Best Juicing Recipes for Beginners (2024)

I’ve been making juices for about a decade now, and it’s part of my wellness routine. Juicing is a great way to add extra nutrition to your diet, and they can be very hydrating and refreshing.

Depending on the season, making fresh juice can also be a really effective way to use up extra produce. I know that certain times of the year in California, it’s almost impossible to use up the bounty from the garden, including lemons, limes, oranges, kale, and zucchini.

See my list of the best vegetables to juice.

If you are interested in doing an actual juice cleanse, you might want to read the article I wrote with some of the positive and negatives. A more moderate approach to juicing is to incorporate it into your regular diet. One way that might look is to drink 4-6 ounces of juice before, during, or after a regular meal.

As far as I know, there are no scientific studies that show that juicing is any healthier than just eating more fruits and vegetables.

But, since juicing removes the bulk of the fiber from these whole foods, it might be easier for some people to get the nutrition without having to digest all of the fiber.

For instance, many people cannot handle the fiber in a kale salad, but they can enjoy better health from a daily green juice recipe made with leafy greens. It’s all about getting those micronutrients including vitamin C.

I’ve had several different juicers over the years, but my absolute favorite juicer is my Omega masticating juicer. It is super efficient and easy to clean, plus it’s very well made. I’ve reviewed all of the best juicers, including how to pick the right one for you.

See my complete list of the Best Omega Juicers.

I’m not a huge fan of centrifugal juicers for homemade juice using vegetables; this kind of juicer is best for simple juices using fruits or soft veggies like carrots.

If you don’t have the budget or space for a dedicated juicer, you can also make juice in a quality blender (see my list of the best juicer blenders)! Or, see my dedicated post (and a recipe) for juicing in a Vitamix.

If you’re new to juicing, here are some of my tips.

• For the best flavor combinations, use a recipe until you have a good idea of which fruits and vegetables go well together. I’ve included some of my favorite juice recipes for beginners below!
• Try to use as many vegetables as possible in your juice to keep the sugar content low. But, if you don’t like the strong flavor of straight vegetable juice, add some fresh fruits such as green apple. Fruit juice balances the vegetable juice flavor. Fresh ginger is also a great ingredient to help make the juice more palatable.
• Don’t forget about juicing herbs. Parsley is one of my favorites, but you can also juice cilantro, mint, and dill. Herbs are high in antioxidants and are great for your juice blend.
• You can prep your fruits and vegetables up to a few days before juicing to help spread out the work. Just store your chopped produce in the fridge until you’re ready to juice. After you make the juice, try to drink it within 3 days of juicing for the optimal nutrition and flavor.
• Always be careful giving unpasteurized juices to kids, elderly, pregnant women, and anyone with a compromised immune system.
• If weight loss juicing is your goal, consider my round-up of the Best Juice Recipes for Weight Loss or the Best Juice for Bloating.

When is the best time of day to juice?

Morning may be the ideal time because a juice can hydrate and energize you for the day. Some people don’t like to drink a lot of liquids later in the day, and that’s another reason why morning might be the best time to juice. That said, there are no rules saying you can’t drink a green juice later in the day.

How much juice should I drink a day?

It is very dependent on the individual person as to how much juice you should drink a day. Some people may have a hard time digesting juice at the beginning, so it’s best to start with a small amount, like 2-4 ounces. Then, you can work your way up to 16 ounces or more a day.

What are the benefits of juicing?

Again, it is very individualized as to the benefits (or risks) of juicing. Most people enjoy feeling more hydrated and nourished after drinking a green juice first thing in the morning. Read more about what is beetroot good for and the benefits of juicing.

What do I do with the pulp from vegetable juicing?

You can discard it, or use it your compost. Or, you can make Green Juice Crackers or Carrot Juice Crackers.