Can You Juice Kale in a Citrus Juicer? What to Expect

Yes, you can juice kale in a citrus juicer, but the results will be disappointing. Citrus juicers are designed for soft, juicy fruits like oranges and lemons; they lack the power and feed mechanism to extract liquid from fibrous leafy greens like kale. You’ll get very low yield, a foamy juice, and risk clogging or damaging the machine.

Quick Answer

Can you juice kale in a citrus juicer? Technically yes, but not well. Citrus juicers are centrifugal units with a reamer that presses fruit halves. Kale is dry and fibrous, so it won’t produce much juice and may clog the strainer. For efficient kale juicing, use a masticating juicer or a high-speed centrifugal juicer with a wide chute. If you only have a citrus juicer, you can try rolling kale tightly and feeding it slowly, but expect minimal output and frequent cleaning.

Juice Yield: A citrus juicer extracts only about 10-20% of the liquid from kale, compared to 80-90% from oranges.
Clogging Risk: The fine mesh strainer in a citrus juicer quickly becomes clogged with kale pulp, requiring frequent disassembly and cleaning.
Motor Strain: Kale’s tough fibers can overwork the motor of a typical citrus juicer, potentially causing overheating or burnout.
Best Juicer for Kale: Masticating (slow) juicers extract up to 90% of kale’s juice with less oxidation, producing a smoother, longer-lasting juice.

Why Citrus Juicers Struggle with Kale

Citrus juicers use a spinning reamer to press juice out of halved fruits like oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. They rely on the fruit’s own moisture and softness to produce juice. Kale, on the other hand, is a tough, fibrous leafy green with relatively low water content. When you push kale leaves against the reamer, the machine lacks the cutting or grinding action needed to break down the cell walls. Instead, the leaves get shredded into a dry pulp that clogs the strainer basket, while very little liquid actually passes through.

Most citrus juicers have a small feed opening and are not designed to handle whole leaves or stems. You’d have to chop kale into very small pieces and feed it piece by piece, which is tedious. Even then, the juice yield is poor—often less than a tablespoon per cup of leaves—and the motor may overheat from the resistance.

How to Juice Kale in a Citrus Juicer (If You Must)

Prepare the kale: Wash and thoroughly dry the leaves. Remove the thick stems, as they are even harder to juice and contain bitter compounds. Tear or cut the leaves into small pieces—about 1-inch squares.
Roll tightly: Take a handful of leaf pieces and roll them into a tight cigar shape. This helps the reamer grab the leaves rather than just spinning them around.
Feed slowly: Turn on the juicer and feed the rolled kale one piece at a time. Use the plunger if your machine has one, but do not force it. Let the reamer work the leaves gradually.
Alternate with juicy fruits: To improve yield and prevent clogging, alternate kale pieces with soft, juicy fruits like apple or cucumber. The liquid from those fruits helps flush the pulp through the strainer.
Clean immediately: After juicing, disassemble the juicer and rinse all parts right away. Dried kale pulp can be very difficult to remove.

Expected Results and Drawbacks

Even with careful preparation, expect a very low yield—roughly 1 to 2 ounces of juice from a full bunch of kale. The juice will be foamy and may separate quickly due to oxidation. You’ll also need to stop and clean the strainer several times during the process, which can take 10-15 minutes for a small amount of juice.

Additionally, the motor of a citrus juicer is not built for continuous heavy loads. Running it with kale for more than a minute or two can cause it to overheat or trip a thermal fuse. If you notice a burning smell or the motor slows down, stop immediately. Repeated use with kale may shorten the lifespan of your citrus juicer.

Better Alternatives for Juicing Kale

For anyone serious about juicing kale, a masticating juicer (also called a slow juicer or cold press juicer) is the best investment. These machines use an auger to crush and press greens, extracting up to 90% of the juice with minimal heat and oxidation. The result is a smooth, nutrient-rich juice that keeps well for up to 72 hours in the fridge.

If you already own a high-speed centrifugal juicer (like a Breville or Hamilton Beach), that will do a better job than a citrus juicer. Centrifugal juicers have a shredding disc and a fast-spinning basket that separates juice from pulp. While they still produce some foam and oxidation, they handle kale much more efficiently. Feed kale leaves whole or roughly chopped, alternating with other produce for best results.

Summary: What to Choose for Kale

Citrus juicer: Not recommended. Low yield, high clogging risk, potential motor damage.
Centrifugal juicer: Works okay but produces foamy juice with some oxidation. Good for occasional use.
Masticating juicer: Best for kale. High yield, smooth juice, less oxidation, easy cleanup.
Blender (for smoothies): If you don’t want to invest in a juicer, blending kale with liquid and straining through a nut milk bag gives a similar result.

Pro Tips

Roll kale leaves into a tight tube before feeding into a citrus juicer to help the reamer grip them.
Always remove the tough stems from kale before juicing—they are bitter and fibrous, and will clog the machine.
Alternate kale with high-water fruits like apples, celery, or cucumber to help push pulp through and increase yield.
If using a centrifugal juicer, juice kale on the highest speed setting to maximize extraction.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t force kale into the juicer chute with a plunger—this can damage the motor and strainer.
Avoid juicing large amounts of kale at once in a citrus juicer; stop every 30 seconds to let the motor cool.
Never let kale pulp dry inside the juicer—it hardens and becomes nearly impossible to remove without soaking.
Don’t expect clear juice from kale in any juicer; it will be dark green and may have sediment that settles quickly.

FAQ

Can I juice kale stems in a citrus juicer?

No, kale stems are too tough and woody for a citrus juicer. They will likely jam the machine or cause it to overheat. Always remove stems before juicing.

Will juicing kale in a citrus juicer damage the machine?

Yes, repeatedly juicing kale can strain the motor and clog the strainer, potentially leading to overheating or burnout. It’s best to use a juicer designed for leafy greens.

What is the best way to juice kale without a juicer?

Blend kale with a small amount of water or juice, then strain through a fine-mesh sieve or nut milk bag. This method yields a decent juice with minimal equipment.

The Bottom Line

While you can technically juice kale in a citrus juicer, the process is inefficient, messy, and hard on the machine. For regular kale juicing, invest in a masticating juicer or at least a centrifugal model. If you only have a citrus juicer, use it for citrus and enjoy kale in smoothies instead—you’ll save time and frustration.