When you’re new to juicing, a common question is what fruits can you put in a juicer. Nearly any fruit can be juiced, but hard fruits like apples and carrots work best, while bananas and avocados are better blended. This guide will walk you through the best fruits for your machine, how to prepare them, and which ones to avoid to keep your juicer running smoothly.
Understanding your juicer type is the first step. Centrifugal juicers work fast and are great for hard produce. Masticating juicers, also called cold press or slow juicers, are more versatile and efficient, especially for leafy greens and softer fruits. Your machine’s manual is a good place to start for specific recommendations.
Let’s look at the fruits that will give you the best results and the most delicious, nutritious juice.
What Fruits Can You Put In A Juicer
You can juice a wide variety of fruits, but some yield better results than others. The key factors are texture, water content, and seed size. Firm, water-rich fruits are typically the easiest and most productive.
Best Fruits For Juicing
These fruits are juicer favorites because they produce a high volume of clear, tasty juice with minimal pulp.
- Apples: A juicing staple. They are sweet, high in yield, and pair with almost anything. Remove the seeds as they contain trace amounts of cyanide.
- Pears: Similar to apples but with a milder flavor. They juice very well and add a smooth sweetness.
- Citrus Fruits (Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons, Limes): You’ll get the best results by peeling them first, as the rind is bitter. They are packed with vitamin C and flavor.
- Pineapple: Peel and core it thoroughly before juicing. It adds a tropical sweetness and enzymes like bromelain.
- Grapes: These are incredibly easy to juice. No need to remove the seeds for most juicers, but check your model’s guidelines.
- Watermelon: Excellent for high-water-content juice. You can juice the rind as well, though it has a more vegetal taste.
- Cantaloupe and Honeydew: Scoop out the seeds and juice the flesh. They create a sweet, mild juice that is very refreshing.
Fruits That Require Special Preparation
Some fantastic fruits can go in your juicer, but they need a bit more attention to prep or are best mixed with other ingredients.
- Berries (Strawberries, Blueberries, Raspberries): These are soft and can be low-yield. They work better in a masticating juicer. Mixing them with a harder fruit like apple improves juice flow.
- Stone Fruits (Peaches, Nectarines, Plums, Cherries): You must remove the large, hard pits first. They can seriously damage your juicer’s mechanisms.
- Mango: Peel it and remove the large flat pit. The flesh is soft and pulpy, so it may yield a thicker juice.
- Kiwi: The skin is edible and full of nutrients, so you can juice it whole if your juicer is powerful enough. Otherwise, peeling is fine.
- Pomegranates: The seeds (arils) are what you juice. It’s often easier to buy pre-extracted arils or use a specialized pomegranate tool.
Fruits Not Suitable For Centrifugal Juicers
If you have a centrifugal juicer, some fruits are better left out. They are too soft or starchy and will clog the filter basket or produce a foam rather than juice.
- Bananas: They are a blend, not a juice. Putting a banana in a juicer will create a sticky paste that clogs the machine.
- Avocados: Like bananas, they are full of healthy fats, not water. They are meant for blending into smoothies.
- Figs: Too pulpy and seedy for effective juicing. They are better eaten whole or blended.
- Papaya: The soft texture leads to more pulp than juice in a centrifugal model. A masticating juicer might handle it a bit better.
How To Prepare Fruits For Juicing
Proper preparation protects your juicer and ensures you get the cleanest, safest juice. It’s a simple process that becomes a quick habit.
Washing And Cleaning
Always wash your fruits thoroughly under running water, even if you plan to peel them. This removes dirt, bacteria, and pesticide residues. For fruits with thicker skins, like oranges or melons, you can use a produce brush.
Removing Pits, Seeds, And Stems
Large, hard pits from peaches, plums, or mangoes must be removed. They can break your juicer’s blades or gears. Small seeds from apples or grapes are usually fine for most juicers, but apple seeds in large quantities are not recommended due to their amygdalin content. Always remove stems and leafy tops.
Peeling And Chopping
Not all fruits need to be peeled. Here’s a quick guide:
- Peel: Citrus fruits (to avoid bitterness), mango, pineapple, melons (though the rind can be juiced), and any fruits with non-edible, tough skins.
- Don’t Peel: Apples, pears, cucumbers, ginger, and kiwi (if your juicer is strong). The peels contain extra nutrients and fiber.
Chopping fruits into pieces that fit your juicer’s feed chute is essential. For centrifugal juicers, smaller pieces are often better. For masticating juicers, you can usually use slightly larger chunks.
Combining Fruits For Better Taste And Nutrition
While single-ingredient juices are great, combining fruits can balance flavors and boost nutritional value. The goal is to create a juice that is enjoyable and not overly sweet.
Balancing Sweet And Tart Flavors
If you use very sweet fruits like grapes or pineapple, add a tart element to balance it. Lemon or lime juice, green apple, or a chunk of ginger work perfectly. This prevents the juice from tasting like plain sugar water.
Adding Vegetables To Fruit Juices
This is one of the best ways to increase your nutrient intake without overwhelming the taste. The natural sweetness of fruits can mask the stronger flavor of many vegetables.
- Try apple with spinach and cucumber.
- Combine pineapple with kale and celery.
- Mix pear with beetroot and a small piece of ginger.
Classic Fruit Juice Combinations
Here are a few proven recipes to get you started:
- Green Apple Refresher: 2 green apples, 4 celery stalks, 1 cucumber, a handful of spinach, and a 1-inch piece of ginger.
- Citrus Boost: 2 oranges (peeled), 1 grapefruit (peeled), and 1 lemon (peeled).
- Tropical Twist: 1/4 pineapple, 1 mango (peeled and pitted), and 1 orange (peeled).
Tips For Effective And Efficient Juicing
Follow these tips to get the most out of your fruits and keep your juicer in good working order for years to come.
Maximizing Juice Yield
To get every last drop of juice from your produce, alternate hard and soft items. Push a piece of apple, then some spinach, then another piece of apple. The hard fruit helps push the softer material through the mechanism more completely.
Preventing Clogs And Machine Jams
Feed fruits into the chute at a steady, moderate pace. Don’t force too much in at once. If you notice the motor straining, stop and clear any pulp from the filter basket before continuing. This is especially important with very pulpy fruits like mango.
Cleaning Your Juicer Immediately After Use
This is the golden rule of juicing. Rinse and disassemble the parts right after you finish. Dried pulp and fiber are much harder to clean. Most parts are dishwasher safe, but hand washing with a brush is often quicker and more thorough.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Juice Berries In A Juicer?
Yes, you can juice berries, but they work best in a masticating (slow) juicer. In a centrifugal juicer, they may yield less juice and leave more pulp behind. For better results, mix them with a harder fruit like an apple to help push them through.
What Fruits Should You Not Put In A Juicer?
Do not put bananas, avocados, or figs in a standard juicer. They are too soft and starchy, creating a paste that will clog the machine. These fruits are ideal for blenders instead. Also avoid any fruits with large, hard pits unless you remove them first.
Do You Need To Peel Fruit Before Juicing?
Not always. For citrus fruits, yes, peel them to avoid bitter juice. For apples, pears, and similar fruits, you can leave the peel on for extra nutrients. Just be sure to wash them thoroughly. Always peel fruits with tough, inedible skins like pineapple or mango.
Can You Put Frozen Fruit In A Juicer?
It is not recommended. Frozen fruit can damage the blades of a centrifugal juicer and is too hard for a masticating juicer to process effectively. It’s better to thaw frozen fruit first or use them in a blender for smoothies.
How Long Does Fresh Fruit Juice Last?
Fresh juice is best consumed immediately. If you must store it, put it in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. After that, oxidation causes it to lose nutrients and flavor quickly. You can also freeze juice for longer storage.