What Fruits Have to Be Peeled Before Juicing?

December 31, 2025 •

4 min read

While some fruit peels contain high levels of nutrients, certain fruits have thick, fibrous, or bitter skins that must be removed for a delicious and safe juicing experience. Knowing what fruits have to be peeled before juicing is key to making the best homemade blends.

Quick Summary

Certain fruits like citrus, pineapple, and mango must be peeled for juicing to avoid bitterness, protect your machine, and ensure a smooth, delicious drink. Other fruits, however, can be juiced with the skin on for added nutrients and flavor.

Key Points

Peel Bitter Skins: Always remove the thick, bitter peels from fruits like oranges, grapefruit, and kiwi to ensure your juice is palatable.
Protect Your Juicer: Tough, fibrous skins from mangoes and pineapples can damage or clog your juicer's motor, making peeling a necessary step for these fruits.
Leave Thin Skins On: Fruits like apples, pears, and berries have thin, edible skins that are nutritious and can be juiced without removal.
Prioritize Cleanliness: For fruits with rough peels like pineapples or melons, peeling is the best way to avoid potential dirt, bacteria, or pesticide residue.
Remove Large Pits: Always remove the large pits from stone fruits like peaches and plums, even if you are leaving the skin on.
Don't Force It: If your juicer struggles, it's a sign that the fruit piece is too large or the skin is too tough. Cut into smaller pieces or consider peeling it.

Juicing has become a popular method for incorporating more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants into your diet. However, not all fruits are created equal when it comes to preparation. The decision to peel or not to peel can impact the flavor, safety, and nutrient content of your finished juice. A common rule of thumb is to peel anything with an inedible or bitter-tasting skin, while leaving thin, edible skins on to maximize nutritional benefits.

Why Peeling is Sometimes Essential

Not all peels are suitable for juicing, and for several reasons, removing them is a necessary step. Prioritizing taste, safety, and equipment longevity ensures a better juicing experience.

Removing Bitter Flavors

Many fruits, especially citrus, have a thick white layer called the pith and a colored outer zest. While lemon and lime zests are often desirable for a tangy kick in moderate amounts, the pith of oranges and grapefruits is overwhelmingly bitter. This bitterness can ruin an entire batch of juice, making peeling a non-negotiable step for these fruits. Kiwi skin, though technically edible, also adds a bitter and fuzzy texture that most people prefer to avoid in their juice.

Protecting Your Juicer

Some fruit skins are simply too tough or fibrous for many juicers, particularly masticating (slow) juicers, which can become clogged or even damaged. The hard, spiky exterior of a pineapple, the tough skin of a mango, or the fibrous peel of a kiwi can put a significant strain on the machine's motor and gears. Removing these tough peels and cores helps prevent blockages and extends the life of your appliance.

Ensuring Proper Sanitation

The rough and porous texture of some fruit skins, like pineapple and cantaloupe, makes them difficult to clean thoroughly. Even with careful scrubbing, dirt, bacteria, and residual pesticides can remain trapped on the surface. While organic produce reduces the pesticide concern, ensuring cleanliness is crucial. If you are concerned about your ability to sanitize the skin properly, peeling is the safer option.

Fruits That Require Peeling

Several fruits are best peeled before they are put through a juicer. This category includes fruits with bitter, tough, or unhygienic skins.

Citrus Fruits: Oranges, grapefruits, and pomelos should be peeled. While a little lemon or lime zest is fine, the thick white pith is best removed to avoid a bitter taste.
Mangoes: The skin is tough and fibrous and can introduce an undesirable flavor. You should also remove the large, hard pit before juicing.
Kiwis: The fuzzy skin adds a bitter taste and an unpleasant texture. Scoop the flesh out with a spoon or use a peeler.
Melons: Cantaloupe and honeydew have inedible, bitter rinds that should be removed. Note that watermelon rinds can be juiced for their nutrients, but should be washed thoroughly and can alter the flavor.
Pineapples: While some advanced juicers can handle the peel, it is generally recommended to remove the thick, spiky skin to avoid bitterness and potential clogging. The fibrous core can also be juiced along with other hard ingredients to help prevent blockages.
Bananas: Not recommended for juicing due to their low water content. Their fibrous peel is also unsuitable for most juicers.

Fruits You Can Juice with the Peel On

For many fruits, leaving the skin on is beneficial and perfectly safe. This saves prep time and often boosts the nutritional content of your juice.

Apples and Pears: Their thin, edible skin contains many nutrients and is fine for most juicers. Just wash thoroughly and remove the core and seeds.
Grapes and Berries: These can be juiced whole after a good rinse. Their delicate skins are easily processed.
Cucumbers: The skin can be left on and is a source of minerals. Peel only if you prefer a different color or have texture concerns.
Peaches, Plums, and Nectarines: The skins are thin and edible. The large stone pits must be removed before juicing.

Juicing Preparation Comparison Table


Fruit Category	Peel On/Off	Reason	Prep Steps	Citations
Citrus (Oranges, Grapefruit)	PEEL OFF	Avoids overwhelming bitterness from the pith.	Remove the entire peel and pith; can add a small amount of zest from lemon/lime if desired.
Tropical (Mango)	PEEL OFF	Tough, fibrous skin that can clog the juicer.	Remove skin and cut flesh from large, hard pit.
Tropical (Kiwi)	PEEL OFF	Adds a fuzzy texture and bitter taste to the juice.	Scoop out the inner flesh with a spoon or peel with a knife.
Melons (Cantaloupe, Honeydew)	PEEL OFF	The rind is inedible and bitter.	Remove the thick rind and seeds.
Pitted Fruits (Peaches, Plums)	PEEL ON	Thin skin is safe and nutritious; remove pit.	Wash and remove the large, hard pit.
Apples	PEEL ON	Adds nutrients and is easily processed; remove core.	Wash thoroughly and remove the core.

A Quick Guide to Smart Juicing

Beyond just peeling, following a few other simple practices can significantly improve your juicing. Always start with fresh produce, and wash everything thoroughly to remove surface bacteria and pesticides, regardless of whether you plan to peel. Cutting items like carrots into smaller pieces can help the juicer process them more efficiently and prevent blockages. For the best nutrient content, drink your fresh juice within 24 to 48 hours and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator to limit oxidation. A splash of lemon or lime juice can also help preserve freshness.

Conclusion

Understanding which fruits require peeling before juicing is a fundamental part of making great-tasting, safe, and appliance-friendly homemade juice. While leaving the skins on for items like apples and cucumbers can offer a nutritional boost, it's crucial to remove the peels from citrus fruits, mangoes, kiwis, and melons to prevent bitterness, blockages, and potential sanitation issues. By following these simple guidelines, you can ensure a consistently smooth, flavorful, and healthy juicing experience. For more detailed guides and information on juicing, consider visiting Kuvings USA's blog section.

Frequently Asked Questions

You should not juice orange peels because the thick, white pith is extremely bitter and will make your juice unpalatable. While a small amount of zest can be added for flavor, removing the entire peel is recommended for a better taste.

It is generally recommended to peel pineapple before juicing. The skin is tough, and while some juicers can handle it, the risk of clogging is high, and thorough cleaning is difficult. The fibrous core can be juiced along with other hard ingredients to aid processing.

Yes, you can and should juice apple skins. The skin contains a significant amount of nutrients and can enhance the flavor. Just be sure to wash the apple thoroughly and remove the core and seeds before juicing.

If you don't peel a fruit with a bitter rind, such as a grapefruit or kiwi, the bitterness from the peel will infuse your entire juice. This can make the juice unpleasant and potentially undrinkable, wasting your produce.

Some nutrients are found in higher concentrations in the peel than in the pulp, but a lot of nutrients remain in the flesh. For fruits with tough or bitter skins, the flavor and texture benefits of peeling outweigh the nutritional loss. For thin-skinned fruits like apples, keeping the skin on is ideal for maximum nutrients.

The main risks are a bad-tasting juice due to bitterness, and potential damage or clogging of your juicer's motor due to the tough, fibrous material. Also, thick, rough peels can harbor bacteria or pesticide residue that is hard to remove completely.

Yes, the type of juicer can influence your prep. While peeling is always safer, some powerful centrifugal or commercial-grade juicers can process thicker skins than standard masticating juicers. Always consult your specific juicer's manual for recommendations on tough produce.