Photo: cronewynd / Flickr

Getting into the habit of juicing requires getting into the less appealing habit of cleaning it. ‘The world must be littered with unused juicers,’ says Nigel Slater. ‘For every one in daily use there must be three left on bottom shelves, tucked behind the pasta machine next to the bread maker. There is a jolly good reason for this.’ Slater suggests that it’s never ‘easy ‘ to clean a juicer but that it’s easier if you know how.

First steps to cleaning your juicer

Slater advises to start your cleaning session by getting the lid of the juicer to the sink as soon as you’ve finished juicing ‑ and to avoid dropping debris on the floor along the way if possible. The next step is to unscrew the knob that holds the grater blade and then to remove the blade out of its drum. Once again, avoid dripping juice on the way to the sink to wash it!

Should your juice extractor have a filter paper, Slater recommends finding ‘the top or the bottom edge so that you can peel it away from the mesh while catching any loose juice dripping through the hole in the bottom on your way to the bin. Get filter paper out without splitting and depositing pulp on the floor.’

Final steps to cleaning your juicer

Wash the filter basket while running water over it and scrub the blade. Then ‘wash the pouring spout, unwind the celery strings that have wrapped themselves around the knob that holds the blade on, and have another go at getting bits of apple and carrot out of the mesh basket. If you don’t they will only dry and you’ll never get them out.’

Slater says you could rather just forget about cleaning your juicer and leave it for a couple of days ‑ but then you’ll be left with a basket ‘covered in fur and a deep smell of cider.’

Tip: You can read more about Nigel Slater’s take on juicing in his book Thirst which is packed with healthy juicing recipes.

Tags: cleaning