How to Make a Super-Simple Smoothie and Buy the Right Blender

Banana Smoothie

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A smoothie requires a blender that has sufficient power to blend ice cubes and frozen fruit. Blenders come in various capacities and power capabilities and with an array of preset or manual blending settings. Choose the right blender for making smoothies.

About Blenders

Blenders come in models that range from 200 to 1200 watts. You can often blend ice with the lowest wattage, but the lower the power, the harder the blender works, and that eventually shortens its expected life. Whether a low-power blender works for you depends on how often you use the blender and how long you blend. 

If you plan to make a smoothie several times a week, buying a blender with a minimum of 600 watts is strongly recommended. Before you buy, confirm that your selection can indeed blend ice. Not all can.

You don't have to spend a lot of money on a blender. The price depends on whether you plan to use this counter appliance for other food prep or you just want one for making smoothies. If you're interested in buying a personal blender that is suitable for making smoothies, the Hamilton Beach personal blender is a good affordable choice. 

If you are planning on doing more with your blender than making smoothies, the Nutri Ninja Blending System with Auto-iQ, Smooth Boost and Extraction is a countertop model that offers terrific value. The preset settings on the blender take the guesswork out of blending.

Making Smoothies

Making a smoothie can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. Although you'll find several brands of packaged smoothie mixes in the marketplace, you don't need a mix to make a tasty refreshing beverage.

Prepackaged smoothie mixes include additives that you might not want in your frozen beverage. Making your own from a few ingredients allows you to tailor it to your preferences and within the boundaries of your specific dietary regimen. If you are trying to cut down on sugar, making your own is the best option. You'll soon realize that the natural taste of fruit without added sugar is awesome.

Super-Simple Banana Smoothie Recipe

Here is a simple smoothie with limited ingredients, yet it's totally refreshing. Plus, you can add more fruit to it if you wish. Remember, you're in control of this smoothie.

To make a personal smoothie in your blender jar or cup, add the following essential ingredients in this order (it will blend more easily):

  • 4 to 6 ounces of milk, almond milk, or another dairy substitute
  • One ripe banana cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla
  • A handful of small ice cubes

Optional: Add one or two strawberries, raspberries, or other fruit if you want to vary the taste. It doesn't take much fruit to add more flavor and color. The banana is essential if you want the smoothie to be creamy. You can also add a small amount of flax or chia seeds without affecting the end result. You can also add a little yogurt.

Blend or pulse to ​reach the desired consistency. How long to blend depends on whether you prefer to have lots of ice shards in the smoothie or not. 

Pour the mixture into a glass or travel mug and add a straw. A personal blender cup saves on cleanup because you can enjoy the smoothie right from the small blending jar. Making for two or more? Just double or triple the ingredients into a regular-size blender jar and enjoy.