Vitamix blenders are incredibly versatile kitchen appliances that can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including making smoothies, soups, nut butters, dough, and more. One common question that arises is whether a Vitamix can also be used as a juicer to make fresh fruit and vegetable juices.
Can You Actually Juice with a Vitamix?
The short answer is yes, you can make juice using a Vitamix! However, there are some important things to understand about how a Vitamix handles juicing compared to a traditional cold press juicer.
When you use a traditional juicer, it separates the liquid juice from the pulp through a straining process. The resulting juice contains only the nutrients extracted from the produce’s liquid, without any of the insoluble fiber from the pulp. A Vitamix, on the other hand, blends the entire fruit or vegetable, including the skin, seeds, and pulp. This makes more of a smoothie-like beverage rather than a strained, fiber-free juice.
However, you can still achieve a juice-like consistency using a Vitamix with some simple techniques. The key is to use produce with very high water content, like oranges, grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, and melons. You’ll also want to remove seeds, peels, and cores when possible to reduce pulp content. Then blend on high speed for an extended time to fully break down the produce into a smooth liquid.
Straining the blended mixture through a nut milk bag or fine mesh sieve can help further remove excess fiber and pulp, resulting in a more juice-like final product. Keep in mind that some fiber will still remain, which can provide gut health benefits but alters the texture compared to traditional juices.
Benefits of Juicing with a Vitamix
While juicing with a Vitamix blender differs from using a dedicated juicer, there are some advantages to this method:
- Convenience – No need for a separate appliance if you already own a Vitamix.
- Added fiber – The pulp adds extra fiber compared to strained juices.
- Nutrient retention – Less heat and oxidation than high-speed juicers.
- Versatility – Can make smoothies, juices, soups, and more with one machine.
The fiber content is one of the biggest benefits to juicing with a blender. Juice made in a Vitamix will contain significantly more insoluble fiber from pulp than juice from a centrifugal or cold press juicer. This fiber helps promote healthy digestion and gives you a feeling of fullness.
Vitamix blenders also don’t generate as much heat during blending compared to high-speed juicers, helping retain more nutrients and enzymes. And you gain incredible versatility – juice in the morning, smoothies for lunch, soup for dinner, all from one appliance!
Potential Drawbacks
However, there are a few drawbacks to be aware of when using a Vitamix as a juicer:
- Thicker texture – More pulp means a less clear, syrupy juice.
- Fiber content – Not ideal if you want a low-fiber juice for gut issues.
- Lower yields – You won’t get as much juice per pound of produce.
- Straining required – An extra step to remove all pulp if desired.
The main thing to note is that the juice will be thicker and contain more pulp than a dedicated juicer. If you prefer a very smooth, pulp-free juice, then a juicer is still ideal. You’ll also get a lower juice yield from your fruits and veggies using a Vitamix.
Best Fruits and Vegetables for Juicing in a Vitamix
While almost any produce can be juiced in a Vitamix, the best options are fruits and vegetables with very high water content. These will produce the highest juice yields and smoothest texture:
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Tomatoes
- Bell peppers
- Leafy greens (spinach, kale, lettuce)
- Melons (honeydew, watermelon, cantaloupe)
- Citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruit, lemons)
- Pineapple
- Grapes
- Apples
- Carrots
Dense, fibrous produce like roots, sweet potatoes, and fresh herbs don’t puree as smoothly. But adding some water while blending can help thin them out.
Fruit and vegetable combinations also work well, such as carrots with oranges or celery with apples. Mixing produce boosts flavors and nutrition in your juices!
Vitamix Juicing Tips
Here are some tips to get the most out of juicing with your Vitamix blender:
- Cut produce into small chunks before blending.
- Remove peels, cores, and seeds when possible.
- Add some water if needed to reach your desired consistency.
- Blend on high speed for 1-2 minutes for very smooth juice.
- Strain through a nut milk bag or fine mesh sieve if you want a pulp-free final product.
- Store juice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 72 hours.
- Consider freezing juice in ice cube trays for easy use later.
The longer you blend, the smoother your juice will become. But too much blending can incorporate air and possibly oxidize nutrients. Somewhere between 1-2 minutes on high is ideal for most produce.
Vitamix Juice Recipes
Here are a few delicious juice recipes you can make in a Vitamix:
Green Juice
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 2 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 apple, cored and chopped
- 1 cup spinach
- 1/2 lemon, peeled
- 1 inch ginger, peeled
- 1 cup water
Carrot Orange Juice
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 2 oranges, peeled
- 1/2 lemon, peeled
- 1 inch ginger, peeled
- 1 cup water
Tropical Juice
- 1 cup pineapple chunks
- 1 orange, peeled
- 1/2 pink grapefruit, peeled
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup coconut water
Get creative and try mixing up your own juice blends using your favorite fruits and veggies. Adding fresh herbs like mint, basil, or parsley can also enhance flavors.
Should You Buy a Separate Juicer?
While it’s convenient to use a Vitamix for juicing, you may want to consider buying a dedicated juicer if:
- You want to juice daily or in large batches.
- You prefer very smooth, pulp-free juice.
- You want maximum yields from your produce.
- You need to avoid insoluble fiber due to gut issues.
Centrifugal and cold press juicers are specially designed to extract the highest yield of juice while removing pulp and fiber. This results in a clearer, brighter juice with very smooth texture.
Juicers also tend to be quicker than Vitamix blenders at juicing. Most have large feed chutes so you don’t have to chop produce as small. And clean-up is simpler with dedicated juicing parts.
So while a Vitamix can certainly make juice, a proper juicer may still be a wise investment if juicing is a part of your regular routine.
| Juicing Method | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamix Blender |
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| Centrifugal Juicer |
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| Cold Press Juicer |
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The Bottom Line
While juicing with a Vitamix blender differs from using a traditional juicer, it can certainly produce smooth, nutritious juices. The key is sticking to produce with high water content and blending thoroughly to break down pulp. Straining may be required if you want a smoother, pulp-free final product.
The convenience and versatility of juicing with a Vitamix makes it a great option for most people. But serious juicing enthusiasts may still benefit from investing in a dedicated juicer for maximum yield and smoothness.
As with any appliance, experiment to see what techniques work best for the types of juices you prefer. That way you can enjoy all the nutritional benefits of juicing while still getting the most out of your Vitamix blender.
