How to Make Your Shakes Thicker?

thickshake

Here are several ways to make your protein shakes thicker (like milkshakes):

  1. Xanthan gum – this is a white powder that’s basically just fiber (so zero net carbs).  A small amount will thicken soups, sauces, and…your protein shakes.  For one shake, I’d add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoons of xanthan gum (depends on how thick you want it). Add the xanthan gum after the protein powder so that it doesn’t mix with the liquid before you start blending (otherwise it might congeal some), and then blend well. I buy it from Amazon here because this brand is the cheapest (and I don’t think there’s any difference between any of the brands), but Bob’s Red Mill sells xanthan gum in many grocery stores at a higher price.

  2. Heavy cream – 2 tablespoons of heavy cream will add a great creamy texture and milky taste to your protein shake.

  3. Coconut cream – Coconut cream is similar to heavy cream, except it’ll give your shake a hint of coconut flavor (it doesn’t add a strong taste). You can find coconut cream by leaving a can of coconut milk still for a few days. The coconut milk will settle with the coconut cream on top. Then carefully open the can and spoon 2 tablespoons of coconut cream into the shake. You can buy cans of coconut milk (note the non-canned containers won’t work – they have a different type of coconut milk) either in bulk from Amazon or singly from Netrition.

  4. Ice – adding ice and then blending the shake well with a good blender will thicken the shake too.  (Read this to see what to look for in a good blender.)  I usually suggest adding 1/2 cup of ice, but you could add up to 1 cup of ice.  Of course, once the ice melts, it won’t be thick anymore!  (I’ve also heard that frozen milk, coconut milk, or almond milk would work in lieu of the liquid itself.)

  5. Casein protein powder – substitute half a scoop of casein protein powder for whey protein, and you’ll find that your shake is much thicker.  If I made a shake with just casein, it’d be way too thick for me to drink!

  6. Flax meal -  add 2 tablespoons of flax meal to your shake, and you’ll also find it’s fuller.  The downside to this is that the shake isn’t quite as smooth, because the flax meal doesn’t dissolve.

Here are some other ways I’ve heard about but haven’t gotten around to trying yet:

  1. Konjac flour and guar gum – both konjac flour and guar gum are similar to xanthan gum (i.e., pretty much pure fiber).

  2. Ricotta cheese and cream cheese – I have a hard time imagining that this won’t significantly alter the flavor of my protein shake, but I’ll give it a go at some point.

  3. Raw egg – I’m not a big fan of eating raw eggs due to various health dangers, so I’m not sure if I’ll try this, but I’ve heard it works. 

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