Breakfast: the most important meal of the day.
We’ve all heard this from our moms, grandmoms, teachers, or friends. But do we agree? Kale yeah we do!
But that all depends on what you eat for breakfast. Try swapping a bagel and coffee for a green smoothie and you will feel supercharged and finally understand why breakfast is so important.
If you spend most mornings rushing just to make sure you’re dressed and on time for work (and getting the kids ready if you’ve got ‘em), walking out your door with a healthy breakfast in your hand ain’t easy. We are both busy moms ourselves, and ran into this problem in our early green smoothie blending days.
In the past few years, however, we’ve figured out a fabulous #smoothiehack to help you get blending, and sipping that leafy green goodness no matter how hectic your morning. (That way, you can spend those extra minutes tucking a note in someone’s lunchbox, or making sure you remember your water bottle.)
Ready? Here’s our secret: we started freezing leafy greens.
We know, we know. It sounds so simple! But the payoff is major, people—for your health, and your wallet, because it helps you avoid wasting tasty veggies and greens.
We typically use fresh greens for a couple days right after we go grocery shopping. Then, we measure out two cups of greens into each freezer bag, and toss ‘em on in the freezer. Then, as we run around making sure little teeth are brushed and school clothes are on, all we have to do is grab a bag of frozen greens and dump them in the blender!
Yep, that means no more bleary-eyed battles with the measuring cups. Greens stay good in the freezer for a couple of months instead of a week in the fridge. Boom! We know you love saving time and money as much as we do, Rawkstar!
How to freeze leafy greens
Spinach, kale, and chard all freeze beautifully. And, if you freeze your greens in one big batch instead of 2 cup quantities, just make sure to note that 2 cups of fresh greens equals 1 ½ cups of frozen greens.
note: While frozen greens are fantastic for smoothies, don’t use them for your salads… you’ll be very disappointed! (Turns out, ice chunks aren’t as fun as croutons.)
Step 1 ::
Wash the greens well. To help remove any bugs, add a little white vinegar to the water and swish well. Shake to remove excess water, pat, or spin dry.
Step 2 ::
Remove the leaves from the stems (if there are large stems present, like kale), and chop or tear leaves into pieces. To do this quickly, hold the stem in one hand and run the other one along the stem to rip the leaves away from the stalk. (Some blenders can handle the stems, but others can’t. Do what works best for you!)
Step 3 ::
Label bags with the amount and type of green. Adding the date can be helpful if these will be stored for a while.
Step 4 ::
Measure out greens into BPA-free, freezer-safe bags or containers. Squeeze out as much air as possible and seal.
Step 5 ::
Pop the bags into the freezer and store until ready to use.
Hint: if we’re feeling extra organized, we measure out the frozen fruit for each smoothie and add it to the bag of greens before we freeze. You can check out our make ahead smoothie prep tips here.)
We want to know:
Do you have a favorite smoothie hack? If you do, share it with us in the comments below. We always love hearing from you guys!
280 comments
Since hopping on board w/simple green over a year ago I’ve been pre-packing & freezing my smoothies as a way to prep for the week. I leave notes like “add 1c Almond Milk” along w/the name of the recipe. I’m finding kale is not as tasty from the freezer as when I add it is fresh. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Kara,
You’re not doing anything wrong. Freezing can sometimes change the taste of your leafy greens, especially herbs. Don’t like the taste? Then leave your leafy greens out and add them fresh!
Hello Rawkstars! This is a great tip..I love the idea of buying greens in bulk and freezing them for easy use. I also loved your prep idea on Day one..where you freeze all the fruits with the greens in one bag on a Sunday and it’s ready to go all week..so genius! I even took a picture on my phone of your beautiful bags all lined up and ready to go in the freezer. Thanks again for always sending great tips and motivation. Your e-mails are like sunshine!
YAY! Thanks for blendin’ with us, Cat!!
I put my greens in my blender, add a little water and process until smooth. I pour the blended greens into ice cube trays, put them in the freezer until frozen and add them to a freezer bag for future use. When I want a smoothie, I simply had the frozen greens to my blender along with the other ingredients
Hi Gay,
Love this! Thanks for sharing. We always love hearing new ways our community are prepping their green smoothies!
Do you reuse your ziplocks (rinse, dry, reuse)? Or do you know of any good, small, freezer safe reusable containers?
Hi Caryn,
We do! We’re all about reuse, so we give our ziploc bags a quick rinse, let them dry, and then use them again. Freezer-safe mason jars are another great re-usuable option!
Thanks so much for posting this! We have been going to the grocery a couple times a week for spinach for our smoothies. I was wondering how it would do frozen. This will be so much easier!
Rawesome!! Cheers to health, happiness + no-more wasted greens!
I wondered if I could pre-freeze my kale to simplify my morning. Now I can prep my _whole_ week’s meals at once. Thank you!
Green smoothies in the morning have been life-changing. I’ve been eating them for about three months now and could never go back to “normal” breakfast.
No more toast and bagel bloat!
Thanks for blendin’ with us, John!
Loved the post. I always freeze my kale, as it makes it taste sweet and less bitter when I throw it into a smoothie as compared with fresh kale. But I’ve heard that freezing spinach increases the bitterness. Because of that, I always use fresh spinach in my smoothies. But, it would be so much more convenient to freeze it first. Has that been that your experience spinach? Perhaps I should try freezing it. Thanks.
I have never noticed a difference in taste with fresh or frozen spinach. The diff I experience is there tends to be more leafy chunks when you use frozen spinach. Fresh spinach in a high powered blender turns into a creamy dreamy delight!
Hi!
I froze freshly bought kale in small plastic bags, just as you guys say to…unfortunately when I took them out to use & after letting the leaves defrost, they stunk! I was wondering what might have gone wrong, especially as the had only been frozen for a week and my freezer is working perfectly….
Advice would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
Hi Sophie,
When blending with frozen greens, we don’t suggest defrosting. Simply pop into your blender frozen and blend away!
Cheers 🙂
Love making green smoothies! How long can I freeze kale for smoothies? I’ve heard 12 months but not too sure
Hi Diem,
You’re right! Leafy greens can keep in your freezer for up to 12 months. Personally, for the very best quality we try to use them within a few months.
I also use spring salad mix, can that be frozen as well?
Hi Elizabeth,
DEFINITELY! 🙂
I didn’t blanch my kale and spinach, but I washed and bagged them and kept them frozen for four months. I plan to just make smoothies out of them now. Are they still safe to consume after four months? Are they still as nutritious?
Hi Irene,
We suggesting storing your leafy greens in a storage bag (like Ziploc) or airtight container for up to 6 weeks. You won’t lose the nutrients when freezing them.
Did you know that freezing your greens cuts down on the “green” taste, making it easier to pack your green smoothies with tons of leafy goodness?
I just buy a big bag of fresh pre-washed spinach, kale and chard at the grocery and freeze the whole thing. It is re-sealable, I just grab a few handfuls everytime I make a smoothie. Best flavor is if used within one week.
Hi V,
Wohooo! We love having plenty of frozen greens on hand!
Yuck. The bagged stuff has been washed in chlorine, so watch out if you have a sensitive stomach. And then, there is the matter of the plastic. If one cares enough for their health to eat greens, one should also look at environmental impact of the choices out there. Go organic and fresh.
I have used frozen kale in smoothies for years, but I have steamed it with a little water and then blended it and frozen in ice cube trays . After they are frozen I put them in a Baggie in my freezer and use a couple in each batch. Yes, I remove the center stem. Now I am adding collards into the mixture. But I always thought they should be cooked before freezing?
Hi Barbara,
It’s definitely a personal preference. We prefer to freeze our greens raw!
CAN ONE USE CANNED PINEAPPLE?
Hi Pat,
Great question! You can definitely reach for canned pineapple, but it’s important to realize that canned pineapple does come with additional sugar, even those stored in their own juice. That’s why we prefer to reach for fresh or frozen fruits.
Cheers!
I HAVE BEEN USING THE SMOOTHIESFOR A MONTH AND HAVEN’T LOST MUCH WIGHT. hOW MUCH SHOULD I EXPECT TO LOSE IN A MONTH?
Hi Pat,
Thanks for reaching out! Everyone’s body is different, and while weight loss is not the #1 goal here at Simple Green Smoothies, it definitely can be a happy accident from adding green smoothies to your diet.
If you want to burn fat, you want to include plant-based smoothie ingredients that have the following weight loss effects:
-Jump start your digestion
-Burn excess fat
-Reduce and expel bad cholesterol
-Provide energy for your cardiovascular system
-Detox and hydrate your body
-Promote healthy bowel movement
-Decrease your appetite for processed foods and sugars
The Kiwi Berry Punch is a low-calorie, nutrient-dense smoothie recipe that combine the best fruits and veggies for an optimal approach to healthy weight loss.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/green-smoothie-recipes/kiwi-berry-punch
The best part about a green smoothie–you can use a smoothie as a low-calorie meal replacement because they are full of fiber which keeps your body feeling fuller longer.
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/tips/green-smoothie-meal-replacement
Hope this helps point you in the right direction in your weight loss journey. Please reach out with any questions!
why not buy them frozen in the first place, much more space that way
Hi Dave,
While some members of our community rave about using frozen greens from the grocery aisle, we’ve experienced that they don’t always yield the tastiest results, and therefore we prefer to freeze our own.
We also love freezing our own greens to stock up when our favorite greens are on sale!
Have you ever used a 50/50 blend in your smoothies? It is made with spinach and spring mix. Also, are you able to freeze it?
Hi Laura,
YES! We love using a wide variety of leafy greens + blends. And you can freeze it too!
Cheers 🙂
The instructions for freezing leafy greens say to wash first. Is this necessary with organic greens?
Hi Maria,
Great question! Even if your greens are organic we still suggest washing your greens before freezing or blending. Check out our tips for washing your greens here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-eating/washing-produce
HI Tracy,
I second Audrey’s concerns (and her heart: love, strength, and healing your way!). Ensure/Boost are predominantly water, refined sugar, and corn syrup solids (which deplete nutrients) followed by a list of less-than-prime ingredients: canola and corn oils, artificial flavors, hydrolyzed soy protein, soy protein isolate…Please, please take some time to find more nutrient-dense, productive calories.
I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (meaning my breast cancer came back but has metastasized to my bones, liver, and lungs) about three weeks ago, so I’m going to start doing the green shakes/smoothies, about 32 ounces a day. Along with about three or four Ensure, Boost, or the generic equivalent per day, I’m thinking this will definitely help my immune system during my chemotherapy treatment, and also it will counteract the fatigue that happens because of treatment. I have no doubt at all that I’m going to feel as healthy as possible doing this, and that helps my mental state as well!
Hi Tracy,
Thank you so much for reaching out. We’re sending you a ton of love + healing vibes!! Green smoothies are a great way to boost your immune system and fuel your body. Check out one of our favorite immunity boosting recipes here…
https://simplegreensmoothies.com/healthy-eating/immunity-booster-green-smoothie
Cheers to health, happiness + leafy greens!
Tracy,
My heart goes out to you. If you are using Ensure and/or Boost for protein, please, please, please find another protein powder. These drinks contain more sugar than protein. They are like eating a candy bar. Sugar feeds cancer. And, they contain soy protein (not good), artificial flavors, high sodium. They are junk food and I’m not sure why doctors recommend them?
Hi Tracy, I was also recently diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. I just had surgery to remove it from the bone in my arm. I have been making green smoothies daily and they have made me feel much stronger. I add a TBSP of flax seed oil to mine which i’ve read is helpful to reduce tumors. I would love to communicate with you about my experiences so far. My email is LMN1025@aol.com. Please contact me. – Linda
Tracy,
I agree with the rest, that there are better options for you than Ensure and Boost. Please try Rebecca Katz’s Magic Mineral Broth. It’s a little time consuming to prepare, but it is packed with incredible nutrients. I have recommended it to other cancer patients who have found it to be very helpful in maintaining their energy levels during and after chemo. http://www.rebeccakatz.com/magic-mineral-broth/