Introduction
Freshly squeezed juice is a delicious and nutritious addition to any diet. Juicers provide an easy way to extract juice from fruits and vegetables, but they can be expensive appliances. If you don’t have a juicer or are looking for alternative options, there are many simple kitchen tools you already have on hand that can be used to make fresh juice. With a little creativity and patience, you can make tasty homemade juices without a fancy juicer.
Blenders
A regular blender is one of the most convenient juicer alternatives. While blenders crush and mix ingredients rather than extracting the juice, they can still produce delicious and nutritious drinks. The key is to use a powerful blender and add enough liquid to achieve the right juice-like consistency. Start by chopping fruits and veggies into small pieces. Add water or milk to help it blend smoothly. Blend on high speed until the mixture is liquefied. Strain through a mesh sieve, cheesecloth or nut milk bag to separate the juice from the pulp. A blender makes it easy to create juice blends in large batches that can be portioned out and enjoyed throughout the week.
Food Processors
A food processor can also be used to make fresh juices. While not as fast as a blender, a food processor effectively chops and pulverizes fruits and vegetables to extract their liquid. Cut the produce into 1-2 inch chunks and place in the food processor. Pulse several times until a coarse paste forms, occasionally scraping down the sides. Then process continuously until the mixture is smooth. Strain the pulp through a sieve to collect the fresh juice. A food processor is great for juices containing leafy greens like spinach or kale which get finely chopped. Be sure to use the thin “S” blade to get the smoothest texture.
Hand Juicers
Compact hand juicers provide a simple solution for making small batches of juice. They typically have a cone shaped chamber with ridged sides and a lever press. Cut fruit or vegetable wedges to fit in the chamber and press the lever down repeatedly to crush the produce and strain the juice out through tiny holes at the bottom. Hand juicers are best for citrus fruits and soft berries. Press multiple times to extract all the juice. Easy to use and easy to clean, they are a handy manual juicing option.
Nut Milk Bags
Nut milk bags provide an easy DIY way to make juice without any appliances. These thin nylon or muslin bags are meant for straining nut milks, but also work for juicing. Simply place chopped produce in the bag and squeeze and knead to extract the juice which will run out of the bag’s spout into a glass or pitcher. Great for travel or camping, the bags are reusable and take up minimal storage space. Plus they give you a good arm workout!
Mortar and Pestle
One of the oldest kitchen tools, the mortar and pestle, can be used to crush and mash fruits, vegetables and herbs to release their juices. Remove any stems, then cut produce into small pieces. Place a handful in the mortar and use the pestle to grind and pound in a circular motion, pressing and crushing to get the most juice out. Pour off the juice and continue mashing with the remaining pulp. Try making juices with tender herbs like mint or basil using this classic manual technique.
Garlic Press
A garlic press isn’t just for garlic! These convenient hand-held tools can also be used to make small amounts of juice. Cut produce into 1-2 inch pieces and feed into the garlic press one piece at a time. Bring the handles together to crush and squeeze out the juice. A garlic press works best for soft fruits like berries and citrus. Be sure to wash thoroughly between different types of produce. The holes may need to be cleaned out periodically if pulp gets stuck.
Spiralizer
A spiralizer is a handy kitchen tool primarily used for making vegetable noodles. But the crank-operated device can also be employed to make juices! Simply insert your fruit or vegetable onto the prongs and turn the handle as the produce gets shredded into long thin strands. Collect the noodle-like strands in a bowl, then mash them with a spoon to release their juice. Pour the juice through a strainer. Carrots, zucchini, apples and pears spiralize well.
Box Grater
A simple box grater can transform fruits and vegetables into pulp for juicing. Grate produce using the large shredding holes. Then gather handfuls of the pulp and squeeze firmly over a bowl to extract the juice. You can also place the grated pulp in a nut milk bag or thin towel and twist tightly to get out all the moisture. Be sure to squeeze out any remaining juice from the pulp. Just rinse the grater when finished prepping each type of produce.
Centrifugal Spinning
Centrifugal force can separate juice from pulp without a fancy juicer appliance. All you need is a salad spinner! Place chopped fruit or vegetable pieces in the basket, then wash and spin. The spinning motion will force the juice out through small holes in the basket. Open periodically to collect the juice from the bowl. You may need to spin in batches depending on the size of your spinner. Spinach and berries work particularly well prepared this way.
Stovetop Steaming
Using a steamer basket over a pot of boiling water is an easy stovetop method for getting juice from fruits and veggies. The steam helps break down the produce and release the moisture. Place chopped produce in the basket, cover and steam until softened, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and mash or blend the steamed produce, then strain out the juice. Steaming is great for tough veggies like beets, carrots or celery which soften up nicely.
Juice Pressing
For those with some arm strength, pressing juice from produce by hand is a viable option. Cut fruits or vegetables into small chunks. Place a handful in a thin towel or cheesecloth. Gather the corners and twist tightly to form a sack. Squeeze and twist firmly over a bowl to press out all the juice. It may take some elbow grease, but this low-tech approach can yield plenty of fresh juice.
| Juicer Alternative | Best For | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Blender | All fruits and vegetables, leafy greens, batch juicing | Requires straining, works best with added liquid |
| Food Processor | Harder veggies, leafy greens | Some straining needed, pulsing and scraping required |
| Hand Juicer | Citrus fruits, berries | Small batches, straining required, arm work |
| Nut Milk Bag | Travel, camping, variety | Requires squeezing by hand |
| Mortar and Pestle | Herbs, crushing | Manual grinding, smaller quantities |
| Garlic Press | Berries, citrus, small amounts | Pressing/squeezing needed, cleaning required |
| Spiralizer | Apples, pears, carrots, zucchini | Produces pulp, straining required |
| Box Grater | Most produce | Grating and squeezing pulp by hand |
| Salad Spinner | Spinach, berries, softer produce | Needs spinning in batches |
| Steamer | Harder vegetables | Requires steaming then mashing/straining |
| Hand Pressing | All produce | Very hands on, needs strength/effort |
Tips for Juicing without a Juicer
– Cut all ingredients into small, uniform pieces for best extraction and blending
– Add some liquid if needed – water, almond milk, etc helps get a better consistency
– Mix and match softer and harder produce. Alternate dicing then blending.
– Strain all pulp through a fine mesh sieve, cheesecloth or nut milk bag
– Press pulp firmly to get out any leftover moisture and juice
– Mix juices together for more flavor and nutrition. Combine fruits and veggies.
– Drink juice right away for best taste and nutritional benefit. Juices oxidize quickly.
– Store any extra juice in airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
– Freeze juice in ice cube trays or popsicle molds for refreshing frozen treats.
– Get creative with ingredients! Almost any fruit or vegetable can be juiced.
– Organic produce is ideal to avoid pesticides when juicing or eating peels.
– Some tools like garlic press or grater need extra cleaning after juicing.
– Be patient, juice batches may take longer than a juicer. But well worth the effort!
Conclusion
With a wide range of ordinary kitchen tools, you can unlock the full juicing potential of your favorite fruits and veggies. Equip your kitchen with a few go-to appliances like a powerful blender, a salad spinner and a hand juicer, and you’ll be ready to create freshly squeezed juices anytime. Don’t let lack of a fancy juicer stop you from reaping the many benefits of homemade juices. Get creative with these simple juicing alternatives for delicious, nutritious drinks the whole family will love.
