Smoothies are a fun way to get your daily fruits and veggies, but sometimes things can go a little awry. They can turn out too thick, too thin, or just plain “blah.” But there’s no reason to throw all of that goodness down the drain just because it doesn’t taste right the first time. Turn your smoothie into something delicious with just a few quick tips and tricks. Here are the best ways to save that smoothie:

It tastes too watery:

Perhaps the ice cubes got away from you and left you with a watery tasting smoothie.

The fix

Save it by adding more frozen fruit (or fresh fruit if that’s all you have). Then add something creamy (like almond butter or Greek yogurt) to help lessen the watery taste. Add a splash of flavorful fruit juice (whatever you have in your fridge) and a teaspoon of cinnamon, nutmeg, or turmeric to help resuscitate your beverage.

In the future, leave the ice out and use frozen fruit instead. You’ll get the same cold, refreshing taste, without wasting space and adding that graininess that can come from crushed ice.


It tastes too healthy:

We’ve all been there. You get a little too ambitious with the kale and carrots and the next thing you know, you have a liquid salad in your glass.

The fix

Try adding a frozen banana or frozen pineapple or fresh apples for some sweetness that can cut through all those veggies. Or try a spoonful of liquid sweeter like honey or maple syrup.

Another idea: Pour your green smoothie in an ice cube tray and freeze. The next time you’re craving a smoothie but don’t have any healthy greens on hand to add to your fruit base, pull out a few cubes and pop them in the blender.

A third idea: Freeze your overly green smoothie and pop a few cubes in your soup for some extra nutrition.


It’s too thick:

Unless you want to eat your smoothie with a spoon (like a smoothie bowl, and that’s okay, too!), you’re going to want to thin it out.

The fix

The easiest way is to add more liquid, but remember that not just any liquid will do. Water will dilute the taste of the smoothie, so use something that will add flavor like coconut milk or a splash of juice. Pour the liquid in small amounts and blender until desired consistency reached.


It tastes too bland:

Your smoothie may look delicious, but it just doesn’t taste like much.

The fix

Try adding a splash of apple juice or lemon juice if it need brightness. If your smoothie is really underwhelming, try adding some grated ginger for a bit of energizing flavor. And don’t forget about the spice cabinet! Cinnamon, cardamom, and allspice can add depth to your smoothie, as can vanilla or almond extract.  And for a fresh burst, try herbs like mint or basil.


It’s too sweet:

Fruits add their own natural sweetness, so you should be careful when adding additional sweeteners or sweet ingredients (for example: buy plain yogurt instead of fruity or vanilla).

The fix

If you’ve gone a little heavy handed with the sweet stuff, try adding  some lemon juice or frozen lemonade concentrate for balance.


It’s not sweet enough:

A little sweetener goes a long way, so add a little at a time.

The fix

There are so many delicious natural sweeteners available, there’s no reason to ever add plain sugar. Try honey, maple syrup, dried dates, or grapes. Also, using watermelon in place of water will start your smoothie off with a naturally sweet base.


It’s too thin:

This one is the easiest to solve.

The fix

Add more frozen fruit, another banana, or a generous scoop of nut butter or yogurt to thicken up your smoothie. add pretty much anything other than more liquids or high-water volume produce like watermelon or cucumber.


It’s too gritty:

Sometimes all of those berry seeds, fibrous vegetables, and thick protein powders can give your smoothie an unappetizing, chunky texture.

The fix

Save your beverage by pouring it through a cheese cloth or a fine mesh strainer.


It’s not blended well-enough:

If you’re finding chunks of frozen strawberries or identifiable pieces of kale, you may be adding your ingredients to the blender in the wrong order.

The fix

Start by adding the liquid to the blender container, then add your leafy greens (and items that may get lost like chia, hemp or flax seeds). Blend those together first. Then, while that liquid mixture is already in a whirling vortex, add heavier items like other fresh vegetables then add the frozen fruit last. It’s easier for your blender to cut through those hard items when it’s already in motion.

If you’re still getting strawberries stuck in your straw, you might just need to invest in a better more high-powered blender.


It’s … just too many things:

If you’ve whipped up something just totally unappetizing, there’s always the compost pile! They can’t all be winners.

The fix

Next time check out any of the recipes below to make sure you’re mixing up something delicious.


Also see, 10 creative ways to use your blender besides smoothies.


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Author

Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.