Money-Saving Tips for Smoothies
Buy in Bulk and Freeze
- Freezing fruit for smoothies is a great way to save money on fruit because you can buy it when it’s on special, cut it up and use it in portions as required.
Get Creative with Ingredients
- Substitute your liquid base with brewed tea or coffee: If juices and smoothies are part of your daily routine, but you still have to sip your coffee or tea separately, consider adding the latter to your favorite concoction to save time and money.
Simplify Your Recipe
- Limit yourself to a 5-ingredient smoothie or less, you’re going to save money simply by limiting how much you need to buy. As an added bonus, this lets you have more flexibility with different flavor combinations.
Invest in Shelf-Stable Items
- Shop Sales for Shelf-Stable Items. Things like oats, flaxseed, beans, and nuts can sit on a shelf for months or years and still be just as good as they were when you bought them.
The Economics of Homemade Smoothies
Home-Made vs. Store-Bought
Is it cheaper to make or buy smoothies?
You can spend a lot of money on a smoothie. But if you head over to Jamba Juice or Smoothie King, it’ll easily cost you at least $5 for one smoothie.
Here were the ingredients and cost breakdown in the smoothie I made at home:
- One bag of frozen berries at $2.99.
- 1/4 of a half-gallon container of milk (the milk cost $2 and one-quarter of that costs $0.50)
Starting a Smoothie Business
How much does it cost to start a smoothie business? From an investment standpoint, industry experts estimate start-up costs for you to own a smoothie business will run between $20,000-$400,000. However, you stand to make about $600,000 in gross revenue annually.
Cost Comparison
If you were to buy a smoothie every day for lunch for a week it would be upwards of $25! Making it at home will save you $14 a week. Although that doesn’t sound very significant, if you did similar meals every work day a month you would save over $56!
How much does it cost to make a green smoothie?
How to Make a Green Smoothie is easier than you think! This recipe takes 5 minutes, serves 6, and costs just $4.75 to make. That’s only $0.80 per serving!
Quality vs. Cost
Most basic smoothies will contain a milk base, berries, and some protein powder (the most common shelf-bought ones). These will often be $4.99 if you bought one at a smoothie store.
However, if you bought the ingredients yourself, you might be able to make more smoothies out of them, which will work out much cheaper.
Saving Smoothies for Later
Proper Storage Methods
Whether you are making a large batch or just want to save some leftovers for later, proper storage is essential. After making a smoothie, it is important to transfer it to an airtight container to prevent oxidation and maintain its freshness. Make sure to fill the container to the top to minimize exposure to air, which can cause the smoothie to oxidize and lose its nutrients.
Preservation Methods
There are a few ways you can preserve your smoothie. The best way to preserve your smoothie is to put it in the fridge. Another option is to freeze your smoothies in the form of ice cubes. This is a great choice for freezing smaller amounts of smoothie, and will allow for quicker defrosting.
Freezing Options
One way to save a smoothie is to pour it into a popsicle mold and freeze it.
Another make-ahead option is to blend a smoothie in the blender, then pour the smoothie into freezer-safe Mason jars, and freeze. The night before you plan to drink the smoothie, place a smoothie jar in the fridge and defrost overnight.