As a recipe developer and food blogger, I often get asked the question "what blender/juicer/food processor do you use?". And let me tell, between them all I've gone through quite a few! A lot of the lower quality blenders that I used when starting out, didn't really cut the mustard. I mean, they would work really well, but they would never last. On top of that I always found it difficult to source machines that were relatively easy to clean. We've all been there with that juicer that took forever and a day to clean the pulp out of only to find that when it dried, it still wasn't clean!
Let me start by saying that this post is not sponsored, however Juicy Retreats kindly sent me two of their products to review, their most popular blender; JR Touch Quantum 3 and their best selling juicer; JR Ultra 8000 S2. Wherever I use the letters "JR" in this post, that refers to "Juicy Retreats".
So without me battering on for too long, lets get into the details!
JR Touch 3 Quantum Blender
Over the years, I've dished out a lot of money on blenders in search of one that suits my needs. It was always a challenge to find a brand that allowed me to create more than just smoothies and didn't completely break my bank account!
I've been using this blender every single day for the past 3 weeks or so, and I'm very impressed by its performance. I've used it to make nicecream, smoothies, sorbet, date caramel and my absolute favourite... nut butters!
Up until now I have always relied on my food processor to make nut butter so this was a revelation for me 🙂 Using my food processor, it would usually take up to 10 minutes of processing to get that creamy consistency. The JR Touch 3 Quantum does the same thing in less than 5 minutes, for smaller quantities I was able to get the right consistency in as little as 3-4 minutes. It has a digital touch pad with programmed settings for things such as ice-cream etc, which helps in estimating how long it should take to get the consistency you're looking for.
When making nicecream, the recipes did require a little bit of liquid to get them going. Although they still came out a super creamy consistency, if you're looking for a really thick nicecream that you can pipe those swirls with, I'd still recommend using the grater function to chop up your frozen fruit in a food processor before blending. This will allow you to get that creamy consistency without having to add any additional liquid.
The blender has an induction brushless motor making it relatively quiet.
Especially in comparison to my last blender, a Nutri ninja kitchen system which sounded like a bulldozer driving into the side of my kitchen!
The jug has a large 2 litre capacity which is fantastic for making larger quantities of smoothies. It came with a tamper tool which really helps when preparing frozen desserts such as nicecream or sorbet as you can give a little stir whilst blending to keep the mixture going. I also received the 1 litre cyclone jar which comes with twisting arms so that you can scrape down the edges of the jug whilst blending smaller quantities such as when preparing hummus or nut butter.
The machine also comes with a 10 Year Motor and 7 Year Parts warranty which provides some peace of mind as none of the lower quality brands offer this.
Here are some of the recipes I've made using the blender so far;
VANILLA SPECKLED SALTED CASHEW BUTTER
INGREDIENTS
(Yields approx 1.5 cups)
• 2 cups raw unsalted cashews.• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract.• ¼ tsp Himalayan pink salt.
PREPARATION
• Place the cashews on a baking tray and heat in the oven at 200°C for 5-7 mins until very lightly browned. Be careful not to over heat them, less is more here ツ.• Transfer the cashews into a high speed blender or food processor and blitz until smooth and creamy.• Lastly add the vanilla and salt to the cashew butter and blend until combined.• Transfer to an airtight mason jar and store in the fridge.
CHERRY BANILLA NICECREAM
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 3-4)
• 2 cups frozen black or red cherries• 1 cup frozen banana (sliced before freezing)
• 1.5 cups almond milk
• 1 tbsp cherry powder (optional)• 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
PREPARATION
• Place all the ingredients in the blender• Blend on "ice-cream" function or low power for 1-2 minutes until smooth• Transfer the nicecream into jars or bowls and serve immediately
STRAWBERRY & VANILLA SORBET
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 3-4)
• 1 cup fresh strawberries • 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
• Juice of ½ fresh lime
PREPARATION
• Place all the ingredients in the blender• Blend on "ice-cream" function or low power for 1-2 minutes until smooth
• Use the tamper tool to push down the edges and blend evenly• Transfer the sorbet into jars or bowls and serve immediately
JR Ultra 8000 S2 Juicer
I had been considering for quite some time what juicer to get next. Up until now I had used either a fast centrifugal juicer or a bullet to make my juice. But it's never an easy decision when trying to figure out whats the best fit and of course value for money when looking at new kitchen equipment.
A lot of people recommended that I go with a slow masticating juicer, which during the juicing process works a lot slower which helps to yield maximum vitamins, minerals, enzymes etc from the veggies and fruit. And I must admit, the difference between the 2 different types of machine is mind blowing.
The first thing I noticed about the Ultra 8000 S2 was the sturdy body, it's really heavy duty but sleek looking at the same time! There's a shoot at the very top of the juicer which is big enough to fit whole apples through, and it also comes with a tamper tool which allows you to nudge the fruit down the shoot, although most of the time it flows down easily.
Once the fruits make their way down the shoot they are slowly crushed and the juice is extracted from the wholefoods. The pulp that's left behind shoots into a separate jug and another thing I noticed is the dryness of the remaining pulp, its almost like every last drop of liquid was pulled out of the fruits and veggies which means a larger yield of juice too!
Although I know that it's best to consume the juices immediately to avoid loss of nutrients, but who has time to juice every single day!? I've been making bigger batches and storing them in airtight containers in the fridge. Although I have heard that it's a good idea to freeze the juice that you won't consume with the next day or so, at the moment I don't have enough freezer space! So one of two things need to happen here a) stop making so many desserts that take up all the freezer space b) dish out on a deep freeze. I'm not too keen on either option at the moment so I guess I'll keep motoring on with the fridge lol!
To be fair though, when it comes to quality, my favourite juice that I've been making in the Ultra 8000, which is apple and ginger, has been keeping really well for up to three days in the fridge.
When it comes to cleaning, I think this is everyone's worst nightmare when there's a juicer involved. And although its imperative to take some time to ensure that all the parts are thoroughly cleaned, it's relatively easy to clean this one. It comes with a little brush tool which allows you to get into the harder to reach places and poke out any pulp that may be lingering. So overall, the cleaning is much easier than my last juicer so I'm happy.
The Ultra 8000 S2 Juicer comes with a 10 years motor with 2 years on parts.
Here are some of my favourite juices that I've made using the Ultra 8000 so far;
SWEET & ZINGY GREEN SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 3-4)
• 3 granny smith apples• 250g spinach
• ¼ of a pineapple
• 1 avocado• 1 lime
PREPARATION
• Chop the pineapple into chunks• With the cap closed and using the smoothie strainer, add all the ingredients to the juicer and allow to mix• You can add a little water if the smoothie is too thick for your liking
• Open the cap and allow the juice to pour into your serving jug.
PINK APPLE, POMEGRANATE &
PINEAPPLE JUICE
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 3-4)
• 1 pomegranate• 1 pineapple
• 3 pink lady apples
PREPARATION
• Chop the pineapple into chunks• Peel the pomegranate and remove the pith• Feed everything through the juicer and enjoy!
GRANNY SMITH GINGER SHOTS
INGREDIENTS
(Serves 8-10)
• 8 granny smith apples• 1 cup fresh ginger root
PREPARATION
This juice packs a punch so if you are not a huge fan of ginger be sure to reduce the quantity to your taste.• Peel the ginger
• Feed everything through the juicer and enjoy!
So overall, I'm really happy with both machines. In particular I'm really looking forward to testing out lots more juice recipes! In comparison to other juicers and blenders on the market, the JR machines are definitely good value for money.
If you have any questions feel free to send a message or comment here or over on my Instagram page @addictedtodates
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