Do you have to peel turmeric before juicing it? When making fresh turmeric juice at home, no, you don’t have to peel turmeric before juicing it. Some people choose to skip peeling because it can be rather tedious.
Should you choose to peel your turmeric, the biggest tip I can give you is to use a small metal spoon (think cereal spoon). You can easily scrape off the skin that way. A grapefruit spoon can also work, which is something I’ve done as well.
Homemade turmeric juice can be used in a wide range of ways, so let’s take a look at juicing turmeric and what you can do with your turmeric juice and the remaining pulp.
Purchasing Turmeric
I personally opt for organic turmeric to avoid unwanted chemicals used in the growing process. The more you learn about commercial farming practices and the use of chemicals and pesticides, the more, the more likely this is to become a significant concern for you, and thus, organic becomes a priority when shopping. I know my eyes were opened when my kids were little because one of them needed to eat organic for medical reasons.
You’ll also want to make sure there aren’t any moldy spots on your turmeric before purchasing it, or before juicing it (especially if it’s been in your fridge for a while).
Depending on the type of juicer you have, try to select turmeric pieces that will easily fit in the chute without you needing to cut it first. A little cutting isn’t the end of the world, but I like to choose produce that can just be washed and juiced.
Big related tip: if you plan on juicing apples, keep an eye out for smaller apples. You can juice apples whole (there’s no need to peel, core, or remove the seeds). I ended up saving myself loads of time by buying apples on the smaller size, and apples are one of the many fresh fruits that pair well with turmeric juice.
Free Download: Five Delicious Recipes
I’m sharing five juice recipes that my kids love. They’re a great way to add extra nutrition in your daily diet. You can use any of these delicious recipes and add fresh turmeric when juicing to boost the antioxidant properties of the recipe.
Types of Juicers
There are two main types of juicers sold commercially: masticating juicers and centrifuge juicers. Many argue that a masticating juicer is the best type of juicer however, if you’ve been to juice shops or a juice bar, you’ll see that they use centrifuge juicers. I own both, so let me tell you a bit about them.
A masticating juicer (sometimes called a slow juicer) moves slower, but usually produces a higher yield of juice. When we chew, that’s also called mastication, and that type of juicer has mechanisms that somewhat behave how our mouthes do when they chew. In terms of speed, I wouldn’t say that this type of juicer is sooooooo slow that you waste a lot of time. It’s more like, you’ll spend an extra 5 – 10 minutes juicing, especially if you’re making a large batch (something I do often).
Alternatively, centrifuge juicer spins a blade incredibly fast. As the produce hits the blade, soft pulp is ejected to one side whilst juice comes out of the other side. The spinning blade is usually connected to a fine mesh strainer, and the strainer’s holes can get clogged if you use the juicer for an extended amount of time. To combat this, in between juices, pour a cup of water into the juicer. That can help clear the strainer’s holes. Don’t forget to take your juice out of the way when doing this. You want to put an empty cup in place of your juice container to catch the water.
Both types of juicers can handle unpeeled ingredients, small-seeded fruits, leafy greens, hard ingredients (carrots, beets, etc.), and more. They both also do well juicing fruits with a hard core, such as pineapple. It’s not advised to juice whole fruits that contain large seeds such as persimmons, as they can damage the blades and mechanisms. If the fruit has large seeds, you’ll want to remove the seeds before juicing.
If you’re planning to juice stone fruits (peach, nectarine, etc.), you’ll need to remove the stone (pit) first, no matter what type of juicer you’re using.
Both juicers tend to not do as well with very soft fruits, such as banana and dates. Rather than juice them, it purées them. Be sure to read over the manual of your juicer to fully understand what it can and cannot do well.
I’ll also add this: centrifuge juicers can handle citrus fruits pretty well whilst masticating juicers produce a lower yield. It’s not that they can’t juice the citrus fruits, it’s that they’re less efficient at juicing citrus fruits. Now, let’s take a look at some of the things you can do with your turmeric juice.
Make Turmeric Juice Ice Cubes
You’ll need fresh turmeric root and ice cube trays to pull this off. You’ll start by juicing a lot of fresh turmeric root (so you have a good amount of loot). Transfer the juice into the openings of your ice cube trays. Pop it in the freezer and you’re ready to go. Personally, I like to use ice cube trays that are silicone on the bottom and come with a lid. This makes it super easy to pop out a cube when you need it.
One of the benefits to making turmeric juice ice cubes is that you can juice a large amount of turmeric in one go and easily preserve it in a single serving size. Turmeric juice ice cubes have a range of uses as well. Here are a few ways you can use them:
- Thaw one cube for an instant turmeric shot.
- Place a turmeric ice cube into a mug and cover with hot water for an instant tea.
- Grab a one or two turmeric juice ice cubes to use when cooking. You can add them to sauces, ragouts, soups, and more.
- Thaw a cube or two of turmeric juice and add it to a fresh juice you’ve just made.
Related Article: Do I Peel Ginger Before Juicing It?
Make Homemade Turmeric Shots
We often hear about the amazing anti-inflammatory properties, health benefits, and immune system benefits of drinking the fresh juice of turmeric. However, I’m sure that like me, you’ve seen how expensive turmeric shots can be at the grocery store or from an online shop that ships. The good news is that you can make these at home and have your own supply. You can also tailor the flavor of your juice/shots to meet your needs. Not everyone can handle full strength turmeric (I know I can’t), so you can dilute your shot with water or juice it along with different fruits to make something you’ll end up loving.
I love to make little wellness shots with ginger, orange, lemon, and turmeric. I’ll also add a pinch of black pepper to my ginger turmeric shots to help amplify the health benefits of turmeric. Whilst it’s really a matter of personal preference, don’t be afraid to experiment with different fruits, different vegetables, and different ratios in your wellness shots. If you plan on incorporating turmeric shots into your daily routine, I suggest creating several flavours you enjoy and rotate through them.
If you’re not sure where to start, look online at juice bar menus and see what they’re combining. There’s a good chance you’ll like the sound of something on offer. You can also look into food combining and the overall health-promoting compounds in your juices to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
If you’re one person making turmeric shots/juicing lots of turmeric, you can freeze portions of turmeric juice to ensure you’re getting as much of the nutrient content as possible. As fresh homemade juices age in the fridge, their nutrient content can start to diminish. You’ll also want to know this though: some juices when frozen and thawed develop a bitter taste. If you’re not sure how your juice will hold up, freeze and thaw a small amount to test how it tastes after the process.
Make Lemon Turmeric Tea at Home
Turmeric tea has been known to have immunity-boosting properties and that has to do with the health benefits of curcumin. According to Harvard Health, some of the health benefits of curcumin include joint pain relief, digestive tract support, seasonal allergy relief, and antiviral properties. However, I’ll also add this: if you’re a science nerd like me, you’ll want to research absorption of curcumin, food combining, and the needed dosages to tap into the benefits of curcumin.
You can add your homemade turmeric juice to hot water to have a tea. I’d suggest adding a little lemon and honey as well. Whilst this isn’t the same as using a turmeric tea bag, you’ll still be able to enjoy the anti-inflammatory qualities turmeric has to offer.
Other great ingredients to add to your turmeric tea:
- Lemon Zest
- Ginger
- Black Pepper
- Citrus Fruit Juice
- Maple Syrup
- Manuka Honey
If you’re not a tea fan, but still love a warm drink, look up golden milk recipes. It’s a creamy turmeric milk recipe loved by millions worldwide.
Related Article: Do I need to Peel Carrots Before Juicing Them?
Make a Nutrient Dense Raw Cheesecake
If you’re a fan of juicing, there’s a good chance you’d also be a fan of raw vegan cheesecakes. These cheesecakes are very easy to make, and usually contain coconut oil since that helps the cheesecake firm up and deliver a creamy mouthfeel. Many recipes contain cashew as well, but you can make them without cashews if needed.
To make a nutrient dense raw cheesecake, you’d find a vanilla raw cheesecake recipe, then swap some of the dairy free milk in the recipe for carrot juice and a bit of your fresh turmeric root juice.
What I personally like about a creative use like this one is that you can explore so many culinary options. This particular flavour of cheesecake would taste SO good with a strawberry compote or blueberry compote on top. If you’re a foodie at heart like I am, I really hope you give this idea a try.
Delicious Flavor Combinations
As you go about using your extracted juice, here are a few flavor combinations that would work out really well with turmeric.
- Turmeric, Carrot, Ginger Juice
- Turmeric + Citrus Juices (orange juice, lemon juice)
- Strawberry + Turmeric + Cucumber
- Beet + Carrot + Apple + Parsley + Turmeric + pinch of Cayenne Pepper
Add Your Fresh turmeric Juice to Salad Dressings
Turmeric is a low-calorie powerhouse that makes for a great nutrient-dense addition to homemade salad dressings. It can add a really nice layer of flavour that has your taste buds saying, ouhuuu, that was nice.
What’s great about turmeric is that it pairs so well with a range of other ingredients including fruits and vegetables. I wouldn’t suggest using your homemade turmeric juice in creamy salad dressings such as ranch dressing. Here’s a few salad dressing ideas for you if you have the time:
- Strawberry turmeric Salad Dressing (this would taste amazing with some kind of feta salad)
- Lemon turmeric Salad Dressing (this would tase good with a shredded chicken tomato salad)
- Mango + Turmeric + Cayenne Pepper (think spicy mango, would pair well with chicken and pork salads)
For each of these dressings, I would make them as a vinaigrette. Be sure to mix them well before each use, as the ingredients will separate when stored in the fridge, and store leftover dressing in an airtight container.
How to Use Your turmeric Pulp
After you’ve made your fresh turmeric juice, don’t throw away the soft pulp that’s leftover. It can be used in cooking recipes that call for fresh turmeric. Personally, I love using turmeric pulp in pasta sauces where it’s not super duper noticeable, but adds a nice little nutrition boost to the pasta.
Your turmeric pup can also be used in cookies, cakes, smoothies, and more. If you plan on using the turmeric pulp, you may want to peel the turmeric before juicing it (some people aren’t into rough skin textures), but it’s not a total necessity. The turmeric skin will be mixed in with the pulp and most people won’t be able to detect its presence if you use it in the right applications.
Answering Your turmeric Juicing Questions
Can I make turmeric juice using my food processor?
Not really. A food processor will create more of a pulp or paste. Technically, you could use your food processor, then strain the results with a sieve/fine mesh strainer. However, this won’t be very efficient and your turmeric juice yield will be on the low side.
Could I make turmeric juice in my blender?
Technically yes, but you’d also need a fine mesh strainer/sieve, a nut milk bag, or something similar to the two. First, you’d blend the turmeric in your high-speed blender. Then you’d transfer the contents of your blender to the strainer. You’ll need to apply force or pressure to squeeze out as much of the juice as possible.
Additionally, you’ll need to use quite a bit of turmeric to pull this off since a high-powered blender usually needs a minimum amount of food/liquid to operate properly. Like a food processor, this isn’t the most efficient way to juice turmeric, but also not impossible.
What can I do with vegetable peels and fruit peels after I’ve made homemade juices?
Vegetable peels and fruit peels are amazing for your compost bin! They can add a range of nutrients to your soil. If you’re unable to compost, depending on the peel, you may be able to use it as a garnish for salad and other side dish. You can also add fruit and vegetable peels to smoothies.
Could I add ground turmeric powder to my fresh cold-pressed juice rather than turmeric juice?
You could, but there are a couple of drawbacks. First, if you’re looking for specific health benefits from the turmeric, you may not get what you were hoping for in the powder form. That’s not to say there aren’t benefits, because there are, it’s just not the same as fresh raw juice.
Second, adding ground turmeric powder can make your juice blends feel grainy in the mouth. If you have a mini handheld frother, you could try mixing it into said juice blends with that tool to reduce the graininess.
I’ll also add this: ground turmeric powder would be much better in a smoothie recipe than in your fresh juice. Should you choose to go the ground route, also make sure you’re sourcing organic, high quality ground turmeric powder.
Would juiced whole lemons and juiced fresh ginger root taste good with turmeric juice?
Yes, this would absolutely taste good, so long as you get the ratios right. The first thing I would suggest it to add an apple or two to your mix. Both lemon and ginger are pretty strong flavors, and can easily overpower your tastebuds. The added apple would help mellow this particular combination and it will be a lot more pleasant.
If you’re not able to juice apples, carrots would be my next choice. They have a lovely natural sweetness and can also help balance the lemon, ginger, and turmeric. No matter which way you go, know that this is a great classic flavor combination and I think you’ll be happy with the end results.
Does coconut water taste good with a little turmeric juice added?
As long as you like that sort of thing, yes. Flavored coconut water is a fairly common product these days. If you’re not sure on how much juice to add, start with a cup of coconut water and add 1 teaspoon of your fresh turmeric juice at a time. Mix it together, take a sip, and see what you think. Could it use a boost from another juice such as lemon juice or apple juice? Would you like the taste to be stronger?
You’re going to be your own mixologist, but it’s a quick and simple way to figure out the ratios that are going to make you happy. Once you’ve got the ratio right, be sure to write down what you enjoy so you can make it quickly the next time.
This is also where the ice cube tray method I shared early could come in handy. Let’s say you like 1 Tablespoon of turmeric juice with 16 ounces of coconut water. You’d freeze 1 Tablespoon portions of turmeric juice in your ice cube trays. Then, each time you want something like this, grab a cube and pop it in your drink. Talk about the best way to make a tasty beverage on the fly.
Will I find fresh turmeric at my local grocery store?
Not every grocery store will stock fresh turmeric root. I’ve found that stores that are natural/organic leaning or a co-op style are a lot more likely to carry fresh turmeric root. Before you head out, call ahead and ask to speak to produce at the grocery store you’d like to visit and see if it’s available. If it’s no, also ask if it’s something they normally carry.
If you call around and find that none of the stores carry it, try your local farmer’s market. You may be able to find some there, or one of the vendors may be able to point you in the right direction.
Would carrot ginger turmeric juice make a good popsicle?
In my humble opinion, that’s going to depend on a couple of factors. First, if you don’t love the taste of carrot ginger turmeric juice, no, these will be terrible popsicles to you simply because you don’t like the taste, and talk about a terrible way to use your resources.
Now, if you love the taste of carrot ginger turmeric juice, these would be awesome popsicles. The thing is, homemade popsicles might be the easiest way to use leftover fresh juice, and a great way to have a treat later on.
If I were personally making this combination, I would make sure that the carrot is the leading actor on this popsicle stage because what you want to avoid is having ginger shots in popsicle form. That would be much too strong, so it’s important that you get the balance of the ingredients just right. The carrot should be 90% of the juice mix if you really want to enjoy these popsicles.
If you’ll be sharing your creation with a child, I’d encourage you to juice some apples as well. Apple is the easiest way to add a natural sweetness to the juice, and then it will feel a lot more like a popsicle where sweetness is concerned. Also! Be sure to check out the Tovolo popsicle molds, they’re super fun and since many are silicone, it’s easy to eject the popsicles.
If I peel my turmeric, what can I do with the turmeric peel after?
Some fruit and vegetable peels such as turmeric peel or pineapple peel would be great to use in a flavour infusion. You could infuse milk, cream, or water. To do this, you’ll need to heat the liquid, then add the turmeric peel. Allow it to steep like you would tea, then strain it with a fine mesh strainer. I’d suggest steeping for at least 10 minutes, it not a bit longer.
Whilst the skins of fruits and vegetables won’t impart as much flavour as the whole fruit/veg would have, you still end up with a nice delicate flavour. Additionally, some of the beneficial compounds make it into your infusion.
You can use your infusion for sipping, or even making delicate pastry desserts. Like turmeric juice, an infusion has a lot of potential to shine.
Is a cold press juicer really worth the investment?
Maybe. It’s going to depend on how important juicing is for you. The better brands, when looking at a cold pressed juicer, can easily set you back $200. On top of that, there’s the cost of produce, the extra time needed for clean up, and so on. There are some people that I would say hands down it’s worth it, and those people are:
- Anyone juicing for a medical reason or medical condition management.
- Someone managing a restricted diet (allergy, intolerance, etc.) and juicing brings them joy.
- Anyone who really wants the health benefits from juicing, but wants to save money (visiting a juice bar everyday especially if it’s organic adds up fast).
- Someone who wants to control the flavor of their juice (because they can’t order custom juices locally for pickup).
- People who do a juice cleanse regularly and would like to make it affordable and/or control the flavors.
To everyone else, you’re going to have to look at your why, then ask: am I really going to use this tool? Spending $200+ on a good cold press juicer means you’re committed to juicing. The great news though is that if you do frequent a juice bar and spend an average of $50/week on cold pressed juice, after two months, the juicer has paid for itself (I’ve padded the cost to include the produce). There’s still the extra time spent juicing you’ll have to account for, but you get the idea.
Ultimately, juicers are like bread makers: they sound awesome and in theory it will be fun to use them, but when the rubber meats the road, most people use the tool once or twice every few months.
So is it really worth the investment? Yes, if you need the tool and will follow through on using it regularly. And at the same time, no, it’s not worth it if you’re going to use it casually. In that situation, it’s easier to go to a local juice shop and buy your juice.
Is it true that I can make turmeric juice with a coffee filter or cheesecloth?
Yes, it’s true that you can make turmeric juice with these non-traditional tools. However, the real question is: will you be able to efficiently make turmeric juice with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. The answer unfortunately is no. You’ll get juice, but it takes much longer and produces less juice than a juicer would.
Should you peel turmeric before juicing if it isn’t organic?
Depending on the growing practices, chemicals used on the farm, and your level of comfort, you should peel turmeric before juicing it. However, there are caveats to consider. First, if you’re purchasing non-organic turmeric from a farmer that can’t afford organic certification and uses organic farming practices, I wouldn’t prioritize peeling the turmeric in this case.
Additionally, if you find that the farm isn’t necessarily organic, but also isn’t using harsh farming chemicals and/or pesticides, peeling the turmeric won’t be as important. Ultimately, it comes down to your level of comfort and what you consider a significant concern.
I know I’m blessed to not have to think about this much because we have a local store that sells 100% organic produce, including fresh turmeric root, along with anything else I could ever want to juice.
