Are you a smoothie lover? Have you tried to make your smoothie thicker but still got a watery result? If yes, you are not alone.
You see, so many people want to enjoy a cup of creamy and super thick smoothie but just can’t figure out how to go about doing that.
This article sheds light on some tips that will help you make your smoothie thicker, creamy, and more nutritious. Note that you may need a good blender for smoothies and a few ingredients to make a smoothie thicker.
Why do you need thicker smoothies?
Watery smoothies are good, but super thick smoothies are better. It isn’t just because they taste amazing or have a better texture or flavor, but because they are easier to digest.
As you likely know, the digestion process starts from the mouth, where salivary enzymes mix with food as we chew. These enzymes help to break down proteins, carbs, and other essential nutrients.
Unlikewatery or juice-like smoothies that you can gulp down or drink with a straw, thick smoothies are almost impossible to drink without chewing. Since they come in contact with your saliva, they will be broken down faster.
10 Tips for Making your Smoothies Thicker
To thicken a smoothie, there are ingredients you should consider using. In this section, we will be looking at some of them. We will also explore some tips that will enable you to achieve the best results time and time again.
Bear in mind that, regardless of the smoothie recipes you follow, you will be able to get a creamy result without compromising flavor or spending a huge chunk of your time.
Don’t add too much liquid
Reducing the amount of liquid you add to your smoothies is a great way to achieve a better texture and a thicker result.
Adding an extra cup of water, milk, juice, and so on will make your smoothie watery.
If, for example, you have been using 3 cups of coconut milk or almond milk, you should reduce it to two. Also, you shouldn’t add all the liquid at once.
To get a thicker result, you should add the first half of your preferred liquid into your blender with the rest of your ingredients and the second half when you are done blending.
Freeze your greens
Another way to thicken a smoothie is by adding frozen vegetables.
Frozen greens are an excellent addition to any smoothie recipe, as they are high in fiber, antioxidants, and a few other nutrients our body needs. What’s more, they can make your smoothie thicker.
Freezing your greens isn’t as difficult as you think. All you need to do is load up your preferred high fiber vegetables into a bag or container and toss it into your freezer.
Since frozen greens and frozen fruit are super dense, you should only use a small amount of them.
Try almond milk ice cubes
Instead of using ice cubes, you should try almond milk cubes.
To get almond milk ice cubes, pour the liquid milk into an ice cube tray and let it freeze overnight.
Almond milk ice cubes can make your smoothie creamier and less watery.
Use frozen fruits
Adding frozen bananas, berries, mangoes, papaya, and so on will not only thicken your smoothie but also help it have a better texture.
While you have the freedom to use any frozen banana or any fruit you want, you should stick to frozen bananas, as they can work with many recipesand are naturally thick. Also, any blender can crush them, as they aren’t overly tough.
Add thickening superfoods
Superfoods like Chia seeds are loaded with essential nutrients our body needs. Even more, they have thickening properties. So adding them to your smoothie will help you achieve a thicker result. Below are some superfoods that can thicken any smoothie.
- Greek yogurt
- Ice cream
- Chia seeds
- Yogurts
- Cacao powder
- Coconut flour
- Vanilla protein powder
Freeze some of the liquid
Many smoothie lovers have the notion that they can only add only frozen fruit and greens to thicken their smoothie. Little do they know that frozen liquids can also thicken a smoothie.
This means that you shouldadd frozen oat milk or coconut milk into your blender instead of liquid.
Add a scoop of raw Oats or Chia seeds
Even if your smoothie is super watery or like a juice, there are a few things you can do to make it thicker. One of them is adding raw Oats or Chia seeds.
Oats are rich in fiber, an important nutrient that can make you feel fuller. Chia seeds, on the other hand, have thickening properties. So if you add a scoop or a cup of any of them to your drink, it will make it thicker.
Blend protein powder or greens first
The order in which you add and blend the ingredients in your recipe can affect the thickness and texture of your drink.
You should blend your veggies with a powerful blender until they are super smooth before adding other ingredients. This way, your smoothie will be super thick and chunk-free.
You should also do the same when you are working with protein powder.
Add Psyllium Husk
Psyllium husk is rich in insoluble and soluble fiber that can improve the thickness of your smoothie. Besides thickening your drink, fresh Psyllium husk can encourage weight loss and address constipation issues.
Add nut butter
Nut butter is another great addition to any smoothie, as they are delicious and rich in nutrients. What’s more, they can make a smoothie thicker. If you aren’t into almond or cashew nut butter, then you should try other alternatives like walnuts, sunflower seeds, and pecans.
Does Ice Make Smoothies Thicker or Thinner?
Ice can make a smoothie thicker, chilled, and refreshing. To enjoy this, you have to drink or eat the smoothie as soon as you possibly can. If you wait for too long, the ice will melt, and your smoothie will become watery.
