How to make the perfect smoothie (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to making a good smoothie? ›

For a lump-free smoothie, layer up your ingredients in order – the toughest or crunchiest ones like ice, seeds and nuts, should hit the blades of your blender first, followed by fruits and veggies, nut butters and leafy greens. Finish with a splash of liquid to loosen things up if desired.

Try to only use a little liquid at a time while blending. If you add too much at once, it'll be runny. Dairy milk, oat milk, and almond milk also help create a thicker consistency, compared to juice or water. A handful of raw oats add thickness to your smoothie while kicking the fiber and protein up a notch.

A healthy smoothie should include some protein and fiber to help keep you full and provide antioxidants, vitamins and minerals—typically from fruits and vegetables.

This can be milk, or a dairy-free alternative such as soya or almond milk, natural or flavoured yogurt, fruit juice, or for a tropical flavoured smoothie, low-fat coconut milk or coconut water. It's important to add the liquid to your blender before adding the fruit, as this will prevent the blade from getting damaged.

Frozen ingredients are the key to creating a thick smoothie. Using fibrous, thick-fleshed fruit and vegetables can also help the texture. Adding chia seeds, avocado, yogurt, and protein powder are other thickening options.

On gelling: If your smoothie is gelling, perhaps you added chia or flax seeds too far in advance. Blueberries, which are very high in natural pectin, are also a culprit of jelly-like smoothies. A re-blend with a little bit of ice and some creamy liquid (if appropriate for the flavor profiles) will likely do the trick.

Adding the liquid first is important for a couple of reasons. The liquid acts as a solvent, dissolving any powders (hello protein powder) you might want to add. And when you turn the blender on, the liquid will whiz through the blades quickly and easily, drawing down other ingredients to be chopped up.

Liquids go first to make blending easier on the blades. Greens go in next, which will help them to pulverize smoothly. Soft ingredients, like fresh fruit and soft veggies, go next to help the blades start blending. Hard ingredients, like frozen fruit and firm veggies, go last.

Add small amounts of water, milk, or juice. Work your machine back up to its highest speed, and process for 10-20 seconds. Tip: Load the container in the following order: liquids first, then soft fruits or vegetables, greens, and ice on top.

What not to do when making a smoothie? ›

Water or milk: I add a splash of liquid to the blender to help the smoothie ingredients blend. For a smoothie without milk, use water. It still tastes amazing. For more creaminess, add milk (dairy or non-dairy both work).

Time. Smoothies are quick, but that doesn't mean blending for three seconds is going to cut it. You want to blend everything really well so that your smoothie is lump-free. Aim for one to two minutes with a regular blender, or one minute if you're using a fast blender.

We recommend using milk in smoothies that contain nuts, oats, or cacao as it will compliment these flavors best; however, something we found in our testing is that milk will dilute the overall flavor of your smoothie.

Using frozen ingredients is the key to creating a thick, satisfying smoothie. Other options for thickening include using fibrous fruits and veggies, adding chia seeds, spooning in yogurt, using avocados, or scooping in protein powder. Having the right blender also makes a big difference.

Water or milk: I add a splash of liquid to the blender to help the smoothie ingredients blend. For a smoothie without milk, use water. It still tastes amazing. For more creaminess, add milk (dairy or non-dairy both work).