Combine all ingredients (except start with about half the amount of juice and add only as necessary to achieve desired consistency) in the canister of a blender and blend until smooth and creamy. Blueberries take awhile to break down, so you may need to blend for a couple minutes.: The first whirl is all about sound and sight, listen for the heavy chunks giving way and watch the color shift from deep purple to a lighter, creamy blue which tells you the blueberries and banana are emulsifying. As the mixture grinds, you will smell bright berry notes with a hint of warm vanilla . I suggest pulsing for short bursts initially to break down frozen pieces, then increasing to a steady high speed. If your blender struggles and stalls, stop and scrape the sides, then add a tablespoon of juice to help the blades move. A common pitfall is adding too much juice at once which makes the smoothie thin, so begin with half the suggested amount and add slowly while evaluating texture.
Serve immediately. Extra portions may be frozen in freezer-safe (plastic) glasses for up to 3 months. Allow to soften at room temp before serving.: Expect a slightly longer blend time when using lots of frozen blueberries , and be patient so you do not end up with icy chunks. You will notice a change in sound as the blender moves from a clunky, intermittent noise to a smooth, humming tone; that is when the texture is becoming silky. The friction will warm the blades slightly, releasing more aroma, so keep an eye on blending time to avoid heat building up, which can thin the drink. If you see streaks of unblended fruit, pause and use a tamper or scraping tool, then continue. Overblending can warm the mixture, so stop as soon as it looks uniformly smooth.
Serve immediately: Right after blending, the smoothie will be at its creamiest and coldest, with the freshest berry aroma and the best texture. Pour into chilled glasses to prolong the frosty feel, and notice the way condensation forms on the outside, hinting at that icy interior. If you wait too long, the blend settles and separates, losing volume and that fresh brightness, so serve without delay. A mistake I see is leaving it to sit while grabbing garnishes, which gives the smoothie a watered down mouthfeel.
Extra portions may be frozen in freezer-safe (plastic) glasses for up to 3 months: Freezing leftovers is a great way to preserve the flavor, but the texture will become more solid, so label portions and use within the time frame for best taste. When you are ready to enjoy a frozen portion, let it sit at room temperature briefly to soften, then pulse in the blender to bring back creaminess. Avoid microwaving to thaw quickly because that can create uneven spots and a cooked flavor. A common misstep is refreezing a thawed portion, which degrades texture significantly.
Allow to soften at room temp before serving: When taking a frozen portion out, give it a short rest so the center loosens enough to blend easily, you will see edges soften first which signals readiness. Softening makes the blender work more efficiently and preserves the bright berry notes, compared to trying to force blend rock hard frozen blocks. If it softens too much and becomes watery, place it back in the freezer for a short interval to firm up again before reblending.
