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How To Juice Grapes With Seeds and Stems

23/09/2026

From vine to glass

Fresh grapes are one of the easiest fruits to turn into juice at home. But what about the parts that are usually removed before eating? Do you need to remove every grape seed and carefully pull away every small stem before putting grapes into a slow juicer?

We decided to find out.

We picked fresh grapes directly from a grapevine and put them through a Sana 727 horizontal slow juicer. The grapes had their seeds and some small, soft stems still attached. We wanted to see how the juicer would handle them and, just as importantly, how the finished juice would taste.

From the Vine to the Juicer

We collected a basket of fresh grapes and removed the larger, woody parts of the stems. However, we did not spend time removing every small stem between the individual grapes.

The grape seeds were left in as well.

The goal was to see whether a slow juicer could handle the grapes with minimal preparation while still producing good-quality juice.

For the test, we used the Sana 727 with its fine juicing screen.

Why the Fine Screen?

The fine screen is designed to separate the juice from most of the solid material, producing a smooth, clear juice.

Grapes are naturally soft and juicy, so they don't require much preparation before juicing. Using the fine screen also allows the grape skins, seeds and small pieces of stem to be separated from the juice during the extraction process.

The result is a fresh grape juice without having to process the grapes first.

What Did the Grape Juice Look Like?

The fine screen produced a smooth, fresh grape juice while separating the skins, seeds and other solid material into the pulp.

The freshly extracted juice had the characteristic color and appearance of the grapes we started with, but without the seeds and skins.

And of course, the final question was the most important one: How does it taste?

We tasted the fresh grapes and the finished juice to see whether leaving the seeds and small stems attached had affected the flavor. It was sweet and rich, with a slight earthy tone.

How Did the Juicer Handle the Seeds and Stems?

The Sana 727 handled the grapes without difficulty.

The grapes, including their seeds and small soft stems, were fed directly into the juicer. The solid material was separated from the juice and discharged as pulp.

There was no need to remove the seeds individually or pull away every small stem.

That said, there is an important distinction between small, soft grape stems and large, woody stems. We removed the larger woody sections before juicing. As with any juicer, hard or unusually tough material should not be deliberately forced into the machine.

So, Can You Juice Grapes With Seeds and Stems?

Yes. Our test showed that you don't need to remove grape seeds or carefully separate every small, soft stem before juicing.

For fresh grapes:

Wash the grapes thoroughly.
Remove large or woody sections of stem.
Leave the seeds in.
Small, soft stems can remain attached.
Juice the grapes using a suitable slow juicer and fine screen.

This makes preparing grapes for juicing much quicker and easier, especially when you're working with fresh grapes straight from the garden.

The exact flavor and juice yield will naturally depend on the grape variety and how ripe the grapes are. But if you've been avoiding fresh grapes because of the seeds and small stems, there's no need to prepare them quite so meticulously.

From the vine to the glass—with the seeds and small stems left in.

How to Batch Juice: Make Fresh Juice for Several Days

08/09/2026

Start with the freshest produce

When you're making juice to drink over several days, the quality of your produce matters.

Choose fresh, good-quality fruits and vegetables and refrigerate them properly until you're ready to juice. Avoid produce that is already wilted, damaged or past its prime. Fresh produce will give you better-tasting juice to begin with, and there is little benefit in storing juice made from ingredients that were already deteriorating.

Wash your produce thoroughly before juicing and remove any damaged or spoiled areas.

Prepare everything before you start

Even if you have a self-feeding vertical juicer, preparing your produce before switching on the machine can make a big batch much easier.

Wash and prepare everything at once. Depending on the ingredients and your juicer, this may include peeling, removing seeds or pits, trimming and cutting produce into suitable pieces.

Preparing everything first means you can concentrate on feeding the juicer once you start, rather than stopping repeatedly to prepare the next ingredient.

It can also help your juicer work more efficiently. Different juicers have different feeding requirements, so always follow the preparation recommendations for your particular model.

Choose the right juicer for your batch

Different types of juicers have different advantages when you're making a large batch.

Self-feeding vertical juicers are particularly convenient when processing large quantities of produce. Their large feeding openings and self-feeding design can make it possible to add produce continuously without spending as much time pushing ingredients into the juicer. They do especially well with softer, juicier fruit.

Horizontal juicers require a little more active feeding, but they can have an important advantage during batch juicing: cleaning is often quick and easy. These types excel with firm vegetables, leafy greens, and celery.

This matters when processing fibrous ingredients. Celery, ginger, leafy greens and other fibrous produce can gradually build up in the juicing screen or around the auger. When making a large batch, you may need to stop and clean the screen before continuing.

For this reason, the easiest juicer to feed isn't necessarily the easiest juicer to use for a very large batch.

Celery is a good example

Celery also demonstrates how much juicer design can affect preparation.

Many horizontal juicers can process long celery stalks without requiring them to be cut into short pieces because the long fibers are expelled directly out the front of the juicer . Vertical juicers work better when celery is cut into smaller sections because longer celery fibers can clog the tight pulp outlet.

If celery makes up a large part of your regular juice, consider how easily your juicer handles long, fibrous stalks when choosing a machine.

Don't forget the motor

A large batch can mean running your juicer for much longer than you normally would.

Before starting, check the manufacturer's recommended operating cycle. Many juicers are designed to operate for approximately 15–30 minutes at a time and then require a cooling period.

If you're making a particularly large batch, plan for these breaks rather than trying to run the machine continuously.

Some juicers, including the Sana 727 Supreme and Sana 929 Ultimate, are designed for continuous operation, making them particularly convenient when preparing large quantities of juice.

Monitor the juice flow

When you're making one glass of juice, a small amount of fiber buildup may not be a major concern. During a large batch, however, it can gradually restrict the flow of juice.

If you notice that the juice is coming out more slowly, the pulp is becoming wetter, or the machine is beginning to struggle, stop and check the juicing screen and auger.

Fibrous ingredients such as celery, ginger, leafy greens and pineapple can be particularly prone to causing buildup. A quick cleaning break is much better than continuing to force the machine to work through a clogged screen. If your juicer includes a coarse screen, consider using it for large patches of softer or fibrous produce to reduce clogging.

If you're making a large batch containing a lot of fibrous produce, you may even want to plan a cleaning break into your routine.

Store your juice properly

Once your batch is finished, get the juice into the refrigerator as soon as possible.

For the best results, use a clean, airtight container. A vacuum container can reduce the amount of oxygen in contact with the juice, helping to slow oxidation and preserve its flavor, color and freshness. Fill the container as full as possible to reduce the amount of oxygen in the contaienr.

Keep the juice refrigerated and avoid repeatedly opening the same container if possible. If you know you'll drink one portion each day, storing the juice in separate containers can be convenient.

How long does fresh juice last?

Fresh, unpasteurized juice is best consumed as soon as possible. Properly refrigerated homemade juice can generally be kept for up to 72 hours, especially in a vacuum pitcher. However drinking it within the first 24–48 hours will usually give you the best flavor and freshness.

The actual storage life depends on many factors, including the freshness of the ingredients, the type of juice, hygiene, storage temperature and how much oxygen the juice is exposed to.

Always use your judgment. If juice develops an unusual smell, appearance, taste or signs of fermentation, discard it.

A simple batch-juicing routine

Once you've done it a few times, batch juicing can become surprisingly simple:

1. Choose your produce.
Use fresh, good-quality fruits and vegetables and keep them refrigerated until you're ready.

2. Prepare everything.
Wash, trim, peel and cut the produce according to your juicer's requirements.

3. Set up your juicer.
Make sure the juicer, juice container and any storage containers are clean and ready.

4. Juice your batch.
Follow your juicer's recommended operating cycle and don't hesitate to stop and clean the screen if fibrous produce begins to build up.

5. Store immediately.
Transfer the juice to clean airtight or vacuum containers and refrigerate.

6. Drink within the next couple of days.
For best quality, enjoy the juice within 24–48 hours, with 72 hours as a practical upper guideline for properly refrigerated homemade juice.

Batch juicing makes fresh juice easier

The biggest advantage of batch juicing isn't that the juice lasts forever—it's that you can make fresh juice less often. You can change a daily juicing routine to just 2-3 times per week.

With fresh produce, good preparation, the right juicer and proper refrigerated storage, you can make enough juice for several days while still enjoying the convenience and flavor of freshly made juice.

Which Horizontal Juicer Screen Should I Use?

17/08/2026

If you're new to horizontal slow juicers, you may be surprised to find that the machine comes with several different screens. Why are there different screens, and which one should you use?

The screen is an important part of a horizontal juicer because it determines how easily juice and pulp pass through the juicing chamber—and, ultimately, affects the texture of your juice. Some screens are designed for specific types of produce, while others allow the juicer to perform completely different functions.

Sana horizontal juicers use three main types of screens: fine, coarse and blank (homogenizing). Understanding the difference will help you get the best results from your juicer.

1. Fine Juicing Screen

The fine screen is the standard choice for most everyday juicing. It has relatively small openings that allow the juice to pass through while retaining more of the pulp. It squeezes harder and is designed for the highest yield with most produce.

The fine screen is a good starting point for a wide variety of ingredients, including:

Apples and pears
Carrots and other firm vegetables
Leafy greens
Cucumbers
Citrus fruits
Berries
Most other fruits and vegetables

The fine screen is particularly useful when you prefer a cleaner, smoother juice.

However, finer filtration also creates more resistance inside the juicing chamber. With certain very soft or fibrous ingredients, this can make the juicer work harder or increase the likelihood of clogging. That's where the coarse screen can be useful.

2. Coarse Juicing Screen

The coarse screen has larger openings than the fine screen. This allows juice and pulp to move through the chamber more easily, reducing the amount of pressure and resistance during extraction.

The coarse screen can be especially useful for very soft, juicy or fibrous produce which can clog a standard fine screen. It can also be a good choice when you simply prefer juice with more natural pulp.

Examples include:

Very ripe or soft fruits
Tomatoes
Berries
Mango
Kiwi
Pineapple
Other soft or fibrous produce

The larger openings mean that more fine pulp passes into the juice. The result is generally a thicker, more textured juice.This is not a disadvantage—it is simply a different type of juice.

Fine vs. coarse: what's the difference?

Think of the two screens as similar to different grades of a filter.

Fine screen: squeezes harder → smoother juice → less pulp

Coarse screen: squeezes more gently → more material passes through → pulpier juice

Neither screen is inherently better. The best choice depends on the produce you're using and your preferred juice texture.

3. Blank / Homogenizing Screen

The blank screen is different from the fine and coarse screens because it isn't actually a juicing screen. And it isn't available on any vertical juicer.

It has no openings through which juice can escape. Instead, the auger pushes the food through the chamber and forces it against the blank surface, creating a smooth, homogenized mixture.This changes the function of the juicer from a juice extractor into a low-speed food-processing appliance.

The blank screen can be used for:

Frozen fruit desserts and sorbets
Nut butters
Baby food
Fruit sauces
Vegetable purées
Dips and spreads
Other soft, homogenized foods

For example, frozen bananas, mangoes or berries can be partially thawed and processed through the blank screen to create a smooth frozen dessert.

Do not use the blank screen when you want to extract juice. It is specifically designed to retain the ingredients inside the chamber rather than separate the liquid from the solids.

4. Why Do Horizontal Juicers Have Interchangeable Screens?

The interchangeable-screen design is one of the biggest advantages of a horizontal slow juicer. A conventional juicing screen has two jobs: it allows liquid to escape while holding back most of the solid pulp, and it provides resistance against the auger so that juice can be extracted efficiently. But not every ingredient behaves the same way.

A soft tomato, a fibrous piece of celery and a firm carrot behave very differently inside a juicing chamber. A single screen has to be a compromise between filtration, flow and resistance. Interchangeable screens allow you to change that balance.

A fine screen provides greater filtration.
A coarse screen allows more material to pass through and can improve flow with certain ingredients.
A blank screen eliminates juice separation altogether and allows the machine to be used for other foods.

This gives a horizontal juicer considerably more flexibility than a machine designed only around a single filtration system.

5. Which Screen Should I Use?

One Juicer, Three Screens, Many Possibilities

The different screens aren't simply accessories—they are part of what makes a horizontal slow juicer so versatile.

Use the fine screen when you want smooth, well-filtered juice. Switch to the coarse screen when working with softer, juicier or more fibrous ingredients, or when you prefer more pulp. And when you want to go beyond juice, install the blank screen and use your juicer for frozen desserts, nut butters, purées and other foods.

Once you understand what each screen is designed to do, choosing the right one becomes simple.

How to Make Your Slow Juicer Last Longer: 7 Mistakes to Avoid

14/08/2026

A quality slow juicer can provide years of reliable service. In fact, many premium juicers are still running after 20 years or more. But like any kitchen appliance, they're not indestructible. Most problems aren't caused by manufacturing defects—they're caused by a handful of common mistakes that put unnecessary stress on the motor, auger, and juicing components.

Here are seven of the most common ways to harm a juicer—and how to avoid them.

1. Not Using the Pusher

This is the biggest mistake you can make—and one that's entirely avoidable. Never use a knife, fork, spoon, chopsticks, or any other kitchen utensil to push produce into the feed chute. If the object slips around the produce, it can be pulled into the juicer, potentially damaging the auger, juicing screen, or housing. More importantly, it creates a serious safety hazard. Always use the pusher supplied with your juicer.

2. Improper Cleaning

Cleaning your juicer immediately after use keeps it like new. Pulp that dries inside the juicing screen becomes much harder to remove. Regular cleaning also helps prevent buildup around seals and moving parts. A few minutes of cleaning after each use can save you hours of frustration later.

3. Not Letting Frozen Fruit Thaw

Many people believe frozen fruit should never go into a slow juicer, but that's only partly true. Many horizontal juicers include a homogenizing screen, and many vertical juicers offer a sorbet screen specifically designed for processing frozen fruit. The important part is preparation. Frozen fruit needs to thaw for at least five minutes before processing, and should be fed slowly in small amounts. Trying to force large frozen chunks through the juicer places unnecessary stress on the motor and auger. Always follow the recommendations for your particular model.

4. Making Nut Butter

Many horizontal slow juicers can make excellent nut butters using a homogenizing screen. This is a great feature of these types of juicers, but it's also one of the most demanding jobs you can ask the machine to perform. Nut butter creates significant resistance. Work in small batches, feed the nuts gradually, and avoid overloading the juicer. If your model isn't designed for homogenizing, don't attempt to make nut butter.

5. Juicing Ginger Incorrectly

Ginger is one of the healthiest ingredients you can juice, but it's also one of the easiest ways to clog a juicer if prepared incorrectly. The long, stringy fibers can wrap around the auger and restrict pulp flow. For best results, cut ginger into small pieces before feeding it into the juicer. This is especially important with vertical slow juicers. Because all vertical juicers have relatively narrow pulp outlets, long ginger fibers can bridge across the outlet and cause clogging much more easily than in horizontal designs. Taking a few extra seconds to chop the ginger can make a huge difference.

6. Juicing Rubbery Carrots

Fresh, crisp carrots are easy to juice and produce excellent yields. Older carrots, however, often become rubbery and dehydrated. These carrots require much more force to process and place additional strain on the juicer while producing less juice. The small amount of juice you get isn't worth the strain on the juicer.

7. Using Your Juicer as a Coffee Grinder

Coffee beans are extremely hard and abrasive. Although some juicers can technically grind them, repeatedly doing so creates wear that most slow juicers aren't designed to handle. If you have a juicer like the Sana 707 rated to grind coffee, be sure to feed the coffee beans slowly.

Modern Juicers Offer Extra Protection

While these tips apply to virtually any slow juicer, newer designs include features that help protect the machine when mistakes happen.

For example, the Sana 929 features a pressure-sensing auto-reverse system that can detect excessive resistance and automatically reverse the auger to help clear many jams before they become serious. Its solid stainless steel juicing components are also far more resistant to wear than the plastic parts found in many conventional juicers.

These features don't make the juicer indestructible—and they don't replace proper preparation—but they do provide an extra layer of protection against many of the everyday mistakes that even experienced users occasionally make.

Final Thoughts

A slow juicer is an investment, and with proper care it can provide many years of reliable service. Using the correct accessories, preparing ingredients properly, cleaning the juicer after every use, and avoiding unnecessary abuse will go a long way toward keeping it running smoothly for years to come.

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