How is smoothies made

Even though fancy smoothie shops use the professional Vitamix and Blendtec models, any decent blender will work Ninja, Oster. Even a good food processor may handle ice better than a really cheap blender.

Start blending at a low speed. Work up momentum to move the larger chunks of fruit to the blades so that they get chopped finely. Gradually increase speed to high. This is especially true when using frozen fruits or nuts; the slower you go, the more blending power you have at the start. If you start too fast or speed up too quickly, you risk making an air bubble. That makes for a chunky smoothie you'll have to dig out with a spatula—not bad if you like something like a thick strawberry banana smoothie , but that's not always what you want.

Immediately after pouring your drink, clean your container with warm water. The remnants of your delicious drink can quickly dry in your container, making it hard to clean.

Our Vitamix is super easy to clean especially with the automatic cleaning cycle , but if you're diligent about rinsing immediately, you'll be fine. Letting a smoothie sit tends to make it less frothy, but some smoothies will separate quickly.

For example, almost every green smoothie see our spinach apple banana smoothie recipe separates into a layer of green juice atop a chunky green mixture after a few minutes. Others fare better from resting. Anything with a lot of light or frothy ingredients, or a lot of air whipped up into them, applies.

Our strawberry banana smoothie falls in this category. If you're in a rush, prepare the ingredients beforehand by chopping and measuring them. Start only when you're ready to eat! You can store ingredients or even store smoothies overnight in the fridge, if you're preparing for an early morning!

A thick smoothie can last in the fridge up to 24 hours while retaining its flavor and texture. Thinner smoothies may separate before then. We prefer to drink immediately, though grabbing a drink prepared the night before is almost as good.

To store a smoothie in the fridge, pour it into a tightly sealed container such as a Mason jar. Try this tasty breakfast smoothie to start your day, pairing sweet fruit with nutritious spinach and avocado for a dose of calcium, vitamin C, folate and fibre. Get your fruit fix with our strawberry smoothie made with banana and orange juice. It's free from dairy, so it's vegan too — making it a great start to anyone's day. Whip up a breakfast smoothie with raspberries, apples, yogurt and oats.

Whizz up a quick and filling peanut butter smoothie, with rolled oats and banana. Brilliant for breakfast, you can freeze the banana for extra thickness. This sweet smoothie packs in plenty of nutritious ingredients, such as spinach, flaxseeds and banana, with an optional spoonful of maca powder for a natural energy boost. Start your day with a vibrant orange and carrot smoothie for breakfast. With added oats and ginger, it will give you vitamin C and count towards your 5-a-day.

This simple kiwi, mango and pineapple fruit smoothie makes an ideal morning treat. It's an easy way to pack in the vitamins and give yourself a boost. Start your day off with a little ray of sunshine - a low-fat smoothie that's one of your five-a-day and tasty too! Quick and easy to make, this banana, prune, almond milk and nut butter smoothie is an ideal on-the-go energy boost. Blitz up mangoes with yogurt, cardamom, lime and honey and you have the most delicious lassi drink — a bit like a smoothie and great for breakfast.

Give yourself a dose of vitamin C in the morning with this vegan green smoothie. Along with kale and avocado, there's a hit of zesty lime and pineapple.

Try using frozen cherries for ease to make this vibrant smoothie. Serve on its own or with brunch. Kids will love it, too. While my Vitamix does just fine with it, my stick blender would leave frozen fruit in chunks. Let the frozen fruit thaw on the counter for 10 minutes or so before making your smoothie. The liquids help to thin out the pureed fruits and vegetables, making it easier on your blender to process and giving you just the right consistency. You can go super simple and calorie free!

Coconut water adds a subtle flavor, electrolytes, and a nutrient boost that makes it a good post workout option. Milk, both dairy and non-dairy versions, add in an extra boost of vitamins and minerals like calcium and vitamin D, some of them also give an extra protein boost. Juices, like apple, orange, or cranberry can add a kick of flavor and a bit of sweetness to your smoothie, but they can also add unnecessary sugar. Not everyone puts protein on their list of required ingredients, but in my smoothies it is an absolute must.

Without the protein, your smoothie is really just dessert. Protein helps to slow down digestion, giving your smoothie the staying power to keep you satisfied longer. A breakfast smoothie without protein leaves me hungry again in an hour, which does not make for a fulfilling breakfast.

Smoothie friendly whole food protein sources include options like yogurt, nut butters, or milk. Another way to add more protein is through protein powders made with whey, soy, or collagen.

These add-ins are optional because they are not required to in order to make a delicious, nutritious smoothie. They do, however, give you space to play with both the nutritional aspects and the flavor of your homemade smoothie. I too am guilty of looking at a smoothie recipe and then throwing a bit of everything into the pitcher. I could end up with a 12 ounce breakfast or a 24 ounce drink-me-all-day. Maybe you are counting calories. Maybe you never make enough for your kids to share.

Add the ingredients, pressing tare between each one, to measure exactly how much goes into the pitcher. Try making a green smoothie with coconut water, grated apple, kiwi, banana and spinach.

Other vegetables which work well are grated beetroot or carrot, kale, tomatoes and avocados. A spoonful of protein powder, peanut or other nut butter, or some tofu will blend well with your smoothie and give you an essential protein boost. Contrary to what you may have seen in Rocky , raw eggs are not a good option — we absorb the protein in eggs much better when they are cooked. Our best ever smoothie recipes Easiest ever smoothie bowl video recipe Smoothie recipe infographic: Three easy ideas Best bullet blenders Best smoothie recipes for kids How to choose the best ingredients for smoothies.

Subscriber club Reader offers More Good Food. Sign in. Back to Recipes Pumpkin recipes Butternut squash See more. Back to Recipes Chicken slow cooker Veggie slow cooker See more.

Back to Recipes Cheesecakes Cookies See more. Back to Recipes Family meals One-pot recipes See more.