How To Make A Smoothie
A smoothie is so much more than blended fruit. It’s an art with all of its different elements blending perfectly together. Just in case these 29 smoothies aren’t enough, here is our guide to making the perfect smoothie.
Pick your fruit.
We chose strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and bananas to be our base, but any combo of fruit is great. Make a tropical smoothie of pineapple, mango, and banana or add blueberry and peach to switch it up a bit for a summer twist. Aim for about 3 cups of fruit.
Fresh or frozen fruit?
For smoothies, frozen fruit is best. It blends up thicker than fresh fruit and gives you a really cold smoothie to enjoy after blending. If you don’t have frozen fruit, freeze your fresh fruit for 30 minutes before blending or add about 1 cup of ice and blend until smooth!
Add a thickener.
We use unsweetened Greek yogurt in our smoothie, but peanut butter, almond butter, or vanilla yogurt are all great options. Traditionally about 1/2 cup is ideal. If you prefer thinner smoothies, you can either lessen the amount of thickener or skip it all together.
Choose a liquid.
Almond milk is great for the added nutty flavor, but coconut milk pairs well with a tropical smoothie and gives a richer, creamier flavor. Whole milk or fruit juice also work well. 1 1/4 cup of liquid makes the perfect consistency for our preference. If you skipped the thickener, use less liquid as well.
Throw some add-ins in.
Are Frozen Fruits Healthy
Frozen fruits are unequivocally healthy. This is contrary to common perception, which implies that freezing fruits causes a decrease in their nutrients.
Frozen fruits have been found to display similar nutritional value to fresh-stored fruits, with very little to no differences.
There are actually benefits to the practice. Freezing slows down the ripening and decaying process of fruits so that they last for prolonged periods.
Antioxidants are rarely affected by freezing.
Their total antioxidant content stays constant for up to a year. In some cases, it even increases.
Blueberries, in particular, contain the antioxidant anthocyanin.
After storing them in frozen, dried, and fresh states for three months, there was no notable change. Antioxidant decrease for all three states was negligible.
But theyre not only healthy. Compared to fresh fruits, frozen fruits are easier to transport. Theyre also more readily available year-round, and easily stored in the freezer, making them more convenient.
Even frozen fruits you can buy from the store are usually just as healthy. Fruits like berries are delicate and, unlike most vegetables, cannot withstand the blanching process .
We encourage you to opt for frozen berries and to practice freezing your fresh fruits at home, after washing them. Youll achieve clean produce that stores for a prolonged time and keeps its nutrients.
Does The Fruit Need To Be Frozen In A Fruit Smoothie
If you want to make a frozen fruit smoothie and dont have any frozen fruit on hand, add ice to your mixture. If you dont add frozen fruit or ice, your smoothie wont be thick and frosty. If you dont mind this, then youll be fine to continue. I highly recommend using frozen fruit because it tends to blend better than straight ice. Its not pleasant to bite down on chunks of ice in a smoothie!
This fruit smoothie recipe is so easy that we make them most days during the hot weather. You wont hear me complaining. Theyre a lot healthier than ice cream and if making them keeps the want for ice cream at bay, Im all for it!
Read Also: Healthiest Smoothie From Smoothie King
How Do I Make Smoothies If I Dont Like Bananas
Lucky for you, we have an entire post of recipes to make a smoothie without banana. Try those recipes, or tweak any of the recipes below by:
- Subbing in 1/2 cup additional plain Greek yogurt , plus 1 tablespoon additional sweetener and a handful of ice cubes in place of the frozen banana in these recipes.
- Other options: canned pineapple, sweetened yogurt, canned pears. Adding half a ripe avocado can really help make up for the creaminess that bananas usually add, too.
Why Use Frozen Fruits In Smoothies
Its so convenient!
Most supermarkets sell frozen smoothie packs these days.
Theres no need to wash or cut the fruits. Everything is done for you already. Its a huge timesaver!
You wont even have to defrost the fruits before making smoothies. Just open the bag, add some to your blender and youre good.
Just because its convenient doesnt mean its less healthy!
Fruits are picked and frozen at peak ripeness. Studies show again and again that frozen fruits retain at least as many vitamins, minerals, as fresh fruits. Some fruits can even retain more vitamins when theyre frozen than when theyre bought fresh.
Using more frozen fruits also means less spoilage.
Frozen fruits are good for months, instead of just days. You can easily enjoy your favorite fruits at any time of the year.
Using frozen fruits actually makes your smoothies taste better.
Some people like to use ice cubes in their smoothies, I like using frozen fruits. A chilled smoothie simply tastes better, theres no question about it. Save the ice, and add some frozen fruits instead.
You May Like: Smoothie King Center Seating Chart With Seat Numbers
Recommended Reading: Smoothie King Protein Powder
Minute Frozen Fruit Smoothie
This simple Frozen Fruit Smoothie is made with just three ingredients and so creamy and delicious! Its perfect for an on the go healthy breakfast or an easy snack.
There are affiliate links in this post please read my full disclosure policy.
Unlike my husband, Ive always been more of a milkshake/ice cream lover than a smoothie lover.
But that all changed one night when my mother-in-law made this easy fruit smoothie using frozen fruit and yogurt. I skeptically took a sip and much to my surprise found it quite delightful. It was thick, creamy and refreshing!
In fact, I became such a fan that this simple fruit smoothie has become a regular Sunday evening dinner staple, as you may have seen on my frugal menu plans.
Whats The Best Blender For Making Smoothies
Blenders have gotten so advanced in the past few years, that its hard to pick one that wont blend up a great smoothie! If youre blender shopping, here are the three blenders we recommend for daily smoothie-making:
- MOST AFFORDABLE: Cuisinart Immersion/Stick BlenderDont let its small size fool you, this tiny handheld blender is packed full of power, and will easily make a smoothie for you every day! Its perfect if youre limited on counter space.
- MEDIUM: Ninja Professional BlenderFor under $100, you get an incredibly powerful blender that makes a dreamy, creamy smoothie. This was the blender we used in the Wholefully test kitchen for years, and its a great starter-level, but still high-powered, blender.
- SPLURGE: Vitamix Professional BlenderA Vitamix is the top of the line when it comes to blenders, and its what we use every day in the Wholefully test kitchen. It comes with a hefty price tag , so if youre just blending a smoothie every now and again, there is no need to make the splurge. But if you do a lot of cooking or make a lot of smoothies or blended drinks, you might want to start saving your pennies for a Vitamix. Its a lifetime appliance that is a dream to use!
Dont Miss: Smoothie King Low Carb Options
Recommended Reading: How To Put A Breville Juicer Together
What Are Some Great Smoothie Recipes
Alright, now that youre fully versed on how to make a great smoothie, let me share with you some of our absolute favorite combos! Click on any image to jump over to that specific smoothie recipe.
Classic Simple Smoothies
These smoothies are a great place to start. No weird ingredients that you have to special order, just fresh, real food that you can find at any typical supermarket.
Wild Blueberry Lemon No Banana Smoothie
How To Freeze Fruit For Smoothies
To make smoothies even easier, freeze fresh fruit into portions. You can even prepare smoothie packs and freeze them for a grab-and-blend smoothie option.
To freeze fruit for smoothies, rinse and chop fresh fruit into small pieces. Pat them dry then arrange, in one layer, on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Slide the baking sheet into the freezer and freeze until hard .
When the fruit is hard, divide it between freezer-safe bags and keep it in the freezer for your next smoothie.
Read Also: Smoothie King Center Parking Cost
Add Vanilla Or Almond Drops
This is a trick that many physique competitors use when prepping for an event. Because theyre super-strict with their calorie intake, they have to be creative with their recipes. Adding a drop of vanilla or almond extract is an effective way to add flavour to a smoothie without sugar.
Although there are specialist health products out there, you can save yourself some money with the supermarket alternatives. Youll find them in the baking aisle with other cake ingredients.
They do contain sugar but since you only need a drop, it hardly adds any calories. If weight management is your goal then this is a decent option.
You May Like: Small Strawberry Banana Smoothie Mcdonalds
Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipe
Frozen fruit can always be found stocked in our freezer.
When that moment strikes and I have literally NOTHING else to make, a frozen fruit smoothie can always save the day.
It doesnt even matter what fresh or frozen fruits Im working with. They can ALL be turned into a creamy and delicious smoothie.
That is, if you have this basic formula on hand.
I would never leave you hanging, though. In addition to this simple guide, youll also find a few recipes you can start off with and then add in all of the nuts, seeds, milks, juices, yogurts, and protein powders your heart desires.
Because after you finish reading this post, youll never need me again. Well, at least not when it comes to making incredible frozen fruit smoothies!
Recommended Reading: 10-day Green Smoothie Nutrition Works
Orange Juice Vanilla Yogurt Smoothie Recipes
Fruit smoothie recipes with orange juice and yogurt. This orange smoothie is creamy and tangy, with just the right amount of sweetness. With no high fructose corn syrup or aspartame, this smoothie is great way to beat snacking boredom, and one i can feel good about feeding my family. This was a really easy smoothie and a change of pace for fruits to blend with the yogurt, etc.
With the motor running, add fruit through the hole in the lid and continue to puree until smooth. Full ingredient & nutrition information of the smoothie. Banana, orange juice, raspberries, vanilla yogurt, blueberries and 2 more.
Start your blender a low setting and work up to a higher. Whole milk, orange juice, banana, honey, frozen fruit, plain yogurt acai fruit smoothie bowl a cedar spoon honey, banana, frozen fruit, unsweetened flaked coconut, chia seeds and 9 more This was a really easy smoothie and a change of pace for fruits to blend with the yogurt, etc.
Berry banana yogurt smoothie 3 yummy tummies. *for creamier popsicles, use more yogurt. Strawberry orange banana smoothie garlic zest.
Tropical smoothie recipe fruit taste and tell. 10 best frozen fruit smoothie orange juice recipes yummly. Lets make an orange smoothie with yogurt!
Blend on high until smooth. How do you make fruit smoothie popsicles? Pour into your favorite glass, add a straw and enjoy sipping!
You might find that it tastes like orange julius, so it’s got a tasty nostalgic vibe too.
What Other Healthy Ingredients Can You Add In
The great thing with smoothies is that its easy to slip in an extra healthy ingredient or two without it being easily noticeable which is especially wonderful when you have kids.
A few of my favorites are fresh spinach, kale, chia seeds and ground flax seeds. My kids love their smoothies and think they are a treat. They have no idea that they are enjoying something super nutritious or drinking spinach. I love being sneaky like that!
You May Like: Seating Chart For Smoothie King Arena
Also Check: Smoothie For Depression
What Is A Fruit Smoothie
A fruit smoothie is a drink made from blended fruits with a liquid base of fruit juice, yogurt, milk, ice cream, or other dairy product. Once you blend all your fruity ingredients into a smooth mixture, you have your perfect smoothie.
You can use various fruits to make a fruit smoothie, including bananas, oranges, apples, kiwis, peaches, and more. First, we’ll look at some fruit smoothie recipes that you can try. However, before we dive in, let’s look at the steps to make a basic smoothie.
What Liquid Is Best For Fruit Smoothies
Liquid: Your choices include milk, non-dairy milk, coconut water, iced coffee or tea, and juice. If you want to punch up the protein, go for milk or pea protein milk, which contain 8 to 10 grams per cup. If youre getting ample protein from another source, coconut water or almond milk are lighter ways to go.
Also Check: Raw Sugar The Moisture Smoothie
How Long Do Frozen Fruit Smoothies Last
Frozen fruit smoothies, and all smoothies in general, will last up to two days in the refrigerator.
Its best to keep them in airtight containers. Mason jars, for example, can help to prevent the fruits from oxidizing.
Keeping your smoothie in the freezer will guarantee a longer storage period. You can pour it into a freezer-safe jar and leave it to defrost an hour before drinking it.
Or you can keep them in popsicle molds. It creates a more fun and convenient experience.
Alternatively, you can store the frozen ingredients separately instead. You wont have to wait hours before defrosting to get your smoothie ready.
Plus, it may result in a fresher frozen fruit smoothie.
Four: Add Ice And Blend
The amount of ice you use depends on how thick you want your smoothie recipe to be. Start with about 1 cup crushed ice for a fairly thick smoothie that is still drinkable with a straw. Omit the ice if using frozen fruit or if you want the smoothie to be thinner and less cold. Cover and blend until nearly smooth. Pour into a cup or thermal to-go drink container and slurp up every last drop.
Read Also: Breville Vegetable Juicer
Are Frozen Fruit Smoothies Healthy
Frozen fruit smoothies are relatively healthy as frozen fruits still retain much of their nutritional value and taste. Many people prefer to get their daily intake of fruits and vegetables through smoothies because its so convenient and tasty. You should know that fruit smoothies can be high in sugar due to the natural sugar content in fruits. While smoothies are a convenient meal replacement, you should still try to eat fresh fruit and vegetables wherever you can.
How Can I Make My Smoothie Healthier
The smoothie recipes below are plain, but if you want to expand your smoothie horizons, go for it! Toss in chia seeds or protein powder or hemp seeds or flax or whatever else makes your heart happy. If you have a standard set of mix-ins you like, you can even freeze them into booster packsgreat for really quick and easy smoothies!
Donât Miss: Smoothie King Center New Orleans Seating Chart
Recommended Reading: Gladiator Smoothie Ingredients
Prep Day: 4 Simple Ways To Make Smoothies In Advance
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Today, lets turn our attention to prep day and smoothies!
Im going to be totally honest
Some weeks I just dont feel like heating up the oven and baking muffins, making soup, or cooking a whole chicken . When those weeks hit, I remind myself about my reasons for prepping. If I just cant pull myself out of the prep day blues, I turn to easy foods that can be prepped without an oven: chopping fruits and vegetables, making fruit parfaits, washing greens, or blending smoothies. Even these small tasks can make a huge difference in our weekly schedule and the food we enjoy.
Before I share the smoothie prep details, lets focus on the main reasons why you should think about making smoothies during your prep time. After all, if youre going to include a task on your prep day printable or mental plan, it must help maximize your time throughout the week
How Do You Make A Good Smoothie At Home
Boost your smoothie game Step 1: Liquid. Pour liquids in first for efficient blending. Step 2: Base. Add soft and hard produce, and fibrous foods such as nuts and dried fruits, then frozen fruits. Step 3: Ice. The ice goes in last to help pull all the other ingredients down into the blades for even mixing.
Don’t Miss: Raw Sugar Moisture Smoothie
Dont Add Too Many Ingredients
If you just add a bunch of random ingredients to a blender and blend away, you can create a great smoothie, right? Not necessarily, but you may luck out with a random concoction of ingredients. Typically, though, you want to keep your ingredient list relatively simple to avoid a flavor competition. The idea is to pick ingredients that complement each other, for example, bananas and blueberries, spinach and ginger, beets and carrots and apples.
How Long Do Smoothies Last In The Freezer
Smoothies last a lot longer in the freezer than in the fridge, making it a fantastic option if you want to enjoy a healthy smoothie regularly but dont have time to make them every day.
This can also be really useful if you meal plan, since you can stock up well in advance. Planning what youre going to eat or drink in advance can also help with weight loss, if thats one of your goals.
If you make a batch of green smoothie, for example, you can put it in ice cube trays, or popsicle molds, and it will stay fresh and safe for up to 3 months! Any longer than that and your smoothie will develop a weird taste.
You can use freezer-safe mason jars for this too, if youre a fan, since they have wide mouths and the glass is thick enough to resist the cold.
No matter what you keep your smoothie in, make sure you leave a bit of room at the top of your container before freezing it. As your smoothie freezes, it will expand a little, so if there isnt any room for it to move into, your lovely mason jar will shatter.
You should also make sure your container is airtight, since that will keep your smoothie safe from freezer burn.
When it comes to thawing your smoothie, leave it out and give it time. If its separated a little or the heavy ingredients have settled at the bottom, be sure to give your smoothie a big shake.
Read Also: Breville Juicer Cold Press