Green Star Juicer Experience

[Tina]

Hello everyone! I wanted to see if anyone would be kind enough to give me your experiences with using the Green Star Juicer. I did weeks of research into juicers and ended up with the Green Star. My decision may have been swayed towards this machine due to many raw foodists recommending it. Unfortunately, my experiences so far have been very disappointing. My first juice experience with this machine was yesterday when I made a green juice consisting of Chard, Romain and 1 green apple. I was taken aback by the level of foam produced, I would say that half of a 16 oz. glass was foam. My Acme (centrifugal) never produced this much foam. Then tonight I tried carrot and apple and there was pulp in the juice. Again, the Acme or Juiceman Jr. never produced either of these results. I thought that maybe the screen was clogged so I washed it and made another carrot juice and had my fiance try it. He also said that half of the bottom portion of juice was filled with pulp. I am so upset that this investment was an absolute waste. This is my first experience with a fairly expensive piece of equipment really turning out to be a poor investment. Unfortunately, it's not returnable. Can anyone offer their experiences or recommendations when using the Green Star Juicer? Thank you for allowing me to vent and seek your advice.

[bellamausi]

Sprry to hear, you aren't happy with your Greenstar! Maybe it will just take a little time to get used to the new juicer?

I also started out with the Juiceman Jr. and now I have the Greenstar. But I have to say, I'm very happy with my Greenstar. The Juiceman Jr. produced very little juice, when I was trying to juice greens. As for the foam, as far as I remember, the Jr. was foamy as well, but I think you will get that with any greens, if you juice them alone. If you alternate with carrots, beets etc., you won't get that much foam. Plus, if I do get foamy juice, I just skim it off the top.

Also, my Greenstar came with a strainer, which I always use. Makes for really nice pulpfree juice. I think the reason, the Greenstar has pulp, is that it really takes the veggies apart fiber by fiber, which makes the pulp very fine, and some will end up in your juice (unless you use the strainer). But it also makes for superior juice.

[joy]

Which screen are you using? Mine came with two--coarse and fine. I seldom use the former, which is for soft fruits, as it allows too much pulp into the juice. Using the fine screen, I haven't had much pulp, although I sometimes use the strainer when doing apples that are past their prime.

If you're getting too much foam, you might try loosening the pulp ejector knob. Although you'll get slightly less juice, this keeps the foam down. As Bellamausi suggested, alternate greens with carrots, celery, whatever. Straining also reduces foam.

Keep in mind that the juice a GreenStar produces really is superior to centrifugally-extracted stuff. And it handles wheatgrass, which is a great benefit. Before you decide it is a total waste, try using it to make crackers, banana "ice cream," or nut burgers (if you're into recipes)--then you'll know if it's a poor fit. If so, you can always sell it on ebay, as there are plenty of juicies out there who would love to own one.

[Revvell]

I absolutely love mine. It seems, as Joy says, one just has to play with it a bit.

Yes, I do get some foam and some pulp. Nothing wrong with a bit of fiber in one's food program.

I went from a Champion ~ which was, for me, really only good for carrots. It's SO heavy duty. My teacher who turned me on to the Green Power/Green Life/ Green Star (wish they'd stay with one name) went back to the Champion. I do a lot more greens than he does so I like my GreenLife.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[Tina]

Hi Revvell, Joy and Bellamausi! Thank you for taking the time to give me your feedback. I owned a Norwalk juicer, not sure if you're familiar with this "top of the line" machine, and unfortunately I had to sell it a number of years ago. This juicer has a press next to it which squeezes all of the juice from the produce leaving a very thin juice w/no foam. At this time in my life I couldn't invest in this machine again so decided to go one step down to the Green Star. I guess my dilemma is that I'm expecting similar performance and that's just unrealistic. It's shocking that the GS is compared to the Norwalk. I didn't purchase the strainer but may have to order it seperately. I really wish that the information for the machine would have clearly stated that carrot juice needs to be strained seperately. There was an additional video that came with the juicer by someone from Hallelujah Acres and he does mention that the strainer is necessary for carrot juice. I do have to say that the pulp is very dry but the additional foam and pulp in the juice does not make this machine a good investment. Especially, if the reason for purchasing is to juice and not use it as a food processor. I will continue to give it a chance based on some of your recommendations. Thank you again.

[Revvell]

The reason I got it was because my friend tested the Norwalk, the Green Power, the Champion and another 2 part press thing (I've never heard of before or since). He found that the Green Power (which is now the Green Star) gave up the most juice, had the driest pulp, easiest to clean and tasted the best.

He'd had a Norwalk previously and gave that up when the bag exploded throwing carrot pulp all over the place.

My suggestion is, if you are mostly interested in carrot juice, get a Champion (if you can afford it) and save the GreenStar for mixtures.

Injoy ~

Revvell

[Tina]

Hi Revvell,

Yes, I've heard of cases where the bag as burst but fortunately for me, it's never happened. My Dad was on the Gerson Program so we juiced every hour on the hour for 6 months. Have to say that the Norwalk is a workhorse. My bag never once exploded. I was not the only one using the machine, my two sisters were also juicing since we would take shifts making the juices for my Dad. I'm definitely not into doing just carrot juices, I was just using what was in the fridge so I can keep testing the GS machine. The green juice was disappointing so I was experimenting with the carrots. Once I started to remove the foam from the green juice I was left with about half a glass. I purchased the GS to primarily make green juices. I guess the positive side is that it does press out most of the juice since the pulp is dry but just don't understand why so much foam? Oh well, guess to can't have everything in one machine. Thanks again. Oh, by the way, to answer Joy's question, I only purchased the fine screen that comes with the machine. I heard someone say that the course screens lets in too much pulp so I didn't even purchase it but I guess I do need that strainer. Seems like it would have been common sense for Tribest to include it with the machine. I'm out of veggies to try other combos so gotta do another run to Whole Foods. Thanks everyone!

[bellamausi]

Hi Tina,

I think the fine screen you are talking about, is the same I was referring to. Try that, it should take all the pulp out of the juice. :)

[rawpriestess]

Hi,

This doesn't have anything to do with the Green Star/Power/ or whatever name it is this week, but it does have to do with Green juice so it might be of some help.

Victoria Boutenko taught me this, so these aren't my wonderful ideas.

1. If you add lemon with peel to any green juice, it cuts the taste (just in case you don't like the green juice straight)

2. If you want all the benefits of a green juice, but don't have a wheatgrass juicer, you can add the greens and lemon with peel and some water in a high speed blender, she suggested the Vita Mix (my personal favorite also) and then strain it through a nut milk bag, this way, you get ALL of the benefits, and you don't have to over heat your juicer, or buy a separate wheatgrass juicer.

Although you've already bought your juicer, if you have access to a Vita Mix, or even the Ktec, (or any top of the line high speed blender) you might like to try this alternate idea for the green juice. as it makes it really smooth, no foam, no pulp, and easy.

[Punky]

great idea raw priestess!
I don't have a special juicer to do wheatgrass and I have wanted
to try it at home. Saving up for a Vitamix, but don't plan
to get a new juicer, so this idea rocks. Thank you thank you thank you!