Mix Protein Powder Without A Shaker-7 great ways

Protein Powder / By Simon

Protein is an essential nutrient for our body; it helps build muscle and repair tissues. Protein powder is a trendy supplement for athletes; studies have shown that it has an impact on building muscle. Protein shakes are great to use if you are doing a lot of exercise per day and throughout the week.

You can dissolve protein powder without a shaker; instead, a blender can be used, which is the best method. Other ways are adding the ingredients slowly while mixing, using a sieve, using hot water, or using an alternative container similar to a shaker, such as an on-the-go coffee mug.

Sometimes we need to take our protein shake with us early in the morning on our way to the gym or when leaving work for evening training sessions. It is beneficial to have it prepped for mixing so that we can get ready and go. It can be annoying to have a very lumpy shake each time you mix it, especially if you don’t have a proper protein shaker.

Why Does My Protein Shake Get Clumpy?

Protein is vital for bodily functions in our daily lives; the recommended daily allowance is 0.8g/kg/day for healthy individuals. If you are very athletic and train multiple times a week, then you will need more protein to optimize training adaptations; the recommended protein intake is 1.4-1.6g/kg/day. This is the reason protein supplements were created to help you reach your protein target.

Protein powders clump easily because of their protein structures. Some proteins are hydrophobic, and some are hydrophilic; both are found in protein powder. Hydrophobic proteins cause lumping as they don’t mix well with water. Fats found in protein powder are also hydrophobic, which can add to lumping.

As it is a characteristic of protein it does not matter whether its origin is animal in whey protein powder, or if it is vegan protein powder such as pea protein.

Mixing a protein shake with a shaker is an excellent method, as it helps dissolve the protein powder and eliminate all the lumps with little effort. Although this is the best way, some may not have a shaker or don’t have one readily available to use. Protein powder is prone to forming clumps due to the structure of proteins. Most protein powders are made to make mixing with water easy, and they add anti-clumping agents to help prevent lumps.

This does work well, but some proteins and fats in the protein powder are hydrophobic, meaning they don’t mix with water thoroughly. These molecules will prevent a silky smooth consistency unless mixed thoroughly. The amount of hydrophobic and hydrophilic (proteins that blend well with water) proteins available within the protein powder does not affect its quality, but rather it is a natural process.

Some protein powders clump more than others; you will see a difference when trying different brands; you can decide which you prefer. Organic protein powders clump the most as they don’t have anti-clumping agents such as silicon dioxide and lecithin.

There are certain things that help reduce clumping; this includes the tools used, the technique of mixing, and how it is stored.

7 Ways To Mix Protein Powder Without A Shaker

A protein shaker bottle is a great tool to use, especially if it has a small wire ball or something to help it blend well. Although this is used often among athletes, it doesn’t do the most excellent job in removing all the lumps. To get a smooth consistency, you will have to shake the bottle very well and vigorously.

A shaker is not the best piece of equipment to use when mixing your protein shake. The best tool to use is a blender, as the blade breaks up all the clumps well, producing a very smooth consistency. Other methods include adding the ingredients in a specific way, using hot water, a sieve, or a whisk.

1. Using A Blender

The best alternative equipment to use if you don’t have a shaker is a blender; there are many different types of blenders that you can choose from. A blender will be more expensive than a shaker and other tools you could use, but it is the most effective. You could purchase a full-size blender, single-serving blender, hand blender, specialty blender, or bottle blender. All of these will range in prices, some being more expensive compared to others.

The type of blender you choose will depend on what you will be using it for. If there are other reasons for wanting one besides protein shakes, it is good to look at each one’s different characteristics. The house blender, specialty blender, and full-size blender are useful for various food products for your dishes.

A single serving blender such as the Nutribullet would be great if you only want to make a protein shake and other smoothies. All of these are not easy to take with you as they are bulky and need power. A bottle blender such as the Tornado Bottle is the best for blending protein shakes and other smoothies on the go. With this blender, you can take the ingredients with you in the bottle and mix them when you need it.

This is great if you want to take your shake after training or later in the day if you don’t have time or the equipment on hand to do it properly. A bottle blender can blend your ingredients until you get your desired consistency. You can charge it with a USB link; this can be done anywhere and any time as long as you have a plug point. A blender will give your protein shake the silkiest smooth texture.

2. Try Use An On The Go Coffee Mug

If you do not have a shaker or a blender, you can also try using an on-the-go coffee mug to dissolve protein powder. This is nice because it is similar to using a shaker as it has a spill-proof lid to aid in mixing it well. A similar concept is a cocktail shaker or a juice bottle which could also be used.

Add the water into the coffee mug, use a metal wire ball or some ice to help the powder and liquid blend correctly. These tools help break up the clumps, and it encourages the two ingredients to mix properly. Add the protein powder on top of the liquid, close the lid, and shake it vigorously.

3. Add Your Protein Powder In Small Amounts

If you don’t have a shaker cup or a blender with the right tools to mix your shake well, then it is best to add your powder and liquid in small amounts at a time. By doing this, you are not trying to mix the entire quantity in one go, making it hard to control the consistency and find each lump to break up. To mix it with this technique, add half a scoop of your protein powder with one scoop of water and use a spoon to break all the lumps.

This will take a bit of time and energy to do because the more vigorously and the longer you mix it, the smoother the consistency. Once your shake becomes smooth, add the same protein powder and water and mix it together. Do this until you have added the required amount of each ingredient to make your protein shake.

4. Make It Into A Paste First

This method is similar to the one above, but you don’t add a small amount of each ingredient each time. Put a quarter of the required liquid into a cup or a small bowl and add half of the protein powder needed; mix well till a paste forms. Add the rest of the powder slowly and water as necessary to keep a paste consistency.

Once all the powder has been mixed into the liquid, forming a paste, add the rest of the water very slowly, mixing as you go. This will help create a smooth consistency as you add the rest of the water.

5. Mix Your Protein Shake With A Whisk

A whisk is very helpful to use when trying to achieve a smooth consistency. This will work best in a small bowl, add all the powder and make a hole in the center of the powder. Add the liquid slowly while whisking the ingredients together; this is the method used when baking a cake or muffins. This should help form a smooth protein shake as the metal wires help break up clumps that form.

6. Put Your Shake Through A Sieve To Get All The Clumps Out

I know this may sound a little weird, as you usually put dry ingredients through a sieve, but this can work quite well. Once you have mixed your shake, pour it through a sieve into a big enough bowl so that it doesn’t mess everywhere. As the liquid goes through the sieve, it will leave all the lumps behind.

Use the back of a spoon and break them up through the sieve into the bowl. Mix your shake thoroughly once all the lumps have broken up and fallen into the bowl. You can put it through the sieve an extra time if you would like to make sure it is very smooth.

7. Adding Warmer Water

Protein powder can be added to warm or hot water; adding a little hot water will help dissolve protein powder. Only about a quarter or less of the water will be hot, and the rest can be cold or room temperature water. Add the hot water to the powder, mix it well, and then add the rest of the water slowly; the warm water will help break up the clumps of protein powder, forming a smooth consistency. You may have to wait a bit or add ice to allow it to cool down to the desired temperature before drinking.

Additional Tips On How To Prevent Lumps Forming?

The methods above can be beneficial when mixing your protein shake. Here are a few tips that can be used in these methods to ensure a smooth consistency is achieved.

Additional tips to help you mix your protein powder into a liquid properly can be constructive. These tips include storing the powder at the correct temperature, breaking up the lumps before adding to a liquid, using ice to help break up clumps and adding your powder on top of the liquid.

Break Up The Powder

Over some time, it is expected for your protein powder to form a few clumps; this is because of the tiny amount of moisture found in the tub or if you don’t seal the container properly. As your protein powder gets older, it will also clump more. Before mixing it with liquid, it is best to break it up to prevent lumps from forming after mixing. You can break up these clumps with a fork, spook, or even a sieve which would be an effective tool.

Add Your Powder Last

Adding your powder on top of the liquid is an essential step; the reason for doing this is to prevent the powder from getting stuck to the bottom and corners of your cup or bottle. This doesn’t lead to a clumpy free drink, but it helps reduce the lumps.

Add Ice To Help It Mix

If you do not have a small wire ball or something else to add to your drink to help break up the balls, you can always use ice cubes. Ice encourages the lumps to break up when mixing or shaking the container. You can keep the ice in after mixing as the added benefit is that it will keep your protein shake nice and cool.

Store Your Powder Correctly

It is crucial to follow the storage instructions on your protein powder container; it usually says store in a cool, dry place. Usually, we don’t listen to these instructions thoroughly, which is not great for protein powder as it is very sensitive to moisture and heat. When the powder experiences cold than hot temperatures, it can cause condensation increasing its moisture levels.

Moisture is not suitable for it because it causes it to clump up. If you are struggling to keep it in an environment that is dry due to the high humidity where you stay, you can add a silica packet to the bottom of your container to help reduce the moisture.

If you store your protein powder at 35°C, then it will only last about 9 to 12 months before it is said to be unacceptable for use. The powder will become very lumpy and turn a yellow color; this is also why storage is crucial.

Using Different Liquids To Make Your Protein Drink

At times it is nice to mix it up a bit, especially if you are training and drinking a protein shake daily. The usual water and protein powder can become quite dull, so why not mix it up and add other liquids. There are also certain liquids that mix better than others with the powder.

There are alternative liquids that you can use for your protein shakes; they include cow’s milk, soy milk, and almond milk. Some will mix better than others. They come with benefits, such as producing a thicker consistency, adding more protein, nutrients, and flavor.

Let’s look at the different liquids and decide which we prefer and which will mix well with our protein powder.

Water is definitely the best liquid to use and the one most of us choose as it is calorie-free.
Cow’s milk is the second go-to; this will give your drink a creamier flavor but remember it will also increase the amount of protein and calories of your beverage. Milk is also a healthy choice as it is high in calcium.
Soy milk can be used as well; this is usually the alternative for lactose-intolerant people. Make sure that the soy milk you choose is enriched with calcium to get the added benefits. This milk will also add extra protein to your drink.
Almond milk can also be used, and it will add a lovely flavor to your protein drink.

Adding these alternative liquids will give your drink more protein, calories, flavor, and a thicker smooth consistency. It can be nice to add these alternatives but be aware of the extra calories if you are on a strict diet plan.

Conclusion

When looking at all the information above, you will notice that a blender beats all methods of mixing a protein shake. Every time it will help dissolve the protein powder and produce a smooth consistency with little effort, and you can always get one you can use on the go, which is even better. The only downside is that it is more expensive, but you won’t regret it.

The second best way to mix protein powder without a shaker is to use the paste method outlined above.

Protein powders are not recommended for consumption of all age groups; this is because they can cause specific side effects. It is not recommended for children, young teens, the elderly, and people with chronic conditions. It is also not recommended to take protein powder if you are not training.

Protein powder helps those doing a lot of training as it aids with recovery and increasing muscle mass. There are many types of protein powders with different kinds and amounts of ingredients, specifically amino acids, and they all have specific functions. It is good to find one specifically for your body and the type of exercise you do.

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