Have you ever considered using a masticating juicer to modify your diet plans and fitness goals? It may seem like just another piece of kitchen apparatus but many health enthusiasts rave about its function to preserve the essential nutrients from fruits and vegetables, allowing you to enjoy a cup of healthy and delicious beverage anytime.

But what is a masticating juicer? How does it really work?

More than just an ordinary blender, masticating juicers fall into the vast lineup of innovative machines that can help you keep track of a healthier lifestyle through efficient juicing. If you’re planning to incorporate this handy machine in your diet, we’ve unraveled the benefits of using a masticating juicer, how it works, and how you can use it properly. Keep reading!

What is a Masticating Juicer? How Does it Work?

What is a masticating juicer, then?

Also known as a cold press juicer or a triturating juicer, a masticating juicer squeezes out the substantial nutrients from vegetables and fruits. It features a straightforward concept that intricately presses down and crushes various types of fruits, vegetables, leafy grasses, grasses, wheatgrasses, and even frozen fruits.

As the name suggests, this machine masticates raw foods that are being pushed through the small chute. It is engineered with a single auger that does the mashing job and slowly grinds the produce and squeezes out all the fundamental juices. Designed with two different shafts, the juice and pulp are being collected separately throughout the process.

Contrary to a centrifugal juicer, a masticating juicer works at a slower pace. Although it tends to wrap up the process a bit longer, it becomes more efficient in extracting the produce and hence, collects more juice. Running at a low speed, it also does not generate heat that usually leads to oxidation which in turn diminishes the substantial amount of juice, enzymes, and nutrients.

Benefits of Using a Masticating Juicer

If you are planning to get your own masticating juicer, how should you benefit from it? Is it really worth an investment? Masticating juicers are truly innovative machines but to give you a much clearer view of how it can affect your health and personal preferences, here are some benefits you should know.

It works well on leafy greens, grasses, and wheatgrasses.

Masticating juicers excel in handling other types of foods such as leafy greens, grasses, and wheatgrasses, which can be pretty difficult to crush down and squeeze out when using centrifugal juicers. With its slow mechanism, this amazing machine relays efficient juicing even with these tiny pieces of vegetables and leaves.

Slow juicing means lower risk of oxidation.

As mentioned earlier, a masticating juicer may grind fruits, vegetables, and other produce slower than other juicers but such mechanism reduces the risk of oxidation which is what other juicers do otherwise as they perform at a high speed. They generate heat or cause friction which can kill the fundamental nutrients and enzymes in the food. Therefore, it minimizes the quality of what a healthy juice should be.

A masticating juicer, moreover, highlights its efficiency in maintaining the essential minerals, nutrients, and enzymes to boost your health and give you the energy you need to get your body going and mind working throughout the day.

It provides great quality of juice.

Because a masticating juicer minimizes the risk of oxidation, you get to make the most out of your produce whether they are fruits, vegetables, or leafy greens. While you benefit from the rich minerals and enzymes from the juice, you also get to enjoy the fresh and delicious flavor of your healthy beverage.

Another advantage is the storage and shelf life. Contrary to the juicing process from a centrifugal juicer, slow juicing prolongs the storage life of your juice. You can keep it in the fridge and save it for later. It can last up to 72 hours, unlike those juices that have been processed with a centrifugal machine that needs to be consumed immediately or within 24 hours for better taste and overall quality and also to prevent it from spoiling.

It operates quietly.

Whether you prepare an appetizing drink during the day or late at night, you won’t have to worry about waking everyone up in your house. A masticating juicer performs at a low speed and also keeps the noise level pretty low with its quiet operation.

It is a versatile juicer.

While you enjoy making delicious drinks and healthy beverages with a masticating juicer, you can also take advantage of its superb performance and efficient features to make baby food, healthy smoothies, nut butter, or make your own almond milk and a lot more. The dried pulp can also be used to make dehydrated cookies and treats! You can even use it as your kitchen assistant in making ice cream as a delish cold treat to beat the heat!

It can handle frozen fruits.

This innovative machine also does the trick to help you out in grinding and crushing down frozen fruits which can be pretty challenging to do using other types of juicers. This is one quick and easy technique to make delicious sorbets!

It is easy to clean.

Most masticating juicers available on the market make cleaning like a breeze. They have detachable parts that you can just wash off after using the machine. And if you’re one of those who find it a headache to do cleanups or perhaps a busy person who’s always on the rush, you won’t have to struggle with tough cleaning; these machines are generally easy to clean.

Easy Ways on How to Use a Masticating Juicer

If you are heading your way to get yourself a masticating juicer or perhaps a beginner and still trying to figure out how it really works, you'd probably wondering, "What is a masticating juicer? How should properly use it?" . Therefore, you may refer to the manufacturer’s manual for detailed instructions.

Although there are overwhelming options on the market with contemporary and sleek designs or seemingly intimidating features, they are all engineered with the same principle so learning how to use it won’t be too difficult. But to save you from messy spills and clutter, we’ve jotted down a few easy tips to show you how you should use it.

1. Place a container at the end of each shaft to collect the juice and pulp separately.
2. Turn the juicer on.
3. When the auger starts to move, place the fruit or vegetable inside the chute. Push it down and let the auger do the grinding. If the fruit or vegetable doesn’t seem to go down, just use the pusher.

Some units feature reverse switch buttons that you can use to masticate and crush down the produce. You can opt for this button when the vegetable or fruit seems to get jammed inside.

4. Wait for the container to be filled up with juice. Enjoy your delicious drink!
5. When you’re done using it, you can simply detach the squeezing chamber, tray, worm or auger, filter, and nut piece by piece or all at once for cleaning. Rinse them off with soap and water. Let them dry and put the pieces back to the machine. You’re all done!

Wrapping Up

Maintaining a healthy diet and lifestyle becomes a lot easier with a masticating juicer. While you enjoy the freshest flavors of your favorite fruits and vegetables, you can also benefit from the amazing quality of the juice that contains substantial minerals and enzymes to keep your body working all day.

With all the details mentioned above, you'll have to wonder no more what lies beyond the question "What is a masticating juicer?". This versatile machine does a great job with efficient juicing and making other dishes with flavors of your choice. No wonder it’s been an ideal option among many health enthusiasts. It is easy to use and clean, too!

How long does fresh juice last? Would it be okay to consume it after 24 hours or more? You’ve also probably been wondering how to maximize the freshness of your juice and keep it tasty and nutritious right after you wrap up juicing your favorite fruits and veggies. But when you’ve got a lot left to consume, what should you do next?

We always want to get the best out of the fruits, vegetables, and other produce when juicing them. And you don’t want to end up chugging spoiled and unhealthy beverage because you haven’t stored your fresh juice properly. It’ll also lose its nutrients eventually.

But what other storage techniques should you know to retain the freshness and the nutritional value of your juice as long as possible? Keep reading and learn more about it.

How Long Does Fresh Juice Last?

As soon as you finished juicing, fresh juice can last for about 24 hours. But it may still depend on how you store it or what type of juicer you have used. That’s why others can keep their juice fresh and nutritious for 2 to 3 days or up to 72 hours.

Storing it in the fridge, however, is probably what you would do if you’ve got a lot more juice left and save it for later or if you want to have some on your way to work the next day. But how long does fresh juice last in the fridge? It can last for 24 to 48 hours or 72 hours at the most. There are significant factors that affect the freshness of the juice as mentioned before.

But if you really wish to let your fresh juice sit around for as long as possible, we’ll talk about some storage techniques that you can try.

6 Storage Techniques to Keep Your Juice Fresh

1. Use airtight glass containers.

Plastic containers or plastic tumblers might also be an option to store your juice but they are not shut tight. They also usually contain chemicals that might be harmful to your health.

Therefore, storing your juice in a glass container or bottle is much better because it’s airtight. As these glass containers keep the lid tightly sealed, it minimizes the risk of oxidation process which can lead to bacterial growth and contamination.

2. Fill the container up to the top.

To prevent your juice from losing its freshness and nutritional value, make sure to fill your glass container all the way to the top or leave very little space as much as possible. In this way, you'll be able to force the air out of the jar and hence, prevent the juice from oxidizing.

3. Store the juice right away after juicing.

After juicing and preparation, put the juice away immediately. Keeping it in the refrigerator is one effective way to do so. Don't leave your juice out in the open for a long time to avert any flavor contamination due to oxygen exposure. Also, make sure to close the lid of the glass container tightly before you put it inside the fridge.

4. Try not to freeze your juice.

Many opt for freezing to prolong the freshness of their juice. This can also be a good option, especially if you really want to keep your juice for a couple of days or even a month. Along with proper storage, your juice may even last up to about 6 months.

However, do know that the nutritional value slowly degrades and eventually perishes the longer you store your juice in the freezer. It might be another way to keep your favorite juices for quite long but it is not ideal. Aside from the loss of nutrition, there will also be changes in the flavor and it won’t be as delicious as it should be compared to the time you juice it.

On the other hand, if you think you really need to store your juice for the longest time possible or for months as mentioned, you can resort to freezing. But before you put it in the freezer, make sure not to fill the container up to the top. You should leave at least half an inch to the top to provide enough room as the juice freezes and expands.

5. Consider the type of juicer to use.

The shelf life of your juice also depends on the type of juicer you use. Centrifugal and masticating juicers are two of the most popular types of juicers that a lot of health enthusiasts use for efficient juicing. However, each has a respective mechanism that affects the quality and shelf life of the juice.

Centrifugal juicers are reliable for quick juicing, especially for those who are always on-the-go. But because it utilizes fast mechanism, the blades generate heat which can lead to oxidation. Although you can make fresh, delicious and healthy juice out of it, it is best to consume the juice immediately. If you need to store, it can only last up to roughly 24 hours.

Masticating juicers, on the other hand, function otherwise. They are much slower but performing at a low speed allow them to extract juices more efficiently. As they do not generate heat as centrifugal juicers do, masticating juicers have the ability to retain the finest quality, flavor, and nutritional value of the juice, making the juice available for a longer time of storage. It can last up to 2-3 days or about 72 hours.

6. Use a cooler bag and ice packs when traveling.

While you can find ways to store your juice at home, you can also take down a few notes on how you can properly store it and keep your fresh juice tasty and ready for consumption while traveling. You might want to have some cold beverage on your way to work or while on a long drive and to make sure you have got that fresh juice at its finest, keep it in a cooler bag with ice packs in it.

Also, do not keep or place the juice someplace where there is sunlight. Best to keep it in a cool and dark spot. Make sure it is stored at an optimum cold temperature to keep the juice fresh, cold, and delicious.

Wrapping Up

It is always nice to enjoy fresh and nutritious juice in the morning, after a tiring day at work, or if you want to cap off a day at the gym, especially when they are made out of your favorite veggies and fruits. But when is the best time to consume and enjoy your fresh juice? Immediately. Right after juicing. You can indulge in the finest quality and freshness of your juice while benefiting from its substantial nutrients.

But how long does fresh juice last? It depends on how you store it. And if you wish to save it for later or in some way you can’t consume it all in one day, there are ways to maximize the freshness and nutritional content of your juice. If you try some of the proper storage techniques as mentioned above, you can enjoy a delicious cold treat for as long as possible!

Did you ever wonder how juicers ever began? Back in ancient times, extracting the juices of citrus fruits and vegetables has thought to increase their efficacy to combat certain illnesses. But when was the first citrus juicer invented? Why are juicers considered a kitchen staple today?

If you want to spruce up your diet for a healthier lifestyle, you’ve probably been considering getting your own juicer. But sifting through a bit deeper on how these amazing machines took off will give you a much clearer view of their health benefits and their significant role to general wellness.

Walking Through the History of the First Juicer

Before we unfold the answer from the mainstream question, “When was the first citrus juicer invented?”, the whole concept of juice extraction was deemed to have originated from a method called the Gerson Therapy or also known as the Gerson Therapy Diet. It leads us back to the 1900s where Dr. Max Gerson regarded that the “body has the ability to heal itself” and thus, he developed the aforementioned natural alternative treatment with this principal goal.

The diet involves consumption of organic produce that is derived from raw juices; these substantial juices are extracted through pressing, grating, mashing, or pounding the fruits and vegetables. With strict adherence to such a method, Dr. Gerson claimed this could be an effective therapy to battle cancer, tuberculosis, and other health issues. Then so, where did the first juicer fall into? When was the first citrus juicer invented?

It was Norman Walker who innovatively invented the first ever juicing machine in 1934. Apart from being the brains behind the juicers, he was also an advocate of healthy diet and lifestyle through regular consumption of raw and fresh foods like vegetables and fruits and also an author of several books about nutrition and general wellness. He was vegan and had lived until the age of 99. Having to live that long because of a healthy lifestyle, that may no longer be a surprise!

The Norwalk Hydraulic Press Juicer 

In 1934, Norman Walker designed and manufactured a commercial juicer popularly known as Norwalk. Innovatively engineered with a simple juicing mechanism, it grates, crushes, and squeezes fruits and vegetables. When the pulp is collected and placed inside a linen bag, the hydraulic press does the job next.

As the lever gets adjusted, the machine presses down the linen bag and squeezes out the juices up to the very last drop. It could take a little bit of effort to wrap up the whole process but it does an excellent job to extract the vital juices. Aside from fruits and vegetables, it can also grate cheese and grind coffee or coconuts. It is multifunctional and can also work to make baby food, desserts, and other nutritious dishes.

Take a look at this video to see how this juicing machine works:

Besides its function, it also boasts its sturdy stainless steel construction and therefore, renders a quality that can last for years. However, Norwalk juicing machines come in hefty price tags which could be pretty costly for some consumers. Nonetheless, these juicing machines lend exceptional performance and durability. No wonder it’s been widely popular and available even until today.

When it comes to the Gerson Therapy Diet, there are suitable juicers or commonly tagged as Gerson-approved juicers to completely comply with this kind of therapy. The Norwalk Hydraulic Press Juicer is one of them.

Champion Machine, The First Masticating Juicer

The advancement of juicers had yet again emerged when the first masticating juicer was developed and invented in the 1950s, the Champion Juicer. Compared to Norwalk hydraulic press juicers, masticating juicers endorse a faster, simpler, and easier way to crush fruits and veggies to collect the juices.

The fruits and vegetables go through a chute where the auger crushes them. While the juice is collected, the pulp is pressed through a mesh and also collected separately.

Different Types of Juicers

Over the years, the development of juicers has kept up with the rapid progress of innovative machines which resulted in a vast lineup of different types of juicers today. If you’ve been looking for the ideal juicer for your needs and preferences, you may need to check out these different types of juicers first.

1. Hydraulic Press

This type of juicer uses immense pressure to squeeze out all the juice from fruits and vegetables. The hydraulic press is utilized after the pulp is collected from the grinder and placed into a linen bag.

The whole process may take more time compared to what modern juicers can do. But it performs exceptionally and provides the purest form of juices while carefully retaining their minerals, enzymes, and vitamins. Norwalk juicers are an example of a hydraulic press. If you’re on Gerson Therapy Diet, this is a suitable juicer to use.

2. Centrifugal Juicer

As the name suggests, this type of juicer uses centrifugal force to collect the vital juices from fruits and vegetables. The raw foods go through a tube or chute where they are intricately crushed and mashed. It is designed with a mechanism that can separate the pulp from its juice, making juicing easier and faster.

The only pitfall with this type of juicing machine is how it retains the nutrients because of the blades that generate heat and therefore, results in oxidation. The substantial nutrients won’t be as pure as they should be. However, they are still in excellent quality, especially when consumed immediately. It may not do very well in extracting grasses or wheatgrasses but it does in handling soft fruits.

With its availability in a budget-friendly price range and fast mechanism, centrifugal juicers are ideal for people who need or prefer to save more time and money in juicing.

3. Masticating Juicer

Masticating juicers are engineered with a single auger that masticates or mashes down fruits and vegetables as they are pushed through the chute. While the juice is being collected, the pulp is carried out separately at the end of the shaft.

Compared to a centrifugal juicer, a masticating juicer performs at a low speed, rendering efficient extraction to obtain more juice from fruits and vegetables and even from wheatgrasses, grasses, and leafy grasses. It also works great on frozen fruits.

Probably the downside of this type of juicer is the design. It is typically streamlined with small chutes, making juicing a bit longer to finish. Nonetheless, masticating juicers do excel in extracting vital juices from fruits and vegetables, especially if you aim to get substantial juices from grasses.

Wrapping Up

Tracking back when was the first citrus juicer invented and how juicers began might be a trail of history and an informative sight. But unraveling bits of stories of this innovative machine will help us value its purpose and how it significantly affects our health, especially on how we carefully manage our consumption of many kinds of raw foods such as fruits and vegetables. No wonder many homes make these juicers a kitchen staple.

Truly, juicers promote better wellness and healthy diet. Although they may come in different types, sizes, and price ranges, these juicing machines provide a hassle-free and effective alternative way to preserve the fundamental nutrients from fruits and vegetables and also to make delicious drinks, desserts, and dishes in a more healthily.

Should you have questions and concerns, don’t hesitate to share your comments through the box below. We would love to hear from you!