I was sent a Panasonic Slow Juicer MJ-L500 to try out. I admit at first I was exceptionally dubious as to what difference there would be between this with a heftier price tag than a generic juicer, also would it actually be capable of making sorbets. So I set to work looking through here recipe book to come up with some ideas and ways of pushing it to see if it could do all the things Panasonic claims. Before all of that though I needed to know what exactly was a slow juicer!
Panasonic claim that it "juices" differently, it is bladeless, so I have to agree it does. They also claim that this prevents the juice separating after 5 minutes like juices processed in a normal juicer. I have never personally left juice from a normal juicer standing around so I can not comment on that, but I did put their claim to the test that theirs doesn't. I can confirm it in fact does not. The way they process juice is claimed to keep more nutrients in, always a bonus however I have no way proving or disproving this claim.
I decided to try out some good old juice at first. I have to admit it does taste better. I have no idea how the differing in processes makes it taste better than other juicers I have tried. It just does. I tried varying juice from ones with citrus fruits, to berries, to hard fruits. They all came out tasting delicious (there are some recipes I don't contemplate trying in the book as they do not sound tasty nor do the pictures for the juice look appetising). Then it was time to push it with the sorbets (I admit this was the part I had waiting for! I mean come on, healthy delicious, frozen dessert, what's not to get excited about!). I did not think this machine was going to be capable of doing a decent sorbet. I thought it would not be smooth, etc. I hold my hands up, I was wrong. The sorbet was delicious and smooth, although I would ensure the fruit has been frozen at the very least over night as if it is not frozen solid the process causes some defrost which obviously causes problems for the end result.
So my overall opinion? A fantastic product. Do I think it's worth the RRP? Well considering you're effectively getting two pieces of equipment in one, therefore saving precious kitchen cupboard and worktop space, it does the job required of it very well, it's actually really small in size, I would have to say yes. I would not hesitate to recommend this.
Here is Panasonic's page for it where you can look up specs, purchase, look up other customers reviews, etc http://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/home-appliances/juicers/mj-l500.html
