Juicing has become an increasingly popular way for people to get more fruits and vegetables into their diets. Freshly extracted juices provide a concentrated dose of vitamins, minerals, and plant nutrients in an easy-to-digest form. However, juicers can be expensive appliances. If you already own a NutriBullet or other high-powered blender, you may be wondering if you can use it as a juicer instead.
How a Juicer Works
A juicer separates the liquid juice from the pulp (insoluble fiber) of fruits and vegetables. It spins at high speeds to shred produce, then strains the juice out while the pulp stays behind.
There are three main types of juicers:
- Centrifugal juicers: The most common type, these have a grinding blade that spins against a mesh filter. They operate at very high speeds to extract juice.
- Masticating juicers: Also called cold press or slow juicers, these crush and press produce to “chew” out the juice. They run at slower speeds.
- Triturating juicers: The most high-end and efficient, these have twin gears that cold press juice out of produce.
In general, juicers separate pulp from juice and yield a clear, pure liquid end product.
How a NutriBullet Works
A NutriBullet is a type of high-speed blender. It pulverizes ingredients with strong, fast-spinning blades, blending whole fruits, vegetables, seeds, and stems into smoothies or shakes.
Unlike juicers, NutriBullets do not remove fiber or pulp from produce. The entire ingredients are liquefied together into a thick, smooth texture.
NutriBullet vs. Juicer: Key Differences
There are a few important differences between juices from a juicer versus smoothies from a NutriBullet:
| Juicer | NutriBullet |
|---|---|
| Extracts only the juice from produce, leaving behind the insoluble fiber/pulp | Blends all parts of ingredients together, including insoluble fiber |
| Produces a clear, thin liquid end product | Produces a thicker, smoother texture with pulp |
| Juice has very few or no fibers | Smoothies retain all dietary fibers from ingredients |
Nutrition Differences
Since juicers remove pulp and fiber, the nutritional value of juices is a bit different than NutriBullet smoothies:
- Fiber: Juice contains very little insoluble fiber, while smoothies provide the full amount from fruits/veggies.
- Sugar content: With no fiber to slow digestion, juices can spike blood sugar more than smoothies.
- Nutrients: Some nutrients are bound to plant fibers, so smoothies may offer slightly higher vitamin and mineral levels.
- Satiety: The fiber in smoothies promotes greater fullness compared to juice.
Overall, juices and smoothies each have their own nutritional pros and cons. Juices provide an easy way to ingest produce nutrients rapidly, while smoothies offer the complete nutritional package with fiber.
Using a NutriBullet as a Juicer
While you can make juice-like drinks in a NutriBullet, there are some limitations:
- It cannot fully separate pulp from juice like a true juicer.
- Extracted liquids will be thicker and contain pulp.
- You’ll need to strain blended smoothies through a nut milk bag or fine mesh strainer to partially remove fiber and pulp.
- A good deal of produce fiber will remain, yielding more of a thin smoothie texture.
That being said, here are some tips for mimicking juice in a NutriBullet:
Use a fine mesh strainer
Pouring blended ingredients through a fine mesh strainer will catch some of the pulp, yielding a thinner liquid.
Mix and match produce
For the best juicing results, blend mostly produce with high water content – like cucumbers, celery, grapefruit, oranges, etc. Limit drier items like bananas or avocados.
Add water or ice
Thin out smoothies by blending in some water, coconut water, or ice to dilute and improve strainability.
Use a nut milk bag
Nut milk bags work even better than strainers to separate out pulp for a closer-to-juice texture.
Chill in fridge
Allowing blended drinks to chill in the fridge helps remaining pulp soak up liquid and settle, leaving a clearer juice-like liquid on top.
Pros of Using a NutriBullet as a Juicer
Here are some benefits of using a NutriBullet instead of a traditional juicer:
- Higher fiber content – You’ll get more filling fiber without needing to drink a full smoothie.
- Added protein – Blending in nuts/seeds or plant-based protein powders can increase protein intake compared to juice.
- Uses less produce – Juicers remove pulp fiber, so more fruits/veggies are needed per serving. NutriBullets retain all parts.
- Easier clean-up – Just rinse or quickly scrub the NutriBullet cup after use. Juicer parts tend to be more involved to take apart and clean.
- More versatile – NutriBullets can make juices plus smoothies, nut butters, dips, and more.
Cons of Using a NutriBullet as a Juicer
Possible downsides of using a NutriBullet instead of a true juicer include:
- Not as smooth – Some pulp will remain, giving drinks a thicker, pulpy texture.
- Slightly lower nutrient content – Without removing fiber, some nutrients remain trapped in pulp instead of extracted into juice.
- Shorter shelf life – The fiber content causes separation and spoilage more quickly.
- Potential added sugar – To thin out drinks, you may need to add juices like orange or apple, increasing natural sugars.
- Less cold-pressed – NutriBullets generate heat from high speeds, while masticating juicers stay cold.
Best Fruits and Vegetables for “Juicing” in a NutriBullet
Certain fruits and vegetables are higher in water content, making them the best choices for extracting juice-like liquids from a NutriBullet:
Fruits
- Grapefruit
- Orange
- Lemon
- Lime
- Watermelon
- Honeydew melon
- Cantaloupe
- Strawberries
- Pineapple
- Kiwi
- Grapes
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Peaches
- Apricots
- Plums
- Cherries
- Pears
- Apples
Vegetables
- Cucumbers
- Celery
- Lettuce/greens
- Spinach
- Kale
- Carrots
- Beets
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Zucchini
- Summer squash
- Radishes
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
On the other hand, limit use of drier, starchier options like:
- Bananas
- Avocados
- Sweet potatoes
- White potatoes
- Winter squash
- Turnips
- Parsnips
NutriBullet Juicing Tips
To get the most juice-like results from a NutriBullet, keep these tips in mind:
- Wash and prep fruits/veggies – Remove peels, rinds, and cores/seeds first.
- Cut produce into smaller pieces – This allows for better breakdown during blending.
- Use a ratio of around 75% hydrating produce to 25% greens or pulpy fruits.
- Blend on high speed for 45-60 seconds for thorough breakdown.
- Pour small amounts at a time into your strainer or nut milk bag.
- Press and squeeze bag to extract as much liquid as possible.
- Discard remaining pulp or use for other recipes like baked goods.
- Store strained juices in an airtight container and drink within 12-24 hours.
- Consider adding lemon/lime juice to help preserve.
Sample NutriBullet “Juice” Recipes
Here are a few juice recipe ideas you can make in a NutriBullet:
Grapefruit Celery Juice
- 1 grapefruit, peeled and segmented
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- Small slice of fresh ginger (optional)
- Squeeze of 1/2 lemon
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup ice
Cucumber Melon Juice
- 1 cucumber, chopped
- 1 cup cantaloupe chunks
- 1 cup honeydew chunks
- Small handful mint leaves
- 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
- 1 cup coconut water
Blueberry Orange Juice
- 2 oranges, peeled and segmented
- 1 cup blueberries
- 1 cup strawberries, greens removed
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 cup ice
Conclusion
While a NutriBullet cannot fully replicate the juicing experience of an actual juicer, it can be used to make juice-like beverages with some limitations. The key is straining blended smoothies through a fine mesh strainer or nut milk bag to remove as much pulp as possible. This allows you to gain more nutrients from produce in juice form while benefiting from some extra fiber.
NutriBullets are an affordable, versatile appliance that allows you to reap some of juicing’s perks. Just don’t expect the perfectly clear, pulp-free consistency of juices made from a dedicated juicer. With the right techniques and ingredients, a NutriBullet can be a suitable juicing alternative.
