by Dan |
Last Updated: January 11, 2021 As you know, a smoothie is a great drink that you can take with you when you’re on the go and don’t have time to eat.
In fact, they are quite popular for people who are always in a hurry when they head to work in the mornings. In order to make life easier, many people will make their smoothie ahead of time so they can grab it and go.
Unfortunately, if you’re not sure how long a batch of smoothies will last, you could possibly waste a perfectly good batch. On the other hand, they could end up spoiling because you didn’t store it properly.
Before we talk about how long you can expect your smoothie to last and the proper way to store them, you must first understand the difference between a juice and a smoothie.
Many people get the two confused because both of them are made from similar ingredients and typically come from a blender. In order to clear things up, take a look at the following descriptions.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Smoothie and Juice
What is a Juice?
Juices are different than smoothies because they are much lighter and thinner. This is because they don’t contain pulp. Typically, a juice is a watery liquid that is full of a variety of vitamins and nutrients that can help you get through your day.
One of the primary differences between a juice and a smoothie is that a juice doesn’t have fibers in them. Most of the time, these fibers are left behind in the pulp collector in the juicer.
If you are doing a cleanse, juices are typically a better option because they don’t require much energy from your body in order to digest.
Plus, since there are not any solids in them for your body to break down, juices digest much quicker.
What is a Smoothie?
On the other hand, typically a smoothie is quite thick and pulpy since it contains all of the fruit or veggie, with the exception of the seeds and the skin. Smoothies are different than juices because they have plenty of fibers that are ideal for keeping your digestive system healthy.
However, due to the fact that a smoothie contains more fiber, it does not contain as many nutrients as a juice would. However, if you need to move your bowels, a smoothie is the perfect choice.
Common Ingredients
Of course, you can very easily whip up a batch of healthy smoothies with a variety of fruits and veggies. The great thing about smoothies is that you can use any combo that you want to and you’ll come up with something truly yummy.
Shelf Life of Smoothies
Of course, just like anything else that’s made from fresh, natural ingredients, you’ll find that smoothies have a very short shelf life. When you make it fresh and store it in an airtight container, it should last for about 48 hours. Any longer than that, and it could result in a bland, watery smoothie.
Keep Your Smoothies Fresh & Delicious
They key to making sure your smoothies stay fresh is storing them in a cool and dry area immediately after you make it up. Here are a few tips to help you make sure your smoothie stays fresh and delicious:
You can slow down/prevent oxidation of your smoothie by adding in citrus fruits such as oranges, lemons, or limes.
Always make sure to use an airtight container.
Immediately after making, pour smoothie into the container and put it in the fridge.
Wash all fresh ingredients before placing in the blender.
Never use artificial sugars for sweetening your smoothie- instead use bananas, mangoes, or pineapple which are naturally sweet.
Use water instead of dairy- especially if you want to reduce the amount of calories you are consuming. Dairy typically brings fat that increases the calorie count.
Conclusion
Smoothies are wonderful drinks that you can grab and go- and still get the nourishment that your body needs. They are super easy to make and you can make them a couple of days ahead of time if you are always in a rush. However, keep in mind that they’re only fresh for up to 2 days- and must be stored in an airtight container in the fridge.
