Smoothie help

[Bird222]

I am looking for some good smoothie recipes and a recommendation for a good blender?

 

[sourceninja]

...

 

[MustISO]

Vitamix is a good blender but consumer reports also like the ninja for making smoothies.

We just use fresh or frozen fruit, 100% fruit juice, kale and spinach. Using frozen fruit there's no reason to use ice.

 

[Kaido]

Vitamix is a good blender but consumer reports also like the ninja for making smoothies.

fwiw, my friend got a Ninja, used it for a week, and returned it for a Vitamix. The Ninja, despite the advertising, just doesn't compare - not even in the same class of blending capabilities. I recommend either a Vitamix or Blendtec. I have a Blendtec myself (7+ years strong now, love the square jar!).

 

[Kaido]

OP, here's my protein smoothie system:

http://catch42.pbworks.com/w/page/78032378/Protein Smoothies

 

[CPA]

Ninja with the single-serve cups is awesome. Easy to clean the blade and no need to transfer the drink from the canister to another cup.

 

[z1ggy]

Ninja with the single-serve cups is awesome. Easy to clean the blade and no need to transfer the drink from the canister to another cup.

This.

My smoothies (when I had them) were:

1 scoop vanilla whey
handful of berries of choice
vanilla almond milk & greek yogurt til desired consistency
ice

 

[Bird222]

Any good blenders a step below vitamix or blendtec?

 

[Kaido]

Any good blenders a step below vitamix or blendtec?

In my experience, no. If you want something that is going to really disintegrate stuff, you have to spring for a $$$ blender.

 

[Imported]

I have both a Vitamix and Nutribullet 900. The Vitamix is obviously better but the convenience of the single serve cups for the Nutribullet is nice. Does a pretty good with most things besides things with seeds like blackberries.

 

[QueBert]

Any good blenders a step below vitamix or blendtec?

Breville has a few models in the $200-300 range, never used their blenders but they get good reviews. I own a few other Breville appliances and love them.

 

[deadken]

I asked about a blender here a while ago and hands down it was between the Vitamix and Blendtec. I bought the Vitamix (factory refurb, 5 year warranty w/free shipping) for around $280. I've never looked back. I was considering a Breville, but for $80 more, I bought the last blender I will ever need.

I use a frozen banana as the base of my smoothies, I add fruit / frozen fruit (usually whatever is on sale), greens (spinach, kale, whatever...), carrots, protein powder, greek yogurt, and enough fruit juice to make it thin it out to a drinkable level.

FWIW: A BJ's membership has made my smoothies easier. Check out the freezer isle for a ton of frozen fruit / kale choices. Grab a bag of organic baby carrots and a huge tub of organic lettuce along with some Plain Greek yogurt and I'm %90 there.

EDIT: Found my old thread:
http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2422212