Everybody loves a gorgeous glass of ice-cold smoothie, especially on a hot sunny day. In fact, some would even argue that smoothies are the perfect meal or snack, no matter the weather! It is never too cold to have an awesome smoothie, as it is never too hot not to be cooled off by one.
If you are craving a delicious fruit smoothie but don’t necessarily have access to ripe produce, feel free to use frozen fruits instead! Not only are smoothies created with frozen fruits much more accessible, but the frozen food can also keep the smoothie thick, creamy, and, of course, satisfyingly cold.
So, how do you exactly make a smoothie using frozen fruits? Are they worth it? Read on as we answer just that. Here is how you make a smoothie using frozen fruits.
How to Make a Frozen Fruit Smoothie
Let us start off by stating that making frozen fruit smoothies isn’t all that challenging. With enough repetition, doing so could just easily become second nature. It does not take much effort at all. Later down the line, we will be sharing some of our favorites!
With that being said, here is a step-by-step guide to how you can make your own frozen fruit smoothie recipe:
1. Start things off with your preferred liquid base
You would first have to select a liquid base to create your own smoothie made of frozen fruits. While fruits already have natural liquid in them, it is always a good idea to have some liquid of your own when creating smoothies.
One serving usually needs about a half or 1 whole cup of your preferred liquid base. Good options to use as liquid base are as follows:
- Filtered water
- Maple water
- Coconut water
- Nut milk
- Coconut milk
- Soy milk
- Hemp milk
- Rice milk
- Dairy milk
- Extra fruit juice
If you want the calorie content of your smoothie to be at a bare minimum, we recommend going for plain water instead. Coconut water or unsweetened nut milk can also be a low-calorie, healthy, and low-fat alternative.
Although adding extra fruit juice would make your smoothie all the more delicious, note that doing so could also raise your blood sugar levels by a large margin. That said, if you really want to add more fruit juice, just remember not to overdo it.
Moreover, keep in mind that coconut milk, which is entirely different from coconut water, is high in fat and calories. So, if you want to use it as your liquid base, you better be vigilant with how much you use.
2. Add the frozen fruits
After dealing with the liquid base, it is now time to add the frozen fruits you wish to use to your smoothie. While the very purpose of this article is to show you how to create a tasty smoothie using frozen fruits, take note that you may also incorporate fresh fruits in the process if you so wish.
Remember not to add too many frozen ingredients, as it could ultimately make your final product too slushy. On the other hand, using less ice or frozen fruits can make your smoothie taste not as good as it could. With that said, identifying the fine line between too little and too much is the key to creating a wonderful frozen fruit smoothie.
Here are the most commonly used frozen fruits when creating smoothies:
- Berries (raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, etc.)
- Pineapple
- Mango
- Peaches
- Banana
- Grapes
- Watermelon
- Cherries
You can either buy bags of frozen fruits in the grocery or supermarket nearest to you or simply freeze fresh fruits yourself.
Say that you are still new to making smoothies using frozen fruits. It’s best that you stick to the fruits we listed above. They are the most commonly used because they are the easiest to do so. Once confident with your own ability, try experimenting as much as you like. Perhaps try adding in frozen vegetables as well.
3. Add some thickening ingredients
To get that enticing, delicious, and creamy texture that we just can’t get enough of in your smoothie, you would have to add some special ingredients – particularly, thickening ingredients. In our honest opinion, it is what differentiates a smoothie from a simple fruit juice.
Here are some of our favorite thickening ingredients:
- Avocado
- Yogurt
- Silken Tofu
- Oatmeal
- Nut Butter
- Protein Powder
You can never go wrong with adding avocado to your smoothie. Not only does avocado make your smoothie tastier, but it also adds a nice thick texture that is just so satisfying. On top of that, avocados are also rich in healthy fats, so you don’t have to feel bad incorporating them into your final product.
Yogurt, specifically Greek yogurt, is a great thickening ingredient in smoothies. It contains almost two times the protein of regular yogurt but less than half the amount of sodium.
As for gym goers, feel free to add your favorite protein powder itself into the mix. It will give you the same satisfying thick texture while injecting your smoothie with the protein content you may need to get a few more reps in.
4. Add extra ingredients if you want
Your smoothie is already finished after the thickening ingredient has been added. However, if you want to give your smoothie an extra oomph, add some extra ingredients. Perhaps a sprinkle of chia seeds, a pinch of crushed nuts, or some leafy greens or other veggies. What you add as extra ingredients are solely based on your personal preference.
Adding seeds or nuts to your smoothies helps boost your overall fiber intake. Not to mention, they are also a good source of heart-healthy fats.
If you want to make your smoothie healthier, consider adding veggies to it. Feel free to incorporate chopped greens or even frozen vegetables itself.
Leafy greens, such as Swiss chard, spinach, and kale are some of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, so adding them to your smoothie is a surefire way to make it all the healthier.
Again, if you are new to making smoothies, it’s best that you start slow and work yourself up from there. Adding just a few leaves of fresh spinach is a good start in doing so.
Why Using Frozen Fruits in Smoothies is a Good Idea
Below are a few reasons why using frozen fruits is a good idea when creating smoothies:
1. It is very convenient
With the demand for frozen foods, including frozen fruits, on a constant rise in the United States and all over the world, most supermarkets now dedicate a much larger portion of their space solely to it. On top of frozen fruits virtually always being available, some even sell frozen smoothies themselves in packs these days!
Moreover, there is no need to wash or cut the fruits when bought frozen. Everything is done for you already! All you need to do is throw them along with your other ingredients and start making that smoothie you oh-so love.
You don’t even have to thaw frozen fruits before making smoothies. As a matter of fact, doing so would just make things worse. Just open the bag, add the desired amount to the blender, and you are good to go. Seriously, it is a huge time and money saver!
2. Its health benefits are now comparable to fresh produce
Keep in mind that fruits are picked and frozen at peak ripeness. And as you would know, freezing not only suspends the growth of bacteria but also helps the frozen fruit retain at least as many minerals and vitamins as fresh fruits. With the help of the state-of-the-art equipment the frozen foods industry now uses, we can even argue that its health benefits are now comparable to fresh ones, if not better.
3. Using frozen fruits actually makes your smoothies more enjoyable
To some, the taste is king. At the end of the day, what more than likely keeps us coming back is the food’s overall taste. Frozen fruits have that in strides. While some people prefer to just use ice cubes in their smoothies, we just can’t recommend using frozen fruits enough. Using frozen fruits adds flavor, richness, and overall satisfaction to smoothies. You just have to try it to find out what we mean.
Sample Frozen Fruit Smoothie Recipes
To those that aren’t confident yet to start creating their very own frozen fruit smoothie recipe, we got you covered. Below are some easy-to-follow frozen fruit smoothie recipes that you can absolutely try as soon as today.
1. Frozen Fruit Smoothie with Almond Milk
Almond milk is so popular nowadays that only a few can resist the goodness it provides. Not only does it taste superb, it is also one of the healthiest alternatives to the conventional cow’s milk. It does not contain cholesterol and is an excellent source of potassium. Not to mention, it also contains a good amount of heart-healthy facts. Literally, there is little to no reason why you shouldn’t give in to the allure of almond milk.
If you love almond milk as much as we do, then check this frozen fruit smoothie recipe that uses almond milk as its base liquid.
Ingredients Needed:
- 1 cup almond milk
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 cup of frozen strawberries
- ½ cup vanilla yogurt
- 1 tablespoon of agave syrup/honey
How to Make:
- Peel the banana, slice it into smaller pieces, and freeze them the day before
- Extract the juice of a few oranges on a glass or prepare a store-bought orange juice on the side
- Now put everything into the blender jar
- Blend for a minute; if you aren’t satisfied with the texture of the smoothie yet, feel free to add a few seconds more
- Pour the smoothie and add extra ingredients if you want
2. Frozen Fruit Smoothie with Spinach
Now for those that want their frozen fruit smoothies leaning on the healthier side. Spinach, as power-packed as a green veggie it is, tastes quite mild in smoothies. We can even go as far as saying that it makes for a great smoothie ingredient. After all, it is rich in fiber, iron, vitamins, and several other essential minerals that your body needs to stay in tip-top shape.
With that said, here is a smoothie recipe that takes advantage of it.
Ingredients Needed:
- 1 cup of almond milk
- 2 bananas
- 1 cup of frozen/fresh spinach
- 1 cup of frozen mango chunks
How to Make:
- Peel the bananas, slice them into smaller pieces, and freeze them the day before
- If using a fresh spinach, wash them thoroughly
- Add everything into the blender jar
- Blend for a minute or two
- Pour the smoothie and add extra ingredients if you want
3. Simple Fruit Smoothie Recipe without Milk
If you are a fan of simple smoothie recipes or lactose-intolerant, here is an excellent simple fruit smoothie recipe devoid of any milk just for you! This recipe is so simple, virtually everyone can pull it off without breaking a sweat.
Ingredients Needed:
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 banana
- 1 cup of frozen strawberries
How to Make:
- Peel the banana; slice them into smaller pieces if you want
- Extract the juice of a few oranges on a glass or prepare a store-bought orange juice on the side
- Mix everything together in the blender jar. This shouldn’t be much of a problem considering that you only have three ingredients
- Blend for 30 to 45 seconds
Conclusion
Let the simple ingredients we shared earlier be your starting point in creating high-quality smoothies using frozen fruits as your main ingredient. Not only do they provide you with the strength and satisfaction usually received in smoothies, but they may also help you lose weight, regain vitality, and even live a healthier life. Better yet, incorporating frozen produce in creating smoothies can also save you considerable money and time, which is always a good thing.
Want to know more about the positives of frozen foods? Look no further than the article we prepared that details the major pros and cons of frozen foods.
