Juicing & Blending

I know as well as anyone else that we should be doing our best to eat more fruit and vegetables.

It’s not always that easy though, especially when some of the least healthiest food you can buy is also some of the cheapest – and the most convenient.

A good blender – or juicer – can do a lot to help you increase your intake of fruit and veg, and the best of them are very easy to use too.

I’ve recently been covering this topic on Viva Flavor in much greater depth. For that reason I thought it would be useful to gather it all together in one place.

Use the links below to explore all my articles on this subject, and keep checking back for updates too. This is something I’m going to be exploring for some time to come!

Blending & Juicing Guides

In this section you’ll find all of the articles I’ve written about fruit and veg as ingredients, and the world of blending and juicing in general.

Guides

Juicing vs Blending: The Basics – Let’s start right at the very beginning. In this article I’ve put together a handy starter guide that covers the basics of both juicing and blending. I’ve looked at the pros and cons of focusing on each one, and also explained some of the different types of juicers available on the market.

Buying Fruit & Vegetables on a Budget – As important as it is to eat more fruit and vegetables, these items are rarely as cheap or as easy to buy as other ingredients. It’s absolutely possible to get really good produce at a much lower cost, however. In this article I’ve explained how to make your food budget go further, from buying produce in-season to taking advantage of sales.

5 Easy Vegetables To Grow At Home – Home-grown fruit can be a bit of a tall order, but there are some staple vegetables that can be grown in your own garden very easily. This is a great way to save even more money on the ingredients you’ll be mixing and mashing in your kitchen blender. Some of these can be grown in very small spaces too!

The Blendtec Jar Guide – So you’re ready to expand on your collection of Blendtec jars. What’s the difference between a WildSide and a Twister though? I wrote this article so everyone would have a one-stop guide that covers every question. After reading it you’ll know the pros and cons of each jar, and why it might be a worthile investment for your kitchenware collection.

How To Eat More Fruit And Vegetables – I doubt there’s an easier way to increase your intake of fruit and vegetables then by blitzing them into a delicious smoothie! In this article, I’ve detailed ten more easy ways to eat more of the good stuff. After reading it, you’ll have some actionable tips that will help get well ahead of your five a day target.

The Seasonal Fruit And Vegetable Guide – One of the easiest ways to save money on your fruit and veg is to focus on ingredients that are currently in season. These are often cheaper due to the higher seasonal supply, and if you have a freezer you can store enough for off-season use as well. This guide provides useful resources for tracking what’s hot in your own corner of the country.

How To Make Protein Shakes Thicker – There’s little worse than a watery protein shake, but there are some really easy options to thicken things up. I’ve uncovered eight simple fixes using ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.

How To Store Fruit And Vegetables – There’s nothing worse than buying great produce, only to find it going past its best before you can make good use of it. Sensible storage is key here, and in this guide I’ve explained how food ripens over time, and how you should store some of the most common produce for the longest possible shelf life.

How To Clean A Ninja Blender – A little bit of love goes a very long way when it comes to keeping your Ninja blender in top working condition. This article explains why it’s so important to regularly clean your appliance. I’ve also covered a number of methods for making it sparkling clean in no time.

Questions

Ninja Blender Cups – Your Questions Answered – In this article you’ll find to answer some of the most common questions readers have about Ninja’s range of single serve cups. Can they be microwaved? Are they safe to store in the freezer? What’s the best way of cleaning them? Find the answers to these questions and more!

Why Is Vitamix So Expensive? – Vitamix blenders are famous for their build quality, performance…and eye-watering price tag. Why exactly is that though? It’s not a simple question to answer, but I think you’ll find this article useful if you’re trying to decide whether the investment is right for you.

How Long Do Protein Shakes Last After Mixing? – It can be tough to get a taste for protein shakes, and you’ll definitely find that harder once they’ve turned! In this article I’ve explained how different types of shakes can be prepped ahead of time, and included some tips for cleaning a smelly mixer bottle too.

Can A Vitamix Be Used As A Food Processor? – There are some food processing tasks you can throw at your Vitamix blender, and some you definitely can’t. I put this guide together to help you get the best results, with tips for improving the process.

Why Are Blendtec Blades Dull? – Good question! It seems to us all that a sharper blade must surely be more effective than a dull one. That’s not the case when you’re driving the blade unit at dizzying speeds, however. You can find out the detailed answer to this question by reading this brief post.

How Long Does Celery Juice Last? – If you’re just getting started with the celery juicing craze, I’ve put together a guide that explains how to store a fresh batch for the best results. You’ll also find tips on how to store whole – and chopped – celery so it lasts much longer.

Blender & Juicer Reviews

Over the last six months or so I’ve conducted detailed reviews of some of the most popular juicers and blenders on the market. They all have their pros and cons, and some are more suitable to one task over another.

If you’re looking to buy a juicer or blender, I think you’ll find these very useful resources for picking out the right appliance for your own kitchen.

If you’re looking for the right machine for a certain kind of job, scroll down to the next section instead. There you’ll find links to a growing collection of articles that focus on the best tools for getting specific juicing and blending tasks done.

Vitamix

Vitamix make some of the best blenders in the business. They’re backed up by generous warranties, but they typically require a bigger upfront investment than the average blender.

I’ll summarize each machine here, but do check out a few of these reviews to narrow down on the right Vitamix for your own kitchen.

Vitamix Explorian (E310) – The E310 is more than capable of chewing through pretty much any ingredient you can throw at it, and it’s a tremendously versatile appliance. It’s very much a “classic” Vitamix machine though, with none of the fancy digital controls and presets you’ll find on later machines. It’s a very popular blender nevertheless, and my review explains why that is.

Vitamix A2300 – The Ascent range of blenders are designed to bring the Vitamix brand up to date. You get all the speed options you could possibly need, a digital timer, and even a fancy wireless motor base which connects with a companion app installed on your phone.

Vitamix A2500 – As you’d expect from the name, the Ascent A2500 is a slightly more advanced version of the A2300. It adds quite a bit more convenience though in the form of dedicated presets for handling things like hot soups and frozen desserts. It’s just as versatile as the A2300, but I think it’s much easier to use and worth the extra investment if you can afford it.

Vitamix 750 Professional Series – No matter how much Vitamix innovates, people keep coming back to this classic blender. As such it remains a popular part of the company’s product line. What exactly should you expect from this blender though, and is it really worth missing out on those fancy modern features?

Vitamix 5300 – If you like your Vitamix blenders to lean into the company’s classic design, there’s a lot to like about the 5300. It’s another extremely powerful and versatile blender, but the design of the jar means its most effective when working with larger volumes. If you want to work on smaller blends, you’ll need to purchase suitable containers separately.

Vitamix 6300 – No prizes for guessing that the Vitamix 6300 is a more advanced version of the 5300. It’s specifically designed for people who are doing a great deal of blending, in big volumes, and need a machine that can tear up any ingredient known to man. It’s big – and it’s noisy – but it’s one of the great powerhouses of home blending.

Ninja

Ninja IQ Blender – Ninja’s been quietly shaking up the blender market for a while now, and its Auto IQ blender is best thought of as a slightly more advanced Magic Bullet. In this detailed review I address the question of whether it can beat that better-known personal blender.

Ninja Blender Duo – If you like the idea of a Magic Bullet smoothie maker – but also need the versatility of a countertop blender – definitely take a look at the Ninja Blender Duo. It’s got some handy presets, a powerful motor, and it’s a very affordable appliance overall.

Ninja Professional Blender (BL660) – The BL660 is the most popular blenders in Ninja’s Professional series. Is it good enough to do two jobs in one though, and are there better alternatives? I’ve taken a close look at this popular blender to see if it cuts the mustard.

Ninja Chef (CT810) – Ninja continues its work to deliver high-end blending performance at an affordable price point. How well does the Ninja Chef CT810 stack up against its more expensive rivals though?

Other

Magic Bullet Blender – If you’re only going to be making the occasional smoothie for one (or tackle other jobs in small batches), a personal blender may be all you need. The Magic Bullet Blender is well-known thanks to those endless infomercials, but how well does it actually perform?

Blendtec Total Blender – I’m a big fan of Blendtec blenders, and I think the Total Blender is a high-performance, affordable entry point into some of the best appliances money can buy. If you’ve a large household then you might find the capacity of this thing a little limiting, but for smaller families there’s a lot to love here.

KitchenAid Diamond Blender – The KitchenAid 5 Speed Diamond Blender might just be the best kept secret in budget blending. If you’re not attached to a brand name, definitely consider adding this appliance to your kitchenware collection.

Omega NC900HDC – This Omega juicer requires quite an up-front investment, but it’s backed up by a 15 year warranty that I think justifies the cost. It’s a really dependable slow masticating juicer, one that squeezes event last drop out of your fruit and veg. If you want the juice – and nothing but the juice – in your drink, it’s a very good option.

Aicok Slow Masticating Juicer – The Aicok brand isn’t quite as well known as others, but I was impressed by the performance of this juicer given the relatively low cost involved. It has its limitations, but this may well be the only juicer you need if you’re only making the occasional drink.

Blender & Juicer Types

Sometimes you need to buy a blender or juicer that performs a certain task exceptionally well. You might make a lot of protein shakes, for example, or work with a certain ingredients that many blenders struggle to process.

You may even favor a certain manufacturer, in which case you’ll want to know which of their appliances represent the cream of the crop.

In this section you’ll find my growing collection of guides to buying the right blending tool for the right blending job!

Brands

Blendtec Blenders – These things are by no means cheap, and so it’s very important you balance performance and fancy features with your own budget. I’ve put together a buying guide to help you find the best Blendtec for your own home, and highlighted my top picks for different circumstances.

Breville Juicers – Breville’s one of my favorite manufacturers of all kitchenware, and it’s produced an impressive series of blenders over the years. Choosing the right one can be a bit of a headache, and so I’ve focused on five of its machines that are very well suited for a wide variety of circumstances. As always, I’ve also included plenty of buying tips to help you narrow down your options too.

Omega Juicers – Omega’s one of the biggest names in juicing, and so it won’t come as a surprise to learn there’s a massive collection of juicers to browse. I’ve picked out five of the best juicers to cover every circumstance.

Type

Mini Food Processors – Having a small kitchen need not be a barrier to owning a high-performance food processor. I’ve taken a detailed look at five of the most popular micro machines in this category. Whether you’ve limited countertop space or you’re just mixing for one, there’s a good option for you in here.

Glass Blenders – There are definitely pros and cons to buying a glass blender. I’ve covered all sides of the argument in this essential guide, and also reviewed five of the best options for your own kitchen.

Quiet Blenders – If there’s such a thing as a silent blender I would love to find it. There are at least some really clever machines on the market that use noise-dampening shields and housing technology to keep the volume down. I’ve reviewed five of the best in detail, so you can restore some kind of peace and tranquility to your kitchen.

Easy To Clean Juicers – Juicing can be a messy business, no doubt about it. If you’re sick of spending more time cleaning than juicing, you might want to give this more weight when you next upgrade. Here are five juicers designed to be easier to clean, and include some extra accessories to help get the job done.

Portable Blenders – This is a harder topic to tackle than you might think. Will you have access to a power source? Do you need a rechargeable battery? How many people are you making smoothies for? I’ve reviewed five best in class portable blenders that cover every eventuality.

Manual Juicers – Ready to roll up your sleeves and put some elbow grease into your juicing? I’ve collected together reviews for four of the best hand press juicers you can buy right now. Whatever quantity you’re working with, I’ve got a recommendation for you.

Blender Juicers – Can you really make a killer glass of fresh juice with a blender? The answer is yes, but there are some important caveats. To help you get the best results, I’ve reviewed a curated selection of blenders that are up to the task, and provided some essential buying advice for carrying out your own research.

Small Juicers – Masticating juicing machines can hog an awful lot of countertop real estate. If you’re happy to go with a centrifugal mechanism though, there are some really good devices that won’t dominate the kitchen. I’ve put together a round-up that focuses on some of the best compact juicers available today.

Cold Press Juicers – A close look at some of the best cold press juicers available today. Omega dominates, naturally, but there are a few other interesting options you might like to explore!

Ingredients

Juicers For Celery – Caught the celery juice bug? If you’re looking for a new juicer dedicated to this task, you need to balance yield, speed and nutritional quality. I’ve reviewed some of the most popular celery juicers on the market, and highlighted the best options for different lifestyles.

Juicers For Ginger – It takes a tough juicer to tackle ingredients like ginger. Your next drink is buried deep within that fibrous material, and you’ll need a juicing machine that’s up to the challenge. I’ve compared four leading juicers to see how they stand up against this challenging ingredient.

Juicers For Greens – If you’re getting serious about juicing green vegetables, you’ll need a juicer that can tackle those tricky leafy greens. I’ve reviewed five of the best masticating juicers that are up to the challenge.

Other

Blenders For Protein Shakes – Many blenders struggle with the kind of tough ingredients that are commonly used in protein shakes. If you’re buying a blender specifically for this purpose, have a read through my recommendations. I’ve also included plenty of tips about what to keep an eye out for as you do your own research.

Food Processors For Hummus – Everyone loves a bit of homemade hummus as a snack, but you need to strike the right balance between power and work bowl size. Even if you’re working to a strict budget, I’ve got a recommendation that’s just right for you.

Blenders For Margaritas – Tough day at the office? Joking aside, if you do a lot of entertaining and like to whizz up a cocktail or two, it can be worth buying a dedicated blender for the job. I’ve reviewed a number of machines that do a terrific job of terrorizing ice, as well as a very popular dedicated margarita maker.

Juicing Books – It can be very easy to slip back into old habits if you end up drinking the same old juices over and over. A juicing recipe book will keep you interested for the long run though, and I’ve picked out some of my favorites from an extremely crowded market.

That’s all for now! It takes a huge amount of time to conduct the detailed reviews these round-ups require. I’m busy working through many more of them though, so check back regularly for updates.