also found the omega juicer http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?SKU=13817944
It says it does nut butter and baby food and wheatgrass
And it is cheaper than a vitamix. Any thoughts as to which would be better? I have a Brevill juice fountain now that I use for carrot, cucumber, and celery juice (my favs :))

Thanks!:wuv

[KaleMama]

I have that same juicer and it is AWESOME! :wuv

We make pates, nut butters, sorbet, ice cream, juices & wheatgrass juice. Best deal out there! We are very happy with our purchase & 10yr warranty.

Best of luck!

[MyRedPanda]

Thanks! That is good to know :) I think I will get it then. Does it do well with baby food?

[KaleMama]

I do not have children and have not made baby food. But if you can make a pate from it, is should come out well. :)

[MyRedPanda]

Yeah, very true. If it can make nut butter it can def. handle baby food!

[Revvell]

You can't compare this to a VM. They're not even close to the same thing from what I'm reading. It's a juice extractor which it seems you've already got. VM is a blender. If you're looking for a blender, personally, I wouldn't choose this. From what I see, the pitcher is too small, you've got to use ice (or not?). Not sure what they mean by "whip up wheatgrass".... Juice it?

What is it you're looking to do? You've already got a juicer.

Just asking because I'd hate to see you circulate that kind of money on something that's not going to do exactly what you want.

[MyRedPanda]

Well, I have a centrifugal juicer that does not do wheatgrass. So for wheatgrass I really need a masticating juicer. I would not mind using a hand juicer for wheatgrass if something like a vitamix would be better for nut butter and baby food. I just want a wheatgrass juicer however I also want something that I can make baby food and almond butter and almond milk in.

[Revvell]

Not sure if what you're looking at can make almond milk. The VM most definitely can as I've done it myself numerous times. Maybe Delise has done it with her machine and can answer that for you.

I've never made almond butter and definitely not baby food but, you might want to do a search here as I've seen others say they are making almond butter but, can't tell you how as it's not of interest to me.

Baby food, depending on how you plan on making it can be made in a VM as well as a food processor from what I know about them. I've made pates, dressing and sauces with both.

[MyRedPanda]

thanks :) I may just get a hand juicer for wheatgrass and then get a vitamix for the rest...

[Revvell]

Well, I'd get the large and small containers if you've got the funds. I use the small one for sauces, pates, dressings and such. Easier to get stuffs out of. Do you already have a food processor?

Check w/Delise on the almond milk as, all I'm going by is what I saw on the vid and it doesn't look like you can do it with that.

[MyRedPanda]

I HAD a food processor. Unfortunately the motor died. Currently I have a Brevill juice fountain, a magic bullet, and a really crappy $10 blender. The magic bullet is great for some things but sucks at nut butter. I could honestly get by making baby food in the magic bullet I think, but wanted to get something nice that I could use as a multi-tasker. It would be great if it could make weatgrass juice though :) Oh well, can't have it all I guess... *sigh*

[Revvell]

... Oh well, can't have it all I guess... *sigh*

Sure you can if you've got the bucks. I wouldn't do w/out my VM. Actually sold one I had for about 14 years and bought a new red one last year. One thing about them is they hold their value.

[MyRedPanda]

No, I meant all in one machine :) lol That is why I was so excited to see the omega, because it says it does wheatgrass, nut butter, and baby food. But... I have heard so many good things about the vitamix too. And I really want a manual juicer for wheatgrass because I think it wouldnot only be easier to clean but also would not get as foamy and it saves electricity. Something like this:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002LY8PA/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=A1IKFJQXCN8Q6U
Then I could get the vitamix from BBB because I have a 20% off coupon...

[Revvell]

No, I meant all in one machine :) lol

Yeah, good luck on that. LOL Wouldn't that be cool? Sure save on counter space.

Ahhhh, your juicer. Ummm, I used to sell those. Contact me privately if you would.

[fastfreedom]

I have the omega 8004. I have tried to make nut butters with it. It doesn't work the best at making butters IMO. I would even put the nuts through three to four times or so, and it was still sorta flour. It just seems to not make very creamy nut butter.

I have a vitamix too and I recall seeing a recipe in the book about making nut butter, but I've yet to try the recipe. I was actually thinking of making some almond milk with it today. So I may also try some almond butter.

I don't know how well the omega will juice wheatgrass cus I've never tried it with mine. But it does juice spinach, kale, collards, beet greens, carrot greens, and all other types of greens that I've used. I'm thinking it would juice the wheatgrass pretty good. But lack the experience to fully comment on that.

Sorry if I just made your decision process more complicated.

[michigan roman]

A#1 - ive seen tens of rawfoodist buy all the machines and in the end only use blender

and youve already a juicer plus can juice with a vitamix by blending with water then straining out pulp

and i do wheat grass with blender by cutting up a few hundred blades into 1" peices so it doesnt wrap around / bind blade and filling blender half full with water then blending . yiu then just straijn out grass . or most time i dont strain and just gnaw on grass a while before it disolves

ide get the vitamix without doubt

[michigan roman]

pic is a weak batch i didnt put enough grass in but can get the idea

[MyRedPanda]

Thanks! That is what I have been doing now. I went blender shopping over the weekend and settled on the Ninja Master Prep until I have the money to save up for a Vitamix. I got the Ninja blender too but did not think it gave any better results than the Master Prep, and I don't need both, so since I did not have a food processor either I am keeping the Master Prep and taking the blender back. I was pretty impressed, I made raw nut butter in 30 seconds, granted with Macadamia nuts which are soft, but still, very yummy! I also ordered a $15 wheatgrass juicer - manual, cast Fe - but I would rather wash the parts than use a plastic one (the one I linked to earlier). How long does it take you to grow your wheatgass in the flat trays?

[michigan roman]

that dish pan of wheat grass was about 14 days

i use hard wheat seeds as opposed to the soft ones

i use very rich soil out of my garden

[MyRedPanda]

I use hard winter wheat seeds too - 5 lbs organic I order from this place in UT for 7.95. they take about 5 - 7 days in my tribest sprouter. I want to try a container garden too though, just because they are so pretty!

[michigan roman]

just read your blog , really cool . very nice background design . i ended same place with the plastic coffee makers before i quit coffee , and was using a fine metal mesh kitchen strainer with a coffee filter in it over a stainless steel bowl then pouring wayter over the ground coffee beans . but coffees too addicting to me and i end up drinking 4/5 cups a day so had to quit . i also bought the old fashioned stainless steel coffee pots but coffee in them doesnt taste as good to me as the simple strainer method .