Work your juicer like a boss!

A couple of years ago I wanted to do a juice cleanse and I was looking up recipes for a juice cleanse. I wanted to know the benefits of a juice cleanse. Is juicing healthy? Can I really find juicing recipes for energy? I researched and read all about juice therapy and decided I needed to purchase a juicer.

To get you started – and help you avoid the mishaps I made early on before I learned the best way to maximize my juicer – here are my failproof tips.

The set up. While every juicer is a little different, the same basics apply:  there’s an auger, which crushes the fruit/vegetables to extract that juicy goodness; a catch basin for that liquid gold; and a container for the remaining pulp (which doesn’t have to be pitched.  Consider adding it to muffin or pancake batter for a fiber boost).

While it takes time, it’s an easy process to juice, and makes a fun family activity.  Plus it smells heavenly, with the fresh fragrance of juicy fruit. 

First, wash your produce, and peel if necessary. Slice bigger chunks. Guide your fruit down the feed chute, using the plunger to move it along and collect your life giving juice.

Storage is so important as you don’t want to waste a drop.  Ideally, it’s best to sip your juice immediately after you make it. However, I’m a full-time working mama, so I make big batches for my family to enjoy all week. 

To retain as many nutrients as possible, I always follow these three rules:

1.Pour the juice into an air-tight container, filling it as much as possible. This minimizes the amount of oxygen that can degrade the juice’s nutrients. 

2.Use glass containers, as the juice’s acids can break down plastic.

3.After squeezing your juices, store them immediately in the refrigerator to maximize freshness and nutritional values.  Consider adding a slice of citrus fruit like lime, lemon, or grapefruit, to help retain nutrients. Plus citrus will boost the amount of vitamin C and antioxidants in your juice, and give it an extra zing.

My juices last about a week in the refrigerator.  I make sure to label them, noting the contents and date, so we enjoy them while they’re at their best. If you have extra juice, pour it into popsicle molds, or even an ice cube tray, and freeze to enjoy all summer long.

If you are ready to try juicing but do not know where to start, download your free copy of Evie’s Enlivening Juice List featuring my enlightened list of juicing essentials plus some of my favorite recipes.