Juicing and blending techniques
Once you have purchased the necessary equipment for juicing or blending you will want to get started as soon as possible. For maximum freshness and flavour, prepare the fruit and vegetables just before you are ready to juice them. There are slightly different requirements for preparing produce for each type of machine. Always read the equipment manufacturer's instructions first.
Centrifugal and Masticating Juicers
Although centrifugal and masticating juicers function in different ways, the preparation of fruits and vegetables, and the basic principles for using the machines, are much the same.
1 Always choose firm produce as soft fruits will not give successful results. For instance, firm, underripe pears work well, but soft, ripe pears are best prepared in a blender or food processor.
2 Prepare the produce. Most fruit and vegetables do not need to be cored or peeled — although you might prefer to core fruit — as peel, pips (seeds) and core will simply be turned into pulp in the machine.
Cleaning Juicers, Blenders and Food Processors
The one and only dreary thing about making delicious juices and blends is that the equipment needs to be cleaned soon afterwards. However, there are some simple, no-fuss ways of making this chore much easier. Cleaning a juicer, blender or food processor thoroughly is important if you want to avoid unwanted and unhealthy bacteria, and the best time to do this is straight after you have made the juice or smoothie and poured it into glasses or a jug (pitcher). If you clean the parts of a juicer, blender or food processor immediately (or at least put them in to soak), the pulp and residue should just rinse off easily.
1 To clean a centrifugal or masticating juicer, blender or food processor, fill a sink with cold water and carefully take the equipment apart, following the
manufacturer's instructions.
manufacturer's instructions.
2 Using a plastic spatula or spoon, scoop off any large pieces of residue (such as the fruit and vegetable pulp that collects inside the spout of the juicer or around the blades) and discard it. Better still, if you have a compost heap in the garden, add the fruit or vegetable residue to it.
3 Plunge the non-electrical, removable machine parts of the juicer, blender or food processor into the sink full of cold water and leave them to soak until you are ready to clean them — this will
probably be after you've sat back and enjoyed your freshly made juice or blend. Soaking the machine parts will help to loosen any remaining fruit and vegetable pulp and will make cleaning them much easier.
4 After soaking, either carefully handwash the non-electrical, removable machine parts or put them into a dishwasher on a normal setting.
probably be after you've sat back and enjoyed your freshly made juice or blend. Soaking the machine parts will help to loosen any remaining fruit and vegetable pulp and will make cleaning them much easier.
4 After soaking, either carefully handwash the non-electrical, removable machine parts or put them into a dishwasher on a normal setting.
5 Scrub any attachments that you have used with a firm brush to loosen any residue that remains. Take care when handling grating attachments as they are extremely sharp.
6 The removable components of your juicer, blender or food processor may occasionally get stained, especially if you regularly make juices with vibrantly coloured ingredients such as blackberries or beetroot. Soak these stained components every now and then in plenty of cold water with a little bleach added. Be sure to rinse the parts thoroughly afterwards, then leave them until they are completely dry before putting the machine back together.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you experience any problems using your juicer, or if the resulting drink is not quite what youimagined, the following may help.
6 The removable components of your juicer, blender or food processor may occasionally get stained, especially if you regularly make juices with vibrantly coloured ingredients such as blackberries or beetroot. Soak these stained components every now and then in plenty of cold water with a little bleach added. Be sure to rinse the parts thoroughly afterwards, then leave them until they are completely dry before putting the machine back together.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you experience any problems using your juicer, or if the resulting drink is not quite what youimagined, the following may help.
The machine gets clogged up Push a hard fruit or vegetable, such as carrot or apple, through the machine to keep the juice flowing.
The taste of one ingredient is overwhelming the juice
Increase the quantity of another ingredient, use a base juice to dilute the flavours or add a splash of lemon or lime juice to help rescue the juice.
The blend is too thin
Add an ingredient to thicken the drink, such as yogurt, cream, banana or avocado.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you experience any problems using a blender or food processor, or if the resulting drink is not quite what you imagined, the following may help.
Increase the quantity of another ingredient, use a base juice to dilute the flavours or add a splash of lemon or lime juice to help rescue the juice.
Add an ingredient to thicken the drink, such as yogurt, cream, banana or avocado.
TROUBLESHOOTING
If you experience any problems using a blender or food processor, or if the resulting drink is not quite what you imagined, the following may help.
The blend is too thick
Thin it using water or the juice of a watery fruit. For a pure taste, use fruit juice to dilute a fruit puree made in a blender.
Thin it using water or the juice of a watery fruit. For a pure taste, use fruit juice to dilute a fruit puree made in a blender.
The blend is too pulpy
Strain the mixture through a sieve, pressing the pulp down with the back of a spoon.
Strain the mixture through a sieve, pressing the pulp down with the back of a spoon.
The ingredients get stuck to the side of the bowl
Scrape down the mixture with a plastic spatula to ensure that all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
Blenders and Food Processors
These machines work in fairly similar ways, and the preparation of fruit is the same for both types of equipment. The main difference is the point at which you add liquid. Blenders and food processors are best used for soft fruits.
Scrape down the mixture with a plastic spatula to ensure that all ingredients are mixed thoroughly.
Blenders and Food Processors
These machines work in fairly similar ways, and the preparation of fruit is the same for both types of equipment. The main difference is the point at which you add liquid. Blenders and food processors are best used for soft fruits.
1 Fruits with inedible skins, such as bananas, mangoes and papayas, should be peeled.
2 Fruits with edible skins, such as peaches or plums, do not need to be peeled but should be washed thoroughly. If you prefer a juice with a finer, smoother texture, peel the fruits before blending.
3 Fruits with large stones (pits), cores or pips (seeds), such as mangoes, plums, cherries and apples, should be stoned (pitted), cored or seeded.
4 Fruits with tiny seeds, such as raspberries, strawberries or kiwis, can be used whole, when the seeds add texture and a pretty speckled effect. However, if you prefer a smooth drink, the pulp can be pushed through a fine sieve, using a plastic spatula, to remove the seeds.
5 When using berries and currants, remove the stalks and leaves and wash the fruit thoroughly. An easy way to detach, or string, redcurrants, blackcurrants or whitecurrants from their stalks is to hold the bunch firmly at the top, then slowly draw the tines of a fork through the fruit so that the currants fall away.
6 To blend fruit in a food processor, place it in the bowl of the machine and process to a thick pulp. Add any liquid or creamy ingredient, such as water, fruit juice, milk or yogurt, and process again.
7 To blend fruit in a blender, it is important to add the liquid ingredients and the soft fruit at the same time, then process altogether, otherwise the blades will not be able to blend the fruits effectively.
8 If using a handheld electric wand, remember that this piece of equipment is not as powerful as other juicers or blenders. Use only very soft fruits, such as bananas, peaches and berries, as it cannot cope with anything firmer.
Citrus Juicers
1 First, cut the citrus fruit in half using a sharp knife.
2 To use a traditional handheld juicer, press the cut half over the cone of the juicer and, using an even pressure all round, twist the fruit to squeeze out as much juice as possible. The rim of the squeezer will catch any pips (seeds) but you may need a bowl to catch the juice.
3 To use a juicer with a citrus attachment or an electrically operated citrus juicer, firmly press the halved fruit over the spinning cone of the juicer The motor will turn the cone under the fruit, and this will extract more juice than a handheld juicer would usually produce.
4 To use a manual hydraulic press, place a container under the juice nozzle to collect the juice (unless one is supplied as part of the juicer) and
place the halved citrus fruit in the press. Pull the lever forwards to apply pressure and squeeze out the juice.
5 To use a centrifugal or masticating juicer, remove the citrus peel with a sharp knife (there is no need to worry about removing the pips or the white pith that remains). Cut the fruit into similar-sized chunks or break into segments, then press the fruit through the juicer funnel.
3 Fruits with large stones (pits), cores or pips (seeds), such as mangoes, plums, cherries and apples, should be stoned (pitted), cored or seeded.
4 Fruits with tiny seeds, such as raspberries, strawberries or kiwis, can be used whole, when the seeds add texture and a pretty speckled effect. However, if you prefer a smooth drink, the pulp can be pushed through a fine sieve, using a plastic spatula, to remove the seeds.
7 To blend fruit in a blender, it is important to add the liquid ingredients and the soft fruit at the same time, then process altogether, otherwise the blades will not be able to blend the fruits effectively.
8 If using a handheld electric wand, remember that this piece of equipment is not as powerful as other juicers or blenders. Use only very soft fruits, such as bananas, peaches and berries, as it cannot cope with anything firmer.
Citrus Juicers
1 First, cut the citrus fruit in half using a sharp knife.
3 To use a juicer with a citrus attachment or an electrically operated citrus juicer, firmly press the halved fruit over the spinning cone of the juicer The motor will turn the cone under the fruit, and this will extract more juice than a handheld juicer would usually produce.
4 To use a manual hydraulic press, place a container under the juice nozzle to collect the juice (unless one is supplied as part of the juicer) and
place the halved citrus fruit in the press. Pull the lever forwards to apply pressure and squeeze out the juice.
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QUICK START TIPS
If you are impatient to get going, you can achieve some delicious instant results with one of these simple basic blends.
Banana and Berry Milkshake
1 banana
generous handful of strawberries,
raspberries or other soft berries
1 glass cold milk or soya milk
Peel the banana and chop into chunks. Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend, pour into a glass and serve.
Carrot and Apple Juice
2 large carrots
1 apple
Wash the carrots and apple, cut into chunks and push through a juicer. Spoon off any foam, if you prefer, and serve.
Lemon and Orange Refresher
1 orange
1/2 lemon
sparkling water
5ml/1 tsp sugar (optional)
ice cubes and/or fresh mint leaves
Juice the fruit in a juicer. Add the sparkling water and sugar, if using. Pour into a glass, add ice cubes and/or mint leaves, then serve.
Tomato and Pepper Boost
red (bell) pepper
150g/5oz tomatoes
juice of 1/2 lime
ice cubes
Soak the tomatoes in boiling water, then peel off the skin and chop into chunks. Halve the red pepper, remove the seeds and chop into similar-sized chunks. Add the
pepper and tomatoes to a blender or food processor and blend well. Add a squeeze of lime juice and some ice cubes, then serve.
If you are impatient to get going, you can achieve some delicious instant results with one of these simple basic blends.
Banana and Berry Milkshake
1 banana
generous handful of strawberries,
raspberries or other soft berries
1 glass cold milk or soya milk
Peel the banana and chop into chunks. Put all the ingredients in a blender or food processor. Blend, pour into a glass and serve.
Carrot and Apple Juice
2 large carrots
1 apple
Wash the carrots and apple, cut into chunks and push through a juicer. Spoon off any foam, if you prefer, and serve.
Lemon and Orange Refresher
1 orange
1/2 lemon
sparkling water
5ml/1 tsp sugar (optional)
ice cubes and/or fresh mint leaves
Juice the fruit in a juicer. Add the sparkling water and sugar, if using. Pour into a glass, add ice cubes and/or mint leaves, then serve.
Tomato and Pepper Boost
red (bell) pepper
150g/5oz tomatoes
juice of 1/2 lime
ice cubes
Soak the tomatoes in boiling water, then peel off the skin and chop into chunks. Halve the red pepper, remove the seeds and chop into similar-sized chunks. Add the
pepper and tomatoes to a blender or food processor and blend well. Add a squeeze of lime juice and some ice cubes, then serve.
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