How smooth are your green smoothies?

[Springtime]

As i might have said before i don't have a vitamix, blendtec or any other high-tech kitchen equipment. I have a hand blender, and that's about it.

So, i know the "best" thing is supposed to be blending your smoothie until completley smooth, but how smooth are your smoothies? I blend mine until they start getting warm, and the greens are in millimeter sized pieces by then.

But, will a high power blender actully turn the stuff into liquid? Can you see the greens/fiber in your green smoothie?

peace

[Raw Angel Mom]

What you can do until the day you are ready for a good blender, is to use a nut bag.

Blend only the water, green and fruit with hard fiber (apple), then pour inside your nutbag and milk it. Then use the juice and blend the remaining fruit (banana or any soft fruits).

You can compost the pulps.

I have a vitamix and i am so happy with it. It is worth saving every week. You can buy also a second hand one on their site.

Best wishes!

[rkk]

Hm, getting a Vitamix has been the best purchase I've made, ever. I don't think there is any replacement for it. When I blend my green smoothies, it is pretty smooth and there is no fiber feel - just a tad bit of grit. However, if you just use the leaves of your greens and not the stems/stalks, it will be even smoother - especially if you blend with a fruit that blends creamy like bananas.

You might check out ebay, Craigslist etc to find good deals on a used Vitamix, or you can buy it from the company directly and buy a refurbished unit that still gets you a 7 year warranty. It is really worth it. As a raw foodist, I use my Vitamix multiple times every day. My parents who are very frugal finally managed to get one last year after trying out mine on a few occasions - and they also think it is one of their best purchases. After using a Vitamix, regular blenders do not compare in any way, and I'd never go back to one of those cheap-quality units.

There is another blender called Blentec. I hear that is supposed to be pretty good. I don't know how much it costs or how it compares to the Vitamix, but you might want to check that out as well in case it is significantly cheaper.

Edit: sorry I just noticed that you already mentioned the Blentec in your initial post.

[rawstrength]

I use a vitamix. My smoothies are so smooooooooooth, no bits at all, and not warmed up by the blender. Love it!

[mousebandit]

Mine aren't smooth like a glass of milk or something, but they're pretty smooth, and I'm using an old 70's era oster blender. When I look at the sides of the glass, I can see little bitty dots of red (apple peel) and green (greens, obviously!), but it doesn't feel chunky or gritty or anything going down. If I didn't know what I had put in there, there's no way i could identify those tiny little dots of stuff. It's not as fully liquid as water or juiced-juice, but it's totally fine for me. I'm using water, apple, banana, strawberries (lots of these) and a couple handfuls of greens. I blend the water, apple, and strawberries first, then the banana, then the greens, and I let it blend a minute or so. I will get a vitamix soon, but for now, the oster is getting me through!

Tracey R.

[spicyfull]

Just like Butta............

[EZ rider]

I wonder if a smooth smoothie changes the coarseness of the roughage (fiber) so that a pureed bowel movement results ?

[cara4art]

I just got back from a 2-week house swap in Moloka'i, Hawaii, and the kitchen had an older model of a Blend-tec blender. Wow - I am in LOVE with the high-speed blender aspect of things - now I know what all the raves are about! My major green smoothies while there had kale, chard, and chard stems as well, along with any fruit that I had on hand that day(papayas are in season there now), and let me tell you, these smoothies came out so smooth it was unbelievable! I'm definitely saving up for a Blend-tec, and a friend of mine who has tried all the high-speed blenders agree that it is the best. Vitamix of course is really popular, but it won't fit under my kitchen cabinets on my counter, and I live in an apartment with the typical smaller kitchen, so counter-top and under cabinet real estate is "expensive" - LOL! But I'm really sold on smoothies made with high-speed blenders, since I've just been using an old Osterizer for years for all kinds of stuff. It was only 4 months ago that I finally popped for a food processor too, and I love it! So I'm sure that I will love a Blend-tec when I have enough money to go for it.

[Jehote]

ok, fyi for you.
i couldnt afford a Vitamix right now. so i paid 149. for a Krups. it worked well. for 2 weeks. then it died. i took it back to Bed bath and Beyond and they refunded my money. (thank god!)
so i bought a 20.00 Hamilton Beach and its working ok but! i have to make smoothies like this:
water and greens. blend until only little flecks left.
then add bananas and other fruit and blend for a while.
then add frozen berries and ice.
this makes a pretty ok smoothie that keeps ok in mason jars in the fridge.
i totally suggest getting a cheap blender and save for the Blendtec or the Vitamix. thats what im doing.
going mid-price i thought was good enough. its not....
good luck to you and i look forward to BOTH of us posting i just got a vitamix! threads!
matthew

[theresaann]

gosh, I know this is not the answer you want, but I think in order to really do the green smoothie thing right you HAVE to have a high speed blender.

I've had my vitamix for 12 years and it works as well today as the day I got it. It is hands down THE BEST investment I've ever made and I think being raw, if there was only one appliance you could afford, this would be it. Beg, borrow or steal for it! Well, maybe not steal.....;)

[a1icia]

I agree, I have a Vitamix and it's the greatest! I use it everyday and cannot say enough good things about it. It makes very smooth smoothies, especially the longer you blend. I add frozen fruit or ice to keep it from getting warm.

Whatever high speed blender you decide to get will be a good choice. I'm holding positive thoughts for everyone who wants one, that they'll have it very soon! :) I cannot imagine life without one.