Smoothies are an excellent way to consume our daily fruits and veggies, so make sure you are using these tips to get the most out of your blender
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Nothing’s better than a great smoothie.
Chock full of nutrients and vitamins, smoothies are thick and tasty, and are a great meal replacement option. Nearly all foods can be blended, from fruits and nuts to vegetables. And it doesn’t matter if you have a top-of-the-line Vitamix blender or an immersion blender. However, some common mistakes can compromise the performance or taste of your drink.
Follow these tips for tasty and healthy smoothies:
1. Clean Your Blender Thoroughly
The best way to clean your blender is not with a sponge, but with your blender itself. Put some water in your blender and a few drops of dish soap, then turn on your blender for 30-60 seconds. This will help to remove the little pieces of vegetables, fruits, or seeds that may be trapped and ensure that what you blended for breakfast today doesn’t get into your smoothie tomorrow.
2. Don’t Over Blend Your Smoothies
To achieve the smooth texture you desire, blend just enough. Over-blending can result in heat buildup from the motor, which can start to warm up the blender blades and adversely affect the texture and flavor of your smoothie. Also, over-blending can burn out the motor causing a bad electrical-like smell and a broken machine.
3. Use the Pulse Button
Some people only use two buttons, high and off. But if you want a great smoothie, use the ‘pulse’ button. Pulsing is excellent for breaking up ice cubes or frozen fruits and vegetables. Additionally, it breaks up larger pieces of food into smaller chunks. By using the pulse button, you’re much less likely to get food caught in the blade, and you’ll ensure that everything breaks down into equal sizes that can then be blended into a smooth mixture. Further, if you don’t cut your food into smaller pieces, and something that you put into the blender gets stuck, using the pulse feature can help dislodge it from the blades.
4. Put Liquids into the Blender First
When you added milk or water to your blender after you fill it with other foods, did everything get jammed up? This is because the mixture of items on the blade was too dense. To avoid this, add liquids to your blender first, and then add the rest of the items for your smoothie to keep the blade free and to make an evenly blended smoothie.
5. Don’t Let Steam Build Up in Your Blender
If you are mixing hot liquids, be sure to remove the fill cap to eliminate the chances of steam building up inside the blender and your concoction from becoming watered down. Additionally, by allowing the steam to escape, you will reduce your chances of the blender action changing the flavor of what you are blending.
6. Put the Cover on Before Using Your Blender
It may seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people make this mistake. To avoid washing smoothie off your ceilings, be sure to put the cover on the blender before use. Aside from containing the contents, the cover helps to ensure that all parts are blended equally by reducing the amount of free air in the container. While some air is beneficial to make your smoothie light and airy, too much air can alter the outcome.
You may also enjoy reading Simple Green Smoothies, by Jen Hansard and Jadah Sellner
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