Back to Basics Aluminum Steam Juicer - A12 (Discontinued by Manufacturer)

I have borrowed juicers from friends for years & tired of having to work on someone else's schedule. I have used both stainless steel & aluminum so I knew what I was getting.Pros: 1. Price is competitive for this type product.2. Nesting storage is great.3. Instructions to throw 1st batch through back as it is used to sterilize the tubing is very good idea, I hadn't thought of that but was always concerned about the tubing with the borrowed juicer.Cons: 1. I have a major issue with the instructions that claim putting hot juice directly into canning jars & sealing is sufficient. THIS IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR FOOD SAFETY! All recommendations from USDA & other reputable sources will tell you that hot water bath is necessary to safely home can juices.2. Aluminum stains but that comes with the territory.3. I bought 2 juicers. I already knew the difficulty of using the clamp since it was the same as those I borrowed. However, one tube leaks if the clamp is not set "just so", the other doesn't leak. Same clamp, go figure.4. Without a handle on the base, it is a bit difficult to check water levels. However, precautions can be taken so this isn't too much of an issue. A marble can be put in the base; if the water is running out the marble will rattle around & let you know it's time to add water. Also, if the heat is up too high, the water will evaporate more quickly without any added benefit to the juicing.Overall, although the cons appear longer than the pros, I am pleased with the juicer. I have only used it for grapes & look forward to using it for other fruits in the future.

Steam juicers are great. They're great for making delicious juice you wouldn't otherwise get that often, like strawberry juice or pear juice. They're not so great for juicing some other things that you could more easily juice in a blender (trying to steam juice watermelon yields a watery liquid that kinda smells like pee). They also double as a nifty steamer in a pinch if you don't have a dedicated double-boiler lying around.This little guy in particular is a solid cheap steam juicer. It's not the be-all end-all of juicers, I would imagine, but it gets the job done. The aluminum does tend to warp and discolor over time, but it's all purely cosmetic. The tube and valve contraption it comes with is utter junk. The little metal clasp that controls the flow of juice through the tube is very finicky and unreliable (prone to not flow when you want it to, and drip when you don't). Worst of all, the way it digs into the tubing to stop the flow actually tends to cuts through the tubing when it's hot and pliable. Every four or five times I'd use the juicer I'd end up flat-out losing a piece of the tube; it got so short that I eventually had to replace the tube. Other than that design problem, though, the thing is a workhorse. I mean, it's a double boiler with a strainer -- there's not a lot to screw up. If I was buying another one I'd probably get stainless steel, but you really can't go wrong for the price.

I used this to extract juice from elderberries, and it worked just fine - though I had to mash the elderberries about 3/4s of the way through the process with a potato masher. You'd be well advised to use distilled water rather than tap water because it's hard to clean up the scale and even vinegar will mar the finish of the aluminum.The worst aspect of this juicer is the drain tube. The clip isn't strong enough to completely collapse the tubing so it leaks, and the heat of the juice will heat the clip so you'll need gloves to operate it. You can't get all of the juice out unless you tip it and that's very unwieldy. My advice, if you want to use the drain tube is to add a spigot or shutoff valve, though plugging the drain tube and just pouring off the extract worked best for me.

Love this classic, simple tool. I've borrowed a friend's to make grape juice for the past few years and this year finally bought my own. Works beautifully for apples too- we finally have a way to use all the surplus apples from our tree. I know the "fancy" ones are stainless with a spigot instead of the hose, but this is something that lives in the basement most of the year, so I really don't care if it stays shiny and pretty. It's a tool, not a stage prop. Also, the hose set up makes it easier to drain the juice without moving the whole thing perilously close to the edge of the stove, (and also means you can tip it slightly to get all the juice out). It's true what others say about the clamp- it leaks, so be sure to just rest the end in a mason jar at a higher level then the hose inlet.

This steam juicer worked well to remove the juice from elderberries for making jelly. The directions said that after the water started boiling it would take about 1 hour to remove the juice. It actually took about 2 hours to remove all the juice from 2-plus quarts of berries but there was no need to strain the juice from the berries as is done when the berries are cooked in water. One problem that could arise is the amount of clearance between the juicer lid and the bottom of the cabinet or microwave when cooking the berries. I had about 2 inches of clearance. My sister, who also has one of these cookers has solved this problem by using her steam juicer on the grill burner outside.Over all I am satisfied with this product.

I made this purchase off from a suggestion from a colleague that has been using one for years. My initial need was to make hard cider and I did not have access to a cider press and the stuff you buy in the store is loaded with preservative. In less than an hour I was able to turn 2 pecks of apples into juice and I ran the pulp through a food mill to make apple sauce for my self and my 7 month old baby. Very little prep is needed, just wash your produce and if it is large cut it in half or quarters and toss it in the basket. The juice from the unit rivaled that of freshly pressed and it is already pasturized. I can't wait to try it out on other seasonal produce. I plan on purchasing 2 more for my mother and brother that make wine. I brew beer and will use it for adjunts to my seasonal ales.

works as advertised

Works great! Made grape juice from my own grapes from my backyard. Yummie!

worked very well

Very good

Have used it for blackberry and rasp. so far - the juice made is superior to sieving. Large pot to store, though