Juicing: From OJ to GJ

I grew up on tons of orange juice. Our refrigerator was always stocked with multiple bottles so there was never a shortage. It was just so sweet and delicious. As a kid, there was nothing more refreshing to me than a huge glass of Tropicana Pure Premium OJ.

Since then, the juice industry has come a long way. Juicing, or the process of separating juice from its pulp, is all the rage and juice bars are popping up on every corner. It’s part of the huge shift toward eating more organic, raw and unprocessed food. In simple terms, eating real food. To turn solid food into liquid, a good juicer is essential. Here are the different types of juicers to help you become a regular green juice, or GJ, drinker.

The most common juicer is the Centrifugal Juicer. This juicer cuts up the produce with a flat blade and then spins it at high speed to separate the juice from the pulp. It’s quick, easy to use and not super expensive ($90-$220). There are, however; a few negatives to this machine. The centrifugal process causes the produce to be heated up and exposed to oxygen. The foam at the top of your juice is an oxygenation clue. These factors decrease shelf life and some nutritional value. Also, this juicer is not the best for leafy greens, which contain significant health benefits. Bottom line, if you’re new to making juice and you don’t have much time, the centrifugal juicer is the way to go.

The second type of produce liquefier is the Masticating Single Gear Juicer. This juicer chews up the kale and pushes the juice through a screen. When compared to the centrifugal juicer, a single gear juicer makes more juice from the same amount of food. It also preserves more of the enzyme activity as it doesn’t produce much heat or inject much oxygen. The downside is it takes a bit longer to juice and it’s slightly more expensive ($150-$400). This is a great middle of the road juicer. So, if you have the time and you’re a juice lover, this is the juicer for you.

The Twin Gear (Triturating) Juicer is similar to the masticating single gear juicer. The main difference is the even slower speed, which allows for even less heat to generate. This is done by slowly grinding the produce fibers with two interlocking gears; a process called “trituration”. The less heat, the more nutrients available to fuel your body. Trituration also yields more, longer lasting juice than the single gear juicer. So, feel free to save some for later. The twin gear juicer is not ideal for juicing hard produce like carrots and it’s definitely not cheap ($500-$1,100). However, if you’re committed to some serious juicing, this machine is just right.

Finally, the Commercial Juicer is the best machine on the market, with the Norwalk juicer being the Rolex of juicers. Dr. Norman Walker developed this juicer in the 1930s and it has since evolved. This machine is similar to the twin gear juicer as it uses trituration to chew up the food. The fibers are caught in a filter bag that is manually moved to the press and then they’re placed under extreme pressure for juice extraction. The two-step process allows for significantly more nutritional value and longer shelf life as minimal oxygen is introduced. The Norwalk can juice anything from parsley to wheat grass. As a result, this contraption can cost you a pretty penny. We’re talking upwards of $2,000. Also, using the Norwalk is a slow and somewhat tedious process. So, unless you’re a raw foodist or a professional juicer, you probably don’t need to make the investment. But, the Norwalk juicer makes the highest quality juice you can drink.

(Juice bars using a Norwalk juicer: Liquiteria, Organic Avenue (customized juicer comparable to Norwalk), Juice Press, Cooler Cleanse, Dig Inn, The Squeeze (awesome food truck in Union Square), One Lucky Duck, BluePrintCleanse)

Overall, masticating and triturating juicers are cold pressed, which is key to reaping the many juicing benefits. Picking up or making your own cold pressed juice in the morning is the ideal way to get your daily dose of liquid veggies. This juice provides easily digestible nutrients, which will give you tons of energy for those super fun, back to back meetings.

The post-Tropicana era is definitely in its infancy. But, these days, a glass of OJ seems a bit one dimensional when compared to the juice recipe potential. The possible combinations of fruits and vegetables are endless. So, start your day with a GJ packed with kale, Swiss chard, spinach, celery, romaine, parsley, apple, ginger and lemon juice. Why just have OJ when you can have KSCSCRPAGLJ?