Steam juicers used to be very common appliances in many households, and are still a great way to use up excess fruit at the end of summer. With a steam juicer, you can make your own fruit juice concentrates, which are going to be a lot cheaper and a lot healthier than commercially produced juices.
For those that don't know how a steam juicer works, it really is a very simple apparatus. Basically, it goes like this: the cooker consists of several parts, at the bottom is a pan which holds water. This water is heated on the stove, until it boils and steam rises. As it rises, it passes over fruit which is held in a basket higher up in the cooker. The fruit cooks in the hot steam, breaks open, and the juice drips down. This is collected, and eventually tapped off into bottles.
Due to the heating of the steam when the juice is processed, the juice will be pasteurised, and provided that you observe good food handling practices, it can keep almost indefinitely. The best thing to do is to fill you juice into glass bottles which have been sterilised, and then store it in a cool dark place. I know from personal experience that this juice can keep for several years.
When buying a steam juicer, it is preferable to buy a stainless steel model as opposed to an aluminium one. Stainless steel is a lot easier to keep clean, and also looks newer for longer. Although aluminium is a lot cheaper, it can scratch and scuff a lot, as well as becoming discoloured and pitted from the acidic juice from some fruits.
You can expect to pay about $100 for a new steam juicer, and if this sounds like too much, why not buy a second hand one? You can either buy a second hand one out of a local newspaper, or alternatively, try an online store like eBay. Just make sure that what you are buying is not completely used up, and will still be serviceable
Although it sounds old-fashioned, there is a real advantages to making your own juice at home. As mentioned, commercial products always have added flavours, colours and preservatives, and these are not good for your long-term health. By making your own juices, you know exactly what is going in, and you know that you are feeding your family something which is safe and healthy.
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