Omega VERT VRT330/350HD
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Vertical Single Auger Juicer
The OMEGA VERT Juicer
I first heard about the Hurom Slow Juicer and was “smitten” with it. When I did my research, I found that there was another model with very similar build and specs. This is it, the Omega VERT(ical) VRT330.
I learned that both of these beauties come from the same manufacturer as the original gear juicer manufacturer in Korea. I have always respected their high quality single gear juicers, and these two are no different.
This juicer is very similar to the Hurom Slow Juicer with very slight variation. Both come from the same manufacturing plant in Korea but are being marketed under different brands. So when choosing whether to buy an Omega VERT VRT330 or a Hurom Slow Juicer, it’s really just about choosing between the brand name and pricing. It shouldn’t be a very difficult decision, but on this site I will talk about both models.
[Update as of May 2011]: Now there is an upgraded VRT330HD (white) and VRT350HD (silver). “HD” simply stands for Heavy Duty. If you intend to juice daily or juicing for a big family, I highly recommended that you pay a little more (about $50) for the HD models that come with 8x stronger Ultem screen for less chances of the screen cracking. Color-wise, these new models come with new cool options of either black or silver.
If you already have the VRT330, you may want to contact the Omega company directly to purchase the upgraded, heavy duty screen.
See what other users are saying about the Omega VRT350HD.
How Does the Omega VERT Juicer Work?
The Omega VERT Juicer uses a patented Low Speed Juicing System (LSJS). It operates at only 70 RPM, instead of 3,000~16,000 RPM like a centrifugal juicer. (The Hurom operates at 80 RPM). But low speed doesn’t mean slow; it extracts juice faster than a centrifugal juicer and expel much drier pulp, with a much higher yield.
The maker of the Omega VERT Juicer has improvised on the single-gear juicer and given this juicer an upright build. The auger is fat and roundish, unlike the long, slimmer auger that we are so used to in other gear juicers.
The gear sits nicely in the juicing chamber and does its crushing job efficiently. Before the pulp is being expelled, it gets a second pressing and further squeezed for maximum juice yield. The juice flows out from the spout in front and the pulp on the side.
The method of extraction is masticating and pressing (using the screw-like auger). The action tears open the produce’s cell membranes and releases its deep-seated nutrients and enzymes. It also breaks up more of the phytochemical from the produce, resulting in a richer colored juice which is also richer in its nutrients and minerals.
The slow RPM ensures that it does not disrupt the cellular structure of the fruits and vegetables. This eliminates oxidation to the juices, therefore, preserving the precious nutrients and enzymes that are closest to its natural form.
The Build-Up
At first glance, the Omega VERT may look like any other centrifugal juicer and may even be mistaken for one. Unlike other gear juicers, it is built upright so that it has a smaller footprint and takes up very little space on your kitchen countertop.
Construction of this beauty is impressive and solid. All parts are made of non-toxic sturdy material that are easy to maintain. The maker claims that the auger is so hardy, that it is 8x hardier than the auger of other single gear juicers.
You’ll be surprised with just how silent the operation really is, especially if you’re so used to those loud centrifugal juicers. What a wonderful change!
The machine is heavy at about 11.5 pounds, which makes it very stable. The weight prevents the juicer from “walking” when in use.
One of the major differences between the Hurom and the Omega VERT is that the Hurom has a handle on the side/back, but there is none on the Omega VERT, making the Omega less portable.
The large juice strainer has an attachment that is unique in that there are silicon wiper blades that cleans the sides of the juicing bowl. The self-cleaning feature saves you time and make cleaning-up so much easier, at the same time giving a higher juice yield. Whoever would think of that except from the experts!!
The feed chute opening is about 2.25″ x 1.25″ so you will need to cut up your fruits lengthwise. For example, cut a cucumber or a carrot lengthwise into four pieces. This saves your preparation time. Although a food pusher is provided, most things you put in will go down by gravity and is self-feeding, effortlessly; so the food pusher is used mostly only when you put in leafy vegetables that would not go down the chute.
Quality Of The Juice
The Omega VERT has an amazingly high juice yield. It extracts almost every drop of juice from anything you put into it. The pulp ejected is so dry, that some say that it’s even drier than other single-gear juicers. I can believe that easily because of the dual-stage juicing where the pulp is given another squeeze to extract every drop of juice.
It is possible that the juice yield from the Omega VERT could be as much as 50% more than that extracted from a centrifugal juicer. That means it’s even higher yield when compared to the horizontal single-gear juicer models. It’s outstanding!
Once you have tasted juice extracted from a gear juicer, you will love how sweet and concentrated the juice is from the Omega VERT.
The juice is stable and does not separate because of the enzymes/nutrients that were extracted together with the juice. It may last a few hours if stored properly in the fridge, without getting oxidized (though I still always recommend that you drink your juice immediately).
The juice tastes so delicious and flavorful that you would never want to drink juice extracted from a centrifugal juicer ever again. Believe me, this would give you a new and different outlook on the beauty of juicing.
Most sellers claim that there is no foaming/frothing, it is not true. There is foaming but a little, so if you don’t like that you might want to run it through another sieve to remove the foam/froth.
Like all well-made gear juicers, the Omega VERT minimizes pesticides and chemicals in your juice. You will save much from not having to buy organic.
Easy Assembly and Washing-Up
There are five parts for assembling a Omega VERT Juicer. The package comes with two strainers: Use the one with finer holes if you want less pulp in your juice (tends to froth more); or the one with larger holes if you want more pulp in your juice. Here are the assembly parts:
This vertical single auger juicer has an automatic self-cleaning function that saves you time. After juicing a carrot for example, you can pour in a glass of water and let it run and self-clean. Then go on to the next kind of juice, green vegetables for example, so that you don’t mix the color, taste and flavor. Watch how it’s done in the video below.
All the parts can be easily taken apart and be rinsed under running water. There are no difficult-to-reach corners. The only part that would require a little more time to wash would be the strainer, with the provided brush. All in all, washing up should take only about 2-3 minutes once you’re familiar with it. It is very important when buying a juicer that it is easy to clean-up. If washing up is a hassle, you would soon give up on juicing. With the Omega VERT, washing up would be such a breeze, it would surely add joy to your juicing experience!
Specifications
Unlike all the other gear juicer, the Omega VERT functions mostly just as a juicer. If you want a multi-purpose machine for a lower price, go for the horizontal gear juicer instead. There is no fancy 6-in-1 or 9-in-1 with the Omega VERT.
The Omega VERT is currently only available in the United States of America. Note that the voltage may not be suitable for other countries.
(For Malaysians, check out the equivalent or better model, Kuvings Wide Mouth Slow Juicer.)
Specifications:
- Model: VRT330
- Voltage: 120 V Frequency 60Hz
- Power Consumption: 150w
- Speed: +70 RPM
- Motor: Single-Phase induction type
- Includes fine and coarse dual stage screens, pulp extraction plugs, self-cleaning screen holder, two 50 oz. juicing cups, tamper, brush, and instruction manual
Dimensions and Weight:
- Product Size: 9.84″L x 6.81″W x 15.83″H
- Shipping Box Size: 12 x 12 x 16″
- Shipping Weight: 20 lbs
Omega VRT 330 – for normal daily once/day juicing
Omega VRT 330HD/350HD – for “Heavy Duty” juicing (hardier juicing screen)
Buy Now:
Other Masticating Juicers:
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| Kuvings Wide Mouth | Omega VERT | Breville BJS600XL | Omega J8004/J8006 | Omega J8003/J8005 |
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| Alpha Juicer | Hurom AA Series | Lexen Healthy | Oscar VitalMax | Samson 6-in-1 |
Some of the links I post on this site are affiliate links. If you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a small commission (at no additional cost to you). However, note that I’m recommending these products because of their quality and that I have good experience using them, not because of the commission to be made.
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