Love juice but don't have a juicer? This is how I like to make my Vitamix green juice in my blender
I love juice. It is something I could drink every day, but going out and buying one of those $10 cold-press juices is the epitome of luxury for me and doesn't happen very often. Despite a budget that doesn't allow for that kind of spending, I don't let that cramp my green juice consumption. Instead, I just make it at home! Over the last year, I have really stepped up my juice game and developed a way to seamlessly make juice in my blender at home, no juicer required.
Yes, drinking juice from a blender isn't quite the same, and you don't get all the cold-press-juice-benefits. But until a quality juicer is in the budget, and there can be space to store one, I love this method. Best of all it utilizes a tool many of us already have and prevents us from having to consume more, which I think is just the best.
Ingredients
- apple or pear
- English cucumber
- celery
- lemons
- fennel
- kale
- ginger
Method
To make Vitamix green juice you will need to chop veggies small, layer them correctly, puree it in a Vitamix, and stain the mixture through a nut milk bag or cheesecloth.
Chopping
For best results chop all your fruits and veggies into bite-sized pieces. Certain veg, like apples, are best peeled as they can change the colour of the juice (we're talking brown juice). Chopping veg can be done ahead of time and the veg stored in the fridge until it is ready to use. Harder vegetables (like carrots and beets) can even be grated which is a time saver.
Layering
Layering is key! Softer, more watery fruits and veggies should be added to the blender first as they puree easily and help the other veggies reach the blades and blend. I like to add things like cucumbers, apple, pear, lemons, limes, and oranges first. Next, you can layer the firmer juicy veg like celery, fennel, and ginger. Lastly, I add the leafy veggies that tend to get caught in the blender blade. These include parsley, cilantro, kale, lettuce, and chard.
Straining
Because this Vitamix green juice is full of pulp, it is best to strain it (chunky juice, no thank you). I like to use my nut milk bag for this task and strain the juice as you would strain nut milk (and if you don't know how here is a helpful vid). If you don't have a nut milk bag you can use layers of cheesecloth to make your own, but nut milk bags are super helpful and I recommend picking one up.
Just like when making nut milk you don't squeeze the bag too firmly as you can cause the pulp to squeeze out the mesh. After you have stained all the juice, you can compost the pulp or (if you're feeling adventurous) mix it into crackers, but let's be real 🙂
Tips + Notes
To make Vitamix green juice (or blender) you don't need anything too fancy. I make my juice in a Vitamix, but I have also made juices in my mum's 45-year-old blender which is far from a highspeed dream. There are a couple of key steps you'll want to follow to ensure your juice works out.
- Chop the veggies/fruits small
- Don't overfill your blender
- Layer your veggies/fruits strategically
- Add a splash of water if your blender is having trouble blending
- Stain your juice through a fine-mesh
Other Green Drinks
Recipe
Vitamix Green Juice
Equipment
- Blender
- Nut milk bag
- Bowl or jar
Ingredients
- 3 medium apples or pears peeled and chopped
- 1 ½ English cucumber chopped
- 9 stalks celery chopped
- 3 lemon peeled
- ½ small fennel chopped
- 9 leaves kale optional
- Thumb-size piece ginger chopped
Instructions
- Layer the veggies in the blender. Start with cucumber, apple, lemon, celery, fennel, ginger, then greens if using.
- Puree. If you have a highspeed blender use the wand to tamper the ingredients and help them puree. If you have an older blender use a little splash of water to help the mixture blend.
- Place your nut milk bag over a bowl or jug and pour the veggie puree into the bag. Gently squeeze the mixture to remove the juice. You might need to do this in batches.
- Once the mixture is all passed through the nut milk bag compost the pulp and chill the juice.
- The juice will be the best consumed within a few days
Wancharida says
Your Vitamix machine can blend as well as perform whole-food juicing easily, but if you're really in a time crunch, blending is an easier and cleaner option.