Corny voiceover voice: Do you consider yourself a smoothie lover? Me: "Yes, yes, yes!"
You too? Smoothie cheers to that!
And since I literally wrote the book on smoothie-making, I want to share with you what I think are the ten things every smoothie lover should have in their kitchen. So hop in your kitchen and give your smoothie tools, ingredients and goodies a good look to see how many of these ten items on my list you already have, which ones you want to add soon and which ones will be on your "smoothie kitchen dream list."
..Everyone needs a smoothie kitchen dream list, right?
So stock your kitchen with these goodies and you will be more than ready for summer. Many creative, delicious, wellness-enhancing smoothies and shakes await you. My list plus some exciting CONTEST news ahead...
In Anticipation... With just a few weeks until my book 365 Vegan Smoothies hits store shelves, I am doing some fun and fabulous stuff here on HHL. First off, in a few days I will announce a Dole-sponsored contest and giveaway with some amazing prizes .. many featured in this list! (Hint: lets just say high-speed blenders and more will be shipped...)
10 Things Every Smoothie Lovers' Kitchen Needs
1. An Amazing Blender.
Yes I am a huge fan of high-speed blenders and if possible, I think every smoothie lovers' kitchen should have one. But I also understand that they are not cheap! So if you don't have a high-speed blender and are simply placing a Vitamix or a BlendTec on you "dream list," just make sure you do still have a reliable blender that you love. One with a BPA-free or glass container. And one that you simply feel good about using! And one day when you can take the plunge into buying a more expensive brand you will be so glad you did. High-speed blenders are life changing .. especially if you are a smoothie fan.
-> Buy a Vitamix or a BlendTec via these links and get free shipping.
2. Glass Straws.
Buy at least one glass straw and glass straw brush (for cleaning.) In the long run, the straw will pay for itself in no time since you do not need to buy throw-away straws anymore. There are two main brands I love: Be Strawesome
and Dharma Glass Straws. Straws in this post are Strawesome.
3. Nut Milk Bag.
Every smoothie lover should try making their own nut milk. Here is my almond milk recipe. And cashew milk. A nut milk bag makes this process sooo much faster and easier. Cleaning Tip: to clean my bag I simply flip it inside out and start streaming hot tap water through it. Squeeze well and hang to dry. You can buy nut milk bags online at OneLuckyDuck.com
4. Mini Spatulas.
I always use a mini spatula to scrape out every last bit of my thicker shake-like smoothies. Mini spatulas allow you to scrape in between the blender blades. You can find these online or in most kitchen supply stores. Mini Spatulas on Amazon.
5. Microplane.
I love adding fresh citrus zest, grated fresh ginger and grated spices to my smoothies! A microplane allows me to do this! Widely available or buy online: Microplane 
.
6. Vegan Protein Powder.
I love having a vanilla and a chocolate protein powder on hand for when I want to add some flavor and protein to my blends. Not sure what brand to choose? Check out my Big Vegan Protein Powder Guide!
7. Superfoods!
It is a good idea to have a nice handful of a few of your favorite superfoods on hand for when you want to boost your blends. You do not need ALL the superfoods out there, just a few. I think 3-5 is a good number. Here are a few of my favorites: spirulina powder, maca powder, goji berries, cacao powder, cacao nibs, hemp seeds, flax seeds or oil, chia seeds, acai powder, mesquite powder, lucuma powder, wheatgrass powder, superfood blends, green tea powder (matcha) and more.. Choose a few and experiment with boosting the nutritional wellness of your blend. Browse at One lucky Duck or Amazon: Superfoods
8. Frozen Fruit.
This one is pretty obvious. But besides the usual items like frozen peaches, strawberries, blueberries and more, make sure you try these fruits and veggies in frozen form: watermelon cubes, cantaloupe, sliced/peeled orange and grapefruit, grapes, kiwi, cucumber, apricots and more. The point is that you can freeze your own fruit and really get creative with flavors, textures and recipes for your smoothies. My book will show you some creative recipes using foods you freeze yourself. Oh and a giant freezer-friendly container of frozen bananas is a MUST.
9. BFF Smoothie Glass(es).
You really must have a few smoothie glasses that you LOVE. And one that is giant in size for when you want a tall, big, XL smoothie. Head over to your fave kitchen store and pick out a few glasses that you will specifically use for smoothies. I also think every smoothie kitchen should have a few non-breakable glasses in addition to glass glasses for those days when you want to take your smoothie outside and sip under the sun and blue sky. Search far and wide for your BFF glass .. I have a few and it took me a few years to find them!
10. Ice Cube Trays.
Even if you have an ice maker, you need a few ice cube trays. This is so you can freeze your own "creative cubes" to blend in smoothies! I talk a lot about this in my book, but a few examples are coconut water cubes, almond milk cubes (I make a skinny vanilla milkshake using them!), coffee cubes, juice cubes and more. With these cubes, you get that desirable frostiness that ice contributes, without watering things down.
BONUS ---> 11. 365 Vegan Smoothies Cookbook.
Well ok, this is a MUST for any smoothie fan in my opinion. My book! With 365 vegan smoothie recipes, ingredient info, nutrition facts for each recipe, smoothie blending tips and FAQ's, a 12-month wellness program, fun smoothie names like "rosy cheeks delight, pineapple shake shake shake and poolside peach," yummy photos and more .. this book needs to be in your kitchen. I hope you love it just as much as I do! Pre-order 365 Vegan Smoothies + more info. (Thank you to everyone who has already pre-ordered! I cannot wait to see the smoothies you make from my book!)
Alright, now you tell me ... what did I miss, what is in YOUR smoothie lovers' kitchen??
Other things...
* a juicer for making fresh juices.
* giant fruit bowl for storing all those bananas you plan on freezing once they get super ripe.
* an array of colorful plates and napkins to serve alongside smoothies .. party-approved presentation.
* nut and seed grinder for grinding flax, pumpkin, chia seeds and more.
* a reliable knife for chopping fruit and veggies.
The Contest... So stay tuned friends for how you can WIN these amazing goodies and more! #SMOOTHIETUDE is coming
(recipes? the recipes for the smoothies shown in this post will be in my contest announcement post.)
Disclosure: I am a Vitamix affiliate and any links to their products are via my affiliate account.
Guest says
Hi. I strongly disagree with your comment that a fast blender is best. The best blenders are t5he masticating type (Very slow crushing process)This is totally wrong and misleading as the heat generated by these fast blenders changes the make up and goodness of the items being blended. Misleading information. Robert Fuller
cinthya gutierrez says
I just got my super blender yesterday and iI am super happy to be able to make all your delicious smoothie recepies 😉
Terri Cannell says
Great Suggestions ! 🙂
Carol Sharp Schwaber says
The glass straws are great. I am lucky that my mom had some that I inherited. Because we love sweet tea In the south, many of us have ice tea spoons. Many of the smoothies are too thick for a straw. So, I love to use the ice tea spoons for my smoothies. Thanks for your recipes and this wonderful list of supplies.
Sonia Womble says
I left a comment a few days ago. Why would it not show up?
csjohnsrud says
Bed Bath and Beyond carries Blendtec and Vitamix. No selection of models but they have a Blendtec for $400 ($435 from Blendtec), and with a 20% off coupon, that's $320.
Kathy Patalsky says
Good tip!
FullLaneFemme says
I have a lot of these things. YAY!! Vitamix, glass straw, ice cube tray, frozen fruit, and a nut milk bag.
What should I eat for breakfas says
This is awesame, I made my notes, hahaha.
Tanya Phillips says
Great list! I have the glass straws, nut bag, blender, and your book on my list! We all love smoothies 😀
Cricket Desmarais says
oh, & STEVIA.... my little ones like a bit of a sweeter boost... so a few drops helps make the taste palatable for them when i'm making green smoothies without a strong juice base.
Kathy Patalsky says
I'm almost positive that one lucky duck ships their dharma glass straw kits internationally... Throw in some cheezy quackers, ginger cookies and a fig bar and you will be a very happy person when your package arrives!!!
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks! Yup I'm a smoothie girl. I really do love them 🙂 a smoothie a day!... 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Kim OMG the nut seed grinder I just bought on Amazon last month is life changing! Ha seriously! I've never used the coffee grinder method sobi cannot compare but my stainless steel cuisine art grinder is fab. It's under $40 too. I talked more about it Ina recent post .... The muffin post I think! I grind flax seeds and pumpkin seeds and I even ground the PB cereal in my PB cheesecake quickly in my nut seed grinder. Love it! 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks Denise 🙂 glad it helps!!
Kathy Patalsky says
Hi Sarah! Great question. I think the TurboBlend VS is a super model. It even comes with a nut milk bag. I actually still own this model! I have been thinking of upgrading to a PRO model but my VS does everything I need so haven't needed to. VS is under $500 as opposed to the most expensive models that are more. So long story short... Try the VS! 🙂
Sarah Hovick says
Thanks Kathy! I also want to thank you for your awesome blog. I have been vegan for about 7 years, but just recently stumbled upon your website. I have found your recipes and lifestyle have given me a renewed zest for vegan eating! Everything I've made from your website has been delicious and colorful 🙂
Kathy Patalsky says
Thanks Heather! 🙂 yes a good smoothie glass is hard to find!! I wish I had time to develop and sell " the perfect smoothie glass" ! ... Yes glass straws are so wonderful.
Heather McClees says
If you ever do create one, I'd buy it!!:)
Kathy Patalsky says
Thank you!!!!
Heather McClees says
Awesome list Kathy!!:) I cant wait to get a glass straw! I've wanted one for some time and been trying to find my perfect smoothie glass for years!:) Great post as always!:)
Kathie says
I finally broke down and bought a Vitamix in January. Best investment... EVER!!! I didn't even know glass straws existed; now I must have one (or two)!!
Sarah Hovick says
Hi Kathy... there are so many vitamix's to choose from. Which model do you recommend?
Denise says
Wow! I love this! Thank you for making our lives easier! I will stock up and enjoy smoothies everyday! Thanks Kathy! Yo da bomb didly-on!
RockMyVeganSocks says
Great post! I just saw those glass straws at a health food store... almost picked them up, but didn't. Maybe I'll go back for them.
What kind of nut/seed grinder do you use? I'm hesitant to get one as I received a coffee bean grinder as a gift for Christmas and it most definitely does not grind nuts or seeds :/
Shannon Smith says
Other than the glass straws, I am a huge fan of aluminum straws.
Kathy Patalsky says
Oh ya I used to have a stainless steel straw! Hm no idea what happened to that one! They are a bit lighter than glass straws that is true.actually that metal straw is shown in my popular smoothie photo used as my iPhone app button! Ha
A. Cook says
Your passion for smoothies is amazing and really shines through in your blog posts. Thanks for the tips and I can't wait to check out your book!
coconutandberries says
These are great tips, thanks for sharing Kathy! I'm just getting on the smoothie bandwagon so advice is always appreciated. I need to figure out where I can get glass straws in the UK... Oh and I'm with you on those mini spatulas, love mine, so useful for scraping out jars too.
Kimberly A. White says
I need those glass straws! My roommate in college used to swear by them.
I'd use them not only for smoothies but for kombucha as well. I prefer drinking it out of a straw, but that's me.
Kimberly A. White says
I have also heard that riper bananas are actually better because they are easier to digest, and I find myself adding less sweeteners when they are ripe.
I just buy a big bunch of bananas, eat what I can, and once they get too ripe for my taste I put whatever's left in the freezer. I think it works out well!
BWB says
I also just preordered your book on Amazon!
BWB says
Excited 🙂
Christina says
I need a glass dharma straw asap!
Kathy Patalsky says
Magic bullets are great for smaller sized smoothies! I have friends who swear by them. And yes as bananas ripest he naturl starches turn to sugar so the fruit gets sweeter. But that doesn't mean they are not as good for you.. Actually having the natural sweetness for smoothies come from bananas is probably more ideal than ever having to add sweeteners to add more sweetness.. And I have actually found that bananas that are too starchy or "in ripe" are not very easy to digest. My stomach likes the ripe black spotted bananas best. Thanks for comment.
Kristina Anderson says
two things: I strongly recommend the Magic Bullet, has outperformed my Ninja blender for smoothies, and 2: when you mentioned bananas, you said freeze when they are super-ripe... but I've read in a few places that over-ripe bananas have a higher sugar content and aren't as good for you...