{"id":28009,"date":"2014-05-14T07:15:17","date_gmt":"2014-05-14T11:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/?p=28009"},"modified":"2016-08-05T13:01:27","modified_gmt":"2016-08-05T17:01:27","slug":"quick-easy-smoothie-hacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailyburn.com\/life\/health\/quick-easy-smoothie-hacks\/","title":{"rendered":"13 Quick and Easy Smoothie Hacks"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"13<\/p>\n

There\u2019s nothing as tasty or refreshing as a cold smoothie<\/a> for breakfast or after a tough workout. But sometimes making one can be anything but <\/i>smooth. Missing ingredients, weird consistency, annoying clean up \u2014 we knew there had to be some tricks to make our drink creation routine more seamless. Turns out, there are a few secrets we\u2019d didn\u2019t know about crafting the perfect beverage! Check out these 13 smoothie hacks that are guaranteed to make whipping up that delicious, nutritious sip easier.<\/p>\n

Practical Prep<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Coffee
Photo: Muffin Tin Mania<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

1. Make frozen smoothie cups.
\n<\/b>Always running late during the week and don\u2019t have a spare second to measure out your ingredients? You can save time by buying the fixings beforehand, blending up your beverage over the weekend,\u00a0and freezing the mixture in muffin tins. Throw your \u201csmoothie cups\u201d in a blender for breakfast ready in a flash.<\/p>\n

2. Ditch the pitcher.
\n<\/b>Here\u2019s a potentially life-changing hack: Most detachable blade blenders can accommodate a small-mouth mason jar<\/a>. This means you can blend and then take your smoothie on the road, no sweat (and no extra clean up)! Just make sure you’re ready for a challenge since you’ll have to stage a balancing act to get the mason jar attached to the base without the ingredients falling out.<\/p>\n

3. Ice, ice baby.
\n<\/b>Try freezing coffee in ice cube trays and then adding it to your blender the next time you make a smoothie. This trick is great if you don\u2019t usually have cold brew in the fridge. You can also freeze fresh spinach or kale in ice trays so you\u2019ll always have some on hand.<\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>7 Delicious Protein Smoothie Recipes<\/a><\/p>\n

4. Save and store bananas.
\n<\/b>Got ripe \u2018naners but not ready to chow down just yet? You can save them for later by storing them in the freezer. Make sure to peel and chop them up though \u2014 that way tossing them into your blender is a breeze. (We also love pairing frozen banana slices with Nutella, peanut butter or almond butter as a healthy dessert!)<\/p>\n

Ingenious Ingredients<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Peachy
Photo by Perry Santanachote<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

5. Go green.
\n<\/b>Veggie haters, this one\u2019s for you. Sneak spinach, kale or broccoli into your blender if you have trouble getting greens in your diet. Pick the right green smoothie recipe<\/a> and the sweetness of apple, honey or fruit juice will neutralize the bitter taste of the vegetables.<\/p>\n

6. Boost with protein.
\n<\/b>For a smoothie that delivers the nutrients your body needs to stay full or recover from a demanding workout, be sure to add protein powder into the mix. If you don\u2019t have the powdered stuff on hand, try silken tofu or peanut butter.<\/p>\n

7. Indulge without dairy.
\n<\/b>Lactose-intolerant but want the velvety texture of yogurt-based smoothies? Use avocado or instant pudding mix to add creaminess sans dairy. Xatham gum, featured in this no soy, dairy-free chocolate frosty<\/a>, will also do the trick.<\/p>\n

8. Gain some grains.
\n<\/b>For a heart-healthy way to start the day, add some rolled oats<\/a> or a few spoonfuls of cooked oatmeal to your creation. We recommend grinding the oats in a blender beforehand so you\u2019ll end up with a powder that won\u2019t overpower the texture of your smoothie.<\/p>\n

Helpful Blending Hints\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Smoothie-Hacks-Blender\"
Photo: Pond5<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

9. Protect your blades.
\n<\/b>While adding your ingredients in the wrong order isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing, the pros know that getting the order right can streamline the process and extend the lifespan of your blender. Add liquid or yogurt first, then soft fruits, vegetables, and ice on top or last. This lubricates the blender\u2019s blades so they\u2019ll easily cut through the harder stuff.<\/p>\n

10. Lose some liquid.
\n<\/b>If you\u2019re not working from a recipe, begin with less milk or water. It\u2019s easier to add more soymilk or water after the fact than it is to round up additional veggies.<\/p>\n

11. Start slow.
\n<\/b>No need to go all out from the get-go! Begin at the lowest blender speed, then work your way up to higher ones as needed. You won\u2019t put as much wear and tear on the blender\u2019s motor or the blades.<\/p>\n

Post-Smoothie Tips<\/b><\/h3>\n
\"Mojito
Photo by Perry Santanachote<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

12. Salvage any surplus.
\n<\/b>If you\u2019ve got one smoothie serving plus a little to spare, make popsicles! If a popsicle mold isn\u2019t handy, grab some paper cups or ice trays, fill them with the leftovers, and pop toothpicks in as handles. You can also use smoothie leftovers to make fruit leather<\/a>, a kid-friendly snack (but you\u2019ll need a dehydrator).<\/p>\n

13. Scrub no more.
\n<\/b>Make clean up a breeze by simply blending dish soap and a little water once you\u2019re done! Be sure to rinse thoroughly so you get all the soap out before letting the pitcher dry.<\/p>\n

Bonus Blender Tips<\/b><\/h3>\n