We all know how important it is to get your recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day, yet it’s something that we all struggle to do. Whether you’re time poor or find yourself out and about every day at work or running errands, it’s usually something left at the back of your mind that needs to be given more thought.
When we aren’t making smart food choices it can be so easy to grab anything that we find, no matter how unhealthy. The juice craze that hit America in the 80s was a unique way to fill yourself up with a meal or snack comprising of fruits and vegetables, and since then it has remained a great option for those looking to make healthier life choices.
Traditional juicers were hard to use, even harder to clean, and they didn’t make the best tasting juice in the end. The slow juicer or masticating juicer signaled a change in time for the world of juicing, offering a way to get all of the nutrients from your fruits and vegetables and leave you with a better taste.
What Are Slow Juicers?
So, what is slow juicer exactly and how does it differ from the traditional style we all know? A slow juicer or masticating juicer is also referred to as a cold press, meaning that it extracts the juice from fruits and vegetables by crushing them and then pressing down on them. The result is a better tasting juice that is cooler in temperature, and full of all the nutrients that you would hope for when drinking fresh juice.
Slow juicers are far more advanced than centrifugal juicers, with the ability to do everything from creating almond milk to juice leafy greens without an issue. The advancements that these juicers have made make them a far more popular item with people looking to improve their health, and although they come with a larger price tag usually, it seems they are well worth it.
Types Of Slow Juicers
There are two main types of slow juicers with an electric and manual model available. Each has their benefits to the user and your juice, so it really depends on what you’re looking for in this kitchen accessory.
Electric
An electric juicer can juice at high speeds and all you need to do is feed the fruit and vegetables into it to get your drink. However, they can be quite costly and sometimes a few hundred dollars so if you have the budget to spare it’s a smarter option.
Manual
A manual juicer is operated with a crank that you turn to press the fruits and vegetables and turn them into juice. They are a lot cheaper to purchase but require more effort, especially on harder fruits and vegetables.
Features Of A Fruit And Vegetable Juicer
Every fruit and vegetable juicer is made a little differently depending on the brand and model, but they all operate in the same basic way. Here are some features you can expect to find on a slow juicer and what they do.
Input Hopper
The fruit and vegetables for your juice and fed into this tube, and it can usually be cleaned by simply adding water to this part as well.
Screw
This is where the juice gets extract as the screw condenses and pushes out the liquid, and the tightening of the part gets the job done.
Outlet
Some juicers come with both a pulp outlet and a juice outlet if you don’t want to keep all of the smaller materials in there, however, some people prefer to drink every last bit of the fruit and vegetables in their juice.
Motor
An electric fruit juicer will have a small motor inside that helps the condensing screw to move. These come in different speeds and power levels so consider yours before purchasing.
The Best Vegetables And Fruits For A Slow Juicer
One of the biggest benefits of a slow juicer is that you’re not so limited in what you can put in there, which makes it particularly enticing for people who like to get creative in their juicing. Here are a few ideas for the best fruits and vegetables you can use with your juicer:
​A Kitchen Accessory For A Healthier You
If you’ve been struggling to find a way to get healthy and add some fruits and vegetables into your daily nutrition, a slow juicer is the simplest way to do it. Without thinking, you can create delicious and filling juices in a matter of seconds and with all the benefits of eating them whole.
The world of juicers has certainly changed since those we owned in the eighties, and they’ve never been easier to clean, use, and experiment with. A slow juicer is the perfect kitchen accessory if you want something versatile and fun to use, all the while giving yourself the chance to reach your recommended servings of fruit and vegetables each day.