Smoothies are definitely one of the tastiest ways to get your fruit fix these days. Whether it’s to detoxify or just to enjoy a sweet treat, there are countless reasons to enjoy a smoothie. Here are some tips to make sure you’re getting the best possible blend.
Wherever possible, don’t cheap out. Cheap, frozen fruit is a great addition to a smoothie, but if your whole smoothie is from a bag labeled “mixed berries,” your smoothie may end up a mixed disappointment. If you can, use as many locally sourced fresh fruits and veggies as possible. Fruits that are in season will also make for a tastier smoothie. If you really love a certain fruit, buy it when it’s in season and freeze it for later.
Prep the night before. This tip comes from Alton Brown, who swears by a good morning smoothie. If you want to enjoy your smoothie in the morning, save some time and cut and prep your foods before you go to bed. Then, store everything in the fridge. In the morning, smoothie making will be a quicker, less painful process.
Clean EVERYTHING. If you’re using a fruit with the skin on, make sure that skin is as clean as possible. Fruit skins can carry soil and bacteria that you don’t want to be eating. Make sure to wash them just before you use them, as washing in advance can diminish the life of produce.
Tinker with your ingredients. There are so many ways to switch up your smoothie, so why stick to just one flavor, texture, or food group? There are endless combinations of fresh fruit, frozen fruit, veggies, greens, dried fruit, puree, nut butter, almond milk, greek yogurt, coffee, cinnamon, fruit juice, protein powder and more that can make the right smoothie for your needs!
Liquid on the bottom, solid on the top. When you’re finally moving all your ingredients into your blender, add your liquid ingredients first, then add the rest of your ingredients from softest to hardest. Powders should be towards the bottom, then soft fresh fruits, then frozen or tough-textured foods. If you’re using ice, make sure it’s on top.
So get started! With these tips, the world is your blender.
What goes into your favorite smoothie?
Photo Copyright © 2011 Ken Hawkins/Flickr
