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How to Clean Your Juicer
Here are some best practices for keeping your juicer squeaky clean.
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Been getting your juice on lately? Making fresh juices in the comfort of your home kitchen is a fun and healthy way to stay hydrated and enjoy fresh produce. But this trend also means you need a special piece of equipment, with specialized cleaning needs. Don’t worry, it’s not a complicated as it appears. After developing more than 100 juice recipes for Healthy Quick & Easy Juicing, I am no stranger to cleaning these types of machines. Here are some best practices for keeping your juicer squeaky clean.
How Does a Juicer Work?
Juicers look like wild contraptions, but the basic parts and functionality are pretty simple.
There are several different brands and styles, but essentially you will feed ingredients through a centrifuge-like extractor (typically some sort of very fine mesh “screen,” “filter” or “basket”) to yield your fresh and frothy juice concoctions. (Refer to the manufacturers’ instructions on your machine for the specific brand lingo.)
Ingredients enter through a chute or tube, then through a mechanism that separates the juice from the pulp (the fiber and other solids). The juice and pulp are then separated and captured in their respective containers. When juicing is complete, disassemble the machine and prepare to clean (and drink your delicious juice).
How to Clean Your Juicer
Benjamin Schmerler, spokesperson for Breville, shares a tip to help you clean as you go: “To minimize cleaning, line the pulp container with a reusable bag and then use the pulp as compost or discard.” Pulp can also be repurposed to fortify veggie burgers, soups and muffins.
When it’s time to clean, start by unplugging your juicer, then disassemble the parts. The main base of the machine, which houses the motor (typically the largest part of the juicer), can be wiped down with a damp cloth, but it can never be submerged in water.
The chutes, feed tubes, centrifuge components and storage containers should be disassembled and washed with hot, soapy water. These parts may also be dishwasher-safe (check the details for your model) but should rinsed ahead to remove any stuck-on bits.
Arguably the hardest part to clean of most machines is the filter, or mesh basket, that is most often made of some sort of fine porous material. The juice is pressed through these tiny pores to produce a drink free of chunks. Scrubbing with a soft-bristled brush can help. Schmerler also recommends “soaking the stainless steel filter basket in hot, soapy water for approximately 10 minutes so that the fine pores don’t get clogged.”
Once all the parts have been cleaned, make sure they dry completely before putting the machine back together and storing.
Juicer Cleaning FAQs
Q: How soon after use should I clean the juicer?
A: A spokesperson for the Omega ColdPress365, juicer says the sooner the better. “Clean the product immediately after use. Wash your juicer's removable parts with warm, soapy water or place the parts on the top shelf of your dishwasher.”
Q: Can I run water through the juicer?
A: My favorite tip! When you’re finished juicing (or even in between) juices, with the machine running, pass some water through. This will help flush out colors and flavors in the machinery.
Q: What can I do about stuck-on messes?
A: Frequent use can lead to buildup and residue from the natural oils in the produce. “If there is buildup, soak your juicer’s parts overnight."
Q: Does it matter what order I juice ingredients?
A: Juice smaller or harder-to-juice ingredients (like such as ginger root, fresh herbs or pomegranate seeds) before foods with higher water content like apples and melon to help flush out the machine and capture all the flavor goodness.
Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, ATC, is a registered dietitian, certified athletic trainer and owner of Dana White Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in culinary and sports nutrition. She is the author of four cookbooks First Bites: Superfoods for Babies and Toddlers, The Healthy Air Fryer Cookbook, The Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook and Healthy Quick and Easy Smoothies.
*This article was written and/or reviewed by an independent registered dietitian nutritionist.
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