page updated on September 12, 2026
Do You Need Ice in a Smoothie?
No! A cool smoothie tastes great on a hot day, but you can make a smoothie at room temperature with whatever ingredients you like.
If you just can't resist a cool strawberry banana smoothie, remember that you can use frozen fruit. Strawberries are easy to freeze and keep well. Frozen bananas make good smoothies if you prepare them properly—peel them first and cut into small slices before freezing.
We've had good luck with frozen fruit juices too.
Ice does one thing frozen fruit can't: it cools and thins a smoothie without adding any extra flavor or sweetness, which is handy if your fruit is already very ripe and sweet. The tradeoff is that too much ice waters down the finished drink as it melts, while frozen fruit keeps the flavor concentrated. If you want a completely ice-free smoothie, keep your fresh ingredients cold in the fridge beforehand—it won't be as thick, but it'll still be refreshing.