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Thinking of buying a new juicer? Looking at the vertical juicers? Trying to decide which juicer will meet your needs? Here are some thing... -
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I have reviewed the Omega VRT350HD vertical juicer in 8 previous posts starting September 25, 2011. The problems persist even though I have... -
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Monday, July 30, 2012
Who's looking at Southwestern Desert Blogger This Week?
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Got More Omega VRT350HD Search Terms
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Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Got Heat?
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| Blooming non-native Carrion flowers, 1/2 inch |
The earth is hot. The tap water is very warm because the pipes in the earth are warm. You need some ice cubes if you want a cool drink.
I look forward to melon season. You can juice cantaloupe or watermelon with some cucumber, or just eat the sweet melons.
Hope all you cowboys and cowgirls are staying cool,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c) 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Got Search Terms?
Here is a partial list of the search terms that got you to my site during the past week:
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Friday, June 8, 2012
Review of the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer
Today it is 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) in the shade and bound to get hotter as the afternoon progresses. Enough small talk. The news is, I got a new juicer! If you have been following my blog you remember I got an Omega VRT350HD juicer. It had several problems. I got replacement parts. The problems persisted. The company sent me a second juicer. The problems persisted and got worse. It was problematic to get a refund, but I persisted and finally got my money back and returned the juicer.
I went back to using my old centrifugal juicer. It is over 16 years old and has been through several juice fasts and years of constant service. It is getting old. I will save it as a back up juicer now that I have a new Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer. From Omega VRT to Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer . . . who'd have thought?
I bought my Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer at that BIG BOX store I lovingly call Costlo, because you can get name brand items and produce at low prices. It is a members only shopping venue with money back guarantee on everything they sell. So, no risk. If you don't like it, return it for a refund. Can you do that with your Omega VRT350HD juicer? I hope so. Unfortunately, the online merchant I purchased my VRT350HD from did not see it that way. I had to really push hard to get my money back. But back to the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer.
My new Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer is Model E-1188. It is a centrifugal juicer. My final cost, including sales tax, was under $100 (US). Great price with a money back guarantee. It comes with a 190 page Fresh Recipe Collection and detailed instruction book with color photos. The instructions are great for beginning juicers and seasoned juicing veterans may pick up a few tips, too. The recipes include smoothies, recipes using the juicer pulp, cooked and raw recipes, soups, salads, dips, dressings, salsas, baked goods, frozen treats, smoothies and juices. There are aver 100 pages of juice recipes with beautiful color photos.
The instruction section includes General Guidelines for Juicing, a Produce Chart indicating which fruits and vegetables are ideal for juicing, and which are challenging. There is a nice "Juice and Pulp Yield Per Produce" chart which indicates, for example, how much juice and pulp you can expect to get from 5 large carrots, 4 celery stalks, 1 large cucumber, etc.
The Power of Pulp section in the Introductory Notes says that nothing need be wasted because there are "pulp friendly" recipes in the recipe section. And, if you like pulp in your juice, just take some from the pulp collector and add it back to your pulp-free juice, stir it, and enjoy (if you like pulpy juice). I like a pulp free vegetable juice, and that is what this juicer produces. It is my dream come true.
It is quiet. There is a hum from the motor, but certainly acceptable. For my trial run, I juiced carrots, 2 at a time, a full, fat, stalk and a half of celery including the dense core, and pineapple, including the core (no skin). The juicer did fine for more than a quart of juice and then there was some overflow from the fibrous pineapple. But, had I read the description of Pineapples under Guidelines for Juicing, I would have been forewarned that very ripe pineapple can be stringy and sometimes cause blockages of the spout. That is what happened. But remember, I juiced all that celery also, and only cut some of the stalks in half.
Considering all the stringy celery and very ripe pineapple, I think the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer passed the test. It produced over a quart of juice before any blockage. Under normal conditions, juicing a combination of carrot, celery, spinach, romain, beet, apple, ginger, cucumber, and a bit of very ripe pineapple, I have enjoyed smooth, pulp-free, string-free, juice with no spills, no overflows, no blockages, no strings, no pulp, no problems. I just cut celery stalks in half, and gently push through all produce. I put a handful or two of baby spinach into the chute and then push it down with a carrot or two. I most often juice 2 carrots at a time. Sometimes they almost juice themselves with only the weight of the pusher tool. I let the bulk of the juice exit the exit port before juicing more produce as a common sense precaution to prevent overflow. Depending on how stringy my choice of produce is, I may unplug the juicer after juicing a pint, open it, clean any fiber or pulp off the screen, replace the cover, lock it, and continue juicing.
Cleaning the juicer is surprisingly easy. The juicer came with a cleaning brush that I hardly ever need to use. Most of the cleaning can be done with a sponge and soapy water. Even the juicer screen, typically the hardest part to clean, can be cleaned almost entirely with a kitchen sponge. The grating wheel is easily cleaned with any kitchen brush and running water. All other parts rinse clean with sponge, soap, and water or a bit of brushing if needed.
The grating wheel is tightened and unscrewed with a "key" they call the crescent tool. It allows the grating wheel (they call "blade") to be separated from the screen for easy, efficient cleaning. The key must not be lost. In older models of the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer I worried about losing the key. This new model has a magnetic key, so it will magnetically stick to the juicer. I stick it on my stove. This magnetic key is an improved feature. I feel confident it will not get lost. Overall, this juicer is easier to efficiently clean than the Omega VRT350HD. There are not the several small areas that I had difficulty cleaning on the VRT350.
For ease of use, the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer has a large, wide feed chute. I can juice a small apple, whole. For ease of cleaning, I give it a 9.5 out of 10. The Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer also comes with an instructional DVD which covers these topics: Getting Started, Tips & Tricks, Cleaning, Troubleshooting. I have not watched the DVD. The 22 page Operating Manual is so complete (read the Q & A section, too), plus the Quick Start Guide, and Fresh Recipe Collection Book that comes with the Costlo (aka Costco) Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer that I have all the info I need. I would recommend this for a beginner or any other person wanting a reasonably priced, decently made, reasonably quiet, easy to clean and use juicer with good information and instructions included. All this for under $100.
The last page of the Operating Manual has an order form for replacement parts. The Lid with Pulp Guard, Pulp Collector, Filter, Replacement Blade, Crescent Tool, and Pusher cost under (US) $10 each, including shipping and handling, to replace. Much more economical than the Omega VRT350HD parts as I recall.
If you are not sure you will love juicing, you will stick to juicing after your juice fast, you have the patience to clean the juicer after each use, and if you are on a budget or just can't see spending the better part of $400 (US) for a vertical juicer, consider the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer available at the big box store I lovingly call Costlo. If your Omega VRT350HD juicer is delivering too much pulp, squeaking, jamming, overflowing, too hard to effectively clean, or just generally frustrating you, consider switching.
I Am glad I did.
Enjoying the Juice,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012 P.S. To support this blog, use discount code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com . They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements (Garden of Life), raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, organic soaps, raw organic cacao, organic raw chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, kelp noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts. Currently, they ship free for US orders of $20 or more. They also ship internationally. Just enter code WAL660 at check out. Plus, there are helpful product reviews. And more free: iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order. www.iherb.com . Thanks.
I went back to using my old centrifugal juicer. It is over 16 years old and has been through several juice fasts and years of constant service. It is getting old. I will save it as a back up juicer now that I have a new Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer. From Omega VRT to Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer . . . who'd have thought?
 |
| Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer, photo of the box |
I bought my Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer at that BIG BOX store I lovingly call Costlo, because you can get name brand items and produce at low prices. It is a members only shopping venue with money back guarantee on everything they sell. So, no risk. If you don't like it, return it for a refund. Can you do that with your Omega VRT350HD juicer? I hope so. Unfortunately, the online merchant I purchased my VRT350HD from did not see it that way. I had to really push hard to get my money back. But back to the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer.
My new Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer is Model E-1188. It is a centrifugal juicer. My final cost, including sales tax, was under $100 (US). Great price with a money back guarantee. It comes with a 190 page Fresh Recipe Collection and detailed instruction book with color photos. The instructions are great for beginning juicers and seasoned juicing veterans may pick up a few tips, too. The recipes include smoothies, recipes using the juicer pulp, cooked and raw recipes, soups, salads, dips, dressings, salsas, baked goods, frozen treats, smoothies and juices. There are aver 100 pages of juice recipes with beautiful color photos.
The instruction section includes General Guidelines for Juicing, a Produce Chart indicating which fruits and vegetables are ideal for juicing, and which are challenging. There is a nice "Juice and Pulp Yield Per Produce" chart which indicates, for example, how much juice and pulp you can expect to get from 5 large carrots, 4 celery stalks, 1 large cucumber, etc.
The Power of Pulp section in the Introductory Notes says that nothing need be wasted because there are "pulp friendly" recipes in the recipe section. And, if you like pulp in your juice, just take some from the pulp collector and add it back to your pulp-free juice, stir it, and enjoy (if you like pulpy juice). I like a pulp free vegetable juice, and that is what this juicer produces. It is my dream come true.
It is quiet. There is a hum from the motor, but certainly acceptable. For my trial run, I juiced carrots, 2 at a time, a full, fat, stalk and a half of celery including the dense core, and pineapple, including the core (no skin). The juicer did fine for more than a quart of juice and then there was some overflow from the fibrous pineapple. But, had I read the description of Pineapples under Guidelines for Juicing, I would have been forewarned that very ripe pineapple can be stringy and sometimes cause blockages of the spout. That is what happened. But remember, I juiced all that celery also, and only cut some of the stalks in half.
Considering all the stringy celery and very ripe pineapple, I think the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer passed the test. It produced over a quart of juice before any blockage. Under normal conditions, juicing a combination of carrot, celery, spinach, romain, beet, apple, ginger, cucumber, and a bit of very ripe pineapple, I have enjoyed smooth, pulp-free, string-free, juice with no spills, no overflows, no blockages, no strings, no pulp, no problems. I just cut celery stalks in half, and gently push through all produce. I put a handful or two of baby spinach into the chute and then push it down with a carrot or two. I most often juice 2 carrots at a time. Sometimes they almost juice themselves with only the weight of the pusher tool. I let the bulk of the juice exit the exit port before juicing more produce as a common sense precaution to prevent overflow. Depending on how stringy my choice of produce is, I may unplug the juicer after juicing a pint, open it, clean any fiber or pulp off the screen, replace the cover, lock it, and continue juicing.
Cleaning the juicer is surprisingly easy. The juicer came with a cleaning brush that I hardly ever need to use. Most of the cleaning can be done with a sponge and soapy water. Even the juicer screen, typically the hardest part to clean, can be cleaned almost entirely with a kitchen sponge. The grating wheel is easily cleaned with any kitchen brush and running water. All other parts rinse clean with sponge, soap, and water or a bit of brushing if needed.
The grating wheel is tightened and unscrewed with a "key" they call the crescent tool. It allows the grating wheel (they call "blade") to be separated from the screen for easy, efficient cleaning. The key must not be lost. In older models of the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer I worried about losing the key. This new model has a magnetic key, so it will magnetically stick to the juicer. I stick it on my stove. This magnetic key is an improved feature. I feel confident it will not get lost. Overall, this juicer is easier to efficiently clean than the Omega VRT350HD. There are not the several small areas that I had difficulty cleaning on the VRT350.
For ease of use, the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer has a large, wide feed chute. I can juice a small apple, whole. For ease of cleaning, I give it a 9.5 out of 10. The Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer also comes with an instructional DVD which covers these topics: Getting Started, Tips & Tricks, Cleaning, Troubleshooting. I have not watched the DVD. The 22 page Operating Manual is so complete (read the Q & A section, too), plus the Quick Start Guide, and Fresh Recipe Collection Book that comes with the Costlo (aka Costco) Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer that I have all the info I need. I would recommend this for a beginner or any other person wanting a reasonably priced, decently made, reasonably quiet, easy to clean and use juicer with good information and instructions included. All this for under $100.
The last page of the Operating Manual has an order form for replacement parts. The Lid with Pulp Guard, Pulp Collector, Filter, Replacement Blade, Crescent Tool, and Pusher cost under (US) $10 each, including shipping and handling, to replace. Much more economical than the Omega VRT350HD parts as I recall.
If you are not sure you will love juicing, you will stick to juicing after your juice fast, you have the patience to clean the juicer after each use, and if you are on a budget or just can't see spending the better part of $400 (US) for a vertical juicer, consider the Jack LaLanne's Power Juicer available at the big box store I lovingly call Costlo. If your Omega VRT350HD juicer is delivering too much pulp, squeaking, jamming, overflowing, too hard to effectively clean, or just generally frustrating you, consider switching.
I Am glad I did.
Enjoying the Juice,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012 P.S. To support this blog, use discount code WAL660 for $5 off first purchase at www.iherb.com . They sell nutritional supplements, raw supplements (Garden of Life), raw and organic food such as tahini, coconut oils, energy bars, goji, etc., herbs, teas, organic and natural shampoos, conditioners, skin creams and lotions, cosmetics, dry skin brushes, Madre Labs acai and Cafeceps, organic soaps, raw organic cacao, organic raw chia seed, hemp seed, seaweed, nuts, kelp noodles, oils, homeopathics, organic pet food, etc. at discounts. Currently, they ship free for US orders of $20 or more. They also ship internationally. Just enter code WAL660 at check out. Plus, there are helpful product reviews. And more free: iherb offers a variety of FREE PRODUCTS to sample, so be sure to select one with your order. www.iherb.com . Thanks.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Got Watchers?
"[I am] not even two bites into breakfast, and there are already nearly
25 sites that are tracking me. I have navigated to a total of four.” -- Gary Kovacs, Tracking the Trackers
Who is tracking you online?
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_kovacs_tracking_the_trackers.html
Worth watching,
from Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012
Who is tracking you online?
http://www.ted.com/talks/gary_kovacs_tracking_the_trackers.html
Worth watching,
from Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Got Omega VRT350 HD "Issues" ?
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Friday, May 11, 2012
Hovering 'round 100
Enjoy the blooming non-indigenous plant we call the "Bishop's Cap."
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| Each "Bishop's Cap" flower blooms for only one day. Notice the closed and wilted flowers from previous days around the fresh yellow bloom. |
Getting philosophical in the desert garden,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
New Blogger Format?
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| Prickly Pear in bloom -- I'm waiting for the fruit |
Until I figure out the new Blogger format, which currently seems restrictive and irritating, I may not be posting. Send me a comment if you want more posts -- I need your feedback regarding what sort of topics interest you, and / or any of your thoughts.
Scroll down and see my previous posts and the slide show at the bottom of the page -- Is it still there? There should be a list of post topics down there also, so you can find posts of interest. Some of the posts are hot, some are not. I can't even figure out how to edit with the new Blogger. Where's the "edit" function?
See my most popular post if you scroll down to 12/3/11.
Recommendation: Check out www.iherb.com for discounts on health foods, raw foods, superfoods, organics, chia, cacao, maca, acai, shampoos, hemp seed, coconut oil, raw food bars, a variety of proteins, vitamins, minerals, herbs, even organic soaps and pet foods. Use discount code WAL660 at checkout for $5 off first purchase and free shipping for orders over $20. They ship international. There are helpful product reviews and other information on the site. I have been doing business with them for many years and shipping is expedient, the prices are super, and the selection is amazing. Hope this helps.
If I cannot figure out the new format, this will be the last rodeo.
Your
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
The Heat Is On
The temperature hit 101 in the shade yesterday. It seemed to be near 70 degrees (Fahrenheit) before sunrise this morning. It is getting seriously hot in the Southwest Desert. There may be a few cooler days later this week, but I put an extra ice cube tray in the freezer anyway.
Above is a photo of a Palo Verde Tree in full bloom. Enjoy.
On the edge of breaking a sweat,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012
On the edge of breaking a sweat,
Southwest Desert Blogger
C. (c)2012
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