Malt vs Shake: How are They Different?

Are you a staunch milkshake supporter or curious about the resurgence of malts? Dive into our comprehensive guide on malt vs shake and discover which might become your next favorite beverage.

HighlightDescription
Malt Origin & CompositionMalt is derived from germinated barley and has a distinct nutty taste; used in various beverages & dishes.
Milkshake BasicsA blend of ice cream and cold milk, often flavored with syrups, fruits, or other additions.
Malt vs. Milkshake: DifferencesWhile both are creamy, malted shakes have a unique ‘malty’ flavor and tend to be thicker.
Nutritional InsightsMalted shakes, due to malt powder, contain vitamins like D, B2, B6 and minerals like selenium & potassium.
Whataburger MaltA classic malted milkshake comprising ice cream, milk, and malted milk powder.

What is Malt?

Malted Milk

Malt, especially in beverages, refers to malted milk powder. This is an evaporated powder made primarily from malted barley, wheat flour, and whole milk. Malt originates from germinated barley, which is dried using a process termed as malting. The germination starts when barley is soaked in water, but is halted by roasting it in hot air.

The resulting malt or malted milk powder has a distinct nutty and sweet taste. It’s versatile: dissolve it in water for a standalone drink or add it to milkshakes to transform them into malted shakes. Beyond beverages, this powder can elevate the flavors of puddings, cakes, cookies, waffles, and pancakes.

Fun Fact: Malted milk powders come in different flavors such as chocolate and vanilla, allowing for richer and more varied malted beverages.

Popular brands to consider if you’re keen on trying malted beverages include Carnation Malted Milk and King Arthur Malted Milk Powder. These are trusted names in the industry, often recommended for their consistent quality.

What are Milkshakes?

Milkshakes

The timeless milkshake is a blend of cold milk and ice cream. Add-ons can range from chocolate chips, cookie dough, to fresh or frozen fruits. Syrups or sauces like chocolate, caramel, and strawberry enhance the flavor. Once blended, these ingredients yield a creamy and luscious drink, perfect for any sweet tooth.

Current Trends: There’s an ongoing wave of innovation in milkshake preparations. Non-dairy milk alternatives, frozen yogurt, and even coffee ice cream have made their way into milkshakes. Quirky blends featuring cakes, cookies, or even boba shakes with tapioca pearls are changing the traditional milkshake game.

Malted Drinks vs Shakes: A Direct Comparison

malt vs shake

Wondering how these two beverages stack up against each other? Here’s a quick breakdown:

CriteriaRegular MilkshakeMalted Shake
Taste & TextureSweet and creamy consistency.Richer and nuttier flavor with a distinctive slushie-like texture.
CompositionDoes not include malted milk powder.Contains malted milk powder.
  • Taste & Texture: While regular milkshakes are renowned for their sweet and creamy consistency, malted shakes introduce a richer and nuttier flavor. The addition of malt powder makes the drink thicker, offering a distinctive slushie-like texture.
  • Composition: The primary difference lies in the malted milk powder. A malted shake essentially includes this powder, while a regular milkshake does not.

Nutrient Profiles: Malted Shakes Vs Milkshakes

CriteriaMalted ShakesMilkshakes
VitaminsSource of vitamins D, B2, and B6.Not specifically mentioned (standard vitamins from milk).
MineralsContains selenium and potassium.Not specifically mentioned (standard minerals from milk).
DigestibilityMore digestible due to the malted powder.Standard digestibility.
Sugar, Fat, & CaloriesContains substantial amounts (enjoy in moderation).Contains substantial amounts (enjoy in moderation).

Malted shakes have an edge when it comes to nutrition. The malted powder is a source of vitamins like D, B2, and B6, and minerals including selenium and potassium. This nutritional boost makes malted shakes slightly healthier and more digestible than regular milkshakes.

However, a word of caution: both beverages contain substantial amounts of sugar, fat, and calories. It’s wise to enjoy them in moderation.

Where You Can Find Milkshakes and Malted Shakes

Classic Diners: Rewind a few decades, and you’d find malted drinks and milkshakes in almost every diner, soda fountain, or ice cream parlor.

Modern Franchises: Fast-food chains like Dairy Queen and Burger King have incorporated milkshakes into their menu. Many burger joints also champion the iconic burger-shake combo.

DIY: With countless online recipes, whipping up these beverages at home is a breeze. Homemade versions grant the flexibility to adjust sweetness levels and portion sizes.

More Questions?

Below you’ll find answers to questions we are often asked about the malt vs shake debate.

01. How Do I Make a Malt?

A vanilla malted shake blends milk, vanilla ice cream, and about 4-5 spoons of malt powder. You can customize with your preferred ice cream flavor or additional ingredients.

02. Malt Vs Shake – Which is Healthier?

While malted drinks boast added vitamins and minerals, the nutritional content in terms of sugar and fat remains similar.

03. What’s the Flavor Profile of Malted Shakes?

What’s the Flavor Profile of Malted Shakes? Malted shakes have the characteristic flavor of their added ingredients (like ice cream or syrups) enriched by a nutty, sweeter note from the malt.

04. What are Malts at Whataburger?

Whataburger’s malt is a classic malted milkshake, a blend of ice cream, milk, and malted milk powder.

05. Benefits of Malt?

Malt improves digestion, provides essential nutrients, and even assists in enhancing the flavor profile of various foods.

06. Is It Safe to Drink Malt Every Day?

As malted powders are pretty inoffensive, it is okay to drink malted milk or smoothies every day. If you have a child or are recovering from an illness, it is actually a good thing. However, drinking a malted shake every day is a very unhealthy choice.

07. What are the Benefits of Consuming Malt?

As malt comes from barley grains, it contains a good deal of fiber, folate, potassium, and selenium. It also has vitamins like B6. These make it a good option for those with mineral or vitamin deficiencies. The fiber also makes it good at digesting cholesterol and reducing insulin activity.

To Settle 

Besides coffee or caffeinated beverages, milkshakes and malts are some of the most popular drinks that you can have at any time during the day. There’s a lot to love about them- they are filling, taste amazing, and are great for cooling down. 

No matter which side you are on in the malt vs shake debacle, we can all agree that they are both drinks that will never fall out of popularity and are great ways to sneak in extra ice cream every week!

About BoatBasinCafe: Our dedicated team of culinary enthusiasts and beverage aficionados tirelessly test and research to bring you the best insights from the world of food and drinks. With backgrounds in food science, nutrition, and gastronomy, we’re here to quench your thirst for knowledge.

Best Blender for Protein Shakes & Smoothies – 8 Top Rated Models

Whether you want to improve your health with a daily smoothie or boost your protein intake with protein shakes, you need an efficient and quality blender. There are a variety of countertop and personal blenders on the market to choose from.

This article will highlight and review the top 8 blenders for smoothies, and protein shakes and provide a buying guide to help you narrow down the options to the most suitable one for you. Our top recommendation is the NutriBullet personal blender. Read on for the other seven.

You may also like: Malt vs Shake: How are They Different?

Best Personal Blenders for Protein Shakes and Smoothies

1. Best Overall: NutriBullet Personal Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 600 Watts
  • Capacity:  24oz
  • Multiple Speeds: No
  • Pulse Control: No

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Simple, Intuitive Design. The NutriBullet Personal Blender has a simple, easy-to-use design for everyday convenience. Simply put your preferred ingredients in the cup, push, twist, and blend. It comes with a to-go lid such that you can blend, close up the cup, and get going.
  • Powerful and Efficient. This blender is compact yet powerful. It is powered by a 600W base motor and is fitted with sharp, stainless steel extractor blades. It uses cyclonic action to break down even tough ingredients within 60 seconds. It can be used with various ingredients, including berries, nuts, fruits, protein powder, etc.
  • Durable. The cup is made of BPA-free plastic. The NutriBullet Personal Blender is backed by a 1-year warranty. It meets the North American & Canadian Electrical Standards.
  • Easy to Clean. The cup is dishwasher safe. To clean it, twist off the blade, rinse it with water, and put the cup on the top rack of the dishwasher.

2. Best Budget: Oster BLSTPB-WBL My Blend

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 250 Watts
  • Capacity:  20oz
  • Multiple Speeds: No
  • Pulse Control: No

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • One Touch Blending. The Oster My Blend blender has a quick and convenient operation with one touch blending. Simply mount the blending blade on the bottle and place it on the base to start blending. You can use it to prepare your favorite protein shake or smoothie whether at home, office or on the move
  • Adequate Power. The Oster My Blend is powered by a 250watt motor, which pulverizes ice, frozen fruit, and protein powder. However, it is not suitable for use with hard ingredients.
  • Versatile: The 20-ounce BPA-free plastic bottle can be used for blending and as a sports bottle the rest of the day. Once you have finished blending, remove the blade attachment, and close the bottle with a lid. The bottle lid has a carry hook for easy portability throughout the day. Once you finish your smoothie or shake, you can rinse the bottle and fill it with water.
  • Portable. The Oster BLSTPB-WBL My Blend is best suited as a travel protein shake blender that doubles up as a sports bottle. It has a compact, super-lightweight design that packs easily for portability and takes minimal countertop space.

 3. Best Value for Money: Ninja Nutri Pro Compact Personal Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 900 Watts
  • Capacity:  18oz and 24oz
  • Multiple Speeds: Yes
  • Pulse Control: No

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Simple, Sleek, and Sturdy Design. The base of the blade takes up minimal space on your countertop. Yet, it is heavy to ensure that your personal blender sits sturdily when blending. It also has rubber grips at the bottom for enhanced sturdiness.
  • Super Powerful. The Nutri Ninja Pro personal blender is powered by a 900 watts motor that breaks down even hard ingredients. Although it does not have a pulse control, you can manually pulse your ingredients during blending by slightly loosening and then tightening the Nutri Ninja cup on the motor to crush ice, seeds, nuts, and frozen ingredients.
  • Comes with Two Jars. The main jar has a 24-ounce capacity, while the additional one is 18 ounces—suitable for single-serve blends. Both jars are made of BPA-free plastic and are dishwasher safe. The blender also comes with three lids—two to-go lids with spouts for each of the jars and one with a blade attachment.
  • Great Value for Money. The Nutri Ninja Pro is affordable yet has great features—a powerful motor, multiple jars, durability, and convenience. It can also be used for a wide range of recipes, including smoothies, shakes, dips, and dressings.

4. Magic Bullet Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 250 Watts
  • Capacity:  12oz and 22oz
  • Multiple Speeds: No
  • Pulse Control: No

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Versatile. The Magic Bullet blender can be used to chop, mix, blend, whip, and grind a wide range of recipes, including smoothies, appetizers, desserts, etc.
  • Easy to Use. It is simple and quick to use. Just load your ingredients into the cup. Twist the blade into the motor, line up the jar tabs, and place the jar on the motor base. The blender will pulverize your ingredients in less than a minute.
  • Powerful Blending Mechanism. The blender is fitted with a 250 watts motor that provides enough power for different food processing tasks. It is designed with a cross blade attachment that operates cyclonically to circulate the ingredients and process them evenly.
  • Comes with a Wide Range of Attachments. The Magic Bullet blender consists of 11-pieces. It comes with three jars—a tall cup, a short cup, and a party mug. The package also contains two lip rings, two resalable lids, and one go-to lid. Furthermore, it is compatible with other Magic Bullet attachments such that you can change the cross-blade attachment with a flat milling blade.

5. Hamilton Beach Personal Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 175 Watts
  • Capacity:  14oz
  • Multiple Speeds: No
  • Pulse Control: No

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Simple, Compact Design. The Hamilton Beach personal blender has a simple and compact design for enhanced portability. It is suitable for office, home, and travel use. You can blend on the go, at home or the office, close the jar and carry it as a bottle.
  • Easy to Operate. It uses a one-touch blending mechanism to make your smoothie, shake, marinade, dressing etc.
  • Efficient. The Hamilton Beach personal blender has a 175watts motor that provides adequate power to blend your smoothie or shake fast and reliably. It is best suited for use with soft ingredients.             However, the stainless-steel blades crush the ice seamlessly.
  • Backed with a 3-Year Warranty. The manufacturer backs the quality of this blender with a 3-year warranty.

Best Countertop Blenders for Smoothies and Protein Shakes

6. Best Value for Money: Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 1400 Watts
  • Capacity:  48oz
  • Multiple Speeds: Yes
  • Pulse Control: Yes

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Easy to Operate. The Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender has several intuitive control features to help you achieve a refined texture for your shake or smoothies. It has a pulse feature and variable speed and handles even the toughest ingredients.
  • Suitable for Making Multiple Servings of Smoothies and Shakes. Most of the blenders reviewed in this article are personal blenders suitable for making a single-serving at a time. However, if you live in a small or medium-sized household and you would like to make multiple servings of a smoothie or shake at a go, the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender is a great fit. It comes with a 48-ounce blender jar.
  • Great Value for Money. Vitamix offers a wide range of blenders, and the Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender is one of their most affordable options. While it may not have smart, sophisticated features like the pricier Vitamix blenders, it has excellent performance and quality. It is backed with a 5-year warranty.
  • Self-Cleaning. The Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender is designed to be self-cleaning. Simply put some water in the jar, add a drop of dishwashing soap, and run a 30-60 second blending cycle. Then rinse and dry the jar.

7. Best Budget: Ninja BL610 Professional Countertop Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 1000 Watts
  • Capacity:  72oz
  • Multiple Speeds: Yes
  • Pulse Control: Yes

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Large Capacity. The Ninja BL610 Professional Countertop Blender comes with a 72-ounce blender pitcher to enable you to make multiple servings of your favorite smoothies and protein shakes.
  • Innovative Blending Technology: It utilizes intelligent, total crushing technology coupled with 1000watts to deliver unbeatable power to pulverize even the toughest ingredients. You can incorporate ice, nuts, seeds, whole fruits, and vegetables in your smoothies.
  • Easy to Use. The Auto IQ preset controls are quite intuitive to use. Besides, the blender comes with a quick start guide with detailed instructions for using it. The pitcher jar is calibrated to easily determine the amounts of ingredients to add.

8. Best Premium: Blendtec Professional 800 Blender

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Product Specs

  • Wattage: 800 Watts
  • Capacity:  90oz
  • Multiple Speeds: Yes
  • Pulse Control: Yes

Why It Stands Out: Features and Benefits

  • Minimal Noise. The Blendtec Professional 800 Blender is uniquely designed with a sound enclosure to minimize reduction. You can continue to have a conversation even as you blend.
  • Innovative Blending Technology. This blender blends in 6-cycles to ensure all your ingredients are blended to a smooth consistency. It has 11-speed controls. It is designed with strong, blunt blades that enhance safety when cleaning yet blend effectively. The blades are made of cold-forged hardened steel, making them much stronger than most over blender blades on the market.
  • Can Be Used for a Wide Range of Recipes. The Blendtec Professional 800 Blender is a multi-purpose food processor. Aside from making smoothies and protein shakes, it can be used for a wide range of food processing tasks making soup, batter, dough, etc.

Best Blender for Protein Shakes and Smoothies Buying Guide

Best Blender for Protein Shakes

Below are key factors to consider when buying a blender for smoothies and protein shakes.

Type

Two main types of blenders are suitable for smoothies and protein shakes—personal and countertop blenders.

Typically, personal blenders are designed to make a single serving at a time. They are compact, lightweight, and easily portable, so you can bring them along in your car, for use at the office or when traveling.

Most come with a to-go lid that enables you to blend, close up, and bring along the jar as a sports bottle. They are best suited for use with soft ingredients.

On the other hand, countertop blenders and bigger, bulkier, and more powerful. They have a larger capacity and can be used to make multiple servings of smoothies or protein shakes. They are most suitable for small to medium-sized households. Most can be used for a wide range of food processing activities.

Performance

Performance mainly depends on the blender’s blending technology, motor power, and control features. For instance, cyclonic blending technology enables the blender to rotate the ingredients effectively to ensure they are uniformly pulverized.

Some blenders come with a flat blade, while others have a cross blade. A flat blade is most suitable for whipping and mixing, while the cross blade is more efficient at blending. Also, the heavier the blade, the stronger it is, ensuring it can blend even tough ingredients. Features such as pulsing and variable speed also enable you to blend more efficiently.

Durability

Durability depends on the materials used to make the blender. Go for stainless steel blades and BPA-free plastic. Always check previous customer reviews to determine if a specific blender is durable and reliable. Also, go for blenders with a warranty—the longer the warranty, the better.

Conclusion

Ultimately, our best pick for a personal blender is the NutriBullet Personal Blender, and Vitamix E310 Explorian Blender for the best countertop blender for smoothies and protein shakes.

The Oster BLSTPB-WBL My Blend is a great budget option that doubles up as a sports bottle, while the Ninja BL610 Professional Countertop Blender is affordable and has a large capacity.

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Best Blender for Protein Shakes & Smoothies - 8 Top Rated Models