Fruit Smoothie Makers

In this era of health-conscious eating, restaurants, stores, malls, casinos, movie theaters and pretty much any other place are selling fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies are becoming more and more popular.

People are getting so fond of smoothies, in fact, that they want to make them at home. A smoothie is a drink, usually made with fresh fruit, fruit juice, ice, yogurt and other ingredients to make a thick, healthy beverage.

Because the ice in the smoothie has to be crushed and blended with the other ingredients, a smoothie maker is usually the appliance of choice. At its core, a smoothie maker is a jazzed-up version of the venerable kitchen blender.

However, a smoothie maker does have some differences. It usually has higher wattage than a blender, giving it the power to really pulverize the ice and fruit.

The glass mixing chamber also has a narrower shape, which directs the ice and fruit down toward the blades for more efficient mixing.

A smoothie maker may also have a spout toward the bottom of the glass mixing chamber to dispense the smoothie mixture. Unlike a regular blender, this feature enables a person to serve the smoothie without having to lift the glass chamber out and pour from the top.

A smoothie maker may also come with a “stir stick,” a long plastic cylinder that fits into the mixing chamber and helps blend the ingredients.

The average smoothie maker will also have measurements on the side of the mixing chamber to allow accurate measurements of ice, liquid and fruit

Smoothie RecipesSmoothies are a delicious and nutrious beverage. Whether it is your way of getting your fruits or you are just looking to watch your diet I am sure that you will find these recipes appealing.

Smoothies require a minimum amount of equipment: a knife, a cutting surface, measuring cups and spoons, and a blender
To cut fruit, always use a sharp knife and cut away from your hands and body. Use a clean cutting surface.

If you have only one cutting board, clean it with lemon juice to erase strong smells.
High-quality blenders will make smoothies more quickly and effortlessley. Older or lesser quality blenders take more time and may not blend ice as smoothly.

Always add ingredients to the blender beginning with liquids and ending with solids, unless otherwise specified.

If your blender has varying speeds, start on low speed to chop and then finish on high speed to completely blend. If the mixture is too thick and the blender becomes stuck, turn it off.

Stir from the bottom up with a long spoon, then turn the blender back on. If you need to stir while the blender is running, stir only around the top, do not stick the spoon down int the mixture.

Preparing FruitWash fruit under running water to remove dirt or pesticides. Remove excess water by patting dry with paper towels. For fragile fruit , such as berries, lay washed fruit flat on paper towels.

Then remove any stems, leaves, peel, seeds, pits or pith. Next dice the fruit finely. Spread it out flat in a self-sealing plastic bag or other container. This makes it easy to measuer when it’s frozen; it also preserves refrigerator and freezer space.

Freezing FruitMost of theses recipes call for fresh fruit that is frozen. Perpare the fruit as directed and place in the freezer. Most fruit will reach a firmly frozen stage in 2 to 4 hours. For maximum flavor, we suggest thhat you use fruit within 1 to 2 weeks of freezing it. Store-bought frozen fruit can last longer.

We recommend that you use packaged unsweetend frozen fruit and with in 6 months of purchase or within 2 weeks after opening.
If you prefer to use fresh fruit as is, add ice cubes to your smoothie until desired consistency and temperature is reached.

Smoothies have become increasing popular in the last couple of years, with chain stores and artisan smoothie outlets opening up on just about every corner.

These tasty yet nutritious drinks can be pretty pricey, especially if you want to add them as a staple part of your diet.

Many people are opting to make their own smoothies with the help of the trusty blender.

The Vitamix 5200 is one of the most popular blenders on the American market and it is widely lauded as the best smoothie making machine.

Making a smoothie is pretty easy, you just throw everything in and blend but, making the ultimate smoothie is an art form and we are here to help you to hone your craft.

The first step to making an unstoppable smoothie is to learn the layering rule; that is, you must layer your ingredients correctly in order to achieve the best consistency. The first thing in, should be the liquid; add in one to two cups of whatever liquid your recipe calls for.

Popular options include water, soy or almond milk, coconut water and fruit juice. This is followed by the base or body of your smoothie; this would be the ingredient that adds that rich, creamy texture to your beverage.

Thick pulpy fruits make great bases; these include bananas, mangoes, peaches and pears. There are also non-fruit options such as avocado, yoghurt and peanut butter. If you want a chilled treat, this is the point to pack in the ice.

Now that you have built your liquid and base, it is time to pile on the yummy fruits and vegetables. You can follow a specific recipe or mix and match stuff according your taste and preference.

You can use fresh or frozen produce for this. Frozen berries are a very popular ingredient because they offer that touch of sweetness, are a great substitute for ice and are packed full of nutrients and wholesome goodness.

The perfect smoothie is a whole lot more than blended up fruits, there are a number of amazing add-on’s that can boost the taste and nutrition value of any smoothie.

If you are a sweet tooth there are a number of all natural and healthy ways you can sweeten your smoothie, from using honey and agave syrup to maple syrup or unprocessed sugar.

Salt is another great flavor enhancer and there are healthier options to table salt, like sea salt or Himalayan pink salt for example.

A pinch of spice can work equally well as a taste enhancer; depending on your personal preference you can add a wide array of flavors from vanilla and cinnamon to nutmeg, ginger or even cayenne which is said to rev up your metabolism.

The ultimate smoothie has to be packed with nutrients and a great way of achieving this would be to add a kick-ass ‘superfood’.

‘Superfoods’ are foods that pack a whole lot of nutritional punch; some examples are cacao, flax seed, goji berries, bee pollen, acai berry and aloe vera.

If you are looking to lose weight or to use the smoothie as a meal replacement, you can add protein powder to the mix, as this will help build muscle and will also keep you full for longer.

Recently, green smoothies have become very popular; these are beverages that include green vegetables like spinach, kale, arugula and lettuce.

The ultimate smoothie must be a near perfect blend; it must not be too watery or too thick, not too sweet and definitely not too bitter. We have got some quick tips and tricks on how to avoid or correct these common mistakes.

If you are making a smoothie with fruits that have high water content like watermelon, you can achieve that creamy consistency by adding ice to thicken the mixture.

If frothiness is the problem, you can rectify the situation by adding more of your base ingredient.

You can also avoid the problem by reducing the liquid content and not blending the mixture for too long. To water down overly thick smoothies, add more of liquid and to thicken watery smoothies, add yogurt or a banana to the mix.

A common problem with green smoothies is that they are bitter and this can be easily overcome with a splash of honey or by including sweet fruits in your recipe.

Ultimately whipping up the pitcher perfect smoothie is a matter of practice and getting all the ingredients right.

Remember to have fun with it, experiment with your favorite flavors and put your own twist on things. Alternatively you can find a plethora of sumptuous smoothie recipes online to suit every taste and health goal.

A trusty blender like the Vitamix 5200 makes the task an absolute breeze. So what are you waiting for, it’s time to blend!

Click here if you would like to take a look at our comprehensive review of all the features of the best blender you can buy.

Over the last decade or so, the smoothie has become a way of life for people, generally speaking, irrespective of their cultures or their demographics, or where they live.

Given such multifarious tastes, the smoothie has become one of the most sought after drinks, in the commercial arena.

Commercial establishments, such as the restaurants, food eateries, hotels and even bars, are expected to serve the smoothie, without question!

Now imagine them catering to a growing number of clientele with a home kitchen appliance or a hand held smoothie blender!

Thus, the demand arose for Commercial Smoothie Blenders, and the manufacturers obliged.

The only way to cater to the burgeoning need for a Commercial Smoothie Blender was by way of introducing technologically advanced machines, which were automated and fast, yet smooth and quiet.

Since the commercial smoothie blender was to be used at commercial establishments who are in the business of generating revenue by way of retaining and also enhancing their consumer base, the product was expected to work efficiently, look stylish, sound almost musical , run smoothly, and be priced economically.

The power and the capacity to churn out quality and numbers would be an essential function that any commercial establishment owner would need to look into, before making an investment on the purchase of a commercial smoothie blender. The simple reason for this is the law of economics, demand and supply.

If the balance of demand and supply is not maintained in equilibrium, the result is not left to imagination – You simply lose business and therefore, jolted from the business world.

Given the enormous options available in the market, the consumer does not really need to be tolerant! It is no secret in today’s world that the businesses work on rather lean margins and more volume. Read volume as customer!

There are plenty of contenders in the market when it comes to selling the commercial smoothie blender. Of them, the BlendTec, VitaMix and Waring steal the first place, each elbowing the other for that coveted number 1 slot!

A plethora of variety, one better than the other, each is equipped with features, one different from the other – each advanced a step further than the other.

Whether it is about the capacity to hold the smoothie contents / ingredients, given the quantum of clientele that the establishment handles; or about the power it entails, in order to come up with smoothies, with varied touches and flavors; or even about the speed at which the commercial smoothie blender runs, so as to manage the footfall aplenty!

The looks, or appearance, as one may want to address the machine with, hold an equally important place when it comes to decision making regarding the purchase of the commercial smoothie blender.