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Can You Blend Frozen Fruit Without Liquid? Yes, but…

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My wife and I have been making smoothies every day for a couple of years now.

We’ve tested and experimented with just about every little variation you can imagine when it comes to smoothies.

One of the hardest parts is knowing how much liquid to put in a smoothie. If you get this wrong, your smoothies could be too thin or too thick.

If you want super thick smoothie bowls, you may actually want to blend frozen fruit without liquid! This is hard to do and to be honest, most blenders aren’t built for it.

Summary: Can You Blend Frozen Fruit Without Liquid?

  • You can blend frozen fruit without liquid, but it’s not recommended for most blenders.
  • You’ll need to have a super high powered blender and something like greek yogurt to give it some “liquid-like” consistency.
berry smoothie

Why Would You Want to Blend Frozen Fruit Without Liquid?

It’s easy to see why you might want to blend frozen fruit without liquid:  

  • It preserves the natural flavor of the fruit, as there are no other flavors from a liquid base. 
  • You can make thicker smoothies, more like a frozen sorbet than a traditional smoothie.
  • There may be less added sugar in your smoothie, as you avoid adding fruit juice.
  • Less issues with making smoothies too foamy or ending up having your smoothies separate in the fridge.
thick smoothie

With a powerful enough blender, it is possible to blend frozen fruit without liquid. However, you should consider whether blending frozen fruit will deliver the results you expect and whether your blender is up to the challenge. You’ll need a blender with good wattage and even the container shape can make a difference.


What Happens if You Blend Frozen Fruit Without Liquid?

If your goal is to make your smoothies thicker and creamier by blending frozen fruit without liquid, then you might want to change your plan.

Without any liquid at all, your blended frozen fruit will be more like a slushy or a sorbet than a smoothie. 

Adding liquid will make smoothies thinner, but if you do just the right amount you can still get a thick smoothie.

Adding a bit of milk for smoothies is also a great way to get a creamier texture.

The mixture may also be poorly blended, as the lack of liquid will make the fruit stick to the sides of your blender cup and get caught between blades. Frustratingly, this will also make it very difficult to clean your blender too! The right liquid can actually help your smoothies be creamier and thicker.

smoothie stuck in blender
If you don’t have enough liquid, your blender may spin out like this one did.

WARNING

Blending frozen fruit without liquid risks causing serious damage to your blender. The blades of your blender may not be able to cut through the frozen chunks, which could cause them to crack as they collide with the solid fruit at high speed. 

The difficulty of blending the frozen fruit will also put a lot of strain on your blender’s motor. This could even cause it to burn out, leaving your blender in need of replacement or expensive repairs.


Avoiding Damage To Your Blender

If you really want to blend frozen fruit without liquid, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk of damage to your blender. 

  1. Invest in a high-powered blender – Your blender should have strong enough blades to cut through tough ingredients like ice cubes and frozen fruits. Vitamix and Blendtec blenders are ideal for this task because they have powerful motors and hard blades that are capable of breaking down tough ingredients. In contrast, a less powerful blender like a Nutribullet may struggle without enough liquid in the mixture.
  2. Add oil or nut butter – Even if you don’t use a full liquid base for smoothies, adding viscous ingredients along with your solid ingredients will help create a smoother texture while also preventing clumping.
  3. Use smaller batches of ingredients – This will prevent your blender becoming overloaded, reducing strain on the motor and preventing ingredients from getting stuck to the walls or lodged in between the blades.

Even with these precautions, it’s important to note that blending hard chunks of frozen fruit with no liquid risks damaging even the best blender. For this reason, we recommend that you consider adding at least some liquid to your mixture, even if you then offset the liquid with thickening ingredients.


Using Thickening Ingredients and Some Liquid 

If you’re interested in blending frozen fruit without liquid because you want to make thicker smoothies then – rather than using no liquid at all – we recommend using a small amount of liquid combined with thickening ingredients. 

There are several ingredients that can be used to offset the thinning effect of the base liquid and thicken-up your smoothie. 

  • Chia seeds – Chia seeds are a great source of fiber and protein and can help thicken smoothies when soaked in water or added directly into the blender. 
  • Oats – Oats add thickness to smoothies while providing an extra boost of nutrition. 
  • Nut butters – Almond butter, peanut butter and other nut butters can add flavor and healthy fats. Nut butters can also help make smoothies sweeter!
  • Greek yogurt – Greek yogurt is high in protein and helps give your smoothie some body as well as making your smoothies creamier and more satisfying. Try using one of these substitutes for yogurt in smoothies if you need alternatives!
oatmeal protein smoothie

The best way to use these ingredients to thicken your smoothie is to start by adding a small amount of liquid, such as water or fruit juice. Then, add the other ingredients such as your frozen fruits, before finally adding one or more of the thickening ingredients and blending everything together.

Using frozen fruit, a few simple thickening ingredients, and a little liquid, you can make creamier smoothies without the risk of damaging your blender’s blades or putting too much strain on your motor.


4 Recipes For Thick Frozen Fruit Smoothies

One of the biggest joys of owning a blender is experimenting with different ingredients to create your own concoctions. But if you’re looking some inspiration, why not start with these low-liquid fruit smoothies? If you want something healthier, you can also try one of our favorite kale smoothie recipes!

1. Banana-Strawberry Smoothie 

Blend one banana, one cup of frozen strawberries, and a tablespoon of honey until creamy.

2. Blueberry-Mango Smoothie 

Blend one cup of frozen blueberries, half a mango (peeled and cubed), some fruit juice, and two tablespoons of chia seeds until creamy.

3. Pineapple-Coconut Smoothie 

Blend one cup of frozen pineapple chunks, half a banana (sliced), two tablespoons shredded coconut flakes, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract until creamy. Add water or fruit juice as needed.

4. Raspberry-Kiwi Smoothie 

Blend one cup of raspberries (frozen or fresh), two kiwis (peeled and sliced), three dates (pitted) with their pits removed, and ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon until creamy. Add water or fruit juice as needed.

frozen fruit smoothie

Common Questions About Blending Frozen Fruit Without Liquid

Can you put frozen fruit straight into a smoothie?

Yes, you can put frozen fruit straight into a smoothie! It’s an excellent way to add texture and flavor to your smoothies without having to use ice cubes. Frozen fruit also helps keep the drink colder for longer. Just make sure that you are using a high-quality blender with a powerful motor so that all the ingredients blend together properly.

Why is it important to add the liquid to your blender before adding frozen fruit?

It’s important to add liquid to the blender first because the liquid acts as a lubricant, helping the blades move more easily to blend ingredients together. Adding liquid to your blender before adding frozen fruit helps to create a smoother consistency. Frozen fruits are harder and denser than fresh fruits, so they require more blending power to break them down into a smooth texture.

Why won’t my blender blend frozen fruit?

Frozen fruit can be difficult to blend, as it is often too hard for a blender’s blades to break down. The best way to ensure that your frozen fruit blends properly is to thaw it slightly before blending or add liquid, such as fruit juice. This will make it easier for the blades of your blender to cut through and create a smooth consistency. 


Our Verdict: What You Need To Know About Blending Frozen Fruit Without Liquid

While it is possible to blend frozen fruit without liquid, the result won’t be a thick and creamy smoothie unless you combine the frozen fruit with some other ingredients to produce a smoother texture. 

Blending frozen fruit can also take its toll on your blender, so you will need a powerful machine that is up to the challenge. We recommend carefully adding small quantities at a time to not overload your blender, and ideally including at least some liquid.

If you do decide to add liquid along with your frozen fruit, but you’re concerned about making your smoothie too thin, try adding some thickening ingredients. Our top suggestions are chia seeds, nut butter, oats, and Greek yogurt.

Photo of author

Richmond Howard

Richmond Howard started World of Blenders in 2022 to help people solve all their blender issues and buy the best blender for their kitchen! He's tested dozens of blenders and on his other site, Meal Prepify, he's helped over 3 million people learn how to meal prep.

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