How to Keep a Smoothie Cold

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 29, 2020

Whether you're on the go and trying to stay healthy, or preparing your smoothie for a refreshing snack, keeping your smoothie cold is an imperative task to help you enjoy your blended treat. It can be tricky to find a way to keep your smoothie cold if you don't have access to a refrigerator all day, but if you take the necessary steps, you can ensure that you get to enjoy your smoothie nice and cold.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Temperature-Controlling Container

1
Use a container that is built to keep liquids cold. If you don't have time to prepare your smoothie the night before to freeze it, or if you want to enjoy a freshly prepared smoothie, find a container that is specifically designed to keep your smoothie cold for a long period of time. You can typically find these types of containers online or at your local supermarket or hardware stores.
2
Prepare your smoothie with frozen ingredients and ice to prepare your smoothie. Blending frozen fruits and vegetables or ice into your smoothie when you prepare it will drop the initial temperature of your smoothie, and will in turn allow it to stay colder for longer.
- You can prepare individually packaged portions of your smoothie recipe ingredients and store them in the freezer for when you need them.
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3
Keep your container sealed airtight. This will prevent any warm air from getting into your smoothie container, and will preserve the cold temperature for a longer period of time. It will also ensure that no leaks or spills happen! ^{[1]
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Research source} Be sure to secure the container tightly when you close it, and ensure that your container has a tight-fitting and secure lid.
4
Place your smoothie back in the refrigerator. Once you arrive at work, school or another destination, place your smoothie in the fridge if there is one available to you until you are ready to drink it.
5
Put your smoothie container in a thermos or cooler if you don't have access to a fridge. If a refrigerator is not available to you, place your smoothie container inside of a cooler or a larger insulated Thermos in order to keep the temperature as low as possible.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Freezing the Smoothie Overnight

1
Prepare your smoothie the night before and store it in the freezer. If you know you are going to be out and about the following day or you have an early morning departure, making your smoothie the night before will also save on preparation time.
- It's a good idea to omit ice from any smoothies that you will be storing in the freezer.
2
Buy freezer-safe containers that will not crack. Make sure your container is freezer-friendly so that your smoothie will not explode in the freezer or crack when it starts to thaw. You can use travel mugs like a Bubba, Thermos, or even freezer-safe mason jars. ^{[2]
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- Be sure to leave a little bit of room at the top of your container so that when your smoothie expands as it freezes, it won't overflow.
3
Take the smoothie out of the freezer in the morning. As soon as you remember to the following day, be sure to remove it so that you can start the thawing process. It is best to remove the smoothie 6 to 8 hours ahead of when you plan to drink it so that it has time to thaw. ^{[3]
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Trustworthy Source
National Center for Home Food Preservation
Publicly-funded center dedicated to educating consumers about research-backed safety practices for preserving food
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- Allow the smoothie to thaw until it is at the consistency you wish to drink it. If you would like to let it thaw slowly, leave it in the refrigerator as long as you can, or let it thaw in the refrigerator if you have access to one all day.
- If you want your smoothie to thaw quickly, leave it out of both the fridge and freezer in a room temperature environment, or perhaps try running it under warm water.
4
Freeze only your travel container overnight if you don't want to freeze your smoothie. After your smoothie is prepared the following morning, remove your container from the freezer and pour the smoothie into it. The frozen container will help keep your fresh smoothie colder for longer than a typical room temperature container.