Help, what is the best juicer to buy?

Hi,

I tried searching for a thread that had info about good juicers and couldn't find it. I found two posts but not what I wanted.

So far I've been doing some research on the internet about different brands and it's confusing to me. I know Green Star, Omega, Champion and Solo Star II are good ones from what I've read.

Right down the road I can get a Champion 2000 Plus but heard it is hard to clean and you can't do wheatgrass in it (not even sure if I would do that). I'd prefer to order from somewhere in Canada or the States as a last resort if they do USPS. UPS is not good as they charge a big brokerage fee etc.

So ideas out there of what juicer you like or have? Pros, cons?

I have an older model Omega Juicer (probably about 8 years old) and it works great. The newer Omega ones that I have seen have a pulp ejector thing on it that looks cool. I use filter papers on mine that make cleanup pretty easy. It doesn't juice wheatgrass or even pulpy fruits very well though. I use it mainly for "hard" fruits and veggies, and use my blender when I want pulpier things. Hope that helps.

I have the Omega 8003. I use it for greens, hard veggies, and apples. It works really well for all of these. I tried plums and it didn't work too well at all. Cucumbers juice ok but the pulp does come out wet. I haven't tried wheatgrass. Like the poster before said, it does work best with harder veggies.

It takes about 5 minutes to clean, if even that. I just put all the parts in a bowl of soapy water and rinse. The only thing that takes any time at all to clean is the little screen. Even that is easy. It comes with a brush and you just scrub a few times and rinse. I have never used the other juicers you mentioned, so I can't really compare.

I have a Champion that I bought new in 1987 and its still working just great. The Champion does fruits and veggies just great but dosn't do greens well. So, A few years ago I bought a Green Power (Green Star now) and it does greens fantastically but it dosn't do fruits and veggies well. Between the two juicers I can juice just about anything. Both my juicers have been very dependable and long lasting. IMO, there is nothing as good for a body as fresh made juice. Good Luck. :)

spiralgirl,

Good question. There may also be additional threads on juicers to check out on this site--use banana above. I started out with an Omega (centrifuge type), bought a used Norwalk, and purchased my sister a Green Star when she was ill. Occasionally use the Green Star--pretty much using my Vitamix now unless I need to use the juicer for recipes calling specifically juice and I use it for making my own nut butters (mac and cashew). Green smoothies are a morning thing for me and have really taken the place of what I used to juice. Don't do the wheatgrass thing right now either.

Hope that helps. Good luck with your decision.

Lady Green Jeans,

Thanks, for the input. Tried the Banana Search before I posted and didn't get far. Oh maybe because I looked for Juicers and best juicers under the Food Discussion. I should try this section too.

The thing is I need a new blender too (well the one I have now is okay for smoothies but they end up a bit lumpy just need to blend them a long time) and wondering how much I will juice with a good blender like a KTec or Vitamix.

Spiralgirl,

My juicer purchases have spanned the last dozen or so years. I honestly use mine so very little, I should sell them. My Vitamix has really replace it in that I do not juice anymore--green smoothies now rule. I figure if I did not own a juicer, I could stop at the health food store on the way home and pick up a juice if I needed a certain amt. for a recipe. Depends on how you feel about fiber vs. non-fiber in your beverages. When I juiced, really could not have the foam or the sediment in my juice--found it gross. Now I make fruit and green smoothies in the morning and am totally energized. Full fiber in there so getting all the good stuff. You need to consider what will work best for you and know your preferences.

Best of luck in your selection and much health in your journey.

Kathy

If you do decide to juice then I suggest that you focus on fresh. Its not about stopping at the health food store on the way home and picking up a juice to take home. Juicing should be done as fresh as possible to get the benefit from it. IMO, everything about raw foods should be focused on fresh to get the best result and juicing is even more so then other aspects of raw. Once the juice has been separated from the fiber it starts losing its potency. Jay Kordich once jokingly said that a person should put their mouth under the juicer and have someone put the produce in the top. He got a good laugh from his audience but his point was well taken and that is simply to make and consume the juice immediately. Its like the shortest distance between two points, the first point being the juicer and the second point being your stomach.

Lady Green Jeans,

The funny part is that I've learned to like smoothies as I've been having them the last 4 months while raw. Then the other day I dragged out our juicer that is like 15 years old and made my first cup of juice and just loved it. No pulp no nothing just fresh juice.

I did find some posts on juicers using the Banana and going under this section and read about the fibre you get in a blender and how it's good for you. I need a new blender too so may get a new blender first (right now I just have a cheap GE one) and experiment with smoothies or trying to strain through a nut bag if I really want a juice. If I find I still want a juicer then I'll get one.

EZ rider,

Thanks for your input on juicers. Yes, I know it's important to get it fresh right away. I had a friend years ago who was big into juicing tell me how important this was and I wasn't even Raw then but remembered it.

Lots of good info here. Thanks everyone for the input. Agree that juicing should be done and consumed as soon as possible. If I did not own a juicer, I would not hesitate to stop on my way home and pick up a juice for a particular recipe (travel time after pickup for me would be about an hour as I'm in the boonies). I adored my years of juicing and they added a wonderful dimension to my body becoming more healthy. I now get that in green smoothies. Maybe as I am older now my body is liking the additional fiber that is not eliminated by the consumption of juice.

Best wishes for raw happiness for you all. I believe Revvell said it best to play with your food.

Kathy

I have been reading about juicers and opinions and write-ups on different ones for about a year and finally decided on the Omega 8005 (which is just like the 8003 except for color). I paid about $220 (free shipping) and I LOVE it! I have juiced watermelon, carrots, apples, oranges, celery, all kinds of greens, grapes...lots of stuff. It juices greens without a problem. You can also use it to make nut butters and banana ice cream (run frozen bananas through with the blank).

The pulp on veggies and greens comes out very dry. Even the watermelon pulp was pretty dry. I like to run the juicier things like cucumbers, grapes, etc in first and then run the carrots, celery, etc through last.

Clean up is very fast too.