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You’ll get immediate access to your download with simple shifts you can start today—because every small habit tweak helps.
free download
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Start your new healthy lifestyle with these free recipes & Tips
You’ll get immediate access to your download with simple shifts you can start today—because every small habit tweak helps.
free download
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How To Save A Smoothie For Later
People often ask me what’s the best way to store a green smoothie or juice for later. Fresh is always best, but I also love the idea of making a double batch to save time; it’s far better to have a smoothie or juice that you’ve stored in the refrigerator overnight than a bagel or afternoon coffee break.
In general, smoothies keep longer than juice. My rule of thumb is that juice will keep for about 12 hours using the method below, while a smoothie will keep up to 24 hours. Just use your eyes and nose to tell – if it smells off or looks dark brown don’t drink it.
How To Store Smoothies (& Juices) For Later:
- Always make a double batch so you have a quick and healthy option in the refrigerator. You’ll have one for now and one for later.
- Store your drink in a glass container with an airtight lid. Fill the container to the very top to prevent air from being trapped in the container as air will oxidize the nutrients in your smoothie (oxidizing degrades the nutrients in your smoothie, making it less nutritious.)
- Seal your container tightly and store in the refrigerator. Above: Ball mason jar with BPA-free plastic reusable lid that I got at the hardware store for about two dollars.
- Bonus: Add lemon juice to your smoothie or juice. The extra vitamin C will also help prevent oxidation.
Happy Green Drinking!
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July 10th, 2013 at 11:20 am
If we don’t have enough to fill the jar to the very top are we losing too many nutrients that it’s not worth saving or will it be okay with a little lemon juice? Also, how long can you keep it in the fridge before it needs to be consumed?
July 10th, 2013 at 2:11 pm
It’s really case by case. If it turns color or smells off don’t drink it. Also, you can get a few of the smaller mason jars (made for jam) so store small leftovers. See above for storage time, but again, it’s always case by case 🙂
August 16th, 2013 at 10:17 pm
You can also use plastic wrap and push it down in the jar so it is in contact with the top of the juice. It is sealed so no air touches the juice at all. That is good when the jar is not all the way full or even when it is.
August 18th, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Great tip!
January 25th, 2015 at 12:43 pm
I just push some plastic wrap down to seal on top of the juice/smoothie… Another option is a freezer baggie, and squeezing up so there is no air… I do that for storing/freezing stocks and broths.
July 11th, 2013 at 3:12 pm
How do you feel about freezing jars of extra juice to thaw and drink at a later date?
July 12th, 2013 at 9:51 am
Haven’t ever tried it. In general I do think the fresher the better.
July 23rd, 2013 at 4:08 pm
Works fine. Leave room for expansion and leave the top loose until it’s frozen. Did 10qts. last week. They were yummy and fresh tasting all week. Not icky like when I put them in the fridge.
July 24th, 2013 at 8:32 am
Okay, I’m forging ahead with my frozen juices. Life is so much easier with a supply of juice in the freezer ready to grab on my way out the door! I was using any old jar until I saw on a box of canning jars that only the wide mouth pints and jam jars are considered safe for the freezer. Wouldn’t you know that I had already purchased regular mouth pints and quarts. Oh well, I’ll just use those for the juice I don’t freeze! Always learning something….. :o)
July 22nd, 2013 at 1:56 pm
On your video blog on common mistakes of juicing….you describe types of juicers. Your information is incorrect. Centrifugal juicers are the high speed ones and the masticating are the slow speed more expensive but better juicer. You state the exact opposite. Otherwise all good advise. Please correct. Thank you.
July 23rd, 2013 at 4:56 pm
Yes, it’s already corrected, there is an annotation in the video and it’s corrected in the comments, too.
October 16th, 2013 at 11:35 am
Excellent storage advice. I do the same things!
January 11th, 2014 at 6:44 am
Most recipes are just enough for one quart correct? So do most of you just double?
January 12th, 2014 at 11:08 am
Juice and smoothie recipe yield can vary, mostly because the size of the produce can vary so much. On my site, most recipes are for one large serving, or as indicated in the recipe. So, if you want to save one for later, just double it 🙂
January 28th, 2014 at 10:03 am
I love your ideas & recipes, Elizabeth. Yesterday, I doubled the veggie smoothie recipe & put the ‘remains’ in ice cube trays. Today I used 5 cubes in my/your Chai Berry Protein Shake. Great tips! Thank you
May 3rd, 2014 at 9:45 am
I use the Thermos Thermocafe 0.8 Litre Stainless Steel Multi Purpose Food Flask.
August 18th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
I just tried my first green smoothie this morning! Thank you for this blog, I’ve found some very helpful info and great ideas!
August 18th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
Sorry I hit post to early. I’m looking for a plastic lid for my new plastic bpa free mason jars, Ive search every department at Wally’s and no luck I see you said you gots yours at a hardware store, which department of the store? I’m on a hunt now to find them so I can take a spare smoothie for long days at work!! THANK YOU!!
January 2nd, 2015 at 3:25 pm
sooooo you put a lid on it…. thanks for the tip!!
February 17th, 2015 at 9:04 am
Is it ok to use mason jars with the metal 2-piece lids to store juice?
November 29th, 2016 at 1:37 pm
How much and when is the best to drink
January 2nd, 2018 at 12:37 pm
[…] The best time to consume your smoothie is right after making it. But if you want to save it for later, you should use your eyes and nose to identify any undesirable changes in your smoothie. Smoothie is best to consume fresh but it has longer shelf life than juice. You can keep it in the fridge as long as 12 hours. (source) […]
March 22nd, 2018 at 2:47 am
Thanks for taking the time to put this together. It’s really hard to find any information about blenders that are compatible.
May 24th, 2018 at 11:03 pm
[…] easy to whip up and they can last in your refrigerator for up to 24 hours (12 hours for a juice)[*]. That means you can make two at once and have tomorrow’s ready to go […]
November 7th, 2018 at 2:08 pm
I put the smoothie in the mason jar – filled to the top – and stored it overnight. In the morning there was slightly less smoothie in the jar. What was originally at the very top had diminished to about 1/4 in from the top. It is not a big deal, but do you know what is causing the content to be less in the morning?
November 8th, 2018 at 8:08 pm
Hey Valerie! It’s just that blending whips some air into the smoothie, it’s totally normal for it to settle a little. Not a big deal at all. ~E
February 16th, 2019 at 7:23 pm
Good afternoon 😃
I just request your ebook on smoothies! I’m recently diagnosed with stomach cancer and have had surgery to remove my appendix and colon right side! I’m trying to switch diet to organic plant based natural health eating! Need ideas and recipes for my fight for life! Do you have any suggestions or information?
March 12th, 2019 at 8:56 pm
When I try to save a smoothie, it always tastes bad even if I’ve only made it a few hours before. I tried keeping it in an airtight lid in the fridge but it just becomes very chunky with a weird aftertaste. Could it be one of the ingredients I’m using? I use dairy milk as a base.
March 13th, 2019 at 11:33 pm
Hi Bell, Dairy milk goes bad quickly, so I would not use dairy in a smoothie that you’re going to save for later. ~E
October 15th, 2019 at 1:26 pm
Hi there
I make smoothies at night for the next morning but they seem to go flat or something. Like the next morning, there’s usually half the amount in the jar then what we poured. Any ideas why?
October 18th, 2019 at 4:53 pm
Hi Natasha, the blender whips air into the smoothie, so as they settle they may look less dense. In this case, if it looks like half the volume, it may be because you’re blending longer than needed and whipping a lot of extra air into it. Blend until smooth and try not to blend extra time. However, it’s still all good, you can enjoy the smoothie the same. ~E
December 7th, 2019 at 12:17 pm
I have read fruit loses its vitamins and nutrients when frozen