If you have spent any time around us here at Utopia Wellness, you know that we are crazy about juicing! Juicing offers many life-enhancing health benefits including a more efficient way to absorb immune boosting nutrients naturally found in fruits and vegetables. Juicing is the fastest way to get these great nutrients into your bloodstream and give your body an alkaline boost.
We recommend to our campers that they purchase organic fruits and vegetables, but they still must be cleansed prior to juicing. It is important to use safety precautions when preparing produce for juicing in a home juicer. Remember, this is an unpasteurized juice and it may increase your risk of food contamination.Follow these steps below every time you prepare your healthy and delicious juicing creations!
Step 1: Choose fresh, ripe, organic vegetables for juicing. Examine your vegetables for signs of damage and bruising, avoiding those that contain brown spots and bruises. When purchasing cut produce, such as bagged mixed greens, select only ones that you find in the refrigerated section of your produce department. Place your fresh produce selections in plastic bags to keep them away from raw meats and other sources of bacteria and contamination.
Step 2: When you bring your produce home from the market cleanse the vegetables thoroughly by soaking them in cold water and white distilled vinegar. Use a ratio of ten cups of water to cup of vinegar. Use a vegetable brush to scrub the outside of firm vegetables. Allow the vegetables to dry prior to placing them in plastic bags.
Step 3: Store your fresh produce in a cool area until you are ready to make juice. Keep them in a refrigerator with a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Although not all vegetables require refrigeration, this is a good rule of thumb when making fresh juice from produce.
Step 4: Remove your vegetables from your refrigerator when you want to make your juice. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends washing your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before you prepare to handle fresh produce. Rinse and re-inspect your vegetables.
Step 5: Dry the wet vegetables with clean paper towels to help remove any remaining bacteria from the surfaces. Place your vegetables on a clean cutting board. Cut off any bruised areas or soft spots. Cut the vegetables into wedges small enough to fit in the opening of your juicing machine. Feed the vegetables through your juicer according to the instructions included with your machine.
Step 6: Drink and enjoy!
