How to Juice Wheatgrass at Home
Fresh wheatgrass can be turned into a concentrated green juice at home, but the type of juicer you use matters. Wheatgrass is thin, fibrous and quite different from fruit or vegetables such as apples, carrots and oranges.
For the easiest extraction, use a slow or masticating juicer designed to handle leafy greens and wheatgrass. A manual wheatgrass juicer can also work well. If you do not own either, you can use a high-powered blender and strain the blended grass afterwards.
What Type of Juicer Is Best for Wheatgrass?
A masticating or slow juicer is generally the best choice for wheatgrass.
Instead of relying on a rapidly spinning cutting basket, a masticating juicer uses an auger to crush and press the grass, separating the liquid from the fibrous pulp.
When choosing a machine, look for a model whose manufacturer specifically states that it can process:
- Wheatgrass
- Leafy greens
- Herbs
- Fibrous vegetables
Horizontal slow juicers are particularly common for wheatgrass, although suitable vertical slow juicers can also work.
Can You Use a Manual Wheatgrass Juicer?
Yes. A hand-operated wheatgrass juicer is a simple option if wheatgrass is the main thing you intend to juice.
Manual juicers use a hand crank or press to crush the grass and separate the juice from the pulp.
They are slower than electric machines but have several advantages:
- No electricity required
- Designed specifically for grasses and leafy material
- Simple mechanical construction
- Useful for small wheatgrass shots
- Practical if you do not regularly juice other produce
Can You Juice Wheatgrass in a Centrifugal Juicer?
A standard centrifugal juicer is generally not the best choice for wheatgrass.
Centrifugal juicers work well with many fruits and vegetables, but wheatgrass consists of thin, flexible and highly fibrous blades. Many centrifugal machines extract very little juice from grass, and the wheatgrass may pass through, wrap around components or clog the machine.
Some centrifugal juicers are designed to handle leafy greens better than others, so check the manufacturer's instructions for your particular model rather than assuming every centrifugal juicer is incapable of processing wheatgrass.
If wheatgrass is something you plan to juice regularly, a slow, masticating or dedicated wheatgrass juicer is usually the more practical option.
How to Juice Wheatgrass with a Masticating Juicer
1. Harvest Fresh Wheatgrass
Cut the wheatgrass just above the growing medium using clean scissors or a sharp knife.
Wheatgrass is generally harvested when it forms a dense green crop approximately 10–15cm tall.
2. Inspect & Rinse the Grass
Remove any yellow, damaged or visibly spoiled blades.
Rinse the harvested wheatgrass thoroughly using clean, drinking-quality water and allow excess water to drain.
3. Cut Long Blades if Necessary
Depending on the design of your juicer, cutting very long blades into shorter handfuls can make feeding easier.
Follow the instructions supplied with your particular juicer, especially if the manufacturer gives specific guidance for wheatgrass or leafy greens.
4. Feed the Wheatgrass Slowly
Turn the juicer on and feed small bunches of wheatgrass into the chute rather than forcing a large handful through at once.
Allow the auger to pull the grass through naturally.
The machine should separate the green juice from the relatively dry fibrous pulp.
5. Collect & Drink the Juice
Collect the wheatgrass juice in a clean glass or container.
Fresh wheatgrass juice has a strong grassy flavour and is commonly consumed in relatively small servings. If you are unsure how much to drink, see our guide to how much wheatgrass juice per day.
6. Clean the Juicer Promptly
Wheatgrass fibre can dry onto screens and juicer components quickly.
Once you have finished juicing, disassemble and clean the machine according to the manufacturer's instructions rather than allowing pulp to dry inside it.
Can You Make Wheatgrass Juice in a Blender?
Yes, but a blender does not separate juice from fibre in the same way as a juicer.
To make a strained wheatgrass drink with a blender:
- Rinse the wheatgrass thoroughly.
- Cut it into shorter pieces.
- Place a small amount in a high-powered blender.
- Add enough drinking-quality water to allow the blades to circulate the grass.
- Blend until the grass is finely broken down.
- Pour the mixture through a fine strainer, nut-milk bag or clean cheesecloth.
- Press or squeeze the liquid from the remaining pulp.
Because water is added during blending, the result will be more diluted than juice extracted directly with a wheatgrass juicer.
Can You Drink Wheatgrass Without Straining It?
A blender can turn wheatgrass into a very fibrous green mixture, but whole wheatgrass blades are tough and stringy.
Most people who use a blender strain the mixture to remove the coarse grass fibre and produce a smoother drink.
If you want to consume whole leafy greens rather than strained wheatgrass juice, softer greens are generally more suitable for ordinary smoothies.
Can You Mix Wheatgrass Juice with Other Juices?
Yes. Wheatgrass juice has a concentrated grassy flavour, so some people prefer mixing a small amount with freshly prepared fruit or vegetable juice.
Common flavour combinations include:
- Apple
- Cucumber
- Celery
- Carrot
- Lemon
- Ginger
Start with a small amount of wheatgrass and adjust according to taste.
Should Wheatgrass Juice Be Drunk Immediately?
Fresh wheatgrass juice is best prepared close to the time you intend to drink it.
Freshly extracted juice is unpasteurised and perishable, so use clean wheatgrass, clean equipment and good food-handling practices.
If the juice is not consumed immediately, refrigerate it promptly in a clean covered container at 5°C or below and use it as soon as practical.
The NSW Food Authority provides guidance on keeping potentially hazardous foods under appropriate temperature control.
Where Can You Get Fresh Wheatgrass for Juicing?
You can either grow wheatgrass yourself or order it fresh when you need it.
If you want a regular supply at home, the OzSprout Wheatgrass Grow Kit provides the main supplies needed to grow fresh wheatgrass from seed through to harvest. For the full growing method, follow our step-by-step guide to growing wheatgrass at home.
If you would rather skip the growing process, OzSprout also offers Fresh Wheatgrass – Grown to Order for customers wanting live wheatgrass ready for harvesting and juicing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best juicer for wheatgrass?
A slow or masticating juicer specifically designed to process wheatgrass or leafy greens is generally the easiest electric option. A dedicated manual wheatgrass juicer can also work well.
Can I use a normal juicer for wheatgrass?
It depends on the machine. Many centrifugal juicers perform poorly with wheatgrass because the thin, fibrous blades are difficult for their extraction system to process. Check your manufacturer's instructions before trying it.
Can I use a blender instead of a wheatgrass juicer?
Yes. Blend wheatgrass with a small amount of water and then strain the mixture through a fine mesh, nut-milk bag or clean cheesecloth.
Do I need to add water when using a juicer?
No. A suitable masticating or manual wheatgrass juicer extracts juice directly from the grass. Water is mainly required when using the blender-and-strain method.
Should I wash wheatgrass before juicing?
Yes. Inspect the grass and rinse it thoroughly with clean, drinking-quality water before juicing.
Can wheatgrass pulp be used for anything?
The fibrous pulp left after juicing can be composted or added to an appropriate household organic-waste system.
Can I grow my own wheatgrass for juicing?
Yes. Wheatgrass can be grown indoors in shallow trays and is generally ready to harvest within around 7–10 days after sowing under suitable conditions. A wheatgrass grow kit can make it easier to start with the correct trays, seed and growing medium.
How to Juice Wheatgrass: The Bottom Line
For regular wheatgrass juicing, a masticating, slow-press or dedicated manual wheatgrass juicer is usually the most practical choice.
Centrifugal juicers are generally less effective with thin, fibrous wheatgrass, while a high-powered blender can be used as an alternative when the blended grass is mixed with water and strained afterwards.
Whatever method you choose, start with fresh wheatgrass, use clean equipment, juice only what you need and clean the machine promptly after use.