Smoothies are a great way to get a boost of vitamins and minerals quickly. All you need to do is place fruits of your choice into the blender and blend it. Then you’ll have a nutritious and tasty drink in no time. If you don’t have time to prepare smoothies, you may wonder if you can freeze them.
So, can you freeze smoothies? Yes, you can freeze smoothies, and they freeze very well. The smoothies can be frozen as blended and ready to drink or as packs that are ready to be blended.
Does Smoothies Freeze Well?
Smoothies freeze very well since it’s mostly water. You can keep them frozen for a long time without any changes in texture and flavor.
However, like most foods that are frozen, will start to deteriorate in quality over time. The longer the smoothies are stored in the freezer, the more the flavor will be lost.
Smoothies that are properly stored will last indefinitely in the freezer, but the quality of it will deteriorate over time. For that reason, it’s best to try to consume smoothies as soon as possible.
How To Freeze Smoothies
When it comes to freezing smoothies, there are two methods available.
The method you choose will depend on how much time you have. Smoothies take a while to prepare, and preparing them in bulk beforehand will save you a lot of time.
How to Freeze Blended Smoothies
This method is the best way to prepare the smoothies ahead of time. It will save you a lot of time.
However, this method saves you a lot of time, but it can impact the overall taste of the smoothies.
Below are the steps to freezing blended smoothies:
Step 1: Make Smoothie
Start by gathering all the ingredients to make smoothies. Place them into the blender and blend them all together until they are in a drinkable form.
Step 2: Portion into Airtight Containers
After all the ingredients are blended, pour the smoothies into an airtight container. You can also use freezer bags as well.
If you’re using an airtight container, pour the content and leave about 2 inches of space at the top. As the smoothies freeze, they will expand. Doing so will prevent the container from cracking due to the expansion of the smoothies.
If you’re using freezer bags to store the smoothies, pour the content and leave about 2 inches of space at the top as well.
Step 3: Seal The Container
For an airtight container, check the seal on the lid. Ensure there are no damages. If there are no damages, secure the lid to the container tightly.
For the freezer bag, gently press the bag to remove any excess air from it. Then seal the bag.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the content and date of freezing on the container or freezer bag. Then place them into the freezer.
If you’re using a freezer bag, lay them flat in the freezer. Allow it to freeze completely first. If you have a lot of smoothies, you can stack them on top of each other to save space.
How To Freeze Smoothie Packs
This method is a great way to ensure there will be no loss in flavors when making smoothies. Once you’re ready to make smoothies, remove the packs from the freezer and blend them for fresh-tasting smoothies.
Below are the steps to freezing smoothie packs:
Step 1: Prepare Ingredients
Start by preparing the ingredients. You can pretty much any fruits that you like. This can include mango, banana, raspberries, and kiwi. Give all the fruits a good wash to remove debris from them.
Cut all the fruits into slices or cubes. Then place all the fruits into a large bowl and mix them together.
Step 2: Flash Freeze
On a clean tray, lay a sheet of baking or parchment paper. Then spread the mixed fruits onto the tray, keeping them spaced, so they don’t touch each other.
Once all the fruit is on the tray, cover the entire tray with cling film. Then place them into the freezer for about 2-3 hours.
Step 3: Place In Storage Container
Once the fruit is completely frozen, remove them from the freezer. Immediately transfer the fruits to a freezer bag or an airtight container.
If using a freezer bag, press on the bag to remove excess air before sealing it.
For an airtight container, check the seal on the lid for any damages. If there are none, secure the lid to the container tightly.
Step 4: Label and Freeze
With a marker, write the date of freezing and the content onto the airtight container or freezer bag. Then place it into the freezer for storage.
How Long Can You Freeze Smoothies?
Smoothies will last for up to 3 months in the freezer.
However, it will depend on what you use to store the smoothies. If stored in a freezer bag, the smoothies will not last very long. It will stay fresh for only 1 month.
On the other hand, if you store smoothies in mason jars or airtight containers, they will last much longer. These storage items have seals in the lid that can keep air and moisture from entering.
Using mason jars or airtight containers will keep your smoothies fresh for up to 3 months!
How Do You Defrost Smoothies?
When it comes to defrosting smoothies, it’s quite simple and easy to do. For smoothies that are already blended, remove them from the freezer and place it into the fridge. Let it sit in the fridge overnight to thaw. In the morning, you’ll have smoothies ready to drink.
For smoothie packs, there’s no defrosting involve. All you need to do is remove them from the freezer and toss them directly into the blender. Then add some liquid and blend as normal.
Can You Refreeze Smoothies?
Refreezing smoothies isn’t recommended. When it’s frozen and thawed multiple times, the texture and taste will be altered. After thawing it for the second time, you’ll notice that it won’t have much taste to it.
Also, most smoothies use fruits as the ingredients. Repeated freezing and thawing will lead to the possibility of fermentation.
Therefore, I recommend you freeze them in portions to avoid having to refreeze smoothies.
Other Questions about Smoothies
Do smoothies lose nutrients when frozen?
Yes, smoothies will lose some of their nutrients. This is something that happens to all foods that are frozen. The longer the smoothies are stored in the freezer, the more nutrients they will lose.
Therefore, to ensure the smoothies still retain most of their nutrients are to consume them as soon as possible.