In recent times, as more people prioritise wellness and healthy eating, both juicing and blending have earned devoted followings. But while they both help you incorporate more fruits and vegetables into your diet, they are different in how they work — and in the results they produce.
If you’ve ever wondered what's the difference between a juicer and a blender, we will help you understand the differences and choose the best fit for your lifestyle.
- Juicers extract the juice from fruits and vegetables, removing most of the pulp, fibre, and solid material.
- Blenders blend the entire fruit or vegetable, including the fibre, into a smooth drink (like a smoothie).
In short:
- Juicer = Juice (liquid only)
- Blender = Smoothie (fibre + liquid + solids)
A guide to delicious and nutritious juicing
Juicing is a quick and delicious way to pack a ton of nutrients into your diet. Whether you’re a health enthusiast or just trying to sneak more fruits and veggies into your routine.
Knowing the best foods to juice can make all the difference in taste, texture, and nutrition.
We’ll break down the best produce to juice, tips for combinations, and what to avoid putting in your juicer: -
What can you put in your juicer
- Carrots: Sweet, rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), and easy to juice.
- Apples: Naturally sweet and juicy, apples add flavour and volume to almost any juice.
- Beetroot: High in iron and antioxidants. Beetroot adds a beautiful colour and earthy flavour.
- Celery: Hydrating and low in calories, celery is a detox favourite.
- Cucumbers: Mild flavour, super hydrating, and a great base for green juices.
- Leafy Greens (Spinach, Kale, Swiss Chard): Packed with vitamins A, C, K, iron, and chlorophyll.
- Oranges: Naturally sweet and full of vitamin C.
- Pineapple: Adds tropical sweetness and contains bromelain, a natural anti-inflammatory enzyme.
- Ginger: Adds a spicy kick and boosts digestion.
- Lemons/Limes: Cut through bitterness, add brightness, and aid digestion.
What NOT to put in your juicer
Not everything in your kitchen can be used in a juicer. Using the wrong food can damage the juicer and ruin the taste of the juice.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to juicing, here’s a list of food you should never use in your juicer and why: -
- Bananas & Avocados: Both are too mushy and contain very little juice. They turn into puree, which can clog your juicer.
- Whole Citrus Fruits with Peel: The peel is bitter and hard on your juicer. Peel them first.
- Frozen or Dried Fruits: Juicers are not designed to crush ice. Using frozen food can damage the blades of your juicer. Fully thaw food before using in your juicer.
- Hard Pits or Seeds: Fruit with stones or pits can damage the blades or the motor in your juicer. Remove pits from fruits like peaches, cherries, mangoes and other stone fruits.
- Tough skins or Rinds: Skins on pineapples, melons or mango are too tough for most juicers and clog or damage your juicer. Peel your fruit before juicing.
- Raw or Dried Coconut: There is very little juice in the meat of a coconut, which could clog and damage your juicer. Use coconut water or milk instead.
- Grains, Nuts and Seeds: These adsorb moisture and can clog up your juicer. If required stir them in after juicing.
- Unripe or Overripe fruit: Overripe fruit can be too mushy and clog your juicer, whereas unripe fruit can be hard, bitter and contain little juice.
The importance of maintenance
Juicing is great for your body, but cleaning your juicer is also just as important! Left over pulp and juice are the perfect environment for mould if not removed from your juicer. You should clean your juicer immediately after use each to prevent any build-up of foods. It'll also make it easier to clean in the long run. Also, this build-up can not only harbour bacteria, but overtime lead to the juicer motor working harder.
Wash all the components of the juicer with warm soapy warm and allow to fully dry. Remember to always follow the cleaning/maintenance instructions in your juicer user manual for optimum performance and product lifespan.
Final Thoughts
If texture and smoothies aren’t your thing, juicing is one of the easy and best ways to infuse your body with vitamins, minerals, and hydration it needs. By choosing the right foods to use and making sure you keep it running clean and healthy, it’ll help you keep running healthy too - one glass at a time.
Happy juicing!
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