How To Juice Wheatgrass​, and Why You Should

So You Want To Learn How To Juice Wheatgrass

If there is one thing you should add to your juicing recipes, it’s wheatgrass. Here are some tips on how to juice wheatgrass and everything you need to know about the benefits of this incredible superfood.

 Growing wheatgrass

Growing your wheatgrass ensures you always have the freshest supply available for juicing. You can grow wheatgrass from seeds or buy a pre-grown tray from many supermarkets and health stores. It is ready to use when it has grown to about 8 inches tall. Cut the wheatgrass with a sharp knife or scissors ½ inch to 1 inch from the ground. Leave the cut stalks on a sunny windowsill, and they will regrow.

Most health stores keep stock if you prefer to buy your wheatgrass. However, ensure it is fresh, as wilted grass will make your juice taste like something straight out of the swamp.

How to juice wheatgrass

There are three main ways to juice wheatgrass: manually or with a blender or juicer.

Manual Method

This method, although very labor-intensive, retains much of the valuable nutrients of the wheatgrass. You require a mortar and pestle – the granite or stone variety have the best grind ability.

• Wash and chop ¼ cup of wheatgrass and place it into a mortar.
• Use the pestle to grind the wheatgrass using slow circular motions.
• When the wheatgrass starts to clump together, and the juice starts releasing,
• Continue grinding until you have a smooth paste.
• Add two tablespoons of cold water, and use a teaspoon to mix and loosen the mixture
• Place the paste into a muslin cloth and strain it into a glass.

Blender Method

This method is thought to be the least effective for retaining chlorophyll, as the blades crush the grass, damaging cells. The blades also produce heat, which destroys vital antioxidants.

• Wash and chop 1/2 cup of wheatgrass and place into a blender with 2 cups of water.
• Blend on high speed for 2 minutes.
• Place a piece of muslin into a sieve over a glass bowl and strain the juice; use a plastic spatula to press out all the liquid.
• Pour the mixture into a glass.

Juicer Method

To juice wheatgrass, you need a masticating juicer, which comes in the manual or automatic variety. If using a mechanical juicer, follow your juicer instructions carefully. The manual juicer looks like a meat grinder and clamps on your counter.

• Place a cup beneath the spout of the juicer
• Gradually feed the wheatgrass into the juicer while turning the crank
• Use your hand to keep guiding the wheatgrass through the machine.

Wheatgrass Recipes

Now that you know how to juice wheatgrass, here are some great recipes to try out for yourself.

Green Power Juice Recipe

• 2 Green apples
• 1 Cucumber
• 30 ml Wheatgrass
• 1 cup Spinach

Juice the apples, cucumber, spinach, and wheatgrass using a juicer. Serve chilled or over crushed ice.

Pineapple Super-blend

• ½ Pineapple
• 30 ml Wheatgrass
• ¼ cup Mint leaves

Cut the peel off the pineapple and cut it into chunks. Using a juicer,  juice together the pineapple, wheatgrass, and mint leaves. Serve cold or over crushed ice.

Ginger Grassy Goodness

• 2 Apples
• 1 Carrot
• 30ml Wheatgrass
• 5ml Ginger

Use a juicer to juice apples, carrot, ginger, and wheatgrass. Serve chilled or over ice.

Top Tip: Adding fresh lemon to your juice will help slow oxidization and keep the juice green and fresh for longer. Wheatgrass truly is a powerful ingredient, and the benefits of juicing it are vast. If you want to learn more about wheatgrass’s nutritional use, click here.