Even if you follow the included instructions and clean out your juicer each time you use it, you’ll still need to learn how to deep clean it in order to avoid dealing with limescale and mineral deposit build up. So, how do you clean a juicer in order to prevent these issues? Let’s find out.
By learning how to clean a juicer you can easily prevent limescale or mineral deposit buildup, in addition to mold growth. Deep cleaning a juicer daily usually isn’t necessary, although deep cleaning your juicer once or twice a week is recommended in order to prevent ongoing issues that are a direct result of hard water. After each use, we recommend cleaning all of the juicer’s removable parts in order to ensure the juicer remains in proper working order.
As you can see, with proper upkeep, cleaning your juicer can be fast and easy. Read on to learn about fast and easy cleaning methods that you can use the next time you juice.
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What Happens When You Juice
Each time you juice, you should rinse all of the juicer’s parts thoroughly, scrubbing each piece with a scrubber pad and some dish soap. But even if you follow these steps each time, you may still see a grayish or brown coating begin to appear on some parts. This film is a mixture of hard water deposits and dried juice particles. This coating should be scrubbed off immediately since it gives bacteria the perfect environment to grow. Over time, these deposits can clog the very fine holes in the juicer’s mesh screen. This will not only negatively impact the juicer’s yield, but it can also cause the screen to break under pressure if left unchecked.
Our tips on how to clean your juicer thoroughly will prevent mold growth, limescale, and mineral deposits, in order to keep your juicer running the way it should.
Safe Cleaning Solutions
Often, a juicer will not require much upkeep, but if you rely on your juicer several times a day, then you’ll need to break down the machine at the end of the day and clean each part independently. While this is easy enough, there are some instances in which your juicer will need a little more TLC.
If you’ve noticed that some of the pieces in your juicer have this coating of limescale or mineral deposits, you can easily clean it off by using a mixture of one part vinegar and one part water and add one tablespoon of lemon juice. The parts should soak in this mixture for at least an hour. If possible, allow the parts to soak overnight.
If you’ve noticed a thick brown coating of mold or dried juice particles on the silicon parts, then instead of the water and vinegar mixture you should use a solution that consists of one part bleach and two parts water.
For the best results, make sure you soak the parts in hot water. If you’re dealing with tough build-up, use a higher concentration mixture that consists of two parts bleach and one part water.
Deep Cleaning Process
If you’re not having any luck scrubbing off the white or brown coating, then you may need to take a tougher approach. Start off by placing a towel under the juicer in order to prevent any mold or gunk from making contact with your table or counter. Take a plastic bag and line the pulp collector with it. If you prefer to save your pulp, then use a gallon sized freezer bag and keep the pulp in the freezer for your next veggie soup or a smoothie.
After you’ve juiced, wash all of the pieces immediately using hot water and a mild dish soap. These days, most juicers have parts that are dishwasher safe, so you can wash them by hand or toss them in the dishwasher. Before you place the parts on the top rack of the dishwasher, make sure you thoroughly rinse off each part to remove juice and dried on pieces of pulp. The juicer’s filter should soak in hot water with a tablespoon of lemon juice for ten to twenty minutes right after juicing. If you allow the pulp to dry on the filter it can clog the pores in the mesh screen and negatively impact the juicer’s effectiveness. If you’ve cleaned the mesh filter and it still appears to be blocked in certain areas, soak it for another fifteen minutes. Once the time is up, take a wire brush and scrub the filter before rinsing it and placing it on a towel to dry.
Cleaning Tips
If you use your juicer regularly, then you know how tiresome it can be to clean. This is actually the main reason juicers tend to get stored away in the kitchen cupboard and forgotten about. When you buy the best masticating juicer, look at the recommended cleaning methods and determine how much time will be required before you hit that buy now button.
Cleaning immediately after you juice can make a huge difference. Fresh pulp and juice will be much easier to clean with warm water. However, pulp and juice that’s allowed to dry can stick to the walls of the juicer, making it very difficult to clean. In most cases, a juicer will only take about five minutes to clean when done properly.
If your juicer has mostly metal parts that need to be cleaned, don’t allow them to soak for too long since they can rust.
If you forget to clean your juicer or it’s been several months since the last deep clean, then try using fine-grade sand to scour the gunk out of the holes in the mesh screen.
Before you put any of the juicer’s parts in the dishwasher, make sure the user’s manual clearly states which parts are and aren’t dishwasher safe. Most removable parts are dishwasher safe, however, others cannot handle the intense heat during the drying cycle. If your juicer has parts that require handwashing, make sure you follow these instructions, otherwise, you can void the warranty.
If you normally use your juicer several times a day, then you don’t have to worry about cleaning it after every use. Rinse the parts off each time and only worry about thoroughly cleaning the juicer with soap and water at the end of the day.
If you have hard water, plan on deep cleaning your juicer at least one to two times a week, especially if you notice mineral deposits beginning to form.
Related Questions on Cleaning Juicer
What Low-Maintenance Juicer Machine Can You Recommend?
The Hurom Elite HH-SBB11 Slow Juicer features dishwasher safe parts, a powerful one hundred and fifty-watt motor, and utilizes the Hurom juicing technique that minimizes mess and promotes a higher juice yield. Often, masticating juicers tend to be easier to clean mainly because they have fewer moving parts compared to centrifugal juicers and consist of durable parts that can easily survive the dishwasher. Other models that come equipped with cheap plastic parts must be washed by hand, which can be a hassle if you don’t have time each morning to take apart your juicer for a deep clean. So, If you’re in need of a low maintenance juicer, stick with a masticating model. To learn more about juicers and how they work, be sure to stop by and read our juicer buyer’s guide.
Is Slow Juicing Machine Better?
When you hear the term “slow juicing” this refers to the juicing method used by masticating juicers. Centrifugal juicers can produce juice almost instantly, thanks to their fast-moving blades, but the masticating juicer utilizes an auger, which squeezes and tears up fruits and veggies, producing a slow drip or stream of juice. Many juicing enthusiasts firmly believe that the slow juicing process is better because it prevents the loss of important enzymes and other nutrients that are normally destroyed due to the heat that’s produced by friction caused by the fast-moving blade in centrifugal models. To learn more about masticating juicing, click here to read our article on slow juicer recipes.
How Do You Clean the Juicer’s Base?
Obviously, since the base of the juicer plugs into an outlet, you will be unable to submerge it in water. If you’re particularly messy when you juice, then cleaning the base of the juicer will also be a must, in order to prevent mold growth. To do, take half a cup of hot water and mix with a quarter cup of bleach. Dip a sponge in the solution and carefully wipe down all of the surfaces. Allow the base to air dry completely before you store the juicer. This should be done after each use.
Final Thoughts on Cleaning Juicer
Learning how to clean a juicer can prevent mold growth, limescale, and mineral deposits from forming. You don’t have to deep clean your juicer daily, however, cleaning each of the removable parts daily should be done after each use. If you notice a brown or white film beginning to coat the machine, then a deep clean will be warranted. In most cases, regular upkeep after use is enough to prevent any serious issues such as mineral deposits or rust. However, even if you stay on top of cleaning your juicer, if you have hard water, then these issues can be an ongoing struggle.