Sometimes you want a smoothie and other times you want a shake. We will tell you how to make protein shakes thicker! Making protein shakes is not only a great way to fill your water bottle, but they can also be a delicious and simple meal replacement.
You know that protein shakes are beneficial because they are high in protein, which can help you build muscle, maintain and lose weight. But if the taste isn’t good or if the texture is too runny, it might have some shake activities to be less appealing.
14 Best Ways to Make Protein Shakes Thicker
1.Use full-fat milk
Protein shakes can be a great way to add more protein and other nutrients to your diet. They’re also an easy way to get a quick meal when you’re on the go.
However, many people find that their protein shakes are too thin and watery. This means they can’t enjoy them as much as they’d like to because they don’t feel like eating a liquid.
Use full-fat milk. Milk contains fat, which creates a thicker consistency in the shake. If your goal is weight loss, look for skim or low-fat milk instead.
Use ice cubes instead of water or skim milk when blending your shake. Ice cubes will make the shake thicker without adding any extra calories or fat! You should use about four ice cubes per serving size of protein powder (one scoop).
2.Use Yogurt or kefir
One way to make your protein shake thicker is by replacing water with yogurt or kefir (a fermented milk drink). Yogurt and kefir both contain probiotics which can help improve gut health and immunity. They also add extra calories and nutrients such as calcium and vitamin D.
3.Add oats or oat flour
Oats are cheap and easy to find in most supermarkets and health food stores. They’re also gluten-free so everyone can enjoy them regardless of their dietary requirements! Add oats or oat flour into your smoothie recipe at around 1/4 cup per serving (i.e. one scoop of protein powder). This will give your smoothie a thicker consistency.
4.Add chia seeds or flaxseed
Add chia seeds or flaxseed. These are both good sources of fiber, which will help thicken up your shake without changing its flavor too much. Add 1-2 tablespoons of either into your blender with your favorite protein powder, milk and ice cubes (for an added thickening effect).
5.Use whole milk instead of skim milk.
Whole milk has more fat than skim milk and will generally give you a thicker shake than skim milk would. If you prefer to use skim milk because it’s healthier for you, try adding 1-2 tablespoons of heavy cream or half n half for added thickness and flavor.
6.Freeze your fruit before blending it into your shake
Frozen fruits will also help thicken up a shake and give it more body since they have less water content than fresh fruits do (which means they’ll absorb less liquid as well).
7.Add cottage cheese
Both of these have a high protein content, but they also have lots of fat and carbs as well. The carbs will help make your shake thicker, while the fats make it more filling. If you use cottage cheese, make sure it’s low-fat or nonfat; full-fat versions are too high in calories and fat.
8.Add oats or ground flaxseed
Both oats and flaxseed are good sources of soluble fiber, which helps slow down digestion by absorbing water in your gut. Add them at the same time as other ingredients for best results.
9.Use nut butters or nut butter powder
If you want a thicker shake, add some nut butter or nut butter powder. These products are made from nuts and are very thick in texture. You can use them sparingly in your shakes to give them a boost of thickness without changing the flavor too much.
10.Add frozen fruit or ice cubes.
Adding frozen fruit will not only give you more calories and nutrients from the fruit itself, but also from the added water content of the fruit when it freezes into ice crystals in your shake. This can also help with digestion issues if you’re having trouble getting all of your daily servings of fruits and vegetables in one sitting at once
11.Add extra ice cubes
To make your protein shake thicker, add more ice cubes. The added water will make the shake more dilute and help thicken it up. It’s recommended that you use approximately 1 cup of ice per 10 ounces of liquid when making shakes and smoothies at home.
12.Use less liquid
If you don’t want to add more ice cubes, try using less liquid instead. You may have accidentally added too much liquid when preparing your shake or smoothie in the first place! You can also try using a thicker milk like whole milk or 2% milk instead of skim milk or almond milk as well as replacing water with coconut water or almond milk.
13.Add a fat source
Add a tablespoon of peanut butter, for example, which will help thicken up the shake without adding too much more calories or sugar. Or try adding half an avocado, which is also a good source of healthy fats and will help thicken up your protein shake nicely without adding too many calories or sugar (just be sure to keep the avocado pitted).
14.Add oats or other grains
Oatmeal or other low-sugar grains like quinoa are great additions to any smoothie because they provide fiber and nutrients while keeping things thick and filling, not to mention tasty! Try adding a tablespoon of oatmeal powder to your next smoothie and see how much better it tastes than just plain protein powder alone.