Do you want an Omega juicer but have limited kitchen space? Or perhaps you’re looking for a premium masticating juicer that has an auto cleaning function? The Omega VSJ843 Slow Juicer is one of your best choices this year.
It is a vertical type slow juicer, pretty much like the centrifugal ones, which takes up less counter space. However, there are caveats that you need to be aware of first, and this is what I would like to present to you here.
In this article, you will learn the features of this juicing machine and how it actually benefits your juicing lifestyle. By the end of this article, you will come to understand if this is exactly what you’re looking for.
Omega VSJ843 Slow Juicer Review
The Omega VSJ843 Slow Juicer comes in 2 models, the VSJ843QS and the VSJ843RS. They are actually identical in terms of functionalities and features. The main difference is the body shape, so it’s more on the aesthetics.
The “Q” in VSJ843QS stands for the shape of sQuare, while the “R” in VSJ843RS stands for the Round shape. So choosing between the two actually comes down to which of them is more pleasing to your eyes.
VSJ843 has an edge over Omega VRT400 models, and even J8006. This is the new motor actually rotates at almost half the speed of the standard ones. This means better juice quality and higher juice yield.
In the next sections, we will delve deeper as to how this machine actually works. The best way to know if this is worth your money is to know if you can actually cope with its limitations.
Power & Speed
Omega VSJ843 is a slow juicer so it operates at a very slow speed. The auger turns at a speed of just 43RPM, which is far less than the 80RPM speed of other Omega juicers. This means that it is able to produce to produce the quality of juice in terms of taste and consistency.
It can juice beets, carrots, and other hard veggies with ease. As a matter of fact, you can even pop in a pineapple together with its core and this machine will extract the juice. Just remember to cut it smaller chunks.
If you’re planning about juicing greens most of the time, this model will not disappoint you as well. It can handle leafy veggies with ease, with higher juice yield. However, when compared to horizontal juicers, it would still need some more improvements.
Noise Level
Even if it is vertically-oriented, this juicer is still under the masticating type. This means that it produces an almost negligible noise when operating, more so if you have other noises in the background.
You can make your juices any time of the day, even in the early morning when most of the household is still asleep.
Feed Chute
The size of the feed chute is an important factor in choosing a juicer machine. This greatly influences the prep time every time you make your juice. The smaller the chute is, the longer time you will have to spend cutting your ingredients.
The chute is opening is kidney-shaped, with a measurement of around 2.25” on the wide side and around 1.25” on the short side. It is the same limitation that you would experience in any masticating juicer.
While you can throw in a whole medium sized apple to a centrifugal juicer, Omega VSJ843, and the rest of the machines under the same category, requires that the fruit be quartered or a lot smaller.
This design forces every user to cut their ingredients into small pieces, which is necessary to be able to keep the juicer from getting clogged.
Juice Jug Capacity
Being a vertical juicer, Omega VSJ843 comes with a large pulp bin and juice container. The juice jug can actually hold up to 36 ounces of juice. This is a great capacity if you’re planning to make juice in batches.
In addition, the large capacity if the container goes hand in hand with the juicer’s operation. With VSJ843, you don’t have to clean this machine after several ounces of juice.
The juice jug is designed to be a temporary container only. If you’re going to drink some of the contents at a later time, you will have to transfer it immediately to a mason jar and get it sealed.
Juicing Operation
Omega VSJ843 only has 2 settings, the “On” and “Reverse”. It operates on a single 43RPM speed only. This rotation speed works well with almost any produce available for juicing.
Depending on the way the produce is cut or being fed, this machine may still end up getting jammed. The Reverse functionality is especially useful when this happens.
You can operate this juicer continuously for 30 to 45 minutes, then you’ll have to let the machine rest for about 5 minutes. Being this heavy-duty, you can virtually make juices almost the entire day, or until you need to clean it up.
The techniques to getting the most out of this juicer, or any masticating juicer for that matter, is to:
- Cut the ingredients into small pieces
- Do not chug all the ingredients at once, feed the machine slowly
- Alternate soft ingredients like strawberries or pineapples with hard ones like carrots, etc.
All the items listed above is especially important for people who came from using a centrifugal juicer. You can’t keep in dropping ingredients on a slow juicer in very quick succession; it will just get jammed and back up.
Cutting the ingredients into smaller pieces is the key to making VSJ843 yield a lot of juice. This is so evident when you see very dry pulp getting discarded.
Cleanup
Cleaning the juicer after every juicing session is not only recommended but very essential. The food bits tend to get stuck like glue if left to dry. Fortunately, Omega has added an auto-cleaning system to this model.
As a matter of fact, this juicer model is one of the best easy-to-clean juicers in the market today.
To use this system, close the juice tap and pour in 16 ounces of warm water. Then you turn on the machine. It will eject all remaining pulp and will circulate the water to get all the extra bits; pretty much like a washing machine.
After half a minute, you can open the juice tap and drain the water out. This makes it very easy to clean with just a running water after you take it apart.
For cleanliness junkies, you can run the auto-cleaning process before you start actually using the juicer.
While some of the parts are dishwasher safe, it is better to clean them manually. The only effort you will do, which is almost negligible, is to brush the screen and the bowl.
Dimensions
The Omega VSJ843 Slow Juicer has a dimension of 7 x 8.5 x 15.5 inches (Width x Depth x Height), regardless if it’s the RS or the QS model.
It is very compact and will most likely fit under every kitchen cabinet. Even the juice container and pulp bin are designed to stack up neatly for easy storing.
Warranty & Customer Support
Omega is known for its great customer support. You can easily contact them via email or by phone if you have any questions in particular about their juicers. In fact, they even have a live chat when you go to their site, OmegaJuicers.com. Claiming a warranty is also streamlined so you wouldn’t have a headache with this.
In addition, Omega offers one of the longest, if not the longest, warranty period in juicer machines. Once you purchase Omega VSJ843, you immediately avail of their full 15 years warranty.
Pros
- Compact size perfect for any kitchen counter
- Dual blade auger for more efficient juicing
- Can juice ingredients from hard to soft to leafy greens
- Very easy to clean with their auto-cleaning system
- A strong 48RPM motor which operates quietly
Cons
- A little less efficient with green veggies than the horizontal types
- Small chute size increases prep time
Consumer Ratings
Omega VSJ843 is getting popular these days. It has received a very high average rating from more than 80% of the people who reviewed it on Amazon. They are very satisfied with this vertical slow juicer that some even swear that if they end up buying another one, it would be VSJ843 again.
A handful of people who were dissatisfied with the product left a bad review because of its durability. Some of them have had their machine break down within a month of usage. Fortunately, the 15-year warranty covers this.
If you’re still unsure about this juicer, I highly recommend that you check other Amazon reviews to help you better decide.
Final Words
Whether you’re a beginner or very experienced in juicing, the Omega VSJ843 Slow Juicer is simply one of the best choices for a new purchase or an upgrade. The combination of its powerful motor and dual blade auger helps create great-tasting juices. It is very easy to operate and clean as well.
I’ve had great experiences with Omega and this vertical type of juicer from the same brand is a no brainer for me. Thanks and awesome site BTW.
Thanks Shelly. This means a lot to me. I hope you enjoy your new juicer.
I just had to drop this comment and thank you for this detailed review. This is just the type of juicer I was looking for. I’m so happy with my purchase.
I’m glad you like Omega VSJ843. Happy juicing!