Kitchen

[Lorik62]

I recently purchased an expensive juicer. I am trying to use kale but get very little juice out of it. I am getting less than a tablespoon for several large pieces of kale. I guess I expected to get more but wondered if this is normal? Thanks for any advice.

[carrob]

I don't think you get get much liquid from kale using a juicer, might be better off blending it up in a blender.

[terrier3]

I use my Vitamix, so everything gets pulverized and I get all the nutrients.

Kale doesn't seem "juicy" at all....maybe you can whirl it in a blender and then mix it in your drink.

In the winter, I just use a tablespoon of the green powder you can get at Trader Joes for $9.99 or anywhere else for a LOT more!

[Happy Elizabeth]

Yes, that's normal. It takes a lot of kale to make a glass of juice, which is why kale juice is so expensive and/or mixed with other things. For greens, you're better off using a vitamix.

[sidsmom]

Just because you don't eek out a lot, doesn't mean you get a punch of minerals/nutrients! Doesn't take much....here's a YouTube vid showing a grape/kale juice called "The Holy Grail". Kale juice by itself can be pretty strong...the grapes sweeten it up nicely!

http://youtu.be/NxPAvA_jABE

[Lorik62]

I do have a Vitamix which I use a lot for myself but my husband isn't big on the texture from drinks made in it. He prefers the taste of drinks made in the juicer.

[wagirl]

Maybe try steaming the kale first. I do this for my smoothies. Pre cooking some greens like spinach and kale, tomatoes and carrots actually release more of the good nutrients than raw does. I use a Vitamix for my smoothies as a juicer is way to much hassel cleaning and you throw out all the good fiber. I also freeze my greens so I can buy alot at once and not worry about them going bad. I micro steam the greens for about 40 seconds and it comes out limp and juicy--maybe that would help you get more juice from kale when you juice.

[SurvivedOne]

I don't find kale strong at all whether I use it for making green smoothies or using baby kale in a salad. I always use either kale or swiss chard, spinach, sometimes red cabbage, an apple for sweetness for making green smoothies in my Vitamix. You wind up only tasting the apple. If you used something like brocolli, you taste it due to its distinct flavor. Leaf veggies that are not "wattery", you would have to use alot to get any juice in a juicer. I prefer green smoothies. However, when I did just juice, I chose high water content vegetables. There is lots of info online so you get the most bang for your buck in terms of nutrients and best items to juice.

[depglass]

I don't like the taste of kale, surprisingly, because I like most vegetables. I mix it with yogurt and a fruit in the Vitamix, adding a liquid if necessary.

[jerseygirl1]

What kind of juicer do you own? A masticating or centrifugal juicer? I think the masticating juicer is better for leafy greens and it is recommended for wheat grass.