Before we get into some other ingredients that can be used to thicken smoothies, let’s talk about blenders.
When it comes to blending, there are two key factors that will determine how thick and creamy a smoothie you can make. The first is how powerful your blender is. And the second is whether or not your blender has a tamping feature.
Feature to look for: Power
To put it simply, the more powerful your blender, the creamier your end result. That is because beefier motors are better able to thicken and emulsify your ingredients. Additionally, more power means the blades are able to make quick work of blending. The reduced runtime also minimizes heating of the spinning blades, which would otherwise warm up your smoothie ingredients.
Feature to look for: A Tamper
The second, and perhaps more important feature, is whether your blender also comes equipped with a tamper. A tamper is a plunger that allows you to push down (or tamp) your ingredients into the spinning blades of your blender. Tamping is especially handy because it eliminates the air pocket that is sometimes created when blending thicker ingredients. That air pocket phenomenon is known as cavitation, and higher-end blenders go to great lengths to minimize its occurrence.
It’s easy to get carried away and break the bank with an overly expensive blender these days. When it comes to striking a good balance between capability and affordability, the Ninja Mega Kitchen System is worth a closer look. In fact, in a recent review roundup of the best Ninja blenders out there, it handily took the top spot. You can read that review here.