I have a lot of juicers. Norwalk (as of 2012), Hurom, Brevilles, and Green Star. I blogged about them (with video) here. As a quick recap, based on the video I linked to above, I love the following things about my three juicers… (but watch the video for more details).
I update this post as I get new juicers, learn new things, or add videos… so be sure to read through it all.
1) Green Star – Quality juicer that is popular. Extremely durable (I’ve had mine for about 7-8 years now). It’s a pretty awesome piece of equipment. I can make juice and store it without it degrading too much in quality (for about 1-2 days maybe, and the way it’s stored is important. I fill a glass mason jar to to the top and make sure to use a lid that is BPA-Free). But, here are the drawbacks… it takes a while to juice and clean. It’s also a bit of a workout in that you have to really push down on certain veg as it’s going through. Good ab workout though!
Many times, things like apples and cucumbers just end up all mushy in the shoot as they struggle to get through the screen and juiced. That sucks! As a result, a trick to help this is alternating something hard like carrot, beet, or cabbage between pieces of cucumber or apple. And, make sure your cucumbers and apples are chopped in small pieces.
It produces foam (like many juicers) which means the juice is oxidizing apparently. I always have to strain the juice either once through a nut milk bag (or if I forgo the nut milk bag, I strain twice through a metal mesh strainer which doesn’t squeeze out all of the juice and can be wasteful but easier than a nut milk bag). As a busy new mama, this juicer is not ideal.
2) Breville – small model (I’m calling it “small” that’s not really it’s name). Not as high quality of juice as Green Star, but it’s lighting fast (also has a container to collect the juice that has a great lid for holding back foam when pouring into my glass – I find myself actually using this container to catch juice from my Hurom, which I then use to pour juice into a big bowl through a mesh strainer – I know, so much to do with juicing, but it helps.).
It collects the pulp in the bin as opposed to shooting it out into an external cup. Its chute at the top is large enough to fit a whole (small) apple or a whole cucumber so it saves on time since you don’t have to chop produce before using it.
Great for people making small batches of fast juice. Not super for juicing leafy greens, but I can usually do a decent job by the way I stuff them down the shoot. Also, again, this is for small batches of juice, for a single person perhaps. All of the pulp is collected inside the machine and would require emptying between batches if you want to make more. Speaking of pulp, Breville Juicers are notorious (as are most centrifuge style juicers) for leaving you with wet, mushy pulp (that’s a waste because there is juice to be had! However, you can use the pulp in raw crackers or on top of your salad for extra nutrition). Keep that in mind when you think you’re attracted to the cheaper price of a Breville, because you’ll be buying more produce to juice the same amount that you’d get with a Green Star or Hurom. It’s a great starter juicer though (read on to read another review about my second Breville juicer the Ikon).
3) Hurom – This juicer is like a hybrid of Green Star and Breville mentioned above. It’s a high quality juicer, easy to clean, and quite fast for that type of “slow” juicer (not as fast as the Breville, but, remember, you sacrifice quality of juice for speed when using the Breville). I’ve had my Hurom for awhile now and it’s great, although not without its own flaws. I had one of my screens crack but no biggie, the company quickly replaced it for free. And, there have been a couple of occasions where my cucumber or romaine got backed up in it and didn’t juice properly (this only happened twice from the many times I’ve used it). Plus, there is a lot of foam (and pulp which you typically don’t want with juice – as the point is to have it easy to digest and sans pulp!!) with this juicer (ugh), but I strain it with a nut milk bag for extra smoothness (or I strain twice using a metal mesh strainer, or dare I confuse you with how I actually do it these days… I use my large Breville pitcher from the Breville Ikon described below… to hold back most of the foam while I pour it through mesh strainer number one into a bowl. Then, I pour it through another strainer into another bowl – a process I tell ya, but it’s for a good cause. However, with my NEWEST juicer purchase, you’ll see this noted in the latest update below, I shouldn’t have any pulp, because I bought a Norwalk Juicer! Anway… back to Hurom…). Until I bought my Norwalk, I would use this juicer the most. While the Hurom requires straining and chopping food before juicing, it’s still a pretty fast juicer while making a higher quality juice that gives a decent yield (the pulp is dryer than what you get with the Breville juicers). If you’re not in the market for a Norwalk Juicer, I’d most likely recommend the Hurom over other juicers for most situations, but read on because different lifestyles can call for different juicers.
UPDATE (8/19/11): Since getting my Hurom, the screen with white plastic has broken twice. The first time, I didn’t think much of it because I thought it was a fluke. I contacted the company and they quickly sent me a replacement free of charge. However, I’ve since been using my Hurom the past month (although below this paragraph you’ll read why I love the Breville Ikon… However, I’m now in a position where I can take more time juicing, so I’m using my Hurom juicer)… the darn screen (the plastic part) broke again! I contacted Hurom and here is what they wrote back (after getting some info from me such as the serial number and when/where I purchased it):
Hello Kristen,
Your request has been processed and you have been issued an upgrade from thestrainer you currently have. It will ship to you via UPS in 5-7 businessdays. The upgrade includes 1 clear yellow GE Ultem screen. This material is8 times stronger than the former 2 strainers and performs the functions of both of the screens offered before. In addition you will receive a new mainbowl which includes a wider pulp outtake chute. All of your other assembly components are compatible. These upgraded parts should significantly improve your juicer’s performance. Enjoy your Hurom in good health!
Very exciting! It seems they’ve improved the juicer since I bought mine and their customer service continues to be excellent.
Update 2/22/12 Video showing the Hurom
So… why ANOTHER juicer? Well, as much as I love my Hurom (and other juicers), I’m finding that being a new mama is a very busy time for me. As a result, I’m turing to my small Breville more often than the Hurom right now. The problem with my small Breville is that I can’t juice a lot in one juice session because it’s the smaller model (perfect for single people, not so perfect for a High-Raw family who drinks a lot of juice). Therefore, I decided to buy this beauty from Breville and so far I am LOVING IT!
It’s MEGA fast. As a new mama making juice for my family daily, I need speed right now or I’m just not going to end up juicing as much.
It’s super EASY to clean.
It juices large quantities because it shoots the pulp out into an exterior container and has a large carafe for the juice (with a top that holds back foam so I don’t need to strain it). This way, I can make large servings for both Greg and myself.
And, here is another cool feature. It has a knob for changing the speed of the juicer so I can turn it down for leafy greens and turn it up for harder fruits and veggies. It’s helpful because it juices greens better than the small Breville model as a result. I don’t know if it’s helping to reduce oxidation as well, but it might. Still, when I use any fast centrifuge model of juicer, which typically gives juice that isn’t as high quality like the slow juicers, I drink the juice within 15-20 minutes of making it to get optimal nutrition before too much oxidation takes place. This is a great juicer, just know that the pulp is mushy and the juice quality is not as high as with a slow juicer, but it’s fast as hell.
Even though this juicer doesn’t give the best yield and even though it oxidizes quickly, I can’t help but sing my love for this juicer. She’s such a lovely bird… fast and easy. I really love it. But, I know better in that I need a juicer that doesn’t oxidize as fast and that gives a better yield.
Overall – I love all of my juicers for different reasons and I will use them all but at different stages of my life – so they’re definitely not going to waste. They all have pros and cons, but you have to decide what’s important to you at the time, and then go from there when selecting a model. The goal is to juice! So, which juicer is going to help you accomplish that goal the best? Now that I’m not using the small Breville, I’ll save it for traveling perhaps. I’ve heard of some people using it for that. Of course, it’s not super small, so I’ll have to sacrifice taking some other things, like shoes – but hey, juice is a priority for my family. We do what we gotta do!
I had a comment on my last blog post where I shared the details about the Raw food I had for the day and she wrote, “You look like such vibrant, happy mother! And you totally smash that argument of ‘I’m too busy to eat healthy!’ I have a little sister, so I can say for a fact that nothing’s busier than mom duty!”
Mimi, your comment was awesome and really struck me. And, you’re right. I am busy as a new mom, but I make it work so that my family is eating as healthy as possible. One of the ways I accomplish this is using a juicer that juices fast and is easy to clean.
Holiday Chia PuddingUPDATE: Just received THESE AWESOME KALE CHIPS that I ordered last week and I have to say… they are my FAVORITE brand for organic raw vegan kale chips now. THEY’RE AWESOME! I want to eat the whole bag. Available here! (I’m also enjoying their Carob Crunch Brownie today)
I made a splendid batch of fresh organic green juice. Yum! It’s probably my favorite way to start the day because it really gives my body and digestion a clean energy boost. Ever since finding the raw life and including lots of green juice on a regular basis, I’m never sluggish in the morning. I wake up refreshed and raring to go. That’s the way to live!
Drink fresh green juice and you can experience the following, too: Alkalizing, hydrating, delicious, refreshing, nourishing, and cleansing.
This batch made one quart and had: 2 large cucumbers 5 stalks celery 1 head romaine hearts 1 kiwi 1 small knob of ginger
I used my Breville because I knew I’d drink it right away and extra fast speed was important. I generally like to use my Hurom juicer (that’s my favorite), but today’s desire for speed trumped anything else. If you’d like to see a video where I discuss the three juicers I have (Green Star, Breville, Hurom), then check it out here.
Hhmm… isn’t that beautiful, vibrant and full of life? You know that will make my cells dance for joy! I tell ya… I cannot live life without fresh green juice. Can you imagine if everyone drank fresh organic green juice on a weekly (or daily!) basis!? Whoo Whee! The buzz of life and energy that we would all experience. That would be awesome. (If you’re wondering why my Blendtec container is there, it’s because when my Breville container runs out of room, I transfer it to my blender and then continue juicing with the Breville.)
Green juice is the stuff of life! I love the way that each and every sip makes me feel alive and gives me that extra oompf for the day. Just think about how much awesome nutrition you’re giving your body with fresh organic green juice – vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and good ol’ magic love. Hhmmmm… that’s the stuff of life!
I love making a big batch of green juice for the day – which can be done with the Hurom, in my opinion, because it’s a slow juicer. This means that it oxidizes at a slower rate than it would with a juicer like the Breville (don’t get me wrong though, I like my Breville… but that’s for juice you make and drink within 15 minutes of making it for the most nutrition). With the Hurom, I can make 2 quarts of juice (or more) so I can drink some and store some for the day. My juice here had loads of fresh-n-simple organic ingredients: cucumbers, celery, and grape tomatoes. That’s it –> SOOOO good.
If you haven’t yet, you might like to check out my video here, where I discuss the different aspects of the Hurom, Breville, and Green Star juicers.
My husband and I are enjoying a day of High Raw food day. All organic. And, that’s me having fun in my third trimester – YAY! I am so happy being pregnant! (OH! On Monday I’m having another AWESOME GIVEAWAY so come on back tomorrow!!!)
1 large banana – I had mine fresh peeled, and my husband had his warmed in the dehydrator as semi-dehydrated slices
Teeccino with Raw Vegan Nutmilk – I am writing a post on getting over caffeine addictions this week, so stay tuned for that. For my Raw Vegan Nutmilk, I made a 1-Minute Nut Milk with 1 hefty tablespoon of Rejuvenative’s Pecan Pie Butter (so extra yummy!) blended with a cup of water. It’s aromatic, a hint of spice, a touch of sweet, and super delish!
1/2 cup fresh pineapple – I had mine fresh, and my husband had his warmed in the dehydrator as semi-dehydrated. He loves it like that.
Hearty Buckwheat Biscuits – This recipe will be in my next email newsletter, which goes out on Tuesday. I had one of these today and my husband had two. They’re so good! I already need to make another batch!
Plant Blood – I made 2 quarts of organic green juice using my Hurom (love this juicer!). We each had about 2 cups and I’m saving the rest for later in the day. It had 1 bunch of celery, 1 bunch curly purple kale, 1 bunch cilantro, 2 large cucumbers, 2 large carrots, 1/2 inch knob of ginger, 1/2 pineapple, 1/2 cup water)
Protein Shakes – My husband will have one of his Protein Grenades and I will simply have a shake mix of Sun Warrior Brown Rice protein powder, Hemp protein powder, cinnamon, and water.
Huge Protein Salads - Giving my little monkey some extra protein now that we’re in the third trimester. This salad has an awesome raw vegan dressing, cucumbers, red bell peppers, spinach, broccoli sprouts, raisins, and tofu.
Plant Blood – Leftover from earlier in the day.
Sauerkraut – This homemade kraut is sooooo good! I could eat a cup at a time. Yum! I’m enjoying this batch on top of another Hearty Buckwheat Biscuit. (Learn how I make my organic, unpasteurized sauerkraut here.)
Strawberries with Sweet Frosting Dip – The Sweet Frosting Dip recipe will be in my next book, due out in the next couple of months (hopefully before I give birth to my baby). Stay tuned!
Raw Vegan Truffles – My good friends, Dolly and Anthony (you might know him as Raw Model), are making Raw truffles that they sell (Blackbird Naturals is the name of the company) and they happen to live nearby! I bumped into them at the market over the weekend where they blessed me with FREE CHOCOLATE. And, um… about 2 hours later I went to Oakville Market where they sell them and I bought a package. I’m having them for dessert tonight!
Protein Shake – I’m undecided, but if I find myself hungry or needing more protein later tonight, I’ll shake up another protein shake. Perhaps I’ll have another banana, too!
Kashi Organic Shredded Wheat w/ Raw Granola topped with Organic Rice Milk
I was famished when I woke up today and I wanted something QUICK! Monkey was hungry! So, I ran for a bowl of cereal. The Raw part was the granola, which was from the company Two Mom’s In The Raw (they now have their raw vegan granola available at Starbucks!) I like the granola for the most part but sometimes I get a funny taste in my mouth with it.
1 Quart fresh organic Greeeeen Juice
After the cereal, my body was craving something pure, fresh, Raw, and alkalizing. I made a juice with my Hurom juicer comprised of the following ingredients: cucumbers, kale, Swiss chard, lemon, and celery. It was fabulous. Green juice does a body GOOD!
2 small Raw Chocolates
About a year ago I made the Mint Chocolate Jazz recipe from my book, Kristen Suzanne’s Ultimate Raw Vegan Chocolate Recipes. I enjoyed 2 of them. They remind me exactly of York Peppermint Patties – only my recipe is healthy! I love having a freezer full of organic Raw vegan chocolates for those times you need a bite. Mmmmm! (I don’t eat a lot of Raw chocolate while pregnant, but a little bit here and there.)
Huge Salad with Light-n-Lively Tahini Parsley Dressing
My salad was seriously large. It was filled with organic romaine, carrot, and red bell pepper topped with a version of my Light-n-Lively Tahini Parsley Dressing from my book, Kristen Suzanne’s EASY Raw Vegan Salads & Dressings – except that I used cilantro instead of parsley. Cilantro is a great herb that is full of nutrition and has the ability to help draw toxins (especially heavy metals) from the body.
Celery with fancy schmancy nut butters
In practicing to be a mommy, I went to the kitchen with the intent on making the kid-friendly Ants On A Log recipe. Instead, I ended up using Rejuvenative’s Raw Vegan Organic Almond Butter for two celery logs and their fancy schmancy Pecan Pie Butter (they sent me samples). I write fancy schmancy because the Pecan Pie Butter tastes unique and gourmet. It’s made from pecans, dates, almonds, cinnamon, cardamon, and nutmeg. I ended up liking the Pecan Pie Butter even more than the almond butter today. It was so yummy on the celery.
I made a quicky shake with 2 scoops of raw protein powder mixed with water. It filled my up nicely for a while.
2 cups organic Greeeeen Juice
I made extra juice when I made my morning batch and here is where I finished it off.
2 organic bananas & 1 small organic pickle
I love bananas… aren’t they like the perfect FAST snack. They’re sweet, nutritious, inexpensive, and did I say FAST? If you make sure that you keep a steady supply of these on your counter than you can do all sorts of things from eating them plain (did I mention what a FAST snack it is?) to blending them into smoothies, sauces, nut milks, desserts, and soups.
The pickle… well, I am pregnant. ;)
2 “Pretty High Raw” Tostadas (organic)
These were made from sprouted corn tortillas from Food for Life (they’re not raw but they’re pretty much minimally processed). I topped them with cooked black beans, (raw) fresh salsa, (raw) guacamole, (raw) lettuce, and (raw) Cheezy Hemp Nacho Sauce.
I planned this menu last night before I went to bed. Read here about why planning your daily food is a great idea and how it can help you stick to your healthy eating goals.
Organic Green Juice
I started the day by making 5 cups of green juice with my Hurom juicer. I drank 3 cups and stored the other 2 cups for later in the day. The juice had cucumber, celery, collard greens, lime, orange, and apple. It was fabulous! I tell ya… so many women say that they get constipated with pregnancy. I have to say… it’s not happening with me. I attribute it to my super healthy diet.
Protein Bar
This bar wasn’t Raw, but it was vegan, macrobiotic, had non-gmo and organic ingredients, and was high protein. It was darn tasty, too, as it should be when one of the ingredients is organic brown rice syrup, huh? Lol
Organic Salad, Crunchy Buckwheat Biscuit, and Raw Sauerkraut
Oh… yum… this lunch was so awesome. I made a fresh salad with romaine lettuce and red bell peppers from our CSA, along with cucumbers. The dressing was refreshing – organic lemon juice, Raw olive oil, Himalayan crystal salt, black pepper, and dried Italian seasoning. Alongside the salad I had one of my Crunchy Buckwheat Biscuits and topped it with my homemade organic Raw sauerkraut. The juice of the sauerkraut seeped into the biscuit, making it a little soft in spots. SO GOOD!!! I promise to get the recipe to you very soon (maybe this week!). These biscuits are full of flavor and nutrition!
Green Juice – 2 cups
Here is where I had the rest of the green juice I made from this morning. I drank it while doing a little dance to Nelly’s Tilt Ya Head Back (featuring Christina Aguilera). I can’t help but get up and BOOGY DOWN! Seriously! :) I can’t wait to have this baby and dance around the house holding him/her. :)
Savory Veggies, Crunchy Buckwheat Biscuit, and Raw Sauerkraut
I made a batch of this popular marinade recipe of mine, and I’m topping the following vegetables with it: organic portobello mushroom, carrots, red bell pepper, and broccoli. I’ll have another Crunchy Buckwheat Biscuit topped with my Raw sauerkraut with it, too.
Frozen Organic Banana Protein Smoothie See recipe here.
I’m adding extra carob for this so it’s more dessert like. I sure do love RAW FOOD!!!!
Having green juice (a.k.a. Plant Blood) on a regular basis is very important for my family. We love it! It’s invigorating. It’s filled with easy-to-assimilate nutrients. It’s powerful. It makes the cells in my body boogie-down as if they were listening to Earth, Wind, & Fire! Like the vegan version of being a vampire, I feel absolutely super-human when I’m drinking it.
Fresh fruit and vegetable juices can do wonders for your body, spirit and mind. They can help cleanse your body and detox. They can fill you up with energy because you’re giving your digestion a rest with the removal of the fiber. They can help make you feel like you’re on top of the world (at least that’s what they do to me when I drink them). And for sure… a number of people use fresh organic juices as a part of their weight loss routine. I know that after I give birth, and breast feeding is done, I’ll be using a green juice weight loss program to help me lose the pregnancy weight.
A while back I posted about the two juicers that I have in this post. But, I have a new addition to my family that is worthy of discussion. In the following videos I discuss the pros and cons of each juicer (Green Star, Breville, and Hurom), from my perspective. And, I show you one of the juicers in action.
I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. More...
I'm Kristen, and welcome to my blog. I'm a wife, mom, author, and I love to eat so food is usually the topic of my blog posts. I'm a former (almost decade long) vegan turned back omnivore who enjoys reading, rebounding, coffee, and dark chocolate. 
