The juicer/blender debate
 

Currently debating between the following:

Omega VRT350HD
Vitamix 5200
Blendtec Total

Looking to juice wheatgrass and mostly fruits with some veggies.

Obviously the juicer would be best for juicing specifically, but both the Vitamix and Blendtec are good for doing other things as well. Not great for wheatgrass though. Would probably buy this hand-powered wheatgrass juicer to supplement a blender purchase.

Can anyone chime in?

Hurom slow juicer

A blender is MUCH more useful kitchen tool.
Alton Brown warns against uni-taskers like a juicer.


So the question is, will you be doing juice like every morning to make a juicer worth it?
Some things like kale don't juice well, so you might as well get the fiber in your diet.

Maybe not every day, but a few times a week at least. We have a cheapie $50 one that isn't very efficient and is a PITA to clean.
Posted via RS Mobile

Omega 9006HD, super easy to clean. I use mine twice a day, great for leafy greens like chards, spinach. The sucky part is that if you want to juice apples, you'll have to cut them up a bit before they'll fit in the chute. Same with any other fruits and veg that doesn't fit.

Bed bath and beyond also matches prices from Amazon.ca.

My wife has been using a Breville Juice Fountain for a year now with no issues. Read many reviews and sometimes more money wasn't always better. This gets a lot of the juice out (run through the shredings and nothing comes out), kale goes through well, whole apples, and easy to clean. Bought it at LD with a 4 year over the counter warranty for $160 all in (was on sale elsewhere and LD will price match).

Breville Juice Fountain Plus - BREJE98XL - London Drugs

I don't have the link handy, but consider the $100 ninja blender. It scored *very* well in a consumer reports test and while no vitamix, is way cheaper.

The blendtec did not fare as well and came as a not recommended. Get the vitamix if you want a high end blender.

Yup, definitely leaning towards the Vitamix. 70 years in the business surely has to count for something.
Posted via RS Mobile

The point of a juicer is to get a LOT of juice into you every day. Not to make tasty smoothies...

When I make a juice with my wife, I usually use at least 2-3 POUNDS of green veggies, with a couple fruits added for flavour.

Try putting that in a blender and see how much you can drink. And see how your gut feels when you send 3 pounds of fiber through it. Better make sure you're near a toilet for the rest of the day ;)

So to answer your debate, you have to decide why you are juicing. Is it to get a healthy vitamin/mineral/nutrient boost every day? Or is it to make fruit smoothies for breakfast?

If it's the former, get a juicer. If it's the latter, get a blender. If you want to juice something specific (kale, wheatgrass, etc) make sure you get the right equipment for it.

I own the vrt350hd. Works well if you slice all your leafy greens. I basically cut any leafy greens or celery a 1/3 inch. I juiced fasted 20 days and lost 24lbs. The juice last longer on the slow juicers. hurom slow juicer is same design. To save time, I would juice 2L of juice every night for the next day. It's also pulpy, but you could strain the juice. I forgot about the foam theres a lot of it. I would have preferred the 8006 model. You can freeze fruit and throw it in and make sherbert.

Heres a video for wheat grass for the omega juicers.

I blend veggies and fruits. I tried juicing before, but for some reason prefer blending.

My usual juice blend is a small root of ginger, half a clove of garlic, tomato (2), orange (1), sweet mango (1) and ice.

For veggie blend: spinach (a bunch of it), carrots (2), some bittermelon, ice.

I have no idea what I'm doing though, but it's definitely my healthier alternative to drinking off the shelf juices or eating snacks.