Help with Green smoothies

[blizzardfrisbee]

Ok so I have decided to start drinking green smoothies but should they be chewy or drinkable?? I blended in a regular blender and it was chewy.
Should I use a juicer??

[DebB]

When I first started green smoothies, I was using my Kitchen Aid blender. I tried it in the blender - even tried it in my Cuisinart food processor first and then into the blender. They were always chewy.

Now that I've got a BlendTec (high speed blender) they're fantastic. It's a great investment. I wouldn't want to be without my BlendTec... *Ü*

[GoingtoRAW]

I did the same thing...try to make smoothies in a regular blender. They didn't blend well and they smoothies were very chewy. I got a Vitamix and that thing pulvarizes my fruits and veggies until they are velvety smooth. Yum! Also, I burned out two blenders making smoothies in them. I just don't think they are made for that kind of work.

[DebB]

....Should I use a juicer??

The reason for green smoothies is to get all that great fiber from using the whole greens, which you wouldn't get if you juiced them. *Ü* (not that there's anything wrong with juicing greens, I do it all the time - but it's different than making a green smoothie)

[beckyh]

I have a vita-mix blender and I love it...however when I am making my green smoothies, they get warm, and I don't like them so much. Can I make them the night before, so when I wake up in the morning they will be nice and cold? Because sometimes mine are chewy because I don't leave it run long enough, but I don't want them to get warm. Any suggestions?

[blizzardfrisbee]

Aw thanks for the information on the smoothies. I did make one in my regular blender that was less chewy and tasted good. Will have to invest in a vita mix or blend tec.

[Eva]

This might be helpful to you. (http://www.uncooking101.com/basic-green-smoothie-recipe.shtml)

:) I'm a green smoothie addict. :)

[blizzardfrisbee]

Checked it out! Thanks a bunch!! Very helpful!

[Eva]

:) YAY! I'm so glad ~ that's why I put it up there. :)

[joyce09]

I have a vita-mix blender and I love it...however when I am making my green smoothies, they get warm, and I don't like them so much. Can I make them the night before, so when I wake up in the morning they will be nice and cold? Because sometimes mine are chewy because I don't leave it run long enough, but I don't want them to get warm. Any suggestions?

You may refrigerate all the ingredients, including water, in the coldest part of your fridge several hours before you make GS.

[beckyh]

You may refrigerate all the ingredients, including water, in the coldest part of your fridge several hours before you make GS.

Thanks so much! i will give it a try!!

[joyce09]

And if your GS is still not cold enough for you, you may substitue part of the water with ice cubes for blending.

[DebB]

I have a vita-mix blender and I love it...however when I am making my green smoothies, they get warm, and I don't like them so much. Can I make them the night before, so when I wake up in the morning they will be nice and cold? Because sometimes mine are chewy because I don't leave it run long enough, but I don't want them to get warm. Any suggestions?

I always add some kind of frozen fruit - just so it will be icy slushy cold - usually frozen blueberries...

But a word of advice. I don't add frozen strawberries, as the ones that Costco carries are huge and it's like trying to blend up a frozen golf ball!

But frozen blueberries or bananas, peaches, mangoes - you get the idea. So good! *Ü*

[joyce09]

I read that freezing damages raw food's nutrients (such as enzymns) partially. So I try not to freeze food if possible.

[Moriah1111]

I actually have found that my 20 dollar blender does quite a good job on smoothies. I am thinking of purchasing a Blendtec, but every time I really get close to ordering, I remember that my little blender is doing so well.. why spend the 400 bucks... that said of course, I do know the high speeders are a lot better. I stayed with a friend in Canada for two months and used his Blendtec, and was sure that when I got home I'd really hate my old blender, but surprisingly, that hasn't been the case. Really, my smoothies are not "chewy" at all. Here are some hints for great smoothies with a normal blender:

1. Use enough water or other base liquid. (I usually use coconut milk and water)
2. Blend greens with liquid first, then slowly add greens while you keep blending.
3. Cut fruit into fairly small pieces before blending
4. Remove woody stems from greens before blending

As for coldness - I really don't like smoothies unless they are pretty frigid so I always use ice cubes. Usually I add them at the end. I drink my smoothies with a glass straw so I like them to be smooth enough for that, and as I said, as long as I follow the above, and blend an extra minute or so more than I would with the Blendtec, my smoothies come out great.