Which Vegetables Are Best for Juicing?

Juicing can be a great way to squeeze in your daily vegetables, but not all veggies perform well in the juicer. Drier plants like broccoli and cauliflower can be juiced (and should be!), but they won’t give you much in your cup, and legumes tend to lack enough flavor to make them worth your time. Leafy greens, carrots, beets, and other vitamin-packed options are perfect for your juicer. We’ve gathered a list of the best veggies for juicing, not just based on juiciness, but also ranked on flavor, sweetness, bitterness, and nutrition.

Our Rating System

We’ve ranked the following vegetables in five categories: Juice Quantity, Flavor, Sweetness, Bitterness, and Nutrition. To clarify, a high ranking on bitterness doesn’t mean something’s very bitter. A higher number means it’s more balanced. The same goes for sweetness.

Go Organic!

Agricultural pesticides have become so widespread that it’s almost impossible to avoid them. But if you want to get healthy by juicing vegetables, it’s a good idea to choose organic veggies whenever possible. They won’t eliminate your exposure to pesticides, but anything that lowers your exposure is worth spending a few extra bucks for. Organic produce is also better for the environment. Growing standards are stricter and less harmful to insects, animals, soil, and people.

Don’t Toss the Pulp!

After you craft your delicious veggie juice concoction, you’ll discover a whole mess of pulp left in your catch tray. You might be inclined to scoop it into the trash, but that pulp is packed with fiber and essential nutrients. Instead of tossing it, try one of our top recommendations for putting that pulp to good use.

The 10 Best Veggies for Juicing:

10. Broccoli

It’s not the juiciest choice, but broccoli is easy to find and packed with vitamin K and calcium to keep your bones strong. It’s also mild enough in flavor to not overwhelm other juices.

• Juice Quantity: 3
• Flavor: 3
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 4
• Final score: 3.4

9. Wheatgrass

As the trendy veggie with the big vitamins, wheatgrass is packed with antioxidants that’ll keep your skin glowing. It can also make a great addition to any weight loss plan. Its earthy taste can take some getting used to, but blend it with your other favorite vegetables and you’ll barely know it’s there.

• Juice Quantity: 3
• Flavor: 3
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 5
• Final score: 3.6

8. Celery

Juicy, spicy celery will put a great flavor kick in any juice concoction. The pulp is also a great way to add fiber and thickener to soups and stews. Mix celery juice with tomato or carrot juices for a refreshing cup.

See the machine we recommend for juicing celery here.

• Juice Quantity: 5
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 3
• Final score: 3.8

7. Spinach

This is a palatable and juicy green that’s both affordable and easy to find. Spinach is packed with iron, vitamin C, folate, and plenty of other essential nutrients. It’s also tasty and mild enough to use in a variety of combinations.

• Juice Quantity: 3
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 5
• Final score: 3.8

6. Cucumbers

Cucumbers are technically melons. They’re like tomatoes in that they’re a fruit eaten like a vegetable. If you’ve ever sliced into a cucumber, you know the refreshing fragrance will translate to a great cup of juice. Mix with coconut or watermelon for some interesting flavor twists.

• Juice Quantity: 5
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 3
• Final score: 3.8

5. Kale

Love it or hate it, kale is one of the most nutrient-dense veggies on the planet. Juicing kale eliminates any bitterness or toughness from the leaf, leaving only the sweet, chlorophyll-rich liquid hiding within. Use a variety of purple and green kale for best results.

• Juice Quantity: 3
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 5
• Final score: 3.8

4. Beets

Beets are a pain in the neck to chop, but worth it for their status as a super-food. Packed with nutrients, they’re great for improving blood pressure and circulation, and are even known for boosting athletic performance and cognitive function. You also can’t beat that deep scarlet color in your glass.

• Juice Quantity: 4
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 3
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 5
• Final score: 4.0

3. Chard

For a lightning zap of nutrition, try blending your favorite chard variety with spinach and kale. You’ll get a healthy dose of phytonutrients and plenty of chlorophyll. Chard tends to be sweet, too, which can help balance some of the more bitter-tasting vegetables.

• Juice Quantity: 4
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 4
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 5
• Final score: 4.2

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes aren’t technically vegetables, but since they’re eaten like vegetables, we’ve included them on the list. A tomato’s sweetness and high juice content make it a great addition to your juice. Try combining tomato juice with onion juice and cayenne pepper for a wallop of flavor.

• Juice Quantity: 5
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 5
• Bitterness: 5
• Nutrition: 3
• Final score: 4.4

1. Carrots

These may be the sweetest and juiciest of vegetables. Carrots are a staple for any juice blend and the clear winner. You’ll get bold color, strong flavor, and tons of beta carotene, and kick up the palatability of your juice. For an extra treat, try using heirloom purple or yellow carrots to add some color.

• Juice Quantity: 5
• Flavor: 4
• Sweetness: 5
• Bitterness: 4
• Nutrition: 4
• Final Score: 4.4

Conclusion

Juicing vegetables will help kickstart your immune system, improve your skin, aid weight loss, and make you feel younger. Don’t be afraid to experiment with other vegetables. If it’s aromatic or enticing in any way, toss it in the juicer and test out its flavor. Just remember to buy organic, wash your vegetables before using them, and try to get creative with reusing the leftover pulp.

Related posts:

• Which blender is best-suited for green smoothies?
• Which cold press juicer performed best in our tests?
• Which vegetables are best-suited when making smoothies? (HINT: it’s not the same list)

Featured image credit: monticello, Shutterstock