What Are Frozen Smoothie Packs? A Guide to Ready-to-Blend Smoothies

A frozen smoothie pack is a single pouch of prepped, frozen smoothie ingredients. You tip it into a blender, add a liquid and ice, and blend. The ingredients are already chopped and portioned for you; you decide when to blend and drink it.

That's the short answer to "what are smoothie packs?" This guide covers what goes into a pack, how ready-to-blend smoothies compare with bottled ones, what you need at home and what to look for when you choose.

What's inside a frozen smoothie pack?

Each pack holds the ingredients for one smoothie, prepared and frozen together. Depending on the flavour, that can include:

• Fruit, such as banana, strawberry, blueberry, mango, pineapple or orange

• Vegetables, such as baby spinach or beetroot

• Other ingredients for flavour and texture, such as yoghurt, oats, peanut butter, almond butter, cocoa powder, cinnamon, ginger or dates

The liquid isn't in the pouch. You add it when you blend, which is why the preparation directions on each pack matter.

For example, Gulp's Berry Best pack contains banana, strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, yoghurt and dates. Its directions say to blend it with 150 ml water and ice.

How is a smoothie pack different from a bottled smoothie?

A bottled, ready-to-drink smoothie is blended before it reaches you. A smoothie pack is blended by you, just before you drink it. In practice:

• Preparation: a bottled smoothie is ready to pour. A pack needs a blender and a few moments of your time.

• Storage: packs stay in the freezer until you use them, so you can keep a few on hand. Gulp's packs should go into the freezer as soon as they arrive.

• Your choice of texture: you add the liquid, so you can make the smoothie a little thicker or thinner to suit you.

• Freshly blended: you drink it straight after blending.

What you need at home

• A blender that its manufacturer says can handle frozen ingredients and ice. A jug blender or a personal blender can both do the job if they're rated for this.

• Your liquid: water, milk, almond milk or coconut water, depending on the pack's directions.

• Ice: Gulp's directions include ice for every flavour.

• A measuring jug, so you can add the right amount of liquid.

How smoothie packs work, step by step

1. Take a pack out of the freezer when you're ready to blend. Gulp's packs are blended straight from frozen, with no need to defrost.

2. Tip the contents into your blender.

3. Add the liquid and ice listed in the pack's directions.

4. Blend until smooth.

5. Pour and drink straight away.

If your smoothie comes out too thick or won't blend properly, our step-by-step guide to making a smoothie with frozen fruit explains what to do.

What to check when choosing a smoothie pack

Ingredients

Read the full ingredient list, not just the flavour name. Packs that sound similar can be quite different. For example, some Gulp flavours contain yoghurt and others don't.

Allergens

Check the declared allergens for each pack. Across Gulp's range they include cow's milk, peanuts and tree nuts, and they vary by flavour. The allergen information covers what's in the pouch; the liquid you add, such as milk or almond milk, can bring in allergens of its own.

Preparation directions

Look at what each pack asks you to add. Some Gulp flavours are blended with water, others with milk or coconut water, and one with almond milk and water. If you need to avoid a particular liquid, check this before you choose.

Storage

Make sure you have freezer space, and follow the storage instructions that come with your packs.

Choosing your first Gulp packs

Gulp makes nine ready-to-blend flavours, from fruity options like Mango Glow to Peanut Oat and Coffee Blast. Each product page lists the ingredients, declared allergens and preparation directions. Packs come in boxes of five of the same flavour, and our collections combine three flavours.

Browse the range, or if you'd like help choosing, send us a message on WhatsApp.