How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

It’s 5 AM and all you want is a smoothie so you can nourish yourself before the day takes over. BUT... you don’t want to wake the whole house with the whirl of the blender. Or maybe you’re on the go with no shaker cup. Either way, just because there’s no blender in sight doesn’t mean you have to skip your smoothie. Using common household items, I’ve got five smoothie hacks and accompanying recipes to help you make shakes fast. No blender required.

Kitchen Whisk

Best for: Berry or juice-based smoothie.

Directions:

  1. Add fresh, soft berries to a glass.
  2. Press with a whisk while adding enough liquid to cover. Stir.
  3. Add one scoop Vega® Vanilla flavored protein powder of your choice and add the remaining liquid.
  4. Whisk until combined.

Berry Base Recipe:

  • 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup orange juice
  • 1 scoop Vega® Vanilla flavored protein powder of your choice
  • Ice

Cocktail Shaker Strainer or Fine Mesh Strainer

Best for: Nut butter or berry recipes that you want to smooth out.

Directions:

  1. Add your ingredients to a wide-mouth jar
  2. Close the lid, shake
  3. Strain and press over a glass with ice

Coffee Nut Butter Recipe:

  • 1 ½ cup cold brew coffee
  • 1 Tbsp almond butter
  • 1 scoop Vega® Vanilla flavored protein powder of your choice
  • ice

Fork

Best for: Banana-based smoothies.

Directions:

  1. Mash ripe banana with fork at bottom of your glass
  2. Add liquid, stir
  3. Add 1 scoop Vega® protein powder of your choice
  4. and stir
  5. Add ice

Chocolate Banana Recipe:

  • 1 small ripe banana
  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 1 scoop Vega® Chocolate flavored protein powder of your choice

Mason Jar or Smoothie Glass with Lid

Best for: When you’re on-the-go.

Directions:

  1. Add ice to jar or glass
  2. Add half of your liquid
  3. Add your favorite flavor of Vega® protein powder
  4. Add remaining liquid
  5. Shake vigorously with the lid on

Wild Card Recipe:

  • 1 ½ cup almond milk, juice or water
  • 1 serving of your favorite Vega® protein powder
  • Ice

Handheld Milk Frother

Best for: Creamy smoothies that you like a little frothy.

Directions:

  1. Add non-dairy beverage to your cup
  2. Add 1 serving of your favorite Vega® Protein Smoothie
  3. Mix with frother, add ice
  4. Optional: splash of fruit juice

Creamy Tropical Recipe:

  • 1 cup coconut milk
  • 1 scoop Vega® Vanilla flavored protein powder of your choice
  • Splash of orange juice
  • Ice

How do you make a smoothie without a blender?

Last updated: September 11, 2022

If you’ve been around health and fitness supplement powders for as long as I have, then you probably remember how awful they were just 10 or 15 years ago.

Even the worst protein shakes today have a better consistency and nicer flavors than what I used to slug down.

The problem I still have these days is that when protein shakes taste bad, that doesn’t necessarily mean they have poor ingredients.

Protein shakes can be perfectly healthy and effective, but just something you don’t look forward to after a workout session.

Some of the worst culprits are whey protein shakes, but I have worked with some nutritionists to come up with some simple ideas to make the protein shakes taste better without making them unhealthy.

Making Your Protein Shake Taste Better

So, as already promised, I have gathered some ideas over the years to come up with recipes to make protein shakes taste better.

1. Sweeten things up a bit.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

Now, I know what you’re thinking; Jason just mentioned that protein powders often taste bad because they have too many sweeteners.

But I was specifically referring to artificial sweetener options in protein shakes, and those tend to have a bad taste and can also pose some health risks.

One way you can sweeten protein shakes a bit without creating some sugar-water mix is to add even half a spoon of natural and organic honey, resulting in better protein shakes taste.

2. Make it a smoothie.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

Part of my morning and breakfast routine is making a smoothie, and sometimes I make protein shakes taste better by combining it with them.

There is no shortage of healthy smoothie recipes, and I have often just mixed up random fruit I was trying to use up.

What you can do here is just make an extra cup or two, and once you have poured out part for your breakfast, blend the rest with your whey protein powder.

You’ll be surprised how little effort it takes to make protein shakes taste better with smoothies, and I usually have this part of my day done before my French press coffee is ready.

And here’s a little bonus tip: try adding a few spoons of peanut butter into the protein shakes mix.

By the way, check out how Joe Duff transforms his boring protein powder into a sumptuous shake by watching the video below.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

3. Create a milkshake.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

While most protein powders are designed to be mixed with water, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t consider turning protein shakes into a milkshake.

If you use dairy milk, then it’s a good way to get another bit of extra protein into the mix. In fact, some studies revealed that consumption of dairy products is associated with decreased prevalence of metabolic related disorders (2)

However, that can also increase your calorie and fat intake, which is why I personally use sugar-free almond milk to make the protein shakes taste better.

One of the benefits of doing this is that almond milk just seems to have a nicer consistency than water, and if you get a protein powder that mixes easily, then it will be a lot more pleasant to drink.

One big reminder, though, creating protein milkshakes doesn’t mean you can add ice cream!

4. Blend it with fresh fruit.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

Blending fruits with your protein shakes is an excellent way of adding fresh and healthy ingredients to your diet and improving the taste of your protein powder at the same time.

And the best part is that you can do a protein shake the night before and place it in the freezer.

Here’s what I usually do. I take a load of berries, bananas, and watermelon and then add some ice cubes.

This is all mixed together in a food processor that is powerful enough to crush the ice cubes up as well.

I know some people that also add yogurt or milk, but the problem can be keeping it cool for long enough if you plan to drink it at the gym after training.

5. Avoid the fancy sounding flavors.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

Personally, I have found that vanilla and chocolate are probably the safest bets to make protein shakes taste better. Even artificial vanilla flavor isn’t that bad at all.

What I mean by fancy-sounding is things like tropical passion fruit and mango in protein shakes.

Basically, if the protein shake ingredient sounds like something that belongs on a cocktail menu at a beach bar, then chances are that it’s just some dodgy artificial ingredients that make the protein shake incredibly sweet.

6. Mix unflavored protein with cocoa powder.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

I have found that some of the chocolate protein shakes taste pretty good, but they then contain a fair bit of sugar as well. That can mess with your diet, and if you’re trying to get the reins on your body weight, then that just creates a hurdle.

One way around that is to use unflavored protein powder products and mix in some raw and unsweetened cocoa powder, which can reduce your chances of getting diabetis (3).

If you get a really good quality cocoa powder, then the strong flavor means that you only need a very small amount to create really nice tasty protein shakes.

7. Try adding more water or milk.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

One problem I have often found is that the instructions say to mix a scoop of protein powders with 8 ounces of water.

That can make the protein shake very thick and difficult to drink, especially when you’ve just finished a gym session and are thirsty.

So, how much water per scoop of protein powder do you need?

In many cases where I found the consistency a bit sickly or sweet, mixing it with 12 or 16 ounces of water improved things a lot, making the protein shakes taste great.

8. Invest in a good blender.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

Whether you’re mixing fruit, vegetables, or other food sources, a blender is going to be one of your best assets for a tasty protein shake.

No matter what diet you’re sticking with, you can provide yourself with the best possible start to the day along with healthy snacks in a matter of minutes.

As a fitness instructor, I always tell my clients that spending some money in this way is as important as having decent running shoes.

You’ll make it so much easier to create meal replacements, making protein shakes taste great that you’ll actually be looking forward to drinking.

9. Avoid the cheapest proteins.

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

So many people that I work with go to a supermarket and simply pick the cheapest protein shake in the fitness and weight loss section.

Not only do these protein shake products most often taste the worst, but they also often contain proteins that were extracted using chemicals.

These types of protein shakes are inferior from a nutrition perspective, and I would generally recommend to avoid adding them to a fitness and diet regime.

Why Do Some Protein Powders Taste Bad?

There are two main reasons I have found that are early indicators that you’re in for not such a pleasant experience with certain protein shakes.

First of all, if there are a lot of artificial sweeteners added in the protein shake, and the nutrition label has very difficult to pronounce chemicals on them, then 9 times out of 10 they will have that sickly sweet taste to them.

For the average consumer, these sweeteners are not easily identified on a food label. Most processed products will be labeled “sugar-free,” but will contain an artificial sweetener.
- Dr. Peter Osborne

The other thing a lot of protein shake brands do is save production costs by not using natural flavors. Even the common vanilla, chocolate, and coffee protein shake options are often full of artificial flavors that simply taste nothing like you would expect.

Related Articles:

  • Protein Powder That Doesn't Cause Acne
  • Which Protein Powder Is Best For Baking
  • Best Protein Powder for Diabetics
  • Best Protein Powder for Elderly

FAQ

How to make protein shakes taste better without a blender

Can you make your own protein powder?

Yes, you can make your own protein powder at home. However, the processes of drying and pulverizing the protein shake source ingredients can be quite tedious and time-consuming.

Having tried making protein shakes before with limited success, I generally advise buying a good quality protein shake product instead.

How do you add flavor to unflavored protein?

You can add flavor to unflavored protein powder by adding it to a smoothie, mix it with some yogurt, or blending it with a cup of mixed fruit. You can also add it to your favorite food, and a lot of athletes would mix the protein shake with breakfast cereal.

Can you add sugar in a protein shake?

Yes, you can add sugar in a protein shake, however, this would not help with any weight loss goals you have. A better option to sweeten it up a bit is to add a small amount of organic honey.

Does protein powder taste better with milk?

Yes, most people think that protein powder tastes better with milk than with water. My personal favorite is almond milk and a little bit of fruit as it gives it a smooth protein shake texture that is easier to drink.

What is the best liquid to mix with protein powder?

Water is the best liquid to mix with protein powder from a nutrition perspective. Unlike milk, water won’t make the digestive absorption process of protein slow down, and after training, you want to get the amino acids to your muscles as fast as possible through the protein shake.

For more info, read our article on the best ways to mix your protein powder.

Drink a Better Tasting Protein Shake

Whether you have big goals for weight loss, or you’re in a bulking phase in your training regime, protein is going to be central to your success.

But, that doesn’t mean you have to go through the regular ordeal of having to pinch your nose, just to get the stuff down.

If you’ve had some ideas of your own, then reach out to us on Facebook or Twitter, and we can add some more information to this post.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD: GUIDE TO BULKING WITHOUT GETTING FAT! →

References:

  1. Retrieved Oct. 5, 2019: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951976/
  2. Retrieved Oct. 5, 2019: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3703276/
  3. Retrieved Oct. 5, 2019: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4696435/

About The Author

Connor Sellers is a personal trainer and senior coach at Total Shape. His mission is to inspire people to relentlessly pursue their fitness and lifestyle goals. He believes staying fit has an overall positive effect on one’s body, mind, and spirit.

How do you make a protein shake without a blender?

Grab a water bottle or travel coffee mug with a tight fitting lid. Add the protein powder, your liquid of choice, and a handful of ice cubes. The ice cubes will act like a whisk and help to break up the clumps of powder as you shake.

What can I add to my protein shake to make it taste better?

Enhance the Taste of Your Protein Shake.
Add Fruit. Fruit adds a delicious kick to your protein shake without adding a tremendous amount of calories. ... .
Add Milk. ... .
Add Cocoa Powder. ... .
Add Yogurt. ... .
Toss In Some Peanut Butter!.

How do you make store bought protein shakes taste better?

How to make protein shakes taste better:.
Add fresh or frozen fruit to your shake for sweetness and flavor. ... .
Use almond milk, soy milk, or regular milk instead of water. ... .
Add a spoonful of peanut butter for healthy fats and protein..

What can I blend my protein powder with?

The Best Ways to Mix Protein Powder.
Shake it up: Try adding a couple scoops to a shaker bottle along with chilled water, coconut water, milk, or plant-based milk. ... .
Blend: Combining your protein powder with a banana, a handful of ice, and a generous splash of almond milk is an ideal way to start the morning..