Learn how to juice without a juicer using this straightforward blender method that turns your favorite fruits and vegetables into pure, refreshing juices.
This guide will take you through a simple process involving common kitchen tools, allowing you to extract nutrient-rich juices with ease.
Perfect for those seeking a quick, efficient way to enjoy homemade juices, this method ensures you get all the health benefits without the need for specialized equipment.
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Why Juice?
What’s the difference between drinking fresh fruit/vegetable juice and making a smoothie? Juicing extracts the nutrient-rich juices from your fruits and veggies. Smoothies consist of pureed fruits (and sometimes veggies). Meaning the main difference is that in a smoothie, you retain the natural fiber in the fruit/vegetable pulp.
Juices are less filling than a smoothie, but provide more concentrated nutrients and benefits, since you are eliminating all of the fruit/vegetable mass and just consuming its rich nutrient juice.
Both are great options, and it truly depends on your preference. Smoothies can be a quick way to get your fruits and veggies and add other nutrients like a protein powder, super greens powder, or nut butters for natural protein and fats.
Disclaimer: Edible Ink does not endorse any kind of “juice diet” or “juice cleanse”. Juicing should be a part of a balanced diet, an addition to your lifestyle, not a meal replacement. Always consult a nutritionist or your doctor before doing any kind of “cleanse” or “diet”.
How to Juice without a Juicer – Blender Method
This method of juicing requires a few kitchen gadgets you probably already have in your kitchen:
- Standard blender, NutriBullet or similar blending vessel
- Fruit(s) and/or vegetable(s) of choice
- Square of cheesecloth
- Fine mesh strainer/colander
- Handy funnel
- A jar or container in which to store your juice.
The process is simple.
Step One: Blend. Add your washed and coarsely chopped fruits/veggies to your blender. If necessary, add a few tablespoons of water to help everything blend smoothly.
Step Two: Strain. Once blended, set up your straining station. Place the funnel inside the glass jar you’d like to store your juice in. Put the fine mesh strainer, like this one, on top of the funnel, and place the cheese cloth over the strainer. Pour the juice. The juice will run over the cheesecloth, through the strainer, down the funnel and into the jar. The cheese cloth helps catch all the small particles of pulp you don’t want in your juice. To ensure you get every drop of juice, gather the cheese cloth carefully by each end, twist into a ball and squeeze, making sure you hold it over the strainer for extra pulp protection.
Step Three: Enjoy. Fresh squeeze (or in this case, blended) juice lasts best in the fridge for 3 days. If you’d like to enjoy your juice for longer, or, like me, prefer to make a big batch at once, freeze your juice. You can freeze in mason jars, just ensure you leave a gap at the top for expansion. I like to freeze my jars with the lids off, then place the lids on once it’s frozen to protect against accidental explosions. Or, if you’d prefer, you can invest in some aesthetic juice jars.
Juice Hacks for Cooking
This juicer method is great for making delicious juices, but it can also help you save time in the kitchen! Lots of recipes call for fresh squeezed lemon, lime or orange juice. And, really, who has time to be squeezing lemons all day? Definitely not me.
I like to batch juice citrus and freeze it to have on hand when cooking. It’s definitely a trick that’s come in handy, especially when it gets to be that time of the week when the fridge is looking rather bare and I haven’t had a chance to make a grocery run!
To do this, follow the Juicer method using your citrus of choice. Be sure to peel the citrus, as the pith will make the juice bitter. Strain as directed. Then, use ice cube molds (I like the silicone ones) and measure out 2 tbsp of juice per cube. This ensures that your citrus is pre-portioned and recipe ready.
After the cubes are frozen solid, unmold them and store in a labeled bag in the freezer until ready to use.
How to Use Your Juice Pulp – Zero Waste Juicing
The process of juicing is aimed to extract the juice from your fruits or vegetables, leaving a lot of pulp (mass) behind. In order to make your juicing zero waste, save the pulp and reuse it! Here’s a few ideas to use up your pulp.
Smoothie Cubes
Juice pulp makes a great addition to your smoothie routine. The fleshy membranes of fruits and veggies typically contain high concentrations of nutrients and fiber. You’ll get a great boost of these by adding them to your smoothies.
Simply add your juice pulp to ice cube molds, freeze til solid, then unmold and add to a bag. Store in your freezer until ready to use. Pop one or two pulp cubes in your smoothie for a tasty nutrient kick!
Veggie Broth Boosters
This method works well for juices made of veggies (think carrot, spinach, kale). Follow the freezer method described above to store your pulp, and throw a few cubes into your next batch of veggie broth or soup.
Fruit & Veggie Super Powder
Create a super nutritious fruit and veggie powder from your pulp scraps. Lay pulp out on a tray lined with a silicone baking mat. Bake at low temperature in your oven until dried. You can also use the dehydrate setting on your toaster oven, if it has one, or a traditional dehydrator.
Once cooled, blend the pulp into a fine powder. Now you have a shelf-stable nutrient powder you can add to anything from smoothies to salad dressings.
Compost
If all else fails, pulp makes a great addition to your compost. Simply add the pulp to your compost and give it a mix.
Tips on Juicing with a Blender
Unsure of what fruits and veggies to juice? Try these tips to get started.
Stick with Flavors you Like
Hate spinach in a salad? Chances are you won’t enjoy it juiced either. Pick the fruits and veggies you already like to get started. From there you can refine and experiment!
And remember, things that taste great on their own sometimes don’t jive together. Start with one or two fruits you really love and go from there. If you’re unsure of a combo, juice the fruits or veggies by themselves first, then mix yourself a glass as a taste test. That way, if you don’t like it, you haven’t wasted a whole batch of juice.
Avoid Soft Produce
Peaches and plums can be great in juice — bananas though? Not so much. Avoid anything that’s too soft, including avocados. They’re best eaten or enjoyed in a smoothie. Juiced, they will gum up your juicer, or in this case, your strainer!
The Harder the Produce, the Less Juice You’ll Get
Carrots, celery and ginger all yield less juice per capita than pineapple and oranges. A great way to counteract this is combining low yield produce with high yield. For example, a carrot orange ginger juice tastes great and blends easier than a simple carrot ginger. See below for more recipe ideas.
Less is More
When it comes to mixing flavors, sometimes less is best. My favorite juices I’ve made were the simplest. It can be tempting to overdo it and juice ALL of the things, but remember — all it takes is a few flavors to combine into something delicious.
Juice without a Juicer – Recipes to Get Started
Looking for some juice recipes to get you started? Consider these fruit and veggie combos:
- Carrot, Orange, Ginger
- Apple, Cucumber, Spinach
- Pineapple, Orange, Grapefruit
- Watermelon, Lime, Mint
- Grapefruit Tangerine
If you need some more juicing inspo, check out these recipes.
Recipes to Accompany your Juice Regimen
Maybe you just really like juice. Or maybe you’re trying to eat more fruits and veggies! Whatever your reason for juicing, it’s a good one. But remember you can’t live on juice alone. Here are some fruit & veggie forward recipes to accompany your juice regimen that will give you all the food fuel you need to conquer the day.
How to Store Your Fresh Juice
Juice is best consumed right after making. This preserves the most nutrients. Though, if you’re like me, you don’t have the time (or desire) to juice every single day. I always encourage making things in big batches and juice is no different! If you can’t consume all your juice within 72 hours, freeze it to enjoy another day!
Learn more about nutrient loss and preventing bacteria in your juice here.
I enjoy reusing jars, but was always hesitant about freezing liquids in them. According to this helpful blog, I learned the trick is letting the liquid freeze in the jar with the lid off. Once its frozen, seal and leave in freezer until you are ready to enjoy!
Equipment
- Standard blender, NutriBullet or similar blending vessel
- Glass jar
Ingredients
- Fruits or veggies of your choosing
- Water to blend
Instructions
Prep your Fruits and Veggies
- Wash your fruits and veggies. Peel oranges, core apples, etc. Cut into pieces. Note: Pieces don't have to be super small, but the smaller the cuts, the easier it all will blend!
- Depending on the tenacity of your blender, and the combination of produce you select, you may be able to blend without a splash of water. Try first, then if things get stuck, add a bit of water, adding more in small amounts as needed to make sure everything blend smoothly.
Blend your Juice
- Blend away! Add water as needed to ensure the best blend. The key here is making sure everything is nice and fine.
Strain your Juice
- Place a funnel into a wide mouthed mason jar, or similar container. In the funnel, set the fine mesh strainer. Over the strainer, drape the square of cheese cloth. Cut the cheesecloth to fit if needed, leaving about 1-2" overhang to make picking up the cheesecloth easier.Carefully pour the entire contents of the blender through the cheesecloth.
- Pour the blender contents through the cheesecloth. The juice will flow through the cheesecloth, the strainer, down the funnel and into the jar with no pulp.
- Gently lift the cheesecloth from the bowl by bringing all the sides together to form a seal. Squeeze the pulp in the cheesecloth to remove any remaining juice.
Notes
ENJOY!
FAQ’s
1. What is the main difference between making juice and a smoothie using a blender?
Juicing with a blender involves extracting the liquid content of fruits and vegetables, leaving behind the pulp, which is caught by a strainer and cheesecloth. This process delivers a smoother and more nutrient-rich juice.
In contrast, smoothies blend the entire fruit or vegetable, including the pulp, resulting in a thicker, fibrous drink that retains all the natural fiber.
2. How long can I store fresh juice, and what is the best way to store it?
Freshly blended juice is best enjoyed immediately but can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days in a tightly sealed jar or container.
For longer storage, freezing is an excellent option. Pour the juice into mason jars, leaving some space at the top for expansion, and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator before drinking.
3. Can I use the leftover pulp from juicing?
Absolutely! The pulp leftover from juicing is packed with fiber and nutrients. It can be used in various culinary applications, including smoothie cubes, veggie broth boosters, and even homemade fruit and veggie super powders.
For those interested in sustainable practices, juicing pulp also makes a great addition to compost bins, enhancing nutrient content and improving soil texture.
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