To juice or not? Is a juicer worth it/easy to clean?

lbt_2

Hi

I have just bought the Innocent Smoothie recipe book, and they have some gorgeous recipes! I noticed though that a lot of them use juiced apples, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

I bought a juicer some time ago, but it is covered in dust in my cupboard now because it was so awful to clean. Can anyone recommend a juicer? And is it easy to clean?

I am in two minds whether to get one or not, but I am not sure if the recipes will taste the same if I just use juice from a carton rather than juiced apples/squeezed oranges. Any thoughts?

Thanks

Steve-o

I bought a juicer many many years ago. It was so much of a pain to clean, and didn't produce huge amounts of juice (except from oranges), so I just shoved it in the cupboard too. And then gave it away. Bought juices are much less hassle, and cheaper too. Sadly.

lbt_2

I thought you might say that!! I have a bit of a reputation with my hubby in our house for buying electrical things and never using them again, so I really don't want to live up to that expectation this time

Bella56

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/4212681/Trail/searchtext%3EBLENDER.htm

We got a blender like this one from Argos - much cheaper than lots of the fancy juicers, and easy to clean - we just put in soap and hot water after using it, then turn it on for a few seconds, rinse and that's it! :T

Magentasue

Echo steve-o's experience. Mine was a cheap-ish model - not sure if it's one of those things where you get what you pay for, or if they're all the same.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I bought a juicer two years ago,it cost me nearly £40.I only got it because I thought I would save myself some money.Turns out I've never used it.I put it in the cupboard and that was it,it was so much easier to just buy the cartons and I believe just as cheap.
I agree that a blender is just as good if you have one.

betterlife

i bought a juicer a couple of years ago, cost me £110.00, but i agree, costs loads in fruit and produces little juice, nightmare to clean and no matter what you drink still only accounts for 1 fruit portion, mines gathering dust on my side.

lbt_2

Thanks everyone.

Glad I got your ideas first. I have a feeling that if I had bought one, it would have ended up in the cupboard with the other one

Will stick with my stick blender (which I couldn't do without!!) and just use cartoned juice when a smoothie recipe asks for apple or orange.

Thanks

michelefauk

Hi
I got a free juicer from freecycle a few months back, it looked like it had hardly been used. I know why now! I made apple juice and it cost me about £4 in apples to make 2 small glasses of juice, just not worth it to be honest. plus the cleaning etc like you say.
I put it back on freecycle!

sammyjig

Another one here!
I bought a juicer about a year ago and have never even taken it out of the box!

belfastgirl23

My DMIL bought us one for Xmas a few years ago. Very thoughtful gift but ended up in the bin (this was pre MS days of course, now I'd freecycle it though I'd guess our local bin-hokers got it in the end).

Juice is tough on your teeth too...