In the early 2000s, going to the mall to choose up a 30-ounce Strawberry Surf Rider at Jamba Juice was *the* option to stave off the new summer season days.
At the moment, you will discover limitless smoothie recipes everywhere in the web for every day inspiration for making this refreshingly fruity beverage at home. However admit it: These dear smoothies from the native juice bar all the time hit completely different. They by no means fail to style just a little thicker, sweeter, and creamier than those you make your self, no?
That is partially as a result of the truth that we (after all) want some type of viable excuse for spending $11 on a beverage, however there’s definitely one thing completely different in regards to the texture of professionally-made smoothies. In spite of everything, making the proper smoothie relies upon loads on each how and what we’re utilizing to make them. And no, we’re not referencing the truth that your native juice bar makes use of a brilliant fancy high-performance blender or that they are whirling in elusive locally-grown natural strawberries and spirulinasuperfoodcollagenCBDmagicfairydust. Fairly, for those who really feel that do-it-yourself smoothies merely lack the velvety texture of their store-bought counterparts, the problem might be in the way that you’re freezing your fruit at dwelling versus the more practical methodology that professionals in eating places and juice bars use.
Certainly, the feel of your frozen fruit might be *the* figuring out issue between a brilliant vibrant and creamy, cohesive smoothie that tastes like summer season in a cup versus a bland, icy, and mediocre-tasting drink. Comply with these easy suggestions for prepping and freezing your contemporary fruit the proper manner, and you will by no means need to shell out a ridiculous quantity for a high-quality smoothie once more.
Find out how to freeze fruit for making smoothies at dwelling
1. Freeze them once they’re tremendous ripe
Overshot how a lot fruit you’ll want for the week and now you’re left with a heaping pile of berries which might be on the point of beginning to spoil? No sweat. Catch them at their peak ripeness (learn: after they’ve softened and sweetened however not earlier than they’re begun to mildew) and freeze them ASAP. It will maximize the pure sweetness of your smoothies.
2. Wash them totally
It is vital to scrub your contemporary produce totally to take away any filth, micro organism, or dangerous pesticides from its delicate pores and skin, particularly for fruits like strawberries and peaches. In keeping with the FDA, you don’t need to use any soap or produce sprays to get the job done. As a substitute, rinsing fruits (and veggies) underneath cool operating water may also help take away extra filth to assist stop any foodborne diseases. Though, for those who discover that your strawberries look extraordinarily soiled, you possibly can soak them in a solution of water and vinegar for only a few minutes earlier than rinsing them once more.
3. Dry, dry, and dry them once more
To stop any undesirable freezer burn and icicles from forming in your frozen fruit, be sure that to dry it extraordinarily nicely. Gently pat the fruit with a paper towel or clear washcloth, and take away all moisture as greatest as attainable earlier than making an attempt to freeze.
4. Prep the fruits (or greens) for freezing
As soon as your produce is clear and dry, minimize each bit of fruit into smaller items to make mixing them right into a uniform and creamy smoothie a breeze (it will even be simpler in your gear). Having the fruit already minimize up makes portioning it out for particular person smoothies all that sooner, too.
5. Freeze contemporary items of fruit on a baking sheet first
So, the time has come to freeze them, however how precisely do juice bars nail it each time? Utilizing a baking sheet, after all. This TikTok video by @nutreats demonstrates find out how to freeze fruit in a number of simple steps for smoothie perfection.
@nutreats Sure there’s a proper option to freeze your fruit for smoothies #kitchentips #cookinghacks #thatshot #tiktoksa ♬ original sound – nutreats
They are not simply nice for baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies: Baking sheets are the holy grail of restaurant kitchen instruments and are an important a part of freezing fruit successfully at dwelling. To take action, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a reusable, freezer-safe silicone mat. Then, place the clear and dry fruit in a single layer and pop it within the freezer for a number of hours.
By freezing the items of fruit in a uniform layer on a baking sheet, you’ll stop them from changing into one big hunk of bananas or berries that makes it almost not possible to mix or portion out. After a number of hours of “flash freezing” them, they’ll be stable sufficient to consolidate right into a freezer-safe reusable bag with out sticking to 1 one other. The end result? Completely ripe, candy, and freezer burn-free items of fruit which might be simply nearly as good as those your juice bar blends.
6. Don’t freeze these fruits and veggies
Though this trick works wonders for strawberries, bananas, and blueberries, some produce is best left unfrozen. Frozen watermelon, citrus slices, cucumbers, and apples are inclined to change into mushy or oxidize rapidly. Thus, sticking to freezer-resistant components will assist be sure that your smoothies will all the time meet your creamy and dreamy expectations.
Attempt making this brain-boosting smoothie with your entire freshly frozen fruit:
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