Tomatoes are a versatile fruit that can be enjoyed in many ways. While most people eat tomatoes fresh or cooked, juicing tomatoes is also an option. But will a juicer effectively extract juice from tomatoes? And how does tomato juice compare to juicing other fruits and vegetables?
How Juicers Work
Juicers work by separating the liquid juice from the pulp and skin of fruits and vegetables. There are two main types of juicers:
- Centrifugal juicers: These fast juicers grind produce using a high-speed spinning basket. Centrifugal force separates the juice from the pulp.
- Masticating juicers: Also known as cold press or slow juicers, these extract juice by crushing and pressing produce through an auger at slow speeds.
Both centrifugal and masticating juicers can juice tomatoes. However, masticating juicers tend to be better for juicing soft fruits and vegetables like tomatoes. The slower crushing and pressing action maximizes juice yields from tomatoes.
Challenges of Juicing Tomatoes
While tomatoes can be juiced, they do pose some specific challenges:
- Low juice yield – Tomatoes have a gel-like texture and contain seeds. As a result, they tend to produce a relatively low amount of juice compared to juicy fruits like oranges.
- Seeds – Tomato seeds and skin can clog up juicer screens, especially on centrifugal models. Masticating juicers handle tomato seeds better.
- Acidity – Tomatoes have a pH between 4-4.5, making tomato juice relatively acidic. The acidity can wear down juicer parts over time.
Despite these challenges, you can definitely make tomato juice at home with the right juicer and some extra effort.
Tips for Juicing Tomatoes
Here are some tips to maximize tomato juice yield and quality when using a juicer:
- Use vine-ripened tomatoes – fully ripe tomatoes have a higher liquid content.
- Cut tomatoes into smaller chunks before juicing to increase yields.
- Alternate tomato chunks with pieces of carrots, celery, cucumber or apples – this helps push tomato pulp through the juicer.
- Strain the juice through a fine mesh sieve to remove excess pulp and seeds.
- Mix tomato juice with other vegetable juices to improve the flavor.
- Clean your juicer right after using it with tomatoes to avoid stains from the acidity.
- Use a masticating juicer for best tomato juicing results.
Nutrition of Tomato Juice
So what are the nutrition benefits of tomato juice compared to whole tomatoes or other juices?
Here is a nutritional comparison of an 8 ounce serving of different juices (1):
| Juice | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Sugar | Fiber | Lycopene |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 41 | 2g | 9g | 6g | 1g | 23 mg |
| Orange | 112 | 2g | 25g | 21g | 0.5g | 0 |
| Carrot | 45 | 1g | 10g | 6g | 2g | 6 mg |
Tomato juice is very low in calories and sugar compared to fruit juices. It provides a modest amount of fiber and protein.
The key nutrient in tomato juice is lycopene. Tomatoes are the richest dietary source of lycopene, a carotenoid antioxidant that gives tomatoes their red color. Lycopene has been linked to health benefits including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer (2).
An 8 ounce glass of tomato juice contains over 20 milligrams of lycopene. To get the same amount from fresh tomatoes, you would need to eat about 3 medium whole tomatoes!
Juicing allows you to get a concentrated dose of lycopene that is easier for your body to absorb compared to whole tomatoes. However, the fiber content is much lower compared to eating raw tomatoes.
Uses for Tomato Juice
Here are some of the most popular ways to use fresh tomato juice:
- Drink it plain – seasoned with a pinch of salt, pepper, and your other favorite spices.
- Bloody Mary’s – tomato juice is the base of this popular cocktail.
- Michelada – a Mexican beer cocktail made with tomato juice and lime.
- Soup bases – use tomato juice instead of water for extra flavor in gazpacho, vegetable soup, etc.
- Braising liquid – boil meat or vegetables in tomato juice instead of broth or wine.
- Rice, grains and beans – cook them in tomato juice for additional nutrients.
- Smoothies – add tomato juice to fruit and veggie smoothies.
- Marinades and dressings – the acidity makes tomato juice a great meat tenderizer and salad dressing base.
Storage of Tomato Juice
Fresh tomato juice only keeps for 1-2 days in the refrigerator. To preserve it longer, you can:
- Freeze tomato juice in ice cube trays or muffin tins. Keep frozen juice cubes in bags for up to 6 months.
- Can tomato juice using a pressure canner. Canned tomato juice will keep for 12-18 months stored in a cool, dark place.
- Cook and bottle – simmer tomato juice and bottle it while hot in sterilized bottles. Keep refrigerated and use within 2 weeks.
Each preservation method maintains the flavor and lycopene content of fresh tomato juice for extended storage. Freeze tomato juice in small portions to avoid waste.
Comparison to Store-Bought Tomato Juice
Making your own fresh tomato juice at home has several advantages over buying shelf-stable bottled tomato juice:
| Homemade | Store-bought |
|---|---|
|
|
Homemade tomato juice is tastier and more nutritious than store-bought brands. However, bottled tomato juice can be more convenient and has a longer shelf life. Both homemade and commercial tomato juice can be healthy options in moderation.
Common Concerns About Tomato Juice
Some common questions and concerns about drinking tomato juice include:
- Acidity – tomato juice has a pH between 4-4.5, giving it higher acidity than most other vegetables and fruits. This can trigger reflux in some people prone to heartburn.
- Sugar and carbohydrates – an 8 ounce glass has about 7 grams of natural sugar and 10 grams of carbs from tomato sugars and starch. People limiting sugars or carbs may want smaller servings.
- Sodium – store-bought tomato juice often has added sodium, averaging over 500mg per serving. Check labels and reduce salt if needed.
- Seeds – some dislike the texture of tiny tomato seeds in juice. Use a fine mesh strainer if desired to remove most seeds.
Overall, tomato juice is low in calories and high in beneficial antioxidants like lycopene. Enjoy tomato juice in moderation as part of a healthy diet.
Conclusion
Juicing tomatoes at home can let you take advantage of their many potential health benefits while adding flavor and nutrition to recipes. With the right juicer and juicing methods, tomatoes can produce a tasty and nutrient-rich juice.
Tomato juice is lower in sugar than other fruit juices, while providing significant amounts of lycopene. The juice can be enjoyed on its own or used creatively in cocktails, soups, dressings and more. For maximum freshness and nutritional value, make your own tomato juice and consume within a couple days.
While bottled tomato juice is more widely available, juicing your own tomatoes offers superior flavor and nutrition. The best Tomato juice is made using vine-ripened, peak-season tomatoes, a masticating juicer, and consumed immediately after juicing. With some experimentation, tomato juice can be a healthy and delicious addition to anyone’s diet.
