What juices to use in homemade smoothies?

Page 3 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
How did that blender work out for you?

Tried it twice so far - it's a great blender. The "wave action system" actually works to get everything dispersed (it got all the protein powder, which I didn't expect at all - that stuff is hard as heck to mix by hand), and if you ramp up the speed, it'll blend in ice chunks perfectly in a minute or two.

On that note, on the recommendations in this thread I went out and bought a big bag of frozen mixed fruits (it's expensive! $10 for what I thought was a medium-sized bag) and some OJ (for the first time in... well, ever. I never buy OJ). Threw in some of the fruits (peaches, strawberries, mangoes, and something else, I forget), some OJ to match, half a banana, three scoops of protein powder, and smoothie setting. Turned out a little thick, but everyone who partook said it was delicious. :) Definitely gonna try some more stuff out, like adding berries and yogurt.
 

MrMatt

Banned
Mar 3, 2009
3,905
7
0
Tried it twice so far - it's a great blender. The "wave action system" actually works to get everything dispersed (it got all the protein powder, which I didn't expect at all - that stuff is hard as heck to mix by hand), and if you ramp up the speed, it'll blend in ice chunks perfectly in a minute or two.

On that note, on the recommendations in this thread I went out and bought a big bag of frozen mixed fruits (it's expensive! $10 for what I thought was a medium-sized bag) and some OJ (for the first time in... well, ever. I never buy OJ). Threw in some of the fruits (peaches, strawberries, mangoes, and something else, I forget), some OJ to match, half a banana, three scoops of protein powder, and smoothie setting. Turned out a little thick, but everyone who partook said it was delicious. :) Definitely gonna try some more stuff out, like adding berries and yogurt.

I KNOW! I went to the store this weekend after seeing this thread. 10 bucks for a bag with maybe 15 cups of fruits in it. I'm going to try and make it last 2 weeks.
 

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
I KNOW! I went to the store this weekend after seeing this thread. 10 bucks for a bag with maybe 15 cups of fruits in it. I'm going to try and make it last 2 weeks.

Fortunately it doesn't take much to make one smoothie portion - I dumped less than two handfuls of fruit into my last smoothie (which was super thick) and it was more than enough for three people. The whole bag should last through at least four or five servings of 3 people.

I recommend this blender:
KitchenAid 5-Speed Blender - $80.99 (black color; other colors priced higher):
http://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KSB.../dp/B000CSNVE2

If I was going to spend that much on a blender, I'd at least get a glass jar.
 

SirStev0

Lifer
Nov 13, 2003
10,449
6
81
Well...
I did two small bananas (frozen)
a thing of vanilla yogurt
about 12 strawberries (frozen)
a handful of ice
and about 2 cups of OJ.

Occasionally added some more OJ to kinda loosen it up a bit.

It is thick as hell, but f'ing delicious.
The overripe fruit makes/breaks it.

Made 3 large Glasses.
 

zylander

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2002
2,501
0
76
I made my first smoothie this morning;

One frozen banana.
A handful of frozen strawberries.
A handful of frozen mango chunks.
A tablespoon of plain yogurt.
A handful of ice.
About 3/4-1 cup of OJ.
A little bit of water.

It was delicious and not very thick, it was easy to drink. It made a little more than one large glass. I cant wait until tomorrow morning so I can make another.
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
3,371
0
76
Heh... I was about to say "Thanks, Alton Brown" ;)

The only part about that episode that sucked is when I found the blender online, it turned out to be $500.

I'm still trying to justify a $300 stand mixer!

Tip: Look for stand mixers at garage sales. My mother picked up an older model for $10. She has a really nice one, so she gave me the $10 one. Works great!

I've been using Alton's smoothie recipe for the last couple weeks. It's a great breakfast for someone like me who doesn't eat nearly enough fruits/veg.

I just ordered some vanilla whey protein. I'm going to start adding it to my smoothie.

Recipe that I use:
4 oz Grape Juice
4 oz skim milk (soymilk works too, I can't tell the difference)
4 oz frozen strawberries
4 oz frozen blueberries
4 oz frozen peaches
1 ripe banana (frozen)

Assemble all the ingredients the night before and stash it in the fridge. Wake up, groggily walk to the kitchen, grab carafe out of fridge, blend, and enjoy :awe:
 

zylander

Platinum Member
Aug 25, 2002
2,501
0
76
Tip: Look for stand mixers at garage sales. My mother picked up an older model for $10. She has a really nice one, so she gave me the $10 one. Works great!

I've been using Alton's smoothie recipe for the last couple weeks. It's a great breakfast for someone like me who doesn't eat nearly enough fruits/veg.

I just ordered some vanilla whey protein. I'm going to start adding it to my smoothie.

Recipe that I use:
4 oz Grape Juice
4 oz skim milk (soymilk works too, I can't tell the difference)
4 oz frozen strawberries
4 oz frozen blueberries
4 oz frozen peaches
1 ripe banana (frozen)

Assemble all the ingredients the night before and stash it in the fridge. Wake up, groggily walk to the kitchen, grab carafe out of fridge, blend, and enjoy :awe:

Ive been thinking about assembling it the night before. How is the thickness when you do this? Since the fruits are thawing out a little in the refrigerator does it lose some of that smoothie thickness?
 

misle

Diamond Member
Nov 30, 2000
3,371
0
76
Ive been thinking about assembling it the night before. How is the thickness when you do this? Since the fruits are thawing out a little in the refrigerator does it lose some of that smoothie thickness?

It's still pretty thick. I assemble it about 10 pm, blend at 6ish am. I have waited until 10am and by that time, it's more like thick fruit juice and not nearly as good.
 

Regs

Lifer
Aug 9, 2002
16,666
21
81
Disclaimer: Not good for hangovers.

Just because it was blended does not mean it's hangover friendly.
 

cliftonite

Diamond Member
Jul 15, 2001
6,900
63
91
I dont use any juice or ice. I buy frozen strawberries, blueberries, and the mixed fruit bag from costco and use that in combination with fresh bananas. Smoothies come out great in the vitamix.