Juicing - Extras

Here are some situations that you might come across while juicing.  
I hope they help prevent messes and make for faster juicing.  
Enjoy!

Accidentally overfilling the juice catcher ~

I have done this a couple of times.  Don;t get too upset.  It's more funny than anything.  You have to keep an eye on your juice catcher.  Certain vegetables have a lot of liquid in them and fill up the container fast.  Then the juicer is blowing air into the container forcing bubbles and juice to overflow.  It's a mess!  Here I did it with beets.  It looks like a crime scene.  I'm certain beet juice would make a great horror movie  mess!

You MUST clean up this mess ASAP or you will have an even worse mess when you are done.  Do not continue juicing.  Clean everything up and start over.  Make sure you wash down any splatter on the walls, cupboards and floor.  You would be surprised where those bubbles get blown!  You don't have to wash the juicer parts with soap and water at this point.  Just rinse the parts off with warm water and put it back together.

Continue juicing and watch your juice level!

Splatter ~

It is a good practice to cover the holes on top of the juice catcher.  The air coming from the juicer can force juice and bubbles out those holes.  It can splatter just on the container or go as far as the stove top.  Once you use this method and get into the habit of watching the juice level, it will be easier.
Placing a dry or damp hand towel over the canister helps prevent splatter from escaping from the space where the top and canister connect.  This is especially helpful when juicing watery fruit and vegetables.  It is a clean-up savior when juicing with beets!

Drips ~

Drips and little spills will happen.  For easier clean-up put plastic wrap directly on your juicer and then place a towel or rag down under the juice catcher.  I buy white rags (wash cloths) and hand towels bulk from Costco.  They are easy to bleach in your washing machine.

Pulp ~

It is a good idea to dump the pulp catcher after every vegetable, twice with carrots if you are making a big batch.  Then use your fingers and just swipe out as much of the veggie pulp as possible into the trash bin.

Fibers in the blade and filter ~

You can take a little brush, toothbrush or even a fork (gently) and loosen the fibers counter-clockwise before you put the lid back on the juicer.  When you turn the juicer back on the fibers will fly into the fiber catcher.  This will help get more juice out of the next round of veggies.  

Sometimes the fibers will build up on the side on the filter.  You can gently scrape the fibers off of that too.  As soon as I have a photo of fiber build-up on the filter I will post it.  Ginger does it every time!

Dirt ~

When juicing beets you may not be able to 100% get rid of the dirt "flavor."  You can peel the beets rather easily.  This will help your juice not taste like dirt.

If you feel this way about carrots too, you can peel them first as well.  I suggest you save the carrot and beet peels and make soup with them.  

Dr. Shultz is a natural herb doctor whom I love, love, love!  He has a fabulous recipe for potassium broth.  I've made it many, many times.  It is REALLY good.  You can drink it warm or cold.  Check him out!
www.800HerbDoc.Com

Weeds ~

When buying organic vegetables there is always a chance you will find a weed mixed in with your veggies.  I usually find them mixed in with the spinach.  

It can be small, like this little sprig shown here, or a full on plant with roots, stem, leaves and then some. 

Just pull the weeds out and throw them in the trash bin.  You can always save them and ask your produce guy what they are.  If he doesn't know, your local garden shop might.  Google is always available too.

 

Bugs ~

When buying organic vegetables there is always a chance that there will be bugs in what we bring home.  Sometimes they can be alive.  Sometimes they can be dead.  Most times they will be alive.  This little guy did not make it.  

This is why you always rinse your veggies.  The snails will come out of hiding  fast.  All other bugs will try to swim to safety.  They usually float.

You will not die if you eat a bug.  I just prefer my juice to be bug free!

Questions and Comments ~

Feel free to ask me anything about juicing.  I have been doing it on a regular basis for over a year now.  I may not be Pro, but I'm pretty good at what I do.  Use the Contact form or e-mail me.  :o)

Fiber Beet Art, on sink canvas ~

Faces in the bubbles! !