Omega J8005 Nutrition Center Single-Gear Commercial Masticating Juicer, Chrome and Black Review

I used to have an ACME centrifugal juicer. I thought I would never like any juicer better than the ACME because it made good juice and was very easy to clean. The only drawback to a centrifugal juicer is it won't extract much juice from leafy green vegetables and won't juice wheatgrass.
I got this Omega 8005 juicer because I wanted to be able to juice greens and wheat grass as well as root vegetables. I read on a forum that this new Omega juicer is the best there is for under $400. This Omega juicer is even easier to clean than the ACME, which is a big issue because in the long run you won't use a juicer if its a hassle to clean. And it squeezes all the juice out of anything I put in it. The pulp comes out very dry. It is super quiet too and the ACME was loud.
The Omega runs at a low rpm so it doesn't kill enzymes and stuff like that, so its supposed to make healthier juice than a Champion or centrifugal juicer.
Its a pleasure to use. I make juice every day now. I love getting all the nutrients that I need regularly. It helps my body recover from surfing everyday.
The juicer is very well built and very simple. It seems like it will last a long time and it has a very long warranty.
You can tell that I love this juicer, eh?

Edit: It's now 2009 and I've had this juicer almost five years. I still use it just about every day. I still love it. The juicing screen started to wear out a few months ago. I emailed Omega and they sent me a new one for free. They certainly stand by their 10 year warranty. I am comforted to know that if anything else should happen, I still have five more years of no questions asked replacement.

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Product Description:
Equipped with a 1/3-horsepower single-phase induction motor, this powerful masticating juicer thoroughly chews up plant fibers to fully extract vitamins, enzymes, and minerals from fruits and vegetables, including wheatgrass and leafy greens. The unit's dual-stage juicing system ensures maximum efficiency, while its low rotation speed of 80 RPMs means no foaming, no clogging, and no heat build-up. In addition to juicing fruits and vegetables, the multi-purpose machine can also be used, just as effectively, to make peanut butter or natural baby food, grind coffee beans and flour, mince herbs and spices, and extrude homemade pasta including spaghetti and linguini with the included pasta nozzles. Other highlights include a high juice yield with very dry pulp, an automatic pulp-ejection function for continuous juicing, a built-in "reverse" mode to prevent food from getting stuck, heavy-duty construction, and quiet operation. Easy to assemble, operate, and clean, the UL- and cUL-approved masticating juice extractor measures 14-1/2 by 6-1/2 by 15-1/2 inches and carries a 10-year warranty.

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Nesco FD-80 American Harvest Square-Shaped Dehydrator Review

This dehydrator is great. I've had the unit for almost a month now. So far I've dehydrated 20 pounds of "eye of round" for jerky. The recipe I used is at Recipezaar (can't post URL), recipe number 161262 (modified a bit to suite my taste, like I added about 1 tsp of onion powder and cut the liquid smoke about 25%). In fact I just did 10 of the 20 pounds yesterday. I've also dehydrated cantaloupe, kiwi slices, strawberries, grapes (come out as plump and juicy raisins), limes, oranges (those were more of an experiment), banana slices and watermelon (now that was interesting... sweet as candy), but back to the review.

I also got two sets of the Add-a-tray (two trays per package). It dries with all 8 trays just fine. I do rotate the trays about half way through, but I'm not sure I would really have to. The instructions say that the trays are top shelf dishwasher safe, but that would limit my dishwasher to only two trays per load, so I take my top rack out of the dishwasher and stand the trays vertically in the lower rack. I can get all eight trays and the base into the dishwasher at once. I figured that my water heater is only set to 125 degrees and I dry jerky at 165, so the trays shouldn't have any problem. Just make sure that you turn off any internal water heating the dishwasher my have and make sure that you turn off heated drying (use air dry). I just wait for the washer to stop, take out the trays and shake them off. Stack them, put on the power head and run it at 125 for 30 minutes. All nice, clean and dry.

Now for the hint that Nesco doesn't want me to share :) for fruit, you really need to use the Clean Screens, but at 8 bucks for a pair, you'll spend $32.00 (plus any shipping) to get enough for all 8 trays. I went to my local craft store (you know the one owned by Michael) and bought 16 sheets of plastic embroidery mesh (7 square mesh) that were 14" X 10" (the ones you would use to make those awful square Kleenex box covers). Take two sheets per tray and cut them out yourself with kitchen shears. Put them together butted up on the long side and then cut the perimeter to fit the tray and cut out the hole (1/2 of the hole in each sheet where they are butted up) for the center and then lay the two pieces into the tray. The sheets were $0.33 each, so 16 sheets only cost $5.28 and a bit of time to cut them out. Didn't really need them for the cantaloupe, but I'd still be cleaning kiwi and bananas off the trays if I hadn't used them. I throw them into the dishwasher with the trays and just run the whole load at once. All in all, this was a great buy and I'm glad I got it.

---- UPDATE 11 January 2010 ----

So, I've spent a few more months with my dry friend... that's a pun... :-)

This unit is now $49. I bought it and am happy with it at $70. Now, there is no reason not to give it a try!

About 3 months ago, I bought the jerky squeeze gun. I got it at BiMart in Oregon for $2 more than you can get it here at Amazon (the instant gratification thing). Available here. Search for Nesco BJX-5 American Harvest Jumbo Jerky Works Kit. My daughter and I make the round "slim-jim" type jerky every couple of months (about 4 lbs of 96% lean ground beef each time). The squeeze gun is as easy as using a caulking gun. Actually even better since you really don't need to be concerned about the aesthetic appearance of the final product... I mean we're taking jerky here and you can't eat caulk. I use the Nesco spicy mix with additional black pepper, powered garlic and cayenne pepper (lot's of cayenne pepper).

We've also, since buying it, done some fruit leather. Just used a jar of store bought apple sauce with a bit of added cinnamon. Next time, I think we'll put a bit of Splenda(r) in it just to "sweeten" the final product a bit. Tip... even using processed apple sauce, we put it through the blender to completely break it down into a slurry.

My "home made" clean screens are still preforming perfectly. Hope this update helps others.

---- UPDATE 20 January 2010 ----

Whoops... I see that the price is back up to $65. Well, still a fine product regardless.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Nesco FD-80 American Harvest Square-Shaped Dehydrator

Product Description:
Dry slices of fruit and vegetables, herbs and flowers, granola, or strips of jerky using this easy-to-operate dehydrator. With its square shape, the countertop appliance provides 41-percent more room for drying compared to round dehydrators. It also features a unique air-circulation system with a top-mounted fan and patented Converga-Flow Action, which pressurizes heated air downward through the outer ring and horizontally across each tray, converging at the center. This delivers not only speedy results but uniformity, so foods dry evenly--no need to rotate the trays around during operation. Its 700-watt motor also helps ensure fast drying times for results in hours versus days. A simple control knob adjusts the heat from 95 degrees to 155 degrees F to accommodate appropriate drying temperatures, and printed guidelines on the motor housing help determine the correct thermostat setting. Other highlights include a bale handle for removing the power head, dishwasher-safe parts, and an instruction manual for getting started. The dehydrator measures 14-1/2 by 14-1/2 by 9-5/8 inches and carries a one-year limited warranty.

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Mikasa Antique White Tall Cappucino Mug Review

A perfect match for my morning coffee!The cups are tall so I can fill them with more coffee than my smaller cups. They are tall, so the coffee keeps warmer, longer.They are pretty, which makes the whole experience of drinking from them pleasant.A great product!!

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Product Description:
Antique White is one of Mikasa's best selling transitional china patterns. Dresses up or down in any entertaining setting, and is perfect for everyday use.

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Farberware Soft Touch 9-by-13-Inch Rectangular Cake Pan Review

I baked meatballs in this last night -- I didn't line it with foil or anything, just put the meatballs right in. I baked them at 350 for 30 minutes and clean-up was a breeze. Completely non-stick, and pretty much all you need to do is run water over it. Very pleased.

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Product Description:
This large rectangular cake pan is made of heavy weight carbon steel to aid in even browning. The nonstick surface makes cleanup easy and helps cakes release from the pan intact. A 9-inch by 13-inch pan is one of the most commonly called for pans in sheet cake, bar or brownie recipes. Beyond baking, this versatile pan will also double as a lasagna or casserole pan.

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Calphalon Katana Stainless-Steel 5-1/2-Inch Serrated Utility Knife Review

This is a VERY sharp serrated utility knife that glides through tomatoes with ease.I've nicked my fingers a few times with it and have learned to be more careful.Since you can't sharpen serrated knives very easily, I like having the damascus steel knowing it'll hold its edge for quite a while.

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Product Description:
Named for the sacred sword carried by Japan's Samurai warriors, Calphalon Katana Series cutlery has its roots in a centuries-old tradition of superior cutlery craftsmanship.Like the awe-inspiring swords wielded by the Samurai, Calphalon Katana Series cutlery is crafted using a time-honored layering process that creates a Damascus style blade, clad with 33 stainless steel layers.This unique series of cutlery uses VG Japanese steel, which provides exceptional sharpness and ultimate edge retention.These knives also feature a patented integrated bolster design and an ergonomically designed poly-resign handle.The thin serrated blade of this knife combined with a gentle sawing motion makes it great for cutting tomatoes and bagels easy.The serrations allow you to cut through the tough exterior of food, while not damaging the softer interior.

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Anolon Advanced 5-1/2-Quart Covered Saucier Pan with Helper Handle Review

I bought this pan to replace another Anolon Advanced pan we'd had for 5years.After that many years of almost daily use, the old pan was letting food stick.Our old pan wasn't curved at the bottom - more flat with straight sides - but I remember it cost well over $100 even back then as it's also a large 5-quart.The helper handle is very useful.$50 is dirt cheap for a pan of this quality.When this one dies I'm sure we'll get another one just like it.

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Product Description:
The rounded, gently sloped sides of the saucier allow for efficient stirring and whisking. Not just for sauces, you'll use this handy pan for risotto, or soup. Hard-Anodized means the entire pan heats evenly, not only on the bottom but up the sides as well.

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