Smoothie freezer packs: prep 5 smoothies at once
Put the fruit, greens and seeds for each smoothie in its own bag and freeze it. In the morning, pour the liquid into the blender, add one pack and blend.
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With pre-washed spinach and bags of frozen fruit, five packs take about 15 minutes. If you chop fresh fruit, allow another 10 to 15 minutes. Each pack below makes one smoothie and matches a full recipe on this site.
What goes in the bag, and what doesn't
| In the bag | Add in the morning |
|---|---|
| Fruit, fresh or frozen (peel and slice bananas first) | Milk, plant milk or coconut water |
| Spinach or other greens | Yogurt or Greek yogurt |
| Rolled oats, chia seeds, cocoa powder | Nut butter, protein powder, honey |
Liquids and yogurt stay out: frozen yogurt turns grainy, and a frozen block of milk is hard on the blender. Nut butter freezes into a hard lump that may not blend, so add it fresh.
How to make them
- Pick five combinations from the list below and get one zip-top freezer bag or container per smoothie.
- Peel bananas and slice them into rounds. Cut larger fruit into chunks about the size of a grape.
- Fill each bag with the fruit, greens and dry ingredients for one smoothie.
- Press out as much air as you can and seal the bag. Less air means less freezer burn.
- Write the name, the date and what to add in the morning on the bag, for example "add ¾ cup milk + ½ cup yogurt".
- Lay the bags flat in the freezer. Flat packs freeze faster and break up more easily in the blender.
5 freezer pack combinations
1. Green starter pack
In the bag: 1 cup (about 30 g) baby spinach, 1 sliced banana, ½ cup (about 80 g) pineapple chunks, 1 tablespoon chia seeds.
In the morning: 1 cup (240 ml) unsweetened almond milk. Full recipe.
2. Strawberry banana pack
In the bag: 1 cup (about 150 g) strawberries, 1 sliced banana.
In the morning: ½ cup (about 120 g) yogurt and ½ cup (120 ml) milk. Full recipe.
3. Tropical pack
In the bag: 1 cup (about 140 g) mango chunks, ½ cup (about 80 g) pineapple chunks.
In the morning: ½ cup (about 115 g) Greek or coconut yogurt, ¾ cup (180 ml) coconut water and 1–2 teaspoons lime juice. Full recipe.
4. Chocolate oat pack
In the bag: 1 sliced banana, ¼ cup (about 20 g) rolled oats, 1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder.
In the morning: ¾ cup (180 ml) milk, ½ cup (about 115 g) Greek yogurt and 1 tablespoon almond butter. Full recipe.
5. Blueberry oat pack
In the bag: 1 cup (about 140 g) blueberries, ¼ cup (about 20 g) rolled oats.
In the morning: ¾ cup (180 ml) milk, ½ cup (about 115 g) Greek yogurt and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Full recipe.
How to blend a frozen pack
- Pour the liquid into the blender first, then add the yogurt or other fresh ingredients.
- Squeeze the bag to break up the pack, then tip it into the blender.
- Blend for 60–90 seconds. If the blades spin without catching, stop, stir and add 2 tablespoons of liquid.
A pack that is fully frozen makes a thicker, colder smoothie than the same recipe with some fresh fruit. If your blender struggles, let the pack sit on the counter for about 5 minutes first.
Smoothie too thin? 5 fixes
- Use frozen fruit, not fresh. Frozen banana is the best thickener; swap in half a frozen banana for some of the fresh fruit.
- Start with less liquid. Begin with ½ cup and add more only if the blades stop turning.
- Add oats or chia. Blend in 2 tablespoons rolled oats or 1 tablespoon chia seeds and let it stand for 5 minutes.
- Add more Greek yogurt. An extra ¼ cup makes it thicker and creamier.
- Add a few ice cubes last. Pulse in 3–4 cubes at the end. Ice thickens it but waters down the flavor a little, so use it last.
Smoothie too thick?
- Add liquid 2 tablespoons at a time and blend again.
- Stop the blender, stir with a spoon and push the frozen pieces toward the blades.
- Let the frozen fruit soften for a few minutes before blending.
How long do they keep?
Use the packs within about 3 months for the best flavor. Food kept frozen at 0°F (−18°C) stays safe, but fruit slowly loses flavor and can get freezer burn, especially in bags with a lot of air. If a pack has dry, pale spots, cut those pieces off or use the pack soon.
Questions
Can I use frozen fruit from the store?
Yes. Bagged frozen fruit is the fastest way to make packs. Just portion it into bags and add the greens and dry ingredients.
Can I freeze spinach for smoothies?
Yes. Frozen spinach goes limp when it thaws, but in a smoothie you won't notice. Blend it with the liquid first so there are no leafy bits.
Can I put yogurt or milk in the pack?
Keep them out of the bag and add them in the morning. Frozen yogurt turns grainy, and a frozen block of milk is hard on the blender.
Short on time in the morning? See our 7 breakfast smoothies you can make in 5 minutes.