This Cheap Frother Is My Favorite Way to Mix Protein Powder

Protein shakes can end up chunky or lumpy if you don’t mix them right. That’s why a shaker bottle does a better job of mixing whey into milk than simply stirring with a spoon. A blender works even better, if you’re up for cleaning a blender when you’re done. But there is a better option: a handheld frother.

To be clear, this is for drinks where you are mixing a powder into a liquid. (If you want ice and fruit in your protein shake—a smoothie, rather than 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’ve tested the frother, and found it gives excellent results with:

• Collagen powder and coffee (or tea)

• Whey powder and water

• Clear whey and water

• Hot cocoa and milk

• Various supplement powders in, well, anything

Embarrassingly, I didn’t think of this on my own. Supplement companies like MUD\WTR and Beam include a handheld frother in their starter packs. In fact, the only reason I own a frother in the first place is that MUD\WTR sent me one with some samples once in hopes I would review the product. (My review: I don’t like it.)

How to use a frother to mix your protein powder

First, get yourself a frother. These are simple handheld gadgets that are priced about the same as a shaker bottle, about $7-10 on the low end, and going up to roughly infinity since these are a Fancy Coffee Accessory. The cheap ones will do fine for our purposes. Get one that is powered by AA batteries or that you charge over USB.

Next, get your liquid ready. The first time you do this, make sure to use an oversized container. The liquid will rise as you turn the frother on. But if you use, say, eight ounces of liquid in a 16-ounce container, you’ll avoid a surprise mess.

Add the powder to the liquid, insert the frother, and turn it on. (Unless you’re using clear whey, which tends to gum up the frother; better to insert the frother first and then add the powder.) If you hold the frother in the center of the cup, you’ll get a whirlpool effect that sends the liquid up toward (or over) the rim of the container, hence my warning. Once you’ve done this a few times, you’ll figure out how to do it with less mess. Angling the frother and holding it against the side of the cup tends to keep the waves down. You can also pulse the frother a few times instead of having it on continuously, which cuts down on the waves even further.

It only takes five to 10 seconds to mix yourself a smooth, creamy protein shake—or hot cocoa, or whatever else your smooth-beverage-appreciating heart desires. Take a few more seconds to wash the business end of the frother; a brief swish with a soapy sponge under running water is usually all you need. And then enjoy your perfectly mixed drink with nothing besides your cup to clean up later.