Don't worry if you don't own a juicer. This sweet and energizing Apple, Carrot, and Ginger Juice can be made at home using a basic blender and nut milk bag!
I love when I can enjoy a large glass of fresh fruit and vegetable juice. Especially living in hot and humid Malaysia, sipping on a glass of chilly watermelon mint juice is such a refreshing way to start the day or get me through a long afternoon.
While I love smoothies like this chocolate smoothie with frozen cauliflower or this refreshing green smoothie, sometimes I just need a lighter drink. That's when I make juice in a blender!
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Why I Make Juice in a Blender!
My husband and I have loved getting juice for a special treat for years, but it can get super expensive to buy it at the store or a juice stand. But to be honest I really can't bring myself to buy another appliance (in this case a juicer). I already have enough dishes to wash!
That's why I make juice in a blender. Yes, you can make fresh juice in a blender in the comfort of your own home! And no, you don't need a high speed, super expensive blender to do it, either. While I LOVE my Vitamix and use it daily, any blender will do.
Plus, making juice in a blender is easy, cost-effective and doesn't require a lot of clean up.
Ingredients
As much as I'm obsessed with simple fruit juices like this watermelon mint juice or simple apple juice from a carton, I prefer to add vegetables to our homemade juice most of the time for some added nutrition.
If you're new to vegetable juice, this apple, carrot and ginger juice is a great recipe to start with! Carrots are naturally sweet and pair perfectly with the sweet, tangy apples and spicy ginger. If you don't like ginger you can omit it or just add a small amount. To make this carrot apple juice, you'll need the following:
- Apples - I would recommend using your favorite red apples in this recipe. Green apples are pretty tart and when paired with the lemon and ginger, you'll end up with a pretty spice and sour juice.
- Carrots - I like to peel my carrots for this apple carrot juice recipe as the skin of carrots can be a little bitter.
- Fresh ginger - Whenever I'm making juice in a blender, I like to use herbs or aromatics. Ginger and turmeric are great ingredients to include in homemade juice. For this apple and carrot juice recipe, I love using ginger. Just be sure to peel your ginger if it's not organic.
- Lemon - Citrus is such a beautiful addition to homemade juice, especially if you're trying to make green juice in a blender. The acid helps to cut the bitter taste of the greens. In today's recipe for apple juice, the lemon juice adds a nice light, vibrant taste. And some tartness too, of course!
See recipe card for full list of ingredients and quantities.
Substitutions & Variations
Once you learn how to make juice in a blender, you really can use any combination of fruits, veggies, herbs, etc. that you like. I'll list out some different juice ideas that you can make in your blender!
- Green Juice - Place cut up green apples, cucumbers, romaine, kale, celery, ginger and lemon juice into a blender and add a little bit of water. Because green vegetables have high water contents, you won't need as much water. You can always add more if needed. Blend everything until smooth and strain through a nut milk bag.
- Apple Juice - During apple season, make apple juice in a blender by chopping up a variety of different apples and blending them with some water. Strain the mixture through a nut milk bag to get smooth, sweet apple juice!
- Watermelon Juice - I love to make watermelon juice when my watermelon is a little mushy, but still sweet. Just add it to a blender with a tamper (no water needed) and blend until smooth. Strain the pulp out with a nut milk bag and enjoy!
- Carrot Juice - You can make carrot juice using the same method listed above. When making carrot juice in a blender, however, you'll need to add some water to help the carrots blend.
- Beetroot Juice - If you're brave, you can make straight-up beet juice by blending cooked beets with a little bit of water. Again, strain the mixture through a nut milk bag and enjoy! Just know that your nut milk bag will probably be stained purple from here on out.
How To Make Juice In A Blender
Step 1: Place all of the ingredients into a high speed blender (or regular blender!) and add water about ⅔-3/4 of the way up the ingredients.
Step 2: Blend everything well until smooth.
Step 4: Using a nut milk bag or some cheese cloth, strain the blended mixture to remove the pulp. Discard the pulp.
Step 3: Pour the fresh juice into glasses and enjoy!
How to Make Juice with a Nut Milk Bag
When you're making juice at home using a blender, your initial product after blending will technically be a smoothie. So to transform a smoothie into juice, you'll need to strain out the pulp. I do this by using a nut milk bag, but you can also use some cheese cloth. I've also heard an old, clean shirt can work!
To use a nut milk bag to make juice, place your nut milk bag inside of a large pot or bowl and pour the carrot/apple mixture through the bag. Using your hands, squeeze the bag until all the juice has been removed and only the pulp remains in the bag. You can discard the fruit and veggie pulp, or if you're resourceful, use it for another recipe.
Storage
I would recommend enjoying your homemade juice right after making it as it will be the freshest. If you add an acid, like lemon juice in this case, you can store your homemade juice in a sealed jar for about 1 day in the fridge. I wouldn't keep it longer than that though!
Are Smoothies or Juice Better for You?
There seems to be a debate on whether consuming juice or smoothies is healthier. I personally think they both can play a nutritious roll in a balanced diet. A main pro for smoothies is that they retain all the fiber from the fruits and vegetables. The fiber from the fruits and vegetables helps balance out all the sugar from the fruit and won't give you as big of a sugar rush.
Juice, on the other hand, has been stripped of all the fiber. So if you're enjoying fruit juice made entirely with juice, you'll be consuming a lot of sugar without any fiber to balance it out. However, some people may prefer juice for that exact reason. Due to it's lack of fiber it's less filling than a smoothie while still allowing you to consume a high volume of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. If you are worried about getting a big sugar rush, stick to more veggie-based juices!
More Juice and Smoothie Recipes
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
📖 Recipe
Apple, Carrot, and Ginger Juice using a Blender
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 large apple cored
- 2 large carrots peeled
- ½ inch piece fresh ginger
- ½ lemon peeled and deseeded
- 1 ½ cups filtered water
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients into a high speed blender and blend until smooth.
- Using a nut milk bag or very fine strainer, strain the blended mixture to remove the pulp. To do this, place a nut milk bag inside of a large pot or bowl and pour the carrot/apple mixture through the bag. Using your hands, squeeze the bag until all the juice has been removed and only the pulp remains.
- Pour the fresh juice into two glasses and enjoy!
Notes
- If your ginger isn't organic, be sure to peel it.
- If you don't have a nut milk bag, you can also use some cheese cloth. I've also heard a clean t-shirt could work!
Linda says
I recently read this post that I found to be absolutely amazing and incredibly helpful. It was well-written, informative, and presented in a very easy-to-understand manner. The post covered a range of topics, from the basics to more complex topics, and was very comprehensive.
Faith VanderMolen says
Thanks for sharing!
Saunny Murray says
Hello, thank you for sharing this recipe. It’s surprising there’s not any vitamin c or potassium.
Faith VanderMolen says
You're so welcome! And our nutrition calculator isn't entirely accurate so keep that in mind. I'm guessing there is definitely vitamin C and potassium in this drink!
jerry D Martin says
what do I do with the pulp from apple/carrot???
what to add too for taste to eat
it has to be good us
Faith VanderMolen says
You could try this recipe! https://lovetobeinthekitchen.com/2016/04/11/healthy-juice-pulp-muffins/
Suzanne says
I don't have a juicer but did some research and saved some money. I went to fabric store and bought some voile ( 1/2 yard for $3. I cut off a piece about 20 x 16 and this recipe was perfectly strained. I can reuse plus have enough left to make 7 more. Much cheaper than nut milk bags.
This juice was very tasty but quite tangy. I drank a glass full and still have about 1/2 glass left for later. I'm going to try sweetening it up a bit with maybe some pineapple next time.
Faith says
Hi Suzanne! I'm glad you found a way to save money while enjoying juice. The voile is a great suggestion, thanks! And definitely adjust the ingredients to suite your taste. Some pineapple would be delicious in this recipe. Good luck!
Suzanne says
Thank you!!!
Faith says
My pleasure!
DC says
Or just buy a Vitamix and you get all the benefits of the natural pulp, totally smoothed out in the drink.
Faith VanderMolen says
Yes! If you have a high speed blender, then you can definitely just enjoy this as a smoothie. Thanks for sharing!
E says
Hi ,
Can you leave the pulp in and still drink it , or does straining it make it taste better?
Faith VanderMolen says
I guess you can leave the pulp in. It would just be a thicker smoothie that way!
Ben Adam says
Faith i appreciate ur sharing and ur love for natural and real pure things... people so calling me traditional naturopath ... im practicing of cupping acupressure acupuncture reflexology and herbs... I also wrote one book Nature is my Medicine... if u visit my facebook page it will be great pleasure for me please to hav a kind look on my health page... I like to make educated knwledagable friends ... sharing is caring ... my page on fb is
http://www.facebook.com/islamihealthcare
dr.muhammad medical consultant
Faith says
Hello Ben. Thank you for your comment! It's exciting what you're doing and I'll definitely check out your FB page. Thanks!
Sylvester says
I am too fat can this mixture help me to reduce fat?.sylvester Ackah from Ghana
Faith says
Hi Sylvester! And hello Ghana! I'm not a nutritionist, but I don't think just one food will help with weight loss. It really depends on your entire diet, everything you eat throughout he week! It definitely wouldn't hurt to include more fresh vegetable juices into your diet though. I hope you try this!
Sandra says
The juice looks gorgeous and I loved your thoughts about idolizing the food.
PS! Cranberries woud also go great in this juice.
Faith says
Thanks Sandra! And that's such a great idea on the cranberries! So much nutritional punch is packed in those lil' guys too:)
Sarah | Well and Full says
SUCH a smart idea using nut milk bags to strain the juice!! I wish I had seen this in my pre-juicer days! 😀
Faith says
Thanks Sarah! It was a fun treat to have on a hot day!
Oscar says
The colour of those carrots is really beautiful. Love my juicer - could not live without it.
Faith says
They are beautiful aren't they!! I notice the carrots here in China right away...so rich and vibrant. Good to know you love your juicer, because we're seriously considering getting one! Which kind do you have?
Oscar says
I have an European brand, Bosch, which was expensive and cheaply made.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jci2xqkVuPY
I recommend a Breville. I was able to get a refurbished one when I lived in the US.
I would like a masticating juicer but I can't afford it.
I sometimes use the pulp in turkey burgers. I know you don't eat meat.
Faith says
Thanks for the info!! And that's a brilliant idea to use the pulp in burgers. I'm sure I could do the same with veggies burgers!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado says
this juice sounds like a refreshing combo! I have always loved ginger in my juices that i buy but i didn't know that they could be made using a blender! Totally trying that 🙂
Faith says
Thanks Rachel! I hope you try it out!
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner says
That looks like it would be really refreshing! Thanks for sharing and joining the linkup today
Faith says
It's exactly that Deborah! Thanks!
Tina Muir says
Your new pic is BEAAAUUTIFUL! Love it Faith 🙂 This sounds wonderful, it makes me feel refreshed even thinking about it! Thanks for linking up 🙂
Faith says
Thanks Tina!! It's a couple years old actually, but just wanted a simple face shot:) thanks for hosting as always! If my internet doesn't cause me trouble, I'll be sure to check out the other link ups!