Welcome to the delightful world of smoothies – the go-to solution for those mornings when time is short or when you’re simply seeking a burst of nutrition without the fuss.
Smoothies are the ultimate culinary sidekick. Ready to whirl into action in just minutes, they make the perfect breakfast, afternoon snack, meal replacement drink, or even dessert.
Sure, you could just pick up a drink from your favorite smoothie shop but they can cost an arm and a leg – hello inflation! Smoothies are simple to make but there is an art to getting deliciously creamy, social media feed-worthy blends
This isn't just about following recipes—it's about mixing, matching, and making magic in a glass, there are endless ways to use different bases, fruits, greens, add-ins, and ingredients you might not have even considered.
So, grab your blender and your favorite fruits because we're about to embark on a journey to smoothie perfection. From selecting the right ratio of ingredients to achieving the perfect texture, consider this your all-in-one guide to becoming a smoothie whisperer.
Making a smoothie isn't rocket science, but there's a method to the madness. Here's how to lay the foundation for your liquid masterpiece and make the perfect smoothie, no matter your preferred flavor profile.
Pick Your Fruit: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Delicious
When it comes to selecting fruit for your main ingredients, it’s tough to make a bad call. Making a tomato smoothie might be taking it too far, though – you’re essentially in Bloody Mary territory at that point.
Go with the classics, including
- Bananas
- Berry blends with strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, or raspberries
- Mangoes, pineapple, kiwi, or papaya for those tropical vibes
You can expand your smoothie repertoire by using
- Peaches
- Nectarines
- Oranges
- Cherries
- Apples
- Watermelon
- Acai
The possibilities are truly endless – explore and experiment depending on the season or to satisfy your unique cravings. Start with 1.5 cups of fruit as the base for any smoothie.
Want to dive deeper? Check out our exposé, Selecting the Perfect Smoothie Fruit.
Frozen vs. Fresh Fruit
To freeze or not to freeze smoothie ingredients, that is the question. It's the ultimate showdown with staunch supporters on both sides. Frozen fruits give your smoothie that ice-cream-like texture without watering it down (hello, thick and creamy goodness!).
Fresh fruits, on the other hand, offer vibrant flavor with a thinner, more juice-like consistency. Why not mix and match? Live on the wild side.
Bananas are typically a staple smoothie ingredient and work best when frozen. Searching for the best way to freeze bananas is what led us to start Smootheeze. We love frozen bananas and the rich, creamy texture it gives smoothies, but we know bananas aren’t for everyone – maybe you’re allergic or just don’t like the taste. If that’s the case, try going with frozen for a least one of the main ingredients, or add in a handful of ice cubes for a thicker, frosty blend.
Choose a Liquid
Water, almond milk, oat milk, juice, or coconut water? The choice of liquid can make or break your smoothie. It's about balance. Milk (dairy or non) brings creaminess, while juices add sweetness (and extra sugar). Water's great for keeping things light. Let's not even get started on coffee or tea bases – that's advanced-level smoothie wizardry.
Again, the choice here is yours depending on the flavor you like, dietary restrictions, or desired health benefits like extra electrolytes, antioxidants, or energy boosts. Start with 1 cup of liquid and adjust as needed for the desired consistency.
PRO TIP: 1 cup of liquid is good for a smoothie with a mix of fresh and frozen ingredients.
But if you are going with all frozen ingredients you’ll need to start with 1.5 to 2 cups of liquid.
Add a Thickener
The thickness of your smoothie is a personal choice. Like your smoothies thick enough to support a spoon? Frozen fruit, bananas, and yogurt are your best friends. Not a fan of bananas or want to skip the dairy? Avocados, nut butters, and even silken tofu can step in as understudies.
If you like thinner smoothie drinks, you can always add more liquid to a recipe or skip adding ingredients like yogurt or emulsifiers altogether. But if you’re looking for different ways to make creamy smoothies, there are plenty of options. It will just take a little trial and error to get it just right depending on what you choose. Here are some general guidelines:
- 1/4 cup yogurt or coconut milk/cream
- One quarter to half of an avocado
- 1-2 tbsp of peanut, almond, or cashew butter
- 1/4 cup whole cashews (whole nuts will increase the thickness but also add a chunkier texture, add the liquid and nuts first and blend for 2-3 minutes before adding the rest of the ingredients)
Add-Ins: The Spice of Life
You’ve chosen your base fruits and liquid and achieved the perfect thickness, now it’s time to level up your smoothie with add-ins.
This is where you can truly make your smoothie your own. Want a nutritional boost? Toss in some chia seeds, flaxseeds, or a scoop of protein or acai powder. Feeling adventurous? A pinch of turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, or even a dash of cayenne pepper can turn your smoothie from meh to magnificent.
Dial up the sweetness by adding honey or agave. Or infuse a deeper flavor with vanilla or almond extract. Freshly squeezed lemon or lime juice can add a refreshing brightness to any basic recipe.
Think of these ingredients as flavor-packed or nutrient-dense blender boosters that work best in smaller amounts. Since the flavors are more concentrated, typically 1 teaspoon up to 1 tablespoon is all you need, depending on the ingredient.
This is also a great point to add in a bit of spinach or kale if you’re looking for an easy way to get in more greens in your diet. You don’t have to go all in with a super green smoothie recipe, but just a small handful of leafy greens is all you need for a slight nutritional boost.
The secret to a perfectly blended smoothie? It's all in the layering. Start with liquids, add soft ingredients (like fresh fruits, yogurt, and add-ins), and top with frozen goodies. This helps your blender smoothly transition from easy to hard-to-blend items, preventing those dreaded air pockets.
Follow This Basic Smoothie Formula
Making smoothies is generally pretty simple and it’s hard to go totally wrong. The biggest trick is getting the ratio of liquid to solid ingredients correct. Here’s your blueprint for smoothie bliss:
- 1-1.5 cups liquid base (start with one and add more if needed. Go up to 2 cups when using all frozen ingredients)
- 1 banana, frozen or fresh
- 1.5 cups of frozen or fresh fruit or leafy greens (add another half a cup if not using a banana)
Optional add-ins
- 1/4 cup thickener like yogurt or avocado
- 1-2 tbsp of nut butter, seeds supplements, or sweeteners
- 1 tsp of flavor extracts
Blend It Like Beckham
Start on a low setting to chop up the big pieces, then crank it up to high for that ultra-smooth texture. If your smoothie's too thick, don't be afraid to add a splash of more liquid. Too thin? Throw in a couple of ice cubes or a pinch of your base fruit.
Blend everything for 1-2 minutes to help break down all of the ingredients which will create a more consistent, creamier texture. If your blender hits an air pocket and stops blending, use a spoon or spatula to mix the ingredients. Then start adding another 1/4 to 1/2 cup of your liquid base until the blender creates a vortex, pulling the ingredients towards the blade.
Here’s where it’s helpful to make mental notes or even open a new note on your phone to keep track of these customizations so you can nail your smoothie recipe every time.
There is no shortage of blenders on the market, which makes it tough to choose the best. You don’t want it too expensive but you also want a quality product that lasts. After searching ratings, reviews, and customer Q&A, here’s our breakdown of the best blenders for smoothies.
- Best Overall: Ninja Foodi Smoothie Maker
- Price: MSRP $99.99-$119.99
- What makes it the best: it’s the perfect balance between price, functionality, and power. At 1200 watts, it’s powerful enough to blend what you throw at it.
- Features: Comes with two 24 oz blending cups with to-go lids and 1 smoothie bowl maker with a built-in tamper to easily blend up thick smoothie bowls. Plus intelligent blend setting for consistent smoothies.
- Reviews: 4.7 stars on Amazon with over 11K reviews.
- What people love: the smoothie function that automatically powers through the toughest jobs, easy-to-clean, sturdy to-go cups
- Potential issues: it’s loud, inconsistent longevity and durability. A small number of buyers report product defects and a lifespan under 2 years.
- Best Premium: Vitamix 5200
- Price: MSRP $479.95
- What makes it the best: It’s a durable, high-quality product that produces the smoothest blends and will last for years, making it worth the price
- Features: Powerful 1380-watt motor, 64 oz container, versatile (excellent for smoothies or all blending needs), use the tamper to assist with blending super thick smoothies and bowls.
- Reviews: 4.6 stars on Amazon with over 7K reviews
- What people love: Most users state it’s the best blender they’ve ever owned, works well even after 10+ years, blends even the smallest ingredients like chia seeds, creates a powerful vortex that draws all ingredients into the blades, has lower speed setting that allows for chunky mixes if desired
- Potential issues: A small number of users report defective units they had to have replaced, loud on the higher settings, it is expensive and some don’t see the value compared to lower priced options
- Best Full-Size Budget Friendly: Ninja Professional Blender
- Price: MSRP $89.99-$99.99
- What makes it the best: It’s a full-size blender that won’t break the bank. When you want an affordable blender, skip the $75 and below options - they just don’t offer enough power to blend good smoothies.
- Features: 1000-watt motor and powerful blades crush ice and whole frozen fruit easily. 64 oz capacity with removable blades that are easy to clean.
- Reviews: 4.7 stars on Amazon with over 50K reviews
- What people love: It’s powerful – the “total crushing technology” really does quickly pulverize frozen ingredients which makes it perfect for creamy smoothies. The design is great and doesn’t take up too much cupboard space
- Potential issues: Somewhat loud, some users report plastic parts that break or crack after moderate use
- Best Budget, Best Portable: BlendJet 2
- Price: Typically sells for $49.95 (MSRP $99.95)
- What makes it the best: Portable and affordable blender that still packs a punch, allowing you to blend single-serving smoothies anywhere.
- Features: 5V motor with “TurboJect” technology that creates a “tornado effect” to ensure uniform blending in a small form factor. It’s also USB-C rechargeable with a battery that lasts for 15+ blends. Drink straight from the 16 oz blending cup or buy the extra drinking lid to take it anywhere.
- Reviews: 4.8 stars on Google with over 25K reviews
- What people love: Stylish, very quiet, compact, and lightweight, operates with a one-touch button, great to take to work for lunches or snacks
- Potential issues: Most users report it struggles with blending large amounts of frozen ingredients (works better if you like mostly fresh ingredients), the cup doesn’t detach from the blender base, typically only good for 6-7 blends compared to the stated 15 before needing to recharge
- Best for Smoothies + Juice: Breville Bluicer
- Price: MSRP $89.99-$99.99
- What makes it the best: Smoothies or fresh juice? Why choose? Do both with this handy 2-in-1 blender and juicer – and it’s affordable!
- Features: Powerful 1100-watt motor that juices or blends in the same 50 oz pitcher. So you can juice or blend, or do both at the same time to create smoothies with freshly squeezed juice. It helps control the consistency and amount of pulp you like in your smoothies.
- Reviews: 4.5 stars on Amazon with over 300 reviews
- What people love: People love the option to blend or juice, great value instead of buying two products that take up more space. Overall, it’s a good quality blender that produces decent blends.
- Potential issues: It’s loud, still a large product that takes up a lot of cupboard space, not as smooth consistency as something like the Vitamix
When it comes to prepping your smoothies, the name of the game is convenience. That’s why you can simply go to the grocery store and pick up frozen packages of fruit or smoothie packs. There are two issues with that approach:
- You end up using way too much single-use plastic
- You’re ingredient options are pretty limited with berry and tropical blends being the most typical ingredients
That’s why Smootheeze freezer trays exist – to make it convenient to prep and freeze a wide variety of ingredients. Plus, it’s super easy to mix and match ingredients to change up your smoothie recipes by simply popping out pre-portioned amounts in seconds.
There are several good options for freezing smoothie ingredients, let’s break them down:
Smootheeze freezer trays
Check out the easy banana freeze tray along with 1/2 cup smoothie cube freezer trays.
- Easily freeze a single banana so you don’t end up with one big sticky mess when you want to make a smoothie
- Use the fruit cup tray to freeze any ingredient you can think of in 1/2-cup portions
- The 100% silicone trays eliminate single-use plastic from your smoothie routine
- The air-tight lid keeps out ice crystals and freezer burn
- The low profile and uniform size makes for easy stacking and storing in your freezer
Silicone bags
Reusable silicone bags that a great for storing a wide variety of food and leftovers.
- They also reduce the need for single-use plastic and are well suited to making custom smoothie packs
- The biggest downside compared to Smootheeze is that they don’t store neatly in the freezer
- Plus, you’ll need to purchase a lot of them to prepare as many recipe variations as you can with Smootheeze
- There are a lot of options out there with questionable quality. Be sure to do your research to find food-safe products that don’t have dangerous fillers.
Meal prep containers
Search for freezer containers on Amazon and you’ll find a plethora of plastic containers and silicone trays.
- Plastic containers are a no-go for environmental and durability reasons
- Many silicone freezer trays come with plastic lids. The issue is that all plastic parts will eventually crack or break apart.
- Smootheeze trays are 100% silicone and can last for decades with proper care
Meal prep freezer containers aren’t purpose-built for smoothie lovers. They typically feature storage compartments that are 1 cup and larger. Smootheeze trays feature 1/2 cup portions which is the perfect amount for making a wide variety of smoothie recipes.
Tips for Freezing Smoothie Ingredients
There are quite a few container options for freezing ingredients with different pros and cons. But if you’re not ready to go that route, there are other DIY options you can try.
You want to avoid putting a large amount of fresh ingredients together since they will freeze together in one big clump. Here’s a quick rundown of the options to freeze ingredients so they don’t stick together.
- Prep ingredients (wash, peel, slice, etc) and place them in a single layer on a baking tray. Next, place in the freezer for about 2 hours. Then, transfer the ingredients to large containers or plastic bags, or separate them into portions in smaller bags.
- Make individual portions or smoothie packs by prepping ingredients and freezing them directly in plastic wrap or individual plastic bags.
The biggest issues with these methods are that they are time-consuming with multiple steps and require using an excessive amount of single-use plastic.
Learn more about freezing different types of smoothie ingredients
- Discovering the Easiest Way to Freeze Bananas
- Easy Tricks for Including More Leafy Greens in Smoothies
- Fresh vs Frozen Smoothie Ingredients
- How to Choose the Best Fruits for Smoothies
Dive Deeper Into Smoothie Making Tips
- How to Make Extra Thick Smoothies
- The Best Freezer Container for Smoothies
- Boost Smoothie Flavor with Add-ins
- Overview of Liquid Smoothie Bases
Ready to blend up some magic?
Check out The Ultimate Collection of Timeless Smoothie Recipes and take your smoothie game to the next level!