|
Nice Compact size and great juicer
We did a lot of research for a new juicer since we had noticed that many models out there are either 'huge' or dont have great juicing power. A couple of criteria we had included: size, juicing abilities, and value for money. This omega model came out on all three categories.
We have now used it for over a year, the juicing is excellent as you can see on how dry the pulp is; the cleaning is relatively easy and dont have so many huge parts to it as in other machinese we have seen; and it is so compact that it is easy to store. Also, with the pulp falling out to an external holder, you can juice to your heart content without having to dismantle the machine to remove the pulp.
Our favorite is apple and carrot juice and this machine has helped up to cleanse our body that we are literally glowing with health.
This model is the best for us and for anyone looking for a good compact juicer. I would stray too far from an omega model. For now, we are certainly going to stick to this model.
[Saturday, September 06, 2008]
|
|
Omega--the Last Word
My odyssey to find the best travel juicer continues. As other reviews of mine have stated, I've been juicing three decades, with an Acme and a Champion, both of about 20 years' service, being my main juicers.
However, I do travel several states once or twice per month. I tend to visit hospitals in small areas, certainly nowhere near juice bars. I always miss my juice when gone. I decided last year to start taking my juicing on the road. Believe me, you don't want to haul an Acme or Champion! When I was in my twenties, it's hard to believe I actually strapped that Champion on the back of my bicycle and went touring with it! Well, I'm middle aged now and wiser.
I started out with the L'Equip Mini. Didn't work for me, parts fiddly though performance was good. Went through a Kenwood 2-speed, really fell down on leafy greens, so gave it away to a carrot and fruit juicer who still loves it. A while back I bought a $30 Black & Decker at my local Wal-Mart. Read my review, it is a fine little juicer, though of course not in the class of much more expensive machines. Plus, I can't testify re its durability, though it's certainly done well for me.
I admit I've been happy with my juicers so I don't look at them often. I was intrigued to find Omega was making a compact juicer--this O2. It looked so cute sitting next to veggies in all the photos. I don't live near a large city so I had to buy online. I paid $84 with free shipping on a special.
Those shopping will notice two different types of tops on this model. Apparently when it was first introduced it had the white top. The one I bought has the newer, smoked plastic top. Why anyone would want to watch pulp fly out of the machine I can't say. Rather like watching a washing machine. I think, from what I can tell, the tops are identical, unlike the unfortunate Omega 4000 with its disastrous first series top. The other thing the photos online don't show is the large pulp collector hiding behind the juicer.
Being a pulp ejector, this juicer has the typical slanting basket. What isn't typical, and I'm impressed, is that the cutting wheel is separate from the basket. With a lot of juicing the cutting blades get dull and need replacement, possibly as often as every 1-2 years with daily juicing. The cutting wheel is quite substantial for this size machine, but nowhere near as heavy as the boat anchor wheel in the Acme. My concern with these lightweight machine is the basket becoming unbalanced with certain produce, particularly leafy greens.
Assembly is quite simple and much more intuitive than the high-fashion L'Equip. The juicer is surprisingly light because the base (where the nameplate is) is plastic rather than the metal of larger juicers. No issue for me, it seems quite substantial plastic and it holds the weight down. The stainless steel bowl with spout mounts on the base; there's a white plastic ring that fits on top of that. Next, drop the basket in and then the cutting blade. There is a nut that screws the basket and blade down finger-tight. The top then fits on, secured with a grasping handle on each side. The large pulp container slides easily behind and is contoured to the cylindrical body. Like so many others, if I have the little grocery store bags I line the container so that I can just pitch the bag. This juicer is quieter than my Acme, but certainly not as quiet as the Champion. It's a fairly high-pitched motor, but not irritating; it does sound like a quieter blender on high.
I'll admit I've only used this juicer a couple-dozen times, but after 30 years and a pile of juicers, I think I'm pretty good at evaluating. When I see people cramming produce into one of these little juicers with force, it's no wonder they wear out so quickly! If you want to put your weight into a centrifugal juicer, get one of the big Acme, Omega or Moline models; they can take it, even if they don't like it. I never juice fruit in a vegetable juicer, other than apples and pears occasionally. These are juiced very well in this juicer. My mainstay choices are carrots, beets, celery, parsley and radishes, with a rotation of whatever leafy greens are in the fridge. I buy spinach, collards, mustard greens, dark green lettuce, kale, broccoli, etc. We all should know that centrifugal juicers of any size and brand are not optimal for leafy greens; they need masticating pressure. However, when rolled into golfball-sized portions, they do juice decently in this little juicer. Run a cleaning carrot or radish before and after parts of leafy greens and you'll get a decent yield with this juicer.
Cleanup is no easier or harder than a hundred other centrifugal pulp ejectors. I use a little vegetable brush from the grocery store to make a quick pass around the inside and outside of the basket and it's clean. All the other parts rinse easily in the sink. I must admit I'm confounded by newbies whining about cleaning their juicers. Would they rather scrub a pan with baked-on lasagna? Or how about cleaning a grill with one of those wire brushes? Or maybe they've never cooked. Compared to cooking juicer cleanup is a breeze.
Two final notes: 1) be very careful with that cutting wheel! I sliced my thumb open on my first batch with this juicer. The nut holding and aligning the wheel and basket is close to the blades on the wheel, I am so used to the big Acme that I injured myself. This isn't a criticism of the machine, it's a criticism of the operator. 2) Though this is Omega's compact model, it appears to be fully 3/4 the size of my big Acme. Once again, you don't see the pulp container. Still easily packed in a gym bag.
In summary, a fine little juicer, ergonomic and capable. Of course, only time and more use will reveal the durability. However, I don't see any cheapie plastic to break or little fiddly parts. Recommended and a good buy, particularly for those new to the practice. It is worth the extra seventy or so Dollars over the B/D.
[Tuesday, August 26, 2008]
|
