Kitchen Archives - Page 24 of 24

Carrot juice is packed with nutrients your body needs. This brilliantly colored veggie is so versatile and tasty; it's easy to see how it became so popular. From pot roasts to sweet treats, it seems like you can add a carrot to almost anything. However, one of the simplest and tastiest ways to get your carrot fix is by juicing it in the blender. Although blender juices tend to be thicker than the sugar-packed 'stuff' you get from a can of concentrate, that's a great thing. So, which blender is best for carrot juice? I'll walk you through the basics and my top five best carrot juicing blenders. Benefits of Drinking Carrot Juice From Blender Carrot juice from your blender is versatile and tasty, but there's more to it than that. There are significant health benefits to drinking fresh carrot juice beyond just the vitamins, fiber, and minerals. Everyone knows carrots are great for your eyesight. However, here are six other outstanding reasons to drink more carrot juice. Brain Function- Over time, oxidative stress can lead to all sorts of cognitive impairments. For example, it contributes to Alzheimer's. The beta carotene in carrots helps to strengthen your brain function while also increasing memory. Immune Boosting- Not only does carrot juice help boost your overall system, but it can also help decrease your chances of getting cancer. Healthier Pregnancies- For expecting mothers, it can be challenging to decide whether to eat their cravings or go with healthier options. Adding carrot juice to your baby-bump diet to give your little one with calcium for stronger bones and folate to help reduce the chance of congenital disabilities. Better Skin- The vitamin C in your blender carrot juice helps your skin repair itself faster. So even those with chronic skin conditions benefit from blending up som carrots to drink. Metabolism- If you're looking to lose weight or feel a little more energetic, carrot juice can help kick your metabolism into high gear. This is one drink that helps produce bile, and that means more pep in your step overall. Intestinal Assistance- Whole carrot juice from your blender is packed with fiber. Your intestinal tract needs that fiber to run better, and your stomach will feel fuller when you consume healthy fiber like that in carrots. As if the sweet taste of carrot juice wasn't enough enticement on its own, you can see how great it is for your whole body. People toss out phrases like 'superfood,' all the time, and I don't want to be cliche. However, any food that helps stave off cancer, and makes unborn babies healthier is the definition of 'super,' in my book. How to Use Your Blender as a Juicer If you think you need fancy equipment to make excellent carrot juice, the good news is that you're wrong. All you have to do is pull out your blender to get all the benefits from this 'super' food. Making blender carrot juice is simple. I'll walk you through the steps. First, you need to get out the equipment. In this case, your blender, cutting board, knife, empty container to put juice inside, and some purified water. You may also want a bowl to collect your carrot pieces in while you cut. Fortunately, that's all it takes. Next, you need to wash the carrots. This is a vital step because dirt and germs can collect on the surface of root vegetables. Make sure you use an excellent scrubber and don't just run them under water while rubbing with your hands. I keep a kitchen sponge just for vegetable cleaning to avoid cross-contamination from washing the dishes. Once your veggies are clean-cut about an inch off the top and tip of each one, you can discard these, or keep the tops to sprout fresh carrot greens in your windowsill. Then you need to cut your carrots into inch long pieces. The smaller size helps your blender do its job efficiently. In The Blender There are some essential tips for making blender juice that will help the machine do its job. Most importantly, you should never run a blender engine for more than twenty to thirty seconds at a time. Because of the high RPMs (revolutions per minute), your blender needs to do its job quickly. Avoiding wear and tear on the moving parts will keep you in fresh juice for years to come. Add about a cup of carrot pieces and a small amount of water to your blender. I recommend no more than a quarter of a cup or less. Too much liquid will make your juice watery and flavorless. Next, you should blend. If your first spin doesn't finish the job, feel free to let it rest for a minute and pulse again. As you finish each cup, pour the juice into your container. It may take several batches to create enough juice for your purposes. Remember that you shouldn't run more than six twenty to thirty-second cycles at once. You need to pause between runs. After six, let the blender rest for twenty minutes. For those who wish to make large quantities of blender carrot juice, it may take a while. Have patience. You should refrigerate your carrot juice between batches as needed. That's all there is to it. Use less water for thicker, more flavorful juice. You can add pineapple or other fruits if you want a sweeter flavor. Alternately try celery juice or beets for a more earthy flavor. Ginger and tumeric also make outstanding additions to any carrot juice. Top Five Best Blenders for Carrot Juice No one wants to read hundreds of descriptions just to choose the right blender for making carrot juice. Luckily, I've done the footwork, so you don't have to waste your time. You'll want a BPA free blender with reasonably good power. It's vital to choose a high-quality blender from a company that cares about their product. Here are my top five best blenders for making carrot juice. 1. Brentwood JB-220G 12-Speed I'm starting this list off with the Brentwood JB-220G because it's one of the most unique looking, yet capable blenders I've found. It's common enough to find a blender in black, white, silver, or even red. However, the lime green color of this model is refreshing. More importantly, the BPA free Brentwood is powerful enough to make you lots of carrot juice. I especially love the fact that it's dishwasher safe. I didn't find any real cons, though the blender is mostly made of plastic parts, which some people don't like as well as metal and glass. However, that's not an actual problem, and it makes it lighter weight. Buy your Brentwood from Amazon right here. 2. Magic Bullet Blender Who doesn't love a Magic Bullet Blender? These mighty yet small blenders are superb at making individual servings of carrot juice or other beverages. If you plan to make single servings, or you want to share with friends and family who have different tastes, then this is my top pick. I love the 'party mug' option for taking my juice on the go wherever you might need to travel. Plus, the one-year limited warranty means you know the company is willing to back their product. That says a lot about any seller. If there's a downside to the Magic Bullet, it's that I can't seem to get enough of it. Learn more about the Magic Bullet on Amazon. 3. Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender One thing is sure. Hamilton Beach makes good blenders. My third choice for this list is the Hamilton Beach Power Elite Blender and food chopper. Although you probably won't need the chopper to make your carrot juice, you can certainly use it to help prepare the carrots more quickly. I really like the wave action system. This unique blade and container set-up helps pull the mixture downward more efficiently. Resultantly, you are less likely to get un-blended chunks. Nobody wants chunky-style carrot juice. Plus, the lid has a pour spout, which is just brilliant. Find prices and availability on Amazon. 4. Ninja Personal Blender My second choice for individual serving size blenders has to be the Ninja Personal Blender. The sixteen-ounce cus are perfect for taking your juice with you and staying hydrated as the weather starts to heat up. Carrot juice from your blender can quickly become a part of your health routine to keep you drinking plenty of fluids. The Ninja has a powerful engine. At seven-hundred watts, it's easy to blend carrots or anything else you need. Plus, the sip and seal lids make it easy to avoid spills no matter where you are. The only downside to a ninja is that it's not made for frozen or hot ingredients. Of course, that doesn't matter when you're planning to make carrot juice or other healthy juice drinks. Check out the fantastic reviews on Amazon, click here. 5. Oster Blender Pro 1200 Any blender list needs an Oster. The Oster Pro 1200 is one of my favorites. Unlike the Ninja, you can undoubtedly put hot or frozen ingredients into your carrot juice using this machine. The Boroclass glass is resistant to thermal shock. As anyone who's ever broken a glass container because of hot or iced food can tell you, that's a major bonus. One of the most outstanding features of the Oster Pro 1200 is the warranty. You'd be hard-pressed to find another blender that comes with a ten-year limited warranty, but Oster knows they make a great product. So they back it up. My only complaint about this model is that the company no longer sells replacement seal rings. However, when you treat your blender right, it won't matter, and you still have the warranty to fall back on if there's an issue. Opt for an Oster from Amazon here. Final Thoughts Carrot juice from the blender is one of the best healthy ways to start your day. Whether you're looking for better skin, intestinal health, or just a lightly sweet drink that doesn't have all the sugar you get with condensed juices, getting an excellent blender to DIY is the best way to go. Plus, you can adjust it to your personal taste. Don't settle for juice that's just 'okay.' You can have exactly what you want with blender carrot juice. Add a little honey and fruit juice for a super sweet treat. Alternately, you can add healthy veggie juice like kale or even bell peppers for a savory delight. Once you start blending your own carrot juice, you'll never want to go back to the store-bought high-fructose junk juices. Grab yourself a superb blender and start making fresh carrot juice for your health every day.