Different Types of Commercial Juicers

Choosing the Right Commercial Juicer

When you are looking for a commercial juicer, there are two big questions you need to ask.

What Are You Juicing?

Not all juicers are created equal. Different types of juicers are ideal for juicing different types of fruits and vegetables.

If you only want to juice citrus fruits, then a manual or electric citrus juicer is a great choice for you. If you want to juice herbs or wheatgrass, you will want to go with a wheatgrass juicer.

How Much Are You Juicing?

The amount of juice you want to produce is an essential factor in picking the right juicer for your application. If you only want to squeeze some fresh lemon juice for cocktails, then a manual juicer might be just the thing for you. On the other hand, if you want to bottle juice for sale, you will want an electric commercial juicer that can handle a high volume and demand.

Benefits of Fresh Juice

There is no doubt that fresh-squeezed juice is full of healthy vitamins and nutrients. And offering this option to customers at your health club, spa, restaurant, or hotel can be pretty healthy for your bottom line, too!

How Juice Can Grow Your Business

If you are looking for a profitable way to expand your menu, adding fresh juices may be the way to go.

• Reduce Waste: If produce is overripe and past its prime for serving whole, you may be able to use it in juices and smoothies rather than throwing it out.
• Big Profits: Fresh juice products can have high profit margins and minimal overhead.
• All Day Sales: Juice can be paired with breakfast orders, sold after mid-day workouts and spa treatments, or stirred into specialty cocktails at night.
• On Trend: Fresh juices are popular and trendy, plus you can cash in on consumers' growing desire to eat healthy.
• A Healthy Option: Cater to a wider customer base by providing health-conscious customers with an option that fits their lifestyle.
• Switch it Up: Seasonal juices made using local ingredients can show a commitment to your community while drawing customers back to see what's new, all year long.

The Health Benefits of Juicing

Juice contains many beneficial nutrients and it can be a great way to add more variety of fruits and vegetables to the diet. For customers who are looking for that benefit, or just want a healthy and refreshing alternative to sugary sodas or coffee drinks, fresh juice is a delicious option. Many types of juice (like wheatgrass) are also great for adding boosts of energy and nutrients to smoothies and drinks!

One thing to keep in mind is that health experts don't recommend using juice as a meal replacement. Also, eating fruits and veggies whole will still give you the most benefit. Many types of juice just don't contain the same amount of fiber and certain other nutrients as their whole food counterparts.

So, is fresh-squeezed juice good for you? The short answer is, yes! But remember that there is more to the story.

Juicing Safety and Regulations

Creating homemade juices can be a healthy and profitable addition to your menu - or a great business on its own! But keep in mind that there are some special considerations when selling, bottling, or distributing fresh juice.

Juicing Regulations and Licensing

Many municipalities and health departments have special requirements for juicing operations. Be sure to check with your city and state regulatory agencies before starting your juice operation.

HACCP Guidelines

Because juice is prepared from fresh foods and is often not processed further, it is especially important to ensure that fruits and vegetables are clean, follow food safety guidelines, and have documentation procedures in place.

A HACCP plan is a great way to ensure safety in any food operation. It is highly recommended for juice-making operations and sometimes even required if you will be selling your product off site. Be sure to check all the necessary regulatory codes to see if you are required to have a HACCP plan.

Using Juicers Safely

Commercial juicing equipment has moving parts that break down fruits, vegetables, greens, or herbs to remove the juice from the solids. Because of this, you will want to follow a few simple safety guidelines.

• Read the manufacturer's instructions for use of your unit to ensure safe operation.
• Ensure that all staff members who will be using the equipment are properly trained.
• Never push food through a juicer using your hands or cooking utensils. Use only the provided pusher.
• Be sure food is properly prepared before placing it in the juicer. Depending on the type of produce used and the type of juicer, large seeds, stems, and thick peels should be removed. You may also need to cut up large items.

Keeping Juice Extractors Clean

To make sure your juice production equipment is always ready to use, it is important to clean the units right away after they have been used. Waiting to clean a juicer allows residual juice and pulp to dry in the machine, making it difficult to clean later. Many types of fruit juice are quite acidic, too, so cleaning your unit right away will help reduce corrosion.