Juicer vs Blender

MdniteMustang00

Go ahead and call me stupid...i dont spend much time in the kitchen...

But we buy like, white grape juice and those premade green veggie juices and such sometimes... and regardless of all the fasting/diet hype about juicing...ive always wanted to try making my own, strictly so that i can control what goes in it...and get more veggies in my life, since i dont really cook.

So... i guess prior to even hearing about the juice diets people do..i always just assumed that you threw all the ingredients into a blender, just like you'd make an ice cream smoothie...and wala! you have a nice thick veggie smoothie.

Then i googled juicers and went...what tha *!@*?!

So i guess my question is... can you utilize both? or do i need to go by a juicer? and do you have one you can recommend?

melrrr

Juicers will remove the pulp, fiber, whatever from the stuff you're blending, so you're just left with juice. It depends on the texture you're looking for. You're not going to get what you're used to as grape juice by throwing grapes in a blender, but there's no reason you couldn't make a thicker drink that had the grape skins. And if you're looking for a thick veggie smoothie, then I would go for a blender. 

*BlueAvocado*

You can use both - but you get a different end result with each. Personally, I prefer the benefits of making use of the whole fruit/veggie - so I use a blender or food processor and, like you said, I end up with a thicker smoothie. If you're using heartier veggies like kale - a regular blender will usually leave some chewy bits. I've been coveting a VitaMix for a while now in hopes of perfectly smooth, frothy, whole fruit smoothies lol

MdniteMustang00

melrrr:

Juicers will remove the pulp, fiber, whatever from the stuff you're blending, so you're just left with juice. It depends on the texture you're looking for. You're not going to get what you're used to as grape juice by throwing grapes in a blender, but there's no reason you couldn't make a thicker drink that had the grape skins. And if you're looking for a thick veggie smoothie, then I would go for a blender. 

 that would explain what i was reading on some random googles this morning wheni ended up on the wiki page for juice dieting. lol. it was talking about the juices not having fiber...

 

So it's basically just a texture thing?

 

MdniteMustang00

*BlueAvocado*:

You can use both - but you get a different end result with each. Personally, I prefer the benefits of making use of the whole fruit/veggie - so I use a blender or food processor and, like you said, I end up with a thicker smoothie. If you're using heartier veggies like kale - a regular blender will usually leave some chewy bits. I've been coveting a VitaMix for a while now in hopes of perfectly smooth, frothy, whole fruit smoothies lol

gotcha.

 *off to google VitaMix* LOL

*BlueAvocado*

MdniteMustang00:

*BlueAvocado*:

You can use both - but you get a different end result with each. Personally, I prefer the benefits of making use of the whole fruit/veggie - so I use a blender or food processor and, like you said, I end up with a thicker smoothie. If you're using heartier veggies like kale - a regular blender will usually leave some chewy bits. I've been coveting a VitaMix for a while now in hopes of perfectly smooth, frothy, whole fruit smoothies lol

gotcha.

 *off to google VitaMix* LOL

haha! You'll see the Blendtec mentioned, too  - it's just as good (VitaMix and Blendtec are the blenders used by Starbucks and Jamba Juice). There are YouTube videos of the things in action...they're pretty awesome ...Rather pricey (around $400)...but very awesome lol

Eboix518

DH saw the documentary "Fat and Nearly Dead" and it was about a juicing diet so for 3 months he was on and on about getting a juicer so he bought this $200 Breville monstrosity - he has used it more than I thought he would and you can make all kinds of things with it it came with a big book of things you can make. He uses Kale and Cucumber a lot and I do not think a blender would be able to blend that very well. With a juicer you can juice/blend more and get a better result than with a blender it does sound like a plane is taking off in our kitchen every time we use it though...FYI do not juice a beet it is utterly disgusting

04JaxBride

nutrition-wise, blending is the better option.  with juicing, while you are getting whatever vitamins come from the juice, you are removing a lot of what's great about fruits and vegetables that, strictly nutritionally speaking, cannot be mimicked with supplements or additives. 

you're processing out the good stuff.

grape juice, orange juice, etc. are only marginally more nutritious than koolaid.

MdniteMustang00

Eboix518:

DH saw the documentary "Fat and Nearly Dead" and it was about a juicing diet so for 3 months he was on and on about getting a juicer so he bought this $200 Breville monstrosity - he has used it more than I thought he would and you can make all kinds of things with it it came with a big book of things you can make. He uses Kale and Cucumber a lot and I do not think a blender would be able to blend that very well. With a juicer you can juice/blend more and get a better result than with a blender it does sound like a plane is taking off in our kitchen every time we use it though...FYI do not juice a beet it is utterly disgusting

that plain SOUNDS disgusting. but i like all the green stuff.

MdniteMustang00

04JaxBride:

nutrition-wise, blending is the better option.  with juicing, while you are getting whatever vitamins come from the juice, you are removing a lot of what's great about fruits and vegetables that, strictly nutritionally speaking, cannot be mimicked with supplements or additives. 

you're processing out the good stuff.

grape juice, orange juice, etc. are only marginally more nutritious than koolaid.

makes sense.

thanks!