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Juicing has so many benefits but it also has so many barriers including being confused about how to juice without a juicer.
The biggest barrier for me was money! I did not want to (and could not) fork over hundreds of dollars for a quality juicer, nor did I have the counter space for that kind of appliance.
So I played around with some alternative ways to juice without a juicer. After a lot of trial and error, this is the best method I have found to juice without a juicer.
After reading these steps you will be fully prepared to make delicious and healthy juice while not spending a bunch of money on a fancy juicer!
This post is all about how to make juice without a juicer.
How to Make Juice Without A Juicer
1. Find a quality high-powered blender
I highly suggest looking into Vitamix blenders. They are super powerful and make juicing a breeze (more on these later!).
I personally used a Ninja blender that I thrifted for under $20 for a really long time. It definitely got the job done but I find with a more powerful blender I get more juice than before!
If your produce is having a tough time moving around in your blender, you can add a splash of water or coconut water to get things moving.
2. Prep fruits and veggies for juicing
Make sure all of your fruits and vegetables are cut up and ready. Doing this before hand makes the process much quicker and less messy.
Celery juice has been extremely popular but experiment with your favorite produce and find what works for you! There are tons of juice recipes on Pinterest to try out as well.
Here are the most popular homemade fresh juice recipes:
- celery juice
- orange juice
- apple juice
- green juice
- citrus blend
- pure carrot juice
- watermelon juice
- lemon ginger juice (also called wellness shots)
3. Blend your fruits and vegetables
Throw it all in the blender and blend!
For my blender, it takes about 30 seconds to get everything to a liquid consistency.
You do want to make sure you add a little water so the blades on your blender don’t get stuck. Just add a bit of water as you go. You don’t want your juice to be too watery!
Like I mentioned before, if you are looking for a high-quality blender, Vitamix is the way to go! The price is definitely steep but they are amazing and you will get a bunch of use out of it-I know I do!
4. Strain the juice through a fine mesh strainer
Place your strainer on top of a large bowl.
I use two strainers because it catches a bit more pulp than just one.
Using two strainers is completely optional. But figure out what works best for you!
Using a spoon or spatula, press the pulp against the sides of the fine mesh strainer to get the juice to move through the strainer into the large mixing bowl below.
I have random strainers I thrifted but this one from Amazon is really great too! The mesh is fine enough for only the liquid to go through to the bowl.
Another option is to use a nut milk bag to strain your juice pulp. I personally found this method to be more messy and hard to clean. If you use turmeric or carrots, they will for sure stain your nut milk bag as well.
5. Pour juice into glass jars
Once the bowl underneath is full I pour the juice into the rinsed blender. I find it easier to pour from the blender to glasses rather than the bowl to glasses.
I learned this step the hard way from getting juice all over my countertops multiple times!
6. Enjoy your fresh pressed juice!
Once your jars are full you can add ice and enjoy the juice now or put the rest in the fridge.
I like prepping my juices for that day and the next day. In order to keep them fresh they must be stored in an airtight container, like a mason jar, either in the fridge or a freezer.
Bonus Homemade Juicing Tips
- I found that cheesecloth was too messy and did not work as well as strainers.
- The leftover pulp can be used as compost! Keep your compost bin handy so you can nourish your garden.
- Experiment with which produce items work well with your juicing method. For example, papaya and banana tends to get too mushy to work well for juicing.
- Invest in a quality blender (like a vitamix) instead of an expensive juicer because you can use a blender for more recipes and cut down on the amount of kitchen appliances in your home! No need for extra clutter.
- Juice cleanses can be potentially dangerous. Be sure to check with your doctor is you are unsure if a juice cleanse is right for you.
- If you are looking for more juicing tips and juicing recipes for beginners be sure to check out the nourish tab!
- Store-bought juices can be really expensive so making your own nutrient-rich juices can save a lot of money.
How to make homemade fresh juice less expensive
One aspect of juicing that keeps people from enjoying it regularly is the price of fresh organic produce, aside from an expensive juicing machine.
Here are a few ways to make fresh homemade juice for cheap:
- Prioritize homemade juice rather than store bought fruit juice and vegetable juice
- If you don’t have a blender, use a food processor that you already own.
- Use a small amount of water to make a larger volume of juice
- Use a nut bag to strain rather than a juicer. I don’t love using a nut bag but it truly comes down to personal preference.
- Buy fresh fruit on sale and freeze it.
Check out this full post if you are looking for more details about making juicing work for your budget.
{RELATED POST: Your Ultimate Guide to Budget Friendly Juicing for Beginners}
Simple green juice recipe that works well in a blender
Many people LOVE green juice! And for good reason. It has tons of healthy nutrients and is a refreshing drink for hot summer days.
Green juice recipe ingredients:
- 2 green apples
- 1 inch of ginger
- 1 lemon
- 1 bunch of celery
- 1 cucumber
- 2 cups of leafy greens of your choice (spinach, kale, etc.)
Make this green juice recipe your own! These items blend very well in a high-speed blender so no need to invest in a juicer for this recipe! This recipe will make a big bath of fresh juice so you can save some for later.
How to Make Fresh Orange Juice Without a Juicer
I wanted to share one more option for juicing without a juicer! This is probably the most affordable option since all you need is this simple citrus squeezer.
All you have to do is cut all of your oranges in half and use this hand held squeezer and you will have perfectly smooth orange juice.
For this recipe, you do not have to use a strainer but you can if you are worried that seeds with fall into your juice.
You can use this method for basically all citrus juices. If you are looking to juice a lime or a lemon without a juicer-you are covered too!
I hope these tips are helpful and make you feel less intimidated about juicing. I do not think that buying a juicer is necessary, especially just starting out.
This post is all about how to make juice without a juicer.
How did this method for making homemade fresh juice work for you? I would love to hear your experience in the comments below!
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Stay well,
Maggie
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