This Inexpensive Frother Is My Favorite Way to Mix Protein Powder

If you don’t mix protein shakes correctly they may turn out thick or lumpy. That’s why a shaker bottle does a better job of mixing the whey into the milk than simply stirring with a spoon. A blender works even better if you are willing to clean the blender after you are done. But there’s a better option: a handheld frother.

To be clear, this is for beverages where you are mixing a powder with a liquid. (If you want ice and fruit in your protein shake—a smoothie instead of a simple drink—you’ll still need a blender. But you knew that.) As far as I can tell, it works with any powder and any liquid. I have tested the frother, and found that it gives excellent results:

• Collagen Powder and Coffee (or Tea)

• Whey Powder and Water

• clear whey and water

• hot cocoa and milk

• Various Supplement Powders, Well, Anything

The shame is that I didn’t think of it myself. MUDWTR and complementary companies like beam Include a handheld frother in their starter pack. In fact, the only reason I ever owned a frother in the first place is because MUDWTR once sent me one along with some samples in hopes that I would review the product. (My review: I don’t like it.)

How to Use a Frother to Mix Your Protein Powder

First of all, make yourself a brother. These are simple handheld gadgets that cost about the same as a shaker bottle, at the low end about $7-10, and go up to almost infinity as they are a fancy coffee accessory. The cheap ones will work well for our purposes. Buy one that operates on AA batteries or that you charge via USB.

Next, prepare your liquid. The first time you do this, make sure you use a larger sized container. The liquid will rise as you turn on the frother. But if you use eight ounces of liquid in a 16-ounce container, you’ll be left with a surprising mess.

Mix the powder into the liquid, lather and turn it on. (Unless you’re using clarified whey, which tends to glue the foam; it’s better to add the foam first and then the powder.) If you put the foam in the center of the cup, you’ll get a whirlpool effect that sends the liquid toward the side (or top) of the container, hence my warning. Once you’ve done this a few times, you’ll know how to do it with less mess. Turning the frother and holding it over the edge of the cup keeps waves down. You can also pulse the frother a few times instead of leaving it on constantly, which reduces the waves even further.

It only takes five to 10 seconds to mix yourself a soft, creamy protein shake — or hot cocoa, or whatever your smoothie-craving heart desires. Take a few more seconds to wash the business end of the brother; A few quick movements with a soapy sponge under running water is usually all you need to do. And then enjoy your perfectly blended drink with nothing but your cup to clean later.