Juicing with a Blender

A juicer is not the only kitchen tool that you can use to create fresh, wholesome juice at home. If you already have, or are considering purchasing a high performance blender, you only need a little know how and a few cheap tools to juice like a pro.

High-powered blenders, like a Vitamix or Blendtec, give you more than enough power to break down fresh fruit and vegetables into delicious juice. The only thing that they cannot do, that a dedicated juicer can, is to remove the pulp automatically.

Blenders made by both Vitamix and Blendtec are extremely powerful and can perform many additional kitchen tasks, but they each differ in a few important ways. If you’re looking for a comprehensive article on the differences, this article, Vitamix vs Blendtec by blender comparison site, Blender Reviews, does an excellent job of explaining the benefits and shortcomings of each company’s lineup.

If you already have one of these blenders, the process of making whole food juice is similar to making a smoothie. With a little extra work and a simple tool to filter out the pulp and fibers, you can blend up a delicious juice in just a few minutes.

First, add one to two cups of water to the blender container. This water will help the ingredients move around the container freely and results in a more complete blend.

Next, you’ll need to chop the fruits and vegetables so that they are small enough to fit into the container. A high-powered blender is capable of turning the big pieces into smaller ones extremely quickly, so no need to chop them up any smaller than what is needed to fit them inside. On top of the ingredients, add a cup of ice and place the lid on the container.

Now, turn on the blender, starting low then increasing the speed to high and let it blend on high for one to two minutes, until everything has combined into a creamy consistency.

Finally, now that blending is complete, you’ll need to strain out the pulp using a cheesecloth or nut-milk bag. Pour the blended ingredients into a bowl lined with the cheesecloth or nut-milk bag and pull the edges together. Lift to allow the juices to begin to drain, then twist and squeeze the bag to remove the remaining liquid.

Juicing with a blender gives you the opportunity to leave a bit more of the fiber in your juice resulting in a thicker, more filling drink. This also results less wasted fruit and vegetables and more nutrition in your drink since the pulp contains valuable vitamins and minerals. All of these benefits make a solid argument for using your blender then next time you think about juicing.