How Long Will My Smoothie Stay Fresh? (Easy Ways for Storing Smoothies in the Fridge)

Co-authored by Marjan Mahallati, RHN, AADP and Madeleine Flamiano

Last Updated: October 25, 2022 References

Curious how long your fresh smoothie will last in the fridge? After all, you probably put a lot of effort into prepping your smoothies, from chopping up fruits and veggies to blending everything up! Here, we’ll tell you exactly how long your smoothies will last in the fridge. Plus, we’ll share some great ways to store them. We’ll even throw in some fun smoothie recipes at the end. Read on so every smoothie you enjoy tastes fabulous.

Things You Should Know

Store smoothies in airtight containers so they stay fresh in your fridge.
Add chlorophyll or vitamin C to smoothies so they last longer.
Keep smoothies or smoothie ingredients in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Make healthy smoothies with fruits, veggies, and a low-calorie liquid.

Section 1 of 6:

How many days can I store my smoothie in the fridge?

1
Homemade smoothies last up to 1-2 days in the fridge. While smoothies are best enjoyed fresh ASAP, they’ll last for 24-48 hours if they’re kept inside a clean, airtight container. If you have dairy in your smoothie, it’s more likely to last just 1 day.^{[1]
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- Leafy greens, like kale, have chlorophyll that can make a smoothie last longer.^{[2]
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- Lemons or fresh lemon juice can also keep smoothies fresh for up to 2 days.^{[3]
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- If you notice separation in your smoothie after 1-2 days, like a layer of water on top and a layer of greens on the bottom, it hasn’t gone bad—just throw it in the blender and mix it into a creamy consistency again.
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Store-bought smoothies last in the fridge up to their expiration date. Generally, smoothies you purchase stay fresh for around 1 week. The way they’re packaged in factories maximizes their shelf life.^{[4]
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- Ingredients like reconstituted juice, fruit paste, or purée in store-bought smoothies may also last longer in the fridge than the fresh produce used in homemade smoothies.
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Any smoothies can be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months. Store ingredients, like chopped up bananas or spinach, in freezer bags, or save a single serving of a smoothie in a jar or sealed cup.^{[5]
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Research source} Cool your freezer bags or jars in the fridge overnight, then transfer them to the freezer—you’ll prevent temperature shock and any cracking.^{[6]
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- Leave 2-3 inches at the top of jars to prevent the liquid from expanding and breaking the glass in the process.

Section 2 of 6:

How to Store Smoothies in the Fridge

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Store each smoothie in an airtight container. Grab a leak-proof airtight container and pour your smoothie into it. Fill the container to the very brim. Seal it tightly with a lid.^{[7]
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- If you don’t leave any space in the container, you’ll keep air out and avoid oxidation, which makes fruits and veggies go bad.^{[8]
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- Before you seal up the smoothie, squeeze in some lemon juice. The vitamin C also prevents oxidation.^{[9]
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  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
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Keep your smoothie in the fridge for up to 2 days. For the freshest smoothie, take it out and enjoy it within 24 hours. After 48 hours, give your smoothie a sniff to make sure it hasn’t spoiled. Also check that it hasn’t gone brown or molded over.^{[10]
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Section 3 of 6:

How to Tell if a Smoothie Went Bad

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A smoothie has gone bad if it’s gone brown, aka “oxidized.” Once you cut up fruits and veggies for your smoothies, you expose them to lots of oxygen, which “oxidizes” them. When the ingredients for your smoothies are oxidized, they lose their nutrients. When they’ve been drained of all their nutrients, your smoothie will turn brown, so throw it out!^{[11]
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- The vitamin C in citrus juices, like orange or lemon juice, can prevent quick oxidization. When you add vitamin C, you also improve the quality and freshness of your smoothie.^{[12]
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  Trustworthy Source
  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source}
2
If a smoothie smells bad, throw it out ASAP. Give your smoothie the “sniff test”—if you notice that it has a rotten or sour scent, toss it. Usually, dairy products that have gone rancid give off a smell like spoiled milk, while expired fruits and veggies smell really bitter, sweet, or sour.^{[13]
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- Dairy that’s gone bad has a lot of unsafe bacteria, while rotten fruits and veggies carry germs.^{[14]
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  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services
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Section 4 of 6:

Ways to Store Smoothies in the Freezer

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Freeze smoothie concentrates in an ice cube tray. Use a high-speed blender to pulverize all your ingredients so your smoothie mix isn’t gritty. Take out a silicone ice cube tray. Pour 2 tablespoons (30 mL) of your mix into each cube. Pop the tray in the freezer and store them for at least 24 hours.^{[15]
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- To prepare a smoothie with smoothie concentrates:
  - Add 2 cubes to a shaker cup or blender.
  - Pour in a milk of your choice.
  - Wait 10 minutes for the cubes to thaw, then pulverize your ingredients.
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Store “make ahead” smoothies in mason jars. Pulverize the ingredients for 2-3 smoothies in a blender. Take out 2-3 2 cups (470 mL) mason jars and pour the smoothie mix into each. Make sure to leave 2-3 2 inches (5.1 cm) at the top of each mason jar. Keep each mason jar in the freezer.^{[16]
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- When you’re ready to drink one, take out a “make ahead” smoothie from the freezer and let it thaw to room temp.
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Keep smoothie ingredients in freezer packs. Grab some freezer-safe plastic baggies. Scoop in the ingredients for a single serving of a smoothie in each plastic baggie. Squeeze out all the air and seal each baggie. Use a Sharpie to write down the date you prepared each serving on every baggie. Store in your freezer.^{[17]
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- Scribble down other details, like the amount of milk or water each smoothie needs.

Section 5 of 6:

Best Blenders for Smoothies

Choose from high-end blenders to portable ones. Select a large high-powered blender with a "pulverize" function if you want to make multiple servings of smoothies. If you're just interested in whipping up 1 smoothie on the go, try a single serve blender.^{[18]
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- A Vitamix is a high-powered blender that makes ultra-creamy smoothies.
- A Ninja blender is great for making single servings of smoothies.
- A Nutribullet is a budget-friendly blender for single-serve smoothies.

Section 6 of 6:

Easy Smoothie Recipes

For healthy smoothies, use tasty ingredients that aren't high-calorie. To make diet smoothies, toss in some fresh fruit and veggies to get a ton of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Then, choose a high quality protein, like whey, Greek yogurt, or nuts. Finally, go for a low-calorie or no-calorie liquid, like skim milk, green tea, or water. To get started, try out a healthy smoothie like:^{[19]
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Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
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