Dry and sticky (seeds, protein powder, nut butters)
Ice, hard or frozen fruits and veggies
TL;DR: Layer liquids and soft ingredients on the bottom, powders and sticky add‑ins in the middle, and hard/frozen items on top. This strategic layering helps create a vortex in the blender that gently pulls everything to the blades for a smoother, more cohesive blend. It also prevents powders from flying up or clumping around the blades, reducing motor strain and blade wear.
Good Housekeeping/Philip Friedman
What about with a personal or portable blender?
Simply reverse the order of your layering with a personal blender (if and only if your blender requires that you flip it upside down and onto a motor base). The key is to always place your softest ingredients around the blade and the hardest on top.
If you’re using a personal or portable blender, you might also have to halve your favorite smoothie recipe for it to fit nicely in your blender cup, and so that there is enough space to form that vortex.
Good Housekeeping/Mike Garten
Your ratio of ingredients also matters, and this is ours:
Chief Food Director Kate Merker shared the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen’s basic smoothie ratio that they utilize for most smoothie recipe development.
½ to 1 part liquid (the amount will depend on the fruit being used)
½ part yogurt *
1½ to 2 parts frozen fruit and/or vegetables
* If not using yogurt, increase the liquid
