Juicers: At-home machines put to the test

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- How about a fresh-squeezed breakfast? Juice smoothies are a popular pick-me-up in the morning, but which juicers give you the most bang for your buck?

With the current juice-craze in mind, resident chef at the Farmer's Market Sur La Table, Natascha Warden, put home juicers to the test.

"It's nice now because as technology advances and they make new and different types of models, instead of maybe choking on a seed, you don't have to do that anymore," said Warden.

That's because many machines separate for you, cutting down on prep.

At $100, Cuisinart's Compact Juice Extractor is an economical choice. It has a large food tube to minimize cutting and a nice 16-ounce container.

Breville's 5-speed $199 Ikon makes juice in just 5 seconds. It accepts produce without slicing or dicing, which is great if you're in a hurry.

For $60 more, the Omega Nutrition Center Juicer is a juice bar favorite. It juices at low speeds, reducing heat build-up for those who want cold-pressed juice. It can also make pasta or nut milks.

Finally, the Hurom Juice and Smoothie Maker is the Ferrari of juicers at $399. Its large motor breaks down seeds, skin and tough produce and can also make soups, smoothies and even baby food. It also has a pulp control lever so you can manage the amount of substance, if any, in your drink.

Just like a car, these juicers require proper maintenance.

"So if you clean it and store it properly and you stick to the guidelines on what can and cannot go in there, I think it will last you for a while," Warden said.

With those key points in mind, what are you making? If you're looking for a juice that gives you the best nutrition, experts want you to include ingredients that have protein, fat and fiber so that your liquid meal has balance.

Nut milk, avocado, chia seeds and protein powder are nice options.

For more information on juicers, visit www.surlatable.com/Juicing.

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food, food coach, lori corbin

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