Do you add ICE to your smoothies?

[kayla]

This is probably a stupid question, so bear with me, lol...

Does everyone/anyone put ice in their smoothies. I had noticed in the recipes for them that no one lists ice, but is that because there isn't any in there, or because it goes without saying? :o

[Ireland]

Personally, I don't. I often use frozen fruit though and that gives it the nice cold edge. :)

[juliebove]

I haven't made a smoothie in a while. They're not something that appeals to me. I used to make them for my husband and daughter though. And when I did, I froze the berries or whatever other fruit besides the bananas I was using. With the fruit frozen like that there is no need to add ice.

[Sheryl]

I like a couple of cubes in my smoothies - gives them a nice edge and waters down the taste a little.

It's a personal thing I think!

Cheers,
Sheryl

[karenisraw]

I put ice in mine.

k

[maydolphin10]

i like my smoothies really thick like ice cream, so i put ice in them

[Jackie1995]

My smoothies are about 1/2 fruit, 1/2 veggies/greens. I use room temperature fruit, a large glass of cold water and the same glass-ful of ice after adding the oil (hemp oil this week, sometimes coconut oil or just flaxseeds) and before the greens. The Vitamix heats up the mixture, so adding the ice keeps the greens from getting warm.

Here's the order I use:
fruit
celery (or other veggie)
ginger/cinnamon
water
*turn on*
oil/seeds
ice
greens
*turn off*

Total time about 90 seconds.

I use the oil to keep the frothing down. I use the ice to keep the greens cool. Plus this makes a great "shake" style. I tried without the ice, didn't like the warmth of the drink.

Have fun experimenting!

[tammy85]

I made a realy good smoothie last night when I was having a craving for something sweet and BAD! The only bad thing was my husband and son loved it so much....there was not much for me...I'll make more next time as this time was just an experiment.

2tbsp raw almond butter
2 tbsp agave nectar
2 cups water
2 frozen baanas
pinch of salt
1 tbsp cocnut butter
about 2 handfuls of ice
just blend in blender!!!!

I think I'll try strwaberries next time. Tasted just like a "milk"shake.

[Revvell]

No ice and rarely frozen fruit.

Revvell

[Smoothie]

I do in warmer weather if the fruit isn't frozen and I want it thicker. But during the colder weather......I don't. They make me too cold. If it's too thin, I just add an extra banana or more fruit.

[Arky]

Although I realise that ice can make some smoothies seem more palatable, I have now come to the conclusion that drinking cold drinks is a bad idea (note that I am not criticising the use of ice provided the blender is allowed to warm the mixture to something closer to body temperature as a natural part of the blending process).

I say this because the body is not accustomed to cold foods or drinks, which can be a 'shock' to the system. Furthermore, I have come to conclude that it really is essential to drink smoothies slowly, allowing them to mix with salivary enzymes in the mouth, rather than simply 'downing' the mixture without it even touching the sides, so-to-speak. This makes the use of ice a moot point - by the time you've held a mouthful of smoothie in the mouth for a while, the mixture is warm anyway, so why even bother unless you are trying to avoid tasting warm mixture? (in which case, IMHO, you'd be foolish to attempt to down the smoothie, in the first place).


J.

[JMD]

For me, I do not because i find it digests better being somewhat at room temp.