How to Unclog Your Juicer: 3 Easy Ways to Prevent Your Juicer from Getting Clogged

Don't Let a Clog Stop Your Juicing: 3 Surefire Ways to Unclog Jams

Juicing is a great way to get more vitamins, minerals, and nutrients into your diet from fruits and vegetables. But one common frustration juicer owners face is a clogged machine. Fibrous produce can get jammed in juicer parts, stopping the flow of juice and hindering performance.

If you've noticed pulp building up, juice dripping slowly, or loud strains and noises coming from your juicer, chances are you have a clog. But don't despair! With the right techniques, you can get your juicer unclogged and keep it running smoothly.

There are three main methods for unclogging juicers, which include:

1. Disassemble and clean individual parts

2. Flush with water and citric juices such as lemon and lime

3. Use hard produce such as apples or carrots to flush out fibrous material like leafy greens

By taking apart your juicer and scrubbing pulp residue, flushing the interior basket, or running hard fruit and vegetables that naturally help clear jams, you can fix your clog.

In this article, I'll tell you some of the main causes of juicer clogging and provide some of the steps you can take to unclog your juicer, such as cleaning, flushing, and using hard fruit and veggies, as well as tips to prevent future clogs so you can keep juicing with minimal interruptions.

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Why Is My Juicer Getting Clogged?

Several factors can cause juice extractor clogs:

Fibrous Produce - Stringy veggies like leafy greens such as spinach and kale, broccoli, and cauliflower easily get tangled and stuck. Their pulp contains tough insoluble fiber that can build up and block juicer mechanisms.

Improper Assembly - If parts like filters, meshes, or augers aren’t fitted correctly in place, gaps can form where pulp can slip through and accumulate in crevices.

Infrequent Cleaning - Neglecting to regularly disassemble and thoroughly wash all juicer components allows fiber and residue to accumulate in nooks over time. This results in the fine mesh of the juicing screen getting blocked by minerals which stops the juice flowing freely.

Overloading - Putting too much produce into the feed chute at once overworks the juicing mechanisms leading to jams. Take care not to overload.

Underpowered Motor - Weaker motors can struggle and seize up when processing highly fibrous fruits and vegetables, resulting in clogs.

By understanding what causes clogs in the first place, you can take steps to prevent them through proper juicing methods.

Cold pressed juicers

It is also worth noting that cold-pressed juicers, also known as masticating or slow juicers, are especially susceptible to clogging compared to centrifugal types. Because they run at slower speeds and crush produce through a tight auger and screen, dense pulp from fibrous fruits and veggies is more likely to jam up in the constricted juicing pathway.

Their slower, grinding operation generates more friction against produce fiber. So take extra care when juicing with a cold-pressed model and be vigilant about disassembly cleaning and unclogging methods. The slower speed leads to more clogs but also results in higher juice quality and nutrient retention.

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How to Unclog Your Juicer

Method 1: Disassemble and Clean Individual Parts

For most clogs, taking apart your juicer to access and clean specific components does the trick. This should be your first action anytime juicer performance declines.

Step 1 - Always unplug the juicer before disassembling. Remove any large produce pieces or debris clogging the exterior feed chute.

Step 2 - Follow manufacturer instructions to fully disassemble the juicer and take out all clogged parts like the filter basket, pulp container, auger, juicing screen, blade, and any other removable components. These are where wet pulp accumulates and jams mechanisms.

Step 3 - Thoroughly rinse disassembled parts under warm water while gently scrubbing with a soft brush or sponge to loosen and dislodge wet pulp. Take care of delicate parts and screens. Avoid abrasive scouring pads that could damage components.

Step 4 - Check the entire interior of the juicer base, especially crevices around the spinning blade, for any remaining residue and clean extensively with a small brush and towel. The built-up pulp in the base can throw off juicer alignment.

Step 5 - Before reassembling, dry individual components fully with a towel to prevent reintroducing moisture. Then reassemble according to directions, making sure all parts are fully secured and fitted properly in place. Improper reassembly is a top cause of reoccurring clogs.

Step 6 - Run clean water through the fully assembled juicer to test performance before attempting to juice again. Check for leaks, abnormal noises, or other issues.

Completely breaking down your juicer and cleaning all parts after each use makes unclogging much quicker and prevents build-up. Get in the habit of taking just 5-10 extra minutes after every use to disassemble, clean fully, and dry individual components.

Method 2: Flush With Water

For minor clogs without full blockages, you may be able to clear debris by flushing the juicer interior with water. This can supplement full disassembly cleanings.

Step 1 - Remove any large visible produce pieces clogging the exterior feed chute before flushing.

Step 2 - Fill a 16 oz glass measuring cup with 8-12 oz of warm water. Warm water is more effective at dissolving pulp remnants than cold.

Step 3 - With the assembled juicer turned on at a low-speed setting, slowly and steadily pour the warm water down the feed chute.

Step 4 - Continue flushing with warm water for 1-2 full minutes, allowing the constant water flow to dislodge and rinse away bits of pulp buildup from interior crevices, mesh screens, and tight spaces that are hard to clean by hand.

Step 5 - Follow up the warm water flush by running 1-2 quartered citrus fruits (lemon, lime, orange) through the juicer. The citric acid and skin can help scrub away any remaining debris.

Step 6 - Resume juicing fresh produce as normal, carefully monitoring for any continued reduction in performance. Repeat water flush as soon as clogging recurs.

Repeating the warm water flush after every 3-4 uses helps prevent accumulation of residue between full cleanings. This simple method keeps your juicer in prime operating condition.

Method 3: Use hard Produce to Clear Clogs

As a fast fix, you can run certain hard fruits and vegetables through a clogged juicer to help naturally clear jams. This works especially well when the juicer has been clogged by leafy greens like spinach or Kale.

Carrots - Their dense, firm texture helps dislodge fiber buildup as they pass through the juicer.

Beets - Highly fibrous beets generate friction to scrape away the residue as they grind through the juicer.

Parsnips - The gritty fiber in parsnips works to scour and scrub clogged screens as it juices.

Apples - Their high liquid content helps rinse remnants, while the skin scrapes and dislodges built-up fiber clumps, especially near meshes.

Pears - The gritty nature of pear flesh assists in wearing down and removing clogged residue. Select firm pears.

Celery - Its notoriously stringy fibers move through the juicer, sweeping the interior and wiping away debris. Celery acts like a natural scrub brush.

When you notice pulp building up and juice flow slowing, reach for one of these natural produce cleaners to clear your juicer while still gaining nutritional benefits.

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Related articles:

• 5 Ways To Get More Juice Out Of Your Juicer

• Cold Pressed Juice Storage Tips: How Long Does it Last in the Fridge?

• Can You Juice Leafy Greens? 6 Tips for Maximum Extraction

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Juicing Methods to Prevent Clogs

While clogs can still occur occasionally even with proper habits, smart juicing techniques can greatly reduce their frequency:

Alternate Produce - Switch between hard and fibrous produce rather than juicing a lot of the same type in a row. This allows time for the pulp to clear between fibrous items.

Cut into Smaller Pieces - Dicing dense fruits and veggies into 1-2 inch chunks before dropping into the chute avoids overloading the juicer. Smaller pieces juice more smoothly.

Don’t Overfill - Resist packing too much cut produce into the feed chute at once. Overfilling can overwork the mechanisms leading to certain jams. Juice in smaller batches.

Juice Softer Produce First - Start juicing sessions with softer fruits and non-leafy veggies. Then tackle tougher celery, leafy greens, etc. once the juicer is primed and running smoothly.

Clean After Each Use - Quickly rinse, scrub, and empty pulp from all parts between juices to prevent moist residue from accumulating and drying.

Follow Manual - Check your juicer's guidelines for optimal produce prep, sizing, loading, and assembly to get the best performance. Don't cut corners.

Adhering to best practices while prepping and juicing makes a major difference in avoiding most jams. But even using great habits, occasional clogs still occur. You're now equipped to quickly address them!

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Unclog and Keep Juicing!

Nobody wants their juicing ritual interrupted by the frustration of a clogged appliance. But by disassembling and cleaning all individual parts, flushing your juicer with warm water, or running harder produce through it, you can swiftly fix most types of jams.

Remember that taking just a few minutes to fully clean your juicer after every single use makes a huge difference in preventing clogs from ever forming in the first place. Consistently alternating produce, properly loading the juicer, and juicing softer items first also keep pulp from rapidly accumulating.

Don’t let an inevitable yet manageable clogged juicer stop you from reaping all the nutrition from fresh fruits and vegetables. With a few simple unclogging methods and smart preventive habits, you can keep your juice flowing smoothly for all your juicing needs!

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About author

Gavin is the owner of Tru Foo Juice Bar. He has over 6 years of experience running a juice bar and creating juice and smoothie recipes for the consumer market

His passion for juicing began in his early 20s as he explored natural ways to boost nutrition and energy. Over the years, Gavin has experimented with countless ingredient combinations to create the perfect juice and smoothie blends and bring them to the masses.