Does anyone have/use a juicer?

[Kara]

I'm thinking about getting a juicer to make it easier for us to get the fruits and veggies we need in our diet. One of my sons is a picky eater, but he'll drink the juice we buy at the store that includes carrots and beets. We already have a citrus juicer and use it quite a bit for homemade lemonade and orange juice, but I'd love to be able to juice other things and improve our health.

Before I drop the money on a juicer, I'd love to hear if any of you have one and love it.

[Giseli Freitas]

I have a juicer since DD was a baby (6mo) and love it! I use it in a daily basis. I'll tell no lie: it's a bit annoying to clean it (mine is), but I think it's worth.

[Lauren Reid]

I don't have a juicer, but i use a high speed blender by BlendTec, which pulvarizes anything! I make smoothies for the kids all the time and even add spinach into them and they still drink them!

wub it, but it's pricey!

xo

[DawnMarch]

Just to play devil's advocate -- I have had two juicers in my life (my dad had one when I was a kid and my hubby bought one a few years back). Both were basically a "fad" which they used for a few weeks then never again.

[Darcy Baldwin]

I do a lot in our blender (wishes I had Lauren's Blendtec!) I add just about any full fruit (I segment the oranges - cut them out of their membranes) and fresh spinach to our smoothies.

If I were going to buy a juicer, I'd go to a mid-grade level (the Bevel is a good one) instead of going with a lower end model. But by that time, I'm 1/3 of the way to a Vitamix or Blendtech..so I'd save up a little longer and just have the one appliance

[neenee]

Dh bought me a juicer back when I wanted to detox regularly....I used it a few times and have never used it again. I just hate having so many appliances. I might use it more if my kids were younger and I were trying to get some extra veggies, etc. in their diet but, they all love healthy foods.

Maybe I just need some good recipe ideas for some smoothies, etc. ??

[meganmecrazy]

I want to buy a juicer but not sure which brand to get. I always see Jack Lalanne infomercials but a lot of the amazon reviews on them aren't good. Any brand suggestions?

[Kara]

Funny to see this thread again!

I ended up getting a Waring juicer for about $60 and it's fine. I use it every few weeks. Not as much as I'd hoped because it is a pain to clean.

My brother and SIL got a Vitamix recently and they totally love it. I don't have that kind of cash, though!

[Jengerbread88]

I have a blendtec that I never ever ever use. Seriously, I don't know why we shelled out the money for it.

However, I *feel like* if I had a juicer I'd use it all the time. But... I'm most likely wrong about that It would probably just sit there, much like every other appliance we own. Ha!

[mrshobbes]

I'd prefer a blender. We got a juicer for our wedding, and like Giseli, I HATED each and everytime I had to clean the d@mn thing.

[meganmecrazy]

They make it sound like the Jack Lalanne juicer is super easy to clean...just pop it in the dishwasher. But I would probably hate the thing too if it was a pain to clean.

[kristijoy]

We have a Champion juicer. It's a true juicer in that it pulverizes the fruit/vegetables and then squeezes the juice out of them. Pulp comes out the end. The is what a citrus juice does too. It takes out the juice but you don't eat the segments and rinds right? You throw all that away. If you are buying a juice that he likes, I would suspect it is the kind of juice a Champion would produce.

A blender, vitamix etc...simple pulverizes and purees the fruit/veggie. For something like carrots and beets in a blender you'll just get a mash rather than a juice. In fact, do get something drinkable in a blender, you would probably have to cook it and/or add water. If he drinks a commercial carrot juice, it's not one made with a blender.

Here's the Champion:

http://www.amazon.com/Champion-Juice...4303815&sr=8-5



If you want a true juicer I would recommend one of these. Before you invest in one, I think I would visit some place (or friends) that has a juicer and try the juice that comes out of it and see what you think.