As the warmer days approach, we are increasingly searching the internet for smoothie recipes, as there are few healthier and more cooling options on a really hot day. And while these are not the most difficult recipes, smoothies are typically a drink that is not easy to get the hang of. We have now collected the most common mistakes and the solutions so that you can make the perfect smoothie at home, anytime!
1. It’s not the consistency you want…
PROBLEM
There are usually three problems with the consistency of a smoothie: too thick, too watery, or too chunky. Fortunately, each problem is easy to fix afterwards.
SOLUTION
If your smoothie is too thick, all you have to do is add more liquid to get it to the right consistency. If it’s too watery, you can improve the situation by adding more ice or fruit. If it’s too chunky, you probably didn’t blend the ingredients well enough.
2. The powder sticks to the edge of the blender…
PROBLEM
Another common problem is that while blending, we notice that the added powder starts to stick to the sides of the machine. From there, there’s no way back, because even though you can try to push the powder back to the bottom with, say, a spoon, it will never dissolve completely.
SOLUTION
The solution here is also very simple, the problem is caused by the frozen fruits. Since we usually use frozen ingredients to make smoothies, they push the powder away from them, and that’s where the problem lies. The trick is to first blend the liquid and powder of your choice, and only then add the other ingredients.
3. It became too sweet…
PROBLEM
Even if you don’t use any sugar or sweetener, your smoothie may still be too sweet. This is mainly due to the fructose in frozen fruits and the sugar in fruit juice.
SOLUTION
If you use fruit juice for your smoothie and feel like the end result is too sweet, you may want to dilute the juice a little with water, even 50-50. If it’s still too much, you can either replace the juice entirely with water, or if you want a creamier result, use unsweetened almond milk.
If you happen to use a sweetener (stevia, etc.) but you’re not satisfied with the taste, leave it out completely and sweeten with banana instead.
4. I waited too long with him…
PROBLEM
When we have a food or drink that needs to be consumed fresh, Murphy’s Law usually intervenes, and something almost certainly happens that prevents us from eating or drinking it in its best condition. It’s not particularly good for a smoothie to let it sit for too long…
SOLUTION
Unfortunately, a smoothie is not like a cold lunch that you can just throw in the microwave and in five minutes it’s back to (almost) perfect. However, there is a solution: if your smoothie has been sitting for a long time and you don’t feel like drinking it like this anymore, refresh it with some more ice, some fruit, and blend it all again.
5. I don’t want to use milk…
PROBLEM
When it comes to smoothies, many people don’t like mixing their favorite beverage with dairy products. Of course, nothing happens if we use milk either, but luckily there are plenty of different plant-based ingredients that can be a perfect substitute for classic milk.
SOLUTION
Almond milk, coconut milk, or rice milk are perfect substitutes, but you can also try your smoothie with water, chilled tea, or fruit juice, the key is to find the option that suits you best. And of course, the tastiest! If you’re really enthusiastic, you can even use homemade plant-based milk – you can read tips for this by clicking here.
