The Smoothie Tip That Will Have You Skipping The Ice

When you're feeling lazy but still need to whip something up for yourself in the kitchen, throwing everything into a blender is the dream. No pots to wash, no hours spent in front of the stove — just a simple smoothie to indulge in. 

For smoothie fanatics, the goal is to craft a drink that's thick, velvety, and bursting with fresh flavors. The execution seems simple enough, with most smoothies calling for little more than a few ingredients. But it can be hard to achieve all of these things in practice. Even the smallest miscalculation can result in a drink that's too watery or lacking in flavor, and it might make us question why we didn't just make the drive to Jamba Juice instead.

While there are a million smoothie recipes out there, some taste better than others. Even simple omissions or additions can take a smoothie blend to the next level. For lovers of thick, flavorful smoothies, we have something in mind just for you. Let's talk about the smoothie tip that will have you skipping the ice: using frozen fruit instead.

While many smoothie recipes call for ice, there's a simple way you can avoid this step and still enjoy a thick smoothie that's packed with flavor. The answer is in opting for another frozen item instead of ice. Ditch the frozen water and choose frozen fruit instead. Not only will using frozen fruit in your smoothie ensure a thicker mix, but it will also pack in more flavor and natural sweetness so you can nix other unnecessary additions, such as added sugars. You can also say goodbye to unappealing chunks of ice in your blend and welcome a naturally creamy texture instead. 

If you prefer to buy fruit fresh from your local farmer's market, it's easy to freeze fruit at home. Otherwise, buying pre-frozen fruits is a great option. Pre-packaged frozen fruits will be fresh, as most frozen fruit is picked and packed at peak freshness. And because they're often sold in bulk, frozen fruit is often expensive than fruit that's sold fresh.

And because frozen fruit will keep for months, you can turn leftover frozen berries into anything from soft-serve to jams. Why settle for some mango and ice concoction when you could be sipping on the tropical fruit smoothie recipe of your dreams?

With expert smoothie-crafting TikTokers — some with millions of followers — proliferating the social media platform, it's clear that many people appreciate a good smoothie. But how is a drink like that made perfectly every time? Here are some basic tips to make any smoothie recipe taste great.

@smoothieflip

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For starters, always keep ratios in mind. Having a bad balance of solid and liquid additions can set you up for failure, leading to drinks that are either too thick or thin to properly enjoy. If you're testing out new recipes, make sure you're measuring everything out so you can perfect the drink according to your taste. Another common mistake smoothie lovers make is adding the ingredients to the blender in the wrong order. Adding heavy ingredients first can make it difficult for blender blades to spin and can result in chunky smoothies. It's best to start by adding liquids first, then lighter ingredients such as powders and greens, and finally topping it off with anything frozen.

Lastly, have some fun and experiment with ingredients. There are thousands of things you can add to smoothies, from leafy greens to protein powders. Personalize your recipe by trying new things (though it's good practice to make sure your flavor profiles will mesh before dumping anything into the blender). And, as we highly recommend, just say "no" to ice.