by Dan |
Last Updated: January 11, 2021 So, you want so desperately to get in on the green smoothie craze, but you really don’t have a whole lot of time in the mornings to stop and whip one together. So, what’s the alternative?
Well, you really could set your alarm to get up earlier so that you’re not rushing out the door- but if that’s not you, you can jump on the bandwagon with prepping your smoothies ahead of time.
You will find that if you take just a little bit of time one evening to prep a few smoothies ahead of time, you’ll save valuable time in the morning. Plus, it knocks out any other excuses that keep you from starting on your path to cleaner, greener living and eating.
Making Smoothie Freezer Packs
The truth is that prepping your smoothies really will save you lots of valuable time. You won’t have to drag yourself out of bed early just to be healthy.
Plus, it’s really nice not to have to do a whole lot of thinking in the morning about cutting up fruit or running out of ingredients right in the middle of mixing them.
You’ll have lots of fun taking a look at your smoothie recipes and prepping your smoothies for the week- or even for the month! The best part about this is that it only takes a few minutes of your time one evening!
Step 1: Gather Your Supplies and Ingredients
When you decide that you want to prep your smoothies ahead of time, you will need to make sure to gather your ingredients and supplies. You are going to need the following:
- Recipe cards for a variety of green smoothies
- Quart bags/canning jars
- Measuring cups
- Fruit/leafy greens
- Marker
Please note that you must make sure your leafy greens have been washed, patted/spun dry, and are ready to go.
Step 2: Cut/Slice Fruit and Veggies into Chunks
Take your fruits and veggies, after you’ve washed them, and cut them into chunks to be divided out into your containers.
Step 3: Label Bags/Jar Lids with Name of Smoothie and Date
Make sure that you are specific. You may also consider jotting a little note about what liquid should be used and how much. Of course, you could always just make sure your smoothie recipe cards are always accessible as well.
Step 4: Measure Ingredients & Pack into Bags/Jars
If you are using bags, make sure that you squeeze out as much of the air as you can when sealing it. If you are using jars, make sure to pack the ingredients tight and screw the lid on tight.
Step 5: Freeze!
Take care that you don’t pack them too tightly together, you need to leave room for the air to circulate. This will ensure that the ingredients freeze quickly.
More Tips for Green Smoothie Prep
You might want to cut the fruit into smaller pieces and place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets and freeze them ahead of time.
On the other hand, you may find it easier to use frozen fruit. By doing this, you can keep the leafy greens and fruit from freezing together into a clump and you’ll have a more evenly blended smoothie.
Before you blend your ingredients together, place on the counter or in warm water for a few minutes to thaw slightly. Plus, it will ensure that the greens and the fruit come out of the bag or jar much more easily.
If you prefer, you can store the fruit and the greens in separate bags/jars. Due to the freezing process, it will be necessary that you measure out less frozen greens than you would fresh. While they are best if used within two to four weeks, you can keep smoothie packs in the freezer for several months.
Even if you do have hoar frost form on your greens and fruit, they are still safe to consume- simply rinse them off with warm water.
Make sure that you keep your smoothie packs away from foods that have strong odors. If possible, use glass jars because they offer the best protection.
If you prefer, you can blend the smoothies ahead of time and freeze them until you’re ready to use them.
They do freeze much better if you divide them out into an ice cube tray- and you can just toss them into your glass when you’re ready to go.
If you freeze them in jars, you will want to defrost them in the fridge the night before you plan to use them. You may have some separation, but they are still perfectly fine to consume.
