How to make protein powder taste better?

Here are 5 easy ways to make protein powder taste better. 

5 ways to make your shake taste better.

Not all protein powders taste good. In fact, most do not. They are either chalky, gritty, or have a terrible aftertaste. If you do not like how your protein powder, my first suggestion is to find yourself a new protein powder. Protein powder should taste good because if consuming it is a chore, it is not sustainable in the long term. A diet is not a six-week affair, it is for life, so spend your hard-earned dollars on something that tastes good.

Sick of protein powders with a bad aftertaste? 

Many protein powders have a bitter aftertaste because they are made with artificial sweeteners or stevia. Unlike sugar, artificial sweeteners and stevia activate bitter taste receptors in addition to sweet taste receptors. This bitterness, which many say reminds them of licking aluminum foil, can linger in your mouth for hours. 

Instead of artificial sweeteners or stevia, we use a natural sweetener called monk fruit. Monk fruit – also known as luo han guo – is a melon-like fruit native to Southeast Asia. Monk fruit sweetener is created by removing the seeds and skin of the fruit, crushing the fruit, and collecting the juice, which is then dried into a concentrated powder. As far as low/zero calorie sweeteners go, monk fruit is the most natural and best tasting. It actually tastes like sugar.

Sick of chalky protein powders?

Most protein powders are made with protein concentrates and isolates, foods chemically or mechanically stripped of everything but the protein. They are listed on the ingredient list as “pea protein,” for example, as opposed to “peas.” Unlike real foods, protein concentrates and isolates are missing the nutrients that make food taste good. The result is a protein powder with a chalky aftertaste. 

The main ingredients in our protein powders are egg whites and chickpeas. Egg whites are simply pasteurized and dried before becoming protein powder. Chickpeas are just dried and ground. Unlike protein concentrates and isolates, they have a delicious, natural flavor and aftertaste. The egg whites that we use are particularly delicious because they are broken less than twenty four hours from when they are laid. Other eggs sit for days, sometimes weeks before being processed. As a result, they begin to decay and release a chemical called hydrogen sulfide, which has a potent sulfur odor. 

Sick of gritty protein powders?

Wondering to make protein powder less gritty? Many protein powders, especially plant-based protein powders, have a gritty texture. This is often due to their insoluble fiber content. The more insoluble fiber a protein powder contains, the grittier it is. Some plant-based proteins are also less processed (refined) than others, and therefore have a coarser consistency. Although this is not a bad thing, no one likes a protein shake that tastes like dirt. 

If your protein shake is gritty and you are not using a blender, use a blender. A good blender is usually the difference between a smooth, creamy shake and a gritty one. If you are already using a blender and your protein shake is still gritty, then it is time to find a new protein powder. 

I understand, however, that you might not be able to afford a new protein powder at this time, or that you are not willing to try something new until you have finished what you already have. If this is the case, the following tips are for you. Now without further ado, here are 5 easy ways to make protein powder taste better. 

5 ways to make protein powder taste better.

1. Protein powder tastes better when mixed with milk, including dairy-free milk, than when mixed with water. If you are unsatisfied how your protein powder tastes, and you mix it with water, switch to milk. This is especially true if you find your protein shake to be too sweet, as milk helps balance the sweetness of artificial sweeteners and stevia. Switching to milk does add a few more calories, but if you use cow’s milk, it also adds a few more grams of protein.

2. If your protein shake is too gritty, use a good blender or shaker bottle (with a whisk). Mixing protein powder with a spoon, or simply shaking it in a water bottle will leave you with a lumpy mess.

3. If your protein shake is too watery, add a frozen banana. As long as you have a good blender, it will thicken your shake.

4. If you are anything like me, you probably prefer a cold protein shake to a warm one. Add a handful of ice – no need to blend it – for a colder shake.

5. If you cannot, despite your best efforts, make your protein shake taste good, consider finding another use for your protein powder. Mixing it in oatmeal or yogurt are two great options. Baking with it is another alternative. Check out these delicious high protein recipes.

A word to the wise – unflavored protein powder is not meant to be consumed with just milk or water. Although there are those who disagree, unflavored protein powder is best when blended in a smoothie or added to a recipe. Unflavored does not mean flavorless, and if you are unsatisfied with the taste of your unflavored protein powder, adjust your expectations. We make a great unflavored protein powder with just egg whites. It tastes (almost) like nothing. 

Again, drink wholesome makes delicious protein powder with stomach-friendly real foods. Order samples to see for yourself.

drink wholesome is the best tasting protein powder.