Which fruit should not be put in a juicer?
Some fruits are not suitable for a juicer: starchy fruits like bananas, stone fruits with unremoved pits, or very hard fruits like quinces can jam the mechanism or produce disappointing juice. In contrast, most juicy and firm fruits (apples, oranges, pineapples, grapes) pass through without difficulty.
Knowing these exceptions helps prevent damage to the appliance and ensures higher-quality juice. Here are the fruits to avoid with a juicer, why they cause problems, and how to prepare some of them if you still want to use them.
What type of fruit should not be put in a juicer?
Some fruits are regularly cited as being unsuitable for a juicer, each for a different reason related to its texture.
- Bananas: too starchy and not juicy enough, they quickly clog the mesh without producing usable juice. However, they are perfectly suited to a blender.
- Stone fruits: peaches, apricots, cherries, or plums. An unremoved pit can damage the juicer's pressing screw or mesh. Thorough pitting is essential before juicing.
- Quinces: their very hard flesh puts excessive strain on the motor and can jam the mechanism, unlike softer fruits such as apples or pears.
- Overripe fruits: pulp that is too soft clogs the filter instead of being properly extracted, which significantly reduces yield.
- Frozen fruits: their hardness when frozen is not suitable for the pressure of a juicer, unlike a blender, which mixes them without difficulty.
Why do these fruits cause problems for a juicer?
A juicer works by slow pressure, generally via an auger that presses the material against a fine mesh. This mechanism is designed for firm and juicy fruits, capable of releasing their juice without excessive pulp or mechanical resistance.
Starchy fruits like bananas do not contain enough liquid to pass through the mesh properly: they end up as a puree that clogs the filter rather than juice. Pits, meanwhile, pose a direct mechanical risk to the pressing screw, which is not designed to crush such a hard element.
As for overripe fruits, their pasty texture quickly clogs the mesh, which reduces flow and can unnecessarily strain the appliance's motor. If you are deciding between a cold press juicer and a centrifugal juicer, our comparison of the best juicers compares the two principles in terms of yield and cleaning.
Should you remove the seeds before juicing a fruit?
This is generally not necessary for small apple or grape seeds, which are too fine to damage the appliance. Only the hard pits of peaches, apricots, or cherries must be removed. A quick pitting with a knife is sufficient before starting the extraction.
How to prepare certain fruits before putting them through a juicer?
Some fruits can be juiced provided they are prepared beforehand. Here are the adjustments to make depending on the type of fruit, and the only case where no preparation is sufficient.
- Stone fruits: always pit them before putting the fruit through the juicer, without exception
- Fibrous fruits like pineapple: remove the hardest central part if your appliance struggles to process it
- Slightly overripe fruits: mix them with a firmer fruit (apple, pear) to compensate for the pasty texture
- Frozen fruits: let them partially defrost before juicing, or use a blender instead
Bananas remain the exception that cannot be adapted: their texture is not compatible with the extraction principle, regardless of any prior preparation. For them, as for frozen fruits, our juicer, centrifugal juicer, or blender comparison helps you choose the right appliance.
What happens if a pit accidentally gets into the juicer?
It can damage the pressing screw or the mesh, depending on the hardness of the pit. Turn off the appliance immediately, unplug it, then remove the pit and check the condition of the parts before resuming juicing. An unusual noise is often the first sign.
Which fruit is best suited for a juicer?
In contrast to the fruits to avoid, some fruits produce excellent results in a juicer, without any special preparation.
| Fruit | Preparation required | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Apple, pear | None, just washed | High |
| Orange, grapefruit | Peeled | High |
| Pineapple | Peeled, core removed if necessary | Good |
| Grapes | None, just washed | Excellent |
| Red fruits (strawberry, raspberry) | Hulled | Medium to good |
A suitable juicer processes all these fruits without difficulty, with a significantly higher yield than that obtained from starchy or overripe fruits.
What is the difference between a juicer and a blender for these difficult fruits?
A blender mixes the whole fruit, including pulp and fiber, making it suitable for bananas. A juicer separates the juice from the pulp by pressure, a principle incompatible with this type of fruit. Our juicer or blender comparison details the rest.
The right juicer for your fruit juices
A juicer produces excellent results with most juicy and firm fruits, provided you avoid bananas, pits, and overripe or frozen fruits without preparation. A few simple precautions are enough to preserve the appliance and obtain consistently high-quality juice.
We recommend the cold press juicer with a 78 mm chute, because its slow mastication is suitable for apples, oranges, and grapes, which produce the best yields, and its wide opening reduces fruit cutting. To compare the other models, visit our collection of juicers and blenders.
All our appliances for chopping, mixing, and pressing are available on Hachoir Cuisine.