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I’m just going to put it out there so you understand where I’m coming from: I’m a born and bred Californian. Or, in other words, I love my fresh produce, summer beverages, iced matcha lattes … you know, all the cliches. And, since moving to NYC a few months ago, I’ve been homesick for a little more than the waves and weather. The truth is, living in California, you easily take for granted the abundance of farm-fresh fruits and veggies, which, for the most part, are available year round. Whether it’s strawberries, broccolini, or avocados, let’s just say the California produce scene hits different.
So, here on the east coast, as the days shorten and the weather gets even colder, I’ve been trying my best to get my fruits and veggies in. I’ve gotten creative, using wilted beet tops to make pesto or mushy apples for hand pie filling, but somehow I feel like I haven’t had something truly fresh in a millennium. That is, until I took the magic bullet Mini Juicer for a spin. Suddenly, I found I was whipping up thirst-quenching, vitamin-filled glasses of liquid produce daily. It’s like taking a sip of home.
Now, I’m no stranger to juicers (I’m from California, remember?), but TBH, I’ve historically been pretty juicer-adverse. More often than not, I’d rather pay a ridiculously high price for my cold-pressed carrot-apple-ginger (my favorite) than pull down a heavy, multi-part machine from my cabinet and deal with the headache of cleanup. So, if that’s been your experience with making juice at home, I feel you — it’s not all that appealing. That’s where this magic machine comes in: It’s pretty much the polar opposite of those pain-in-the-butt appliances we’re used to. It’s compact, super fast, and extremely easy to clean. These days, my juice-making is complaint-free and purely rewarding.
Because the juicer’s blade and strainer are combined into one efficient, conical disk, assembling and breaking down the handy appliance is a breeze. To get it up and running, I just place the metal piece inside a larger plastic basin and then secure it atop the 400-watt motor base with two latch arms and I’m good to go. Oh, and the best part: When I’m done whipping up my healthful concoction, I break it down (in seconds) and pop the parts in the dishwasher for the easiest cleanup there ever was.
The juicer has a roomy chute that can fit anything from half a bunch of chard to three Bugs Bunny-sized carrots, which effortlessly meet their soon-to-be-juice fate within what feels like milliseconds. It’s such a relief to not have to wrestle with the chute in order to shove spinach into the machine, an experience I feel is all too familiar when using juicers. Plus, because I am able to fit so much at one time and because the powerful motor does it’s job so dang well, I wind up making juice in half the time it might’ve taken me with another machine. It’s a game-changer when it comes to quick morning juices.
I also love that when working on big batches of juice (I’ll usually make enough for a couple of days, keeping some in the included 16-ounce to-go cup), I don’t have to stop and empty out the pulp bin. With a 52-ounce capacity, I find I can happily juice away to my heart’s content, interruption-free. But, that big waste bin doesn’t make the Mini Juicer difficult to store. In fact, out of all the juicing-machines I’ve owned and operated thus far, this must-have model takes up the least cabinet space.
Whether you’re missing the sunshine, feeling fruit-deficient in these colder months, looking for a way to sneak more greens into your diet, or seeking out the perfect holiday gift, this juicer is the way to go. And through November 29, it’s 25 percent off with code GIVETHANKS for Cyber Monday.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a green juice pronto!
