Cheeeeeep kitchen appliances

[Sillybloss]

Shivananda, you are tireless! (And a good humor, too!)

[Shivananda]

I think this is an outstanding offer... a manual whatgeass juicer for $37 that really works. Can be used for other leafy greens as well, like dandelion and kale, and you'll get your exercise cranking it. :)

I've dealt with Pam Free at GrowWheatgrass.com several times over the years and find she consistently has the best info and the best stuff and also has total integrity, so if she recommends it, that's way good enough for me.

http://www.growwheatgrass.com/juicer.htm

[Nini]

Hey Shiv-
I have that Healthy Juicer to juice my wheatgrass. It is very frustrating to use. It is the reason I want to make great quantities and freeze it.
Impossible to clean. I don't even take it apart anymore. I rinse it and store it in my frig. instead.
And yes, read the bold red print. If you don't have a place to clamp it down, the suction will not hold and your juice will go flying all over the kitchen......

[RawYogini]

Shiva,
what is your recommendation for a good quality juicer to be used about 5xs per week? I'm looking at the L'Equip and Breville. Hopefully one that's not too loud either.
thanks!

[Shivananda]

And yes, read the bold red print. If you don't have a place to clamp it down, the suction will not hold and your juice will go flying all over the kitchen......

Yes, Pam goes a step further and says don't buy it unless you have a place to clamp it down. It's just that there really isn't much choice if you have a super low budget, so I thought it worthwhile to add to the list.

And I also do the fridge trick with my Omega, especially during the summer when it gets warmer so I'm not cleaning it 6 times a day. I just wrap it in a produce bag and toss in the fridge until I need it next.

But what makes you say yours is hard to clean? Can't get it apart easily, or can't get the nooks and crannies clean, what? If you tell me, I might be able to make a suggestion.

[RawYogini]

Hi Shiva,
Well I just read your recommendation for the Breville on another post. I really wanted something to juice greens faster than my Omega 8002, but it sounds like centrifugal is not good for greens. I guess I'll stick with my Omega.

Thanks for all your research and info! :)

[Shivananda]

Hi Shiva,
Well I just read your recommendation for the Breville on another post. I really wanted something to juice greens faster than my Omega 8002, but it sounds like centrifugal is not good for greens. I guess I'll stick with my Omega.

Infortunately speed and greens juicing don't go together. It is the sloooowwwwww speed squeeeeeeeeze that extracts the nutrients without overheating the juice. And wheatgrass is very tough, so doing it well is not easy. The $600 machines used in juice bars are even slower than the 8002 you already have.

Funny thing is, this is actually FASSSSSTT compared to the way Koreans used to do it... which is why they became the leaders in this auger style juicing technology. The traditional Korean style of juicing herbs and plants and pine needles and other things for health purposes was to pound them into a pulp in a big mortar and pestle, then put the pulp into a hemp bag and squuuuuuuueeezzzzzzze with a long pole and a tournaquet to get a tiny amount of juice.

When I read about doing it that way I just want to go take a nap. :)

[Nini]

But what makes you say yours is hard to clean? Can't get it apart easily, or can't get the nooks and crannies clean, what? If you tell me, I might be able to make a suggestion.

Yes, I can't get it apart. My husband said I could throw it against the wall, but I don't dig the green and white tie-dye look. They include this plastic wrench to help unscrew it, but even my buff hubby was breaking a sweat!

[Shivananda]

OK, well a couple of things come to mind...

First, and no insult intended... are you sure you are turning it the right way? Stranger things have happened.

Second, if you are turning the right way, soak the whole drum assembly in very hot water for a while and try again. Sticky juices could have soaked into the cracks and dried, gluing everything together.

Third, if you manage to get it apart just once, put a little olive oil or coconut oil on the mating parts to help lubricate them from sticking again.

Fourth, if all else fails, call the company you got it from and say it is all stuck together and is no good and you want a replacement.

[pdx kris]

Shivananda,

I just love your posts. I'm really glad you're a part of this board.

Kris

[onesmartcookie]

Shiv--
Am wondering your advice on an inexpensive dehydrator? Of course the 9 tray excalibur is on the wishlist, along with the vitamix, but I haven't yet started to reap the benefits of my undergraduate college education so am having a hard time reconciling these purchases, esp. being a newbie at raw. Is it worth it to just get a $30-$50 dehydrator to experiment with? Will I not be able to do anything goopy like crackers, fruit leathers, etc. because they don't come with teflex sheets? Can I use parchment or something else as a base?
I saw that wal-mart has a couple on their website, the Ron Popeil and something else...
Let me know what you think.
Much appreciated =)

[rawpriestess]

Even thought I'm not Shivananda, I do have some suggestions.

the inexpensive dehydrators work okay, you can use parchment or plane old saran wrap instead of teflex if you need to.

as far as the juicers, Victoria Boutenko came up with this, and I think it is brilliant.

for people who want green juices,

she puts all of her greens in the Vita Mix, (or blender) with a half a lemon including the peel, and then adds some water, then she turns it on, lets it get all blended, then squeezes through a nutmilk bag, this way you get the juice, but the lemon with peel cuts the bitterness, and it is more palitable, you can also add apple, etc, if you like.

This may be how she decided to start her green smoothies, by just NOT straining it.

Anyway, it is another way to get in the green juices if you wish.

good luck

[onesmartcookie]

rawpriestess--thanks so much for that reply. Boutenko's "Green For Life" is in the mail to me as I write--I truly believe that dark greens are some of the BEST sources of ultimate raw nutrition for our bodies. I love this idea of straining through a nut milk bag for green juice too, and adding the lemon. I'm totally giving this a try tomorrow as I have fresh collards and organic lemons in my fridge =)

[JinxieKat]

Yes you can make the goopy stuff with the cheep dehydrators. I got the Necco Gardenmaster and it came with mesh sheets. I've been able to make flax crackers, banana bread, onion bread and other stuff on it. The hard stuff is anything that has any height to it as your limited that way. I have figured out a way around that, but I haven't tried it yet to say if it will work. But if your feeling adventurous you could cut out the inner part of the tray and just leave the inner ring and outer ring to add some height to one layer. Depends on if you really want to make that type of stuff. I haven't bothered yet and I'm quite content.

Hope that helps!

Jinx

[Nini]

First, and no insult intended... are you sure you are turning it the right way? Stranger things have happened.

Second, if you are turning the right way, soak the whole drum assembly in very hot water for a while and try again. Sticky juices could have soaked into the cracks and dried, gluing everything together.

Third, if you manage to get it apart just once, put a little olive oil or coconut oil on the mating parts to help lubricate them from sticking again.

Fourth, if all else fails, call the company you got it from and say it is all stuck together and is no good and you want a replacement.

I am.

I did.

I couldn't.

I will. :)