Comments on: Juices and Juicers http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/ Quenching your thirst with sips, nips and tipples. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:22:03 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Robert Hess http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-977 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 22:31:44 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-977 Maria, I'm familiar with the 'reamer' style juicers, and they do work very well for getting all of the juice out. My only complaint about them is that you won't get any of the oils from the skin in the juice, which I personally think add a special depth of flavor. Frankly, I don't think anybody has "intentionally" designed a juicer to also focus on getting oils out of the skin, but some juicers still do this as a side effect, and I always keep my eye's out for them. The key thing you are looking for, is a juicer which will end up bending or folding the skin during the juicing process. Maria,

I’m familiar with the ‘reamer’ style juicers, and they do work very well for getting all of the juice out. My only complaint about them is that you won’t get any of the oils from the skin in the juice, which I personally think add a special depth of flavor.

Frankly, I don’t think anybody has “intentionally” designed a juicer to also focus on getting oils out of the skin, but some juicers still do this as a side effect, and I always keep my eye’s out for them. The key thing you are looking for, is a juicer which will end up bending or folding the skin during the juicing process.

]]> by: Maria http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-881 Tue, 07 Nov 2006 07:09:11 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-881 I'm a fan of a fairly primitive yet extremely efficient juicing device: a reamer. It's wooden, with a pointy end, which is sort of ribbed, and a handle. I ditched all my old manual juicers when I got one of these-- very effective at getting all the juice out, very quickly (for home use, at any rate). Mine's a cheap beechwood model-- you can find them for $3 in lots of cooking shops. I just saw a stainless steel model on Amazon, though-- fancy! and ca. $15. I’m a fan of a fairly primitive yet extremely efficient juicing device: a reamer. It’s wooden, with a pointy end, which is sort of ribbed, and a handle. I ditched all my old manual juicers when I got one of these– very effective at getting all the juice out, very quickly (for home use, at any rate). Mine’s a cheap beechwood model– you can find them for $3 in lots of cooking shops. I just saw a stainless steel model on Amazon, though– fancy! and ca. $15.

]]> by: Rob the fan http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-347 Tue, 24 Oct 2006 08:57:01 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-347 I think I may be able to answer your question. Doing a 1-1 ratio, shaking should be fine. The sugar will be able to dissolve near completely at this ratio, but you may notice some undissolved sugar in the bottom of the container.<br /> <br /> Now, I personally use a 2-1 ratio of sugar to water. From a chemistry standpoint, it is impossible to dissolve this much sugar in that little water. So, you have to create a "super saturated" solution. The only way to do this is to bring it to a boil.<br /> <br /> Now, when boiling, you have to be careful. If you boil too long, the SS will take on a brown color. I normally bring my boil to the break point. There;ll be a rush of foam as the sugar instantly disolves. When the foam dies down, which is very quickly, I immediately remove from heat. I think I may be able to answer your question. Doing a 1-1 ratio, shaking should be fine. The sugar will be able to dissolve near completely at this ratio, but you may notice some undissolved sugar in the bottom of the container.

Now, I personally use a 2-1 ratio of sugar to water. From a chemistry standpoint, it is impossible to dissolve this much sugar in that little water. So, you have to create a “super saturated” solution. The only way to do this is to bring it to a boil.

Now, when boiling, you have to be careful. If you boil too long, the SS will take on a brown color. I normally bring my boil to the break point. There;ll be a rush of foam as the sugar instantly disolves. When the foam dies down, which is very quickly, I immediately remove from heat.

]]> by: Andy15430 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-346 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 19:40:15 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-346 Robert,<br /> <br /> Kind of an off topic question, but since you mentioned simple syrup, I thought I'd ask: In Dale DeGroff's "Craft of the Cocktail" book, his recipe for simple syrup is to just vigorously shake equal parts sugar and water together. Virtually every other SS recipe I have come across has included raising the mixture to a boil for a few minutes. I made some the other day with Dale's method, and it tasted fine. I'm wondering if I'm missing out on something, though. Is boiling a necessary component of the recipe, or is just shaking enough?<br /> <br /> I will have to tell my in-laws (antique dealers) to keep an eye out for an Ebaloy-style juicer. Robert,

Kind of an off topic question, but since you mentioned simple syrup, I thought I’d ask: In Dale DeGroff’s “Craft of the Cocktail” book, his recipe for simple syrup is to just vigorously shake equal parts sugar and water together. Virtually every other SS recipe I have come across has included raising the mixture to a boil for a few minutes. I made some the other day with Dale’s method, and it tasted fine. I’m wondering if I’m missing out on something, though. Is boiling a necessary component of the recipe, or is just shaking enough?

I will have to tell my in-laws (antique dealers) to keep an eye out for an Ebaloy-style juicer.

]]> by: Thomas http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-345 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 10:40:58 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-345 I had a great mechanical lever style juicer that I bought through an online auction. Problem was that the aluminum teeth on the pinion broke off after a while. Probably because it was an old piece of equipment and maybe also because I used it to juice pomegranates for grenadine. I thought the latter was a neat trick at the time! I had a great mechanical lever style juicer that I bought through an online auction. Problem was that the aluminum teeth on the pinion broke off after a while. Probably because it was an old piece of equipment and maybe also because I used it to juice pomegranates for grenadine. I thought the latter was a neat trick at the time!

]]> by: Rob the fan http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-344 Mon, 23 Oct 2006 09:01:15 +0000 http://thespiritworld.net/2006/10/23/juices_and_juicers/#comment-344 I have a mechanical lever juicer, but I hate it. After fussing with it for a while, there's still a good amount of juice that the lever missed. I end up grabbing my dish style juicer, and I'm easily able to get as much as another 1/4oz out of the lime/lemon. That's 1/2oz lost per citrus fruit!<br /> <br /> I've since put the pricey tool into the closet, and picked up a Mexican style juicer. The thing works like a charm and clean up is much easier. For 1/4 the price of my lever juicer, I picked up a cast aluminum Mexican juicer that will probably last a lifetime. In addition to added performance, I feel a little more authentic juicing limes to mix with tequilla using a Mexican juicer. I have a mechanical lever juicer, but I hate it. After fussing with it for a while, there’s still a good amount of juice that the lever missed. I end up grabbing my dish style juicer, and I’m easily able to get as much as another 1/4oz out of the lime/lemon. That’s 1/2oz lost per citrus fruit!

I’ve since put the pricey tool into the closet, and picked up a Mexican style juicer. The thing works like a charm and clean up is much easier. For 1/4 the price of my lever juicer, I picked up a cast aluminum Mexican juicer that will probably last a lifetime. In addition to added performance, I feel a little more authentic juicing limes to mix with tequilla using a Mexican juicer.

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