The BEST Frozen Fruit for Smoothies
The key to a great smoothie is using great ingredients. Having frozen fruit on hand makes it so easy to whip up a smoothie anytime. You can use fresh fruit, but frozen fruit gives your smoothie that nice icy thick texture.
You can definitely buy bags of frozen fruit, but when I can,I I like to freeze my own. You can enjoy the fresh fruit, and when it is just past that point of peak ripeness, freeze the sweet delicious flavor of it and use it for a smoothie. Plus you can buy your produce when it is in season at a better price.
Flash Freezing Fruit and Veggies
The way I freeze my fruit is called Flash Freezing. Technically flash freezing is a process in which food is very quickly frozen at extremely cold temperatures. Foods are flash frozen so that as many nutrients are retained as possible, and to make sure that the food is as fresh and flavorful as it can be. But you can do the fake version of flash freezing at home.
To Flash Freeze:
- 1) Wash and/or peel your fruit/vegetable thoroughly.
- 2) Place flat on a baking tray. It’s best if your product isn’t touching, but it isn’t the end of the world if it is.
- 3) Freeze.
Yes it really is that simple. Look how perfect it looks after it is frozen. (Don’t mind the weird squarish-looking strawberry) I left some of the stems on for when I make a green smoothie. Our favorite fruit to freeze for smoothies are:
- Strawberries
- Bananas
- Cherries (pitted)
- Grapes
- & peaches!
Then I put it in smoothie size portion bags. Perfecto. Ready to rock and roll with the blender. You can do this with veggies too! Spinach is a great veggies to freeze for smoothies.
For more produce freezing tips and smoothie ideas:
Seriously who needs those smoothie bag mixes when you can make your own!
Happy Blending!
Natalie Monson
I'm a registered dietitian, mom of 4, avid lover of food and strong promoter of healthy habits. Here you will find lots of delicious recipes full of fruits and veggies, tips for getting your kids to eat better and become intuitive eaters and lots of resources for feeding your family.
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Can I do the “fake” version of flash freezing for any fruits (blackberries, blueberries, mango, pineapple, etc)? Thanks… love this site!
Love doing frozen fruit for fruit smoothies…also veggies to add into smoothies. Love adding a carrot, a big handful or greens, or some sweet potatoes…nobody even notices! But I do have a storage suggestion. Get some mid-sized ziplock type containers (reusable) and just fill up with your frozen fruit. It is better for the environment that using baggies (unless you wash and reuse them), and you can pull out the containers and make any size smoothie (1 child, 2, the whole family, etc). I just label the containers. If you have multiple containers of the same fruit (like if you go picking in the summer and freeze your bounty) just label with the date to use the oldest first! Enjoy!
Yes definitely! It works especially well with those fruits because they tend to stick together when you just freeze them all together.
Thanks for the suggestion.
What a brilliant idea. Must do this with my excess fruit so I’m ready for a yummy smoothie at a moments notice. Thanks!
Colleen, I did this last summer when I went pick your own blueberry picking – blueberries are a favorite with my kid. I flash froze them and use them all the time. The ziplock containers held up better than the baggies. The food in the baggies seemed to get more freezer burn, and get lost under other things as people would rummage, the baggie would open and then you would be chasing frozen blueberries around the bottom of the deep freeze – at 5,2 that is no mean feat. The containers were a much safer option. I can’t wait to try this with grapes too!
This has given me some great ideas-Thanks! I only have a little fridge freezer and I like to make smoothies for my oldest when he is home from school. I don’t have room for much bagged ice, but I will put the bananas in the freezer in the morning ready for the evening! perfect! 🙂
Yes will definitely have to try the ziploc containers instead of baggies. Thanks for all the great suggestions.
Really you can include so many different healthy smoothies . Thank you for posting these recipes!
I love these recepies… continue with your good work!
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How long the fruit will last in the freezer
Up to 3 months if stored in an airtight container.
Yes you can freeze any berry this way. I put mangos in a ziploc for freezing (keeps all the yummy juices) and then you can slice off what you need. I’ve never frozen pineapples but I think the “flash freeze” method would work.
it’s helping my sister thing out what to add to her cookbook