Orange Ginger Carrot Smoothie

This nutrient-dense Orange Ginger Carrot Smoothie is an easy and healthy smoothie to make when you need a little pick me up. It’s naturally sweet, loaded with vitamins and boosted with turmeric and cinnamon powders. Raw ginger also gives it a nice kick.

I prefer smoothies over juices because smoothies are higher in fiber. This is because you usually add whole pieces of fruit and vegetables to smoothies. Juices, on the other hand, are made by filtering out the fiber.

Healthy smoothie tips

I’ve been making this Orange Ginger Carrot Smoothie regularly for the last few months. During the process, I’ve discovered some handy tips for how to store fresh ginger to avoid waste, and how to get a smooth blend when adding raw carrot to smoothies. Read on for the details!

Is orange juice good in smoothies?

Depending on your goals, it may be a bad idea to use orange juice in your smoothies. Orange juice is a more concentrated form of sugar than fresh oranges. It’s takes roughly 3-4 whole oranges to make 1 cup of juice.

That’s why I prefer to only use a maximum of one fresh orange in my smoothies. Using the fruit in its natural form also gives you a boost of fiber.

Can I put raw ginger in my smoothie?

You can certainly put raw ginger in your smoothies. I start by cutting the amount of ginger that I want to use off the root, then I give it a good wash under running water. Next, I peel off the skin by either cutting the skin off with a knife or using a teaspoon to scrape off the skin.

I also often add frozen ginger to my smoothies if I don’t have fresh ginger on hand. I explain below how you can freeze fresh ginger in portions so that you always have some ready to go.

How much ginger should I add to my smoothie?

According to NCBI, it is safe to consume up to 4 grams of ginger daily. Raw ginger has quite a spicy flavor, so the amount that you add to your smoothie will also depend on personal taste. If it’s your first time adding raw ginger to a smoothie, you can start with a small amount, taste the smoothie, then add more if you wish.

How to store fresh ginger

You can keep fresh ginger on your counter at room temperature for about 1 week. However, for maximum freshness, I prefer to store fresh ginger in the fridge or freezer.

If I plan to use the ginger within 1-2 weeks, I place the whole, unpeeled ginger root in a ziplock bag, remove as much air as possible from the bag before sealing it, then I store it in the crisper drawer of the fridge.

To keep fresh ginger for longer than this, I simply freeze it. I explain how to freeze fresh ginger below.

Can you freeze ginger?

You can! It’s a great idea to freeze fresh ginger in portions if you don’t use it regularly. Fresh ginger is expensive, so you don’t want to waste it. By freezing it, you will always have some on hand for smoothies like this Orange Ginger Carrot Smoothie, or to use in other recipes.

How to freeze fresh ginger

First, I wash the ginger and peel off the skin. Next, I cut the ginger into slices to portion it out. If you want to control the size of each portion, you can weigh the slices on a digital food scale.

Lastly, I place the ginger slices in a silicone food pouch or ziplock bag in a single layer so that they don’t stick together, and store in the freezer. You can also mince the ginger and divide it between ice cube trays. Ginger slices and minced ginger should last for 2-3 months in the freezer.

When ready to use in a smoothie, I simply add a piece of ginger straight from the freezer into the blender cup. If you need minced ginger for a recipe and only have frozen slices, you can grate the frozen slices using a fine or microplane grater to add straight into sauces or curries.

Can raw carrots be blended?

You can easily blend raw carrots into a smoothie. High powered blenders do a great job with this. If you have a less powerful blender, you can simply grate the carrot before blending to make things easier on the blender.

To avoid small chunks of carrot in your smoothie, blend the smoothie until it looks smooth and you don’t hear any ‘bits’ clattering around in the blender cup.

Ingredients for Orange Ginger Carrot Smoothie

Orange: Fresh orange is the base flavor and sweetener of the smoothie. You can use any variety of orange. Blood orange would also be nice.

Carrot: Raw carrot is added for extra nutrients and fiber. Any variety will work. I wash the carrot well, rather than peeling it, before adding to the smoothie.

Fresh ginger: For a spicy kick and added health benefits. If you don’t have any fresh ginger, you could add 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder instead.

Turmeric powder: For a boost of beneficial nutrients. It also provides a subtle earthiness. You can leave it out if you don’t have any at home.

Cinnamon powder: The sweet spice of cinnamon works really well with the orange and ginger flavors. If you don’t have any at home, you can leave it out.

Water: To help everything blend smooth. I use filtered tap water. For a slightly sweeter and refreshing twist, you could use chilled coconut water.

Orange Ginger Carrot Smoothie Recipe