The NutriBullet is one of the most popular personal blenders on the market, loved for its powerful motor and ability to extract nutrients and blend smoothies quickly. A common question for NutriBullet users is whether you can put frozen fruit and ingredients in it.
The short answer is yes, you most certainly can use frozen fruit and veggies in a NutriBullet!
However, there are some best practices to follow. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about using frozen ingredients in your NutriBullet, from ideal frozen fruits and vegetables to blend, tips for preventing leakage or heat buildup, and recommended settings and blending times when using frozen produce.
Benefits of Using Frozen Fruit and Veggies
There are several advantages to using frozen produce in your NutriBullet:
Convenience
Frozen fruits and vegetables are picked at peak ripeness and then flash frozen, locking in nutrients. This makes them just as nutritious as fresh. Keeping a stash of frozen produce in your freezer means you always have hearty fruits and veggies on hand anytime for smoothies, without worrying about spoilage.
Blends Faster
The frozen texture allows fruits and veggies to break down more quickly under the blades than fresh, room temperature produce. This leads to faster blending times, which is ideal when you want a smoothie in a hurry.
Cools Down Hot Ingredients
Adding frozen fruit is a great way to instantly chill hot ingredients like coffee or oatmeal when making blended drinks. The frozen fruit brings down the temperature for a drink you can enjoy immediately.
Creamier Texture
Frozen produce can help give thicker, creamier texture and consistency to smoothies compared to only using fresh fruits and veggies. The icy temperature makes it easier to achieve milkshake or soft serve-like smoothies.
Retains Color
Frozen fruits and veggies maintain their color better than fresh after being blended. This leads to smoothies that are brighter and more vibrant.
Helps With Weight Loss
The satisfying coldness of frozen smoothies can prevent overindulging and promote portion control. Using frozen ingredients also lets you skip adding ice, avoiding the watered down texture ice can cause.
More Affordable
Out of season fresh produce can be expensive, but frozen fruits and veggies provide an affordable alternative year round. Stock up when items are on sale.
Best Frozen Fruits and Veggies for NutriBullet
Nearly any frozen produce can be used in a NutriBullet. Some great options include:
- Berries – strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and mixed berry blends. Their small size blends up easily.
- Bananas – peel before freezing for quick blending.
- Mango – for tropical flavor and creaminess.
- Pineapple – use chunks or crushed.
- Cherries – pitted or unpitted both work well.
- Peaches – sweeten up drinks without added sugar.
- Plums – underrated, but add great tartness.
- Apples – buy pre-cut frozen slices or cubes.
- Pears – elegant flavor for a gourmet touch.
- Vegetable blends – spinach, kale, carrots, beets and more.
- Avocado – creamy texture and healthy fats.
Choose unsweetened varieties without added sugars whenever possible. Organic frozen options are also recommended to avoid pesticides.
Tips for Blending Frozen Ingredients in a NutriBullet
Blending frozen fruit and veggies in a NutriBullet is easy, but there are some tips to get the best results:
- Don’t overfill – Leave at least 1/2 inch of room at the top for expansion as frozen produce blends. Overfilling can cause leakage.
- Use liquids – Add liquid ingredients like milk, yogurt, juice or nut milk to aid blending. The liquid allows the frozen items to incorporate more smoothly.
- Add some fresh produce – Mixing a few fresh, unfrozen fruits or veggies with the frozen produce helps blend it up faster. The fresh items get pulled down into the blades more easily.
- Prep large frozen chunks – For frozen produce that comes in big chunks or blocks, chop or break it into smaller 1-2 inch pieces before adding to your NutriBullet cup.
- Use the pulse setting – Pulse a few times before leaving the NutriBullet on continuously. Pulsating helps break down large frozen chunks.
- Blend in short intervals – Blend for 10-15 seconds, stop and shake or stir, then repeat until smooth. This prevents heat buildup from extended blending.
- Resist overblending – Blend just until combined, but avoid blending so long the friction heats up your frozen smoothie or separates it.
- Add nut butters – A spoonful of almond, peanut or other nut butters helps bind frozen smoothies for a silky texture.
- Sweeten if needed – Frozen fruits may require a touch of honey, maple syrup, dates or sweetener, especially more tart berries.
Recommended NutriBullet Settings for Frozen Ingredients
NutriBullet’s powerful 600-watt motor provides plenty of performance for blended frozen drinks. Use these recommended settings:
- Pulsing – Use short 1-2 second pulses to break up large frozen chunks before blending continuously.
- Low speed – If your NutriBullet has a low speed option, start there for 30 seconds to get a base blend going before increasing speed.
- High speed – Increase to high for smoother blending once the frozen chunks have broken down some. High works best for finishing the final smooth consistency.
- 15-30 second intervals – Blend for 15-30 seconds, stop and shake or stir, then repeat as needed for smoothness. Intervals prevent heat buildup.
- 1-2 minutes total blending time – Most frozen NutriBullet smoothies will blend smooth and creamy within 1-2 total minutes including intervals. Prolonged blending can overheat ingredients.
- Pulse before serving – Give a few quick pulses right before pouring your smoothie out to recombine any separation.
With the right techniques, your NutriBullet can whip up flavorful and refreshing chilled blended beverages using all your favorite frozen fruits and veggies!
Key Takeaways: Blending Frozen Ingredients in a NutriBullet
- Frozen fruits and veggies are nutritious, convenient additions to NutriBullet smoothies
- Benefits include faster blending, creamier textures, chilled temperatures, and retained nutrients.
- Ideal frozen produce for NutriBlasts includes berries, mangos, bananas, pineapple, avocados and more.
- Prevent leakage and overheating by not overfilling, adding liquids, and using pulse mode initially.
- Use intervals, moderate speeds, and short 1-2 minute total blend times for best results.
- The NutriBullet’s powerful motor and blades can blend up frozen ingredients smoothly with the right techniques.
- With frozen produce and the proper settings, you can whip up incredible chilled NutriBullet smoothies anytime!
