Can I juice celery with cold press juicer?

Juicing has become an increasingly popular way to get more nutrients into your diet. Cold press juicers are a type of juicer that uses a slow, masticating method to extract juice from fruits and vegetables without exposing them to heat that could destroy vitamins and enzymes. Celery is a vegetable with high water content that can be juiced, but there are some important factors to consider when juicing celery in a cold press juicer.

How Cold Press Juicers Work

Cold press juicers, also known as slow juicers or masticating juicers, crush and press fruits and vegetables to extract their juice. They operate at slow speeds, usually around 70-80 RPMs, compared to centrifugal juicers which operate at very high speeds. The slow crushing and pressing action helps minimize heat buildup and oxidation, preserving more nutrients. There is no fast spinning blades that would heat and expose juice to air like in centrifugal juicers. Cold press juicers excel at juicing leafy greens like spinach and kale, as well as hard fruits and vegetables.

Benefits of Juicing Celery

Celery is 95% water and contains many beneficial nutrients. Juicing celery can help concentrate these nutrients into an easy to consume beverage. Some of the top nutrients in celery juice include:

Nutrient	Benefits
Vitamin K	Important for blood clotting and bone health
Vitamin C	Boosts immune system and acts as antioxidant
Folate	Critical for cell growth and DNA formation
Potassium	Helps regulate fluid balance and blood pressure
Antioxidants like luteolin	Reduces inflammation and may help prevent cancer

The nutrients in celery juice deliver antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other health effects. Juicing is an easy way to consume more celery than you could eat whole. Celery juice also contains very low sugar and calories, making it a healthy choice.

Challenges of Juicing Celery

While juicing celery can provide concentrated nutrition, there are some challenges when it comes to the juicing process:

• Celery is composed of mostly water. This can mean celery juice yields a lot of juice, but it is fairly low in calories and other nutrients compared to juice from produce like carrots which have more fiber and sugars.
• Celery contains only moderate amounts of fiber since juicing removes the insoluble fiber from the plant cells. You lose the gut health benefits of celery’s insoluble fiber when juicing.
• The high water content and stringy fibers in celery can clog a juicer if not processed properly. Celery should be chopped into small chunks before being fed into a cold press juicer.
• Celery juice has a very strong, bitter taste. It may need to be blended with fruits like apples or lemon to improve the flavor.

The high water content and fibrous strands of celery require care when juicing to avoid clogs. But with the right juicing process, you can make celery juice at home with a cold press juicer.

Can You Juice Celery in a Cold Press Juicer?

Cold press juicers can juice nearly any produce, including celery. However, you need to follow a few best practices for juicing celery in a cold press juicer:

• Cut celery stalks into 1-2 inch chunks before juicing. This smaller size helps the juicer grab and feed in the celery easier.
• Alternate celery with pieces of apple, lemon, or other produce. The additional fruits and veggies help push the celery through the juicer.
• consume any juice with celery immediately after juicing for best flavor and nutrition. The nutrients in celery juice can degrade quickly with exposure to air and light.
• Disassemble and thoroughly clean your cold press juicer after using celery. Any remaining celery fibers left in the juicer may oxidize and clog the unit over time if left uncleaned.

With the right preparation, cold press juicers like those from Omega, Tribest, and other brands can juice celery effectively. Their slow crushing and pressing mechanism is ideal for handling celery’s high water content and fibrous nature compared to the high speeds and cutting blades of centrifugal juicers.

Cold Press Juicer Recommendations for Celery Juice

When selecting a cold press juicer for juicing celery, look for the following features:

• Slow juicing speed – Around 80 RPMs prevents overheating and oxidation during juicing.
• Powerful motor – Needed to crush and press hard, fibrous produce like celery stalks.
• Vertical design – Allows celery to be fed vertically into juicer. Minimizes clogging compared to horizontal masticating juicers.
• Large chute – Accommodates 1-2” chunks of celery without needing to extensively pre-cut.
• Easy disassembly – Allows easy cleaning of all parts the celery touches.

Here are some of the best cold press juicer models for celery juicing:

Juicer Model	Key Features
Tribest Slowstar	47 RPMs, duo-blade auger, minces produce
Omega VSJ843	43 RPMs, auto pulp ejection, 15 year warranty
Mueller Austria Juicer	60 RPMs, large 3” chute, budget price under $150
Aicook Slow Masticating Juicer	80 RPMs, reverse function, vertical compact design
Kuvings EVO820 Evolution	60 RPMs, large 3” chute, 10 year warranty

All these models are equipped to handle juicing celery regularly and can yield the most nutrients and juice. Be sure to prep the celery properly and clean the unit thoroughly after each use.

Celery Juice Recipes

Celery juice has a powerful, bitter taste when juiced on its own. Try these recipe ideas to make celery juice more palatable as a daily drink:

Apple Celery Juice

• 1 apple
• 4 celery stalks
• Dash of lemon juice

The apple provides sweetness to balance the strong celery flavor. Lemon brightens up the juice.

Celery Cucumber Juice

• 1 cucumber
• 2 celery stalks
• Small handful of spinach
• 1⁄2 lemon
• 1 inch ginger

Cucumber blends perfectly with celery for a light, refreshing juice. Spinach boosts nutrition while lemon and ginger add a zesty kick.

Tropical Celery Juice

• 1 celery stalk
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1⁄2 orange
• 1⁄4 lime
• 1⁄4 cup coconut water

Pineapple, oranges, and coconut water give this celery juice a sweet tropical twist. The lime adds a touch of tartness.

Storing Celery Juice

To retain maximum nutrition, it’s best to drink celery juice immediately after juicing. But if you need to store some for later, here are some tips:

• Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 24 hours. Air exposure degrades nutrients quickly.
• Fill container to the very top to minimize air. Pour into smaller containers if needed to maximize juice contact with container.
• Use a container with opaque sides to block light which also degrades nutrients.
• If juicing in advance, add a squeeze of lemon juice to the mix. The acidity preserves the juice for longer.
• Give juice a stir or shake before drinking to remix any separation.

Potential Side Effects of Celery Juice

Drinking celery juice provides concentrated nutrition, but too much can cause adverse reactions in some cases including:

• Allergic reactions – Celery allergies, while rare, can cause potentially serious reactions. Discontinue use if any itching, swelling or difficulty breathing occurs.
• Celery strings – The fibrous strands that remain in juice can get lodged in the throat. Strain juice through cheesecloth or nut milk bag if this becomes an issue.
• Gas and bloating – The fiber in celery may cause gassiness. Introduce slowly and limit portion sizes if this becomes a problem.
• Drug interactions – Celery can increase sensitivity to certain medications. Talk to your doctor about possible interactions.

When juicing moderate amounts of celery stalks as part of a balanced, produce-rich diet, it is safe for most people and provides excellent nutrition. But be aware of potential side effects and introduce celery juice gradually.

Conclusion

Celery is an outstanding vegetable to add to your juicing routine with a cold press juicer. Its high water content produces large yields of refreshing juice packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. By following proper preparation methods and pairing celery with sweeter, milder produce, you can make nutritious celery juice easily at home. Drink your celery juice promptly after juicing to enjoy the full benefits.