10 Milkshake Mistakes You're Probably Making
Milkshakes are deceptively easy to make. What could be simpler than blending ice cream and milk together in a blender? With a frozen treat that is so easy to make, requiring so few ingredients, you may think that there are not many opportunities to mess it up. However, you may be surprised to hear about just how many mistakes you can run into when making a milkshake.
Have you ever stopped and wondered why the ice cream keeps separating from the milk once it is blended? Or maybe your milkshakes taste fine, but the texture seems a little off? Perhaps you are simply wondering if there are better flavor options out there, but are afraid to stray from your tried-and-true recipe. No matter what your concerns are, we are here to provide you with a list of common milkshake mistakes you may be making, and some things to keep in mind the next time you open up the freezer and pull out that gallon of ice cream. Heed our advice, and you'll wind up with magnificent milkshakes every time.
1. Using the wrong kind of ice cream
A great milkshake starts by picking the best ice cream as your base. If you purchase low-quality ice cream, your milkshake could wind up being the wrong consistency, or simply not rich enough in flavor. So it's worth spending a couple of extra dollars at the grocery store to make sure you buy the best quality ice cream possible. And that goes beyond the ingredients used to make the ice cream; the ratio of those ingredients matter, too.
You do not need to seek out ultra-premium brands, but you should do some research to find out which grocery store brands of ice cream rank higher than others, especially when it comes to creaminess and overall richness in flavor. This is especially true of vanilla. for which there are so many options out there. When selecting an ice cream, you want to make sure that there is an ample amount of milk fat to achieve that perfect creamy texture in your milkshakes. While lighter varieties may seem tasty, that may just translate to less ice cream packed into the container. Be on the lookout for brands labeling their products as a "frozen dairy dessert," because those, in fact, are not ice cream, according to the USDA.
2. Straying from vanilla ice cream
Just like ice cream itself, milkshakes come in a wide variety of flavors. But don't fall for the trap of matching the ice cream you buy in the store to the flavor of milkshake you want to make at home. One of the most common mistakes you can make is straying from the basics. That is to say, keep it simple and buy the highest quality vanilla ice cream you can find. Great vanilla ice cream can yield the best vanilla milkshake, proving that you do not need to hide behind any added flavors.
However, if you want a different kind of milkshake, you will still want to stick with vanilla ice cream. Just like a perfect blank canvas, good vanilla ice cream can take on any kind of added flavor you throw in when making a milkshake. In fact, according to Baking Mischief, the perfect chocolate milkshake calls for vanilla ice cream. The best part is that you can make delicious chocolate, coffee, mint, or any other flavored milkshakes without having to buy a bunch of different kinds of ice cream. Another reason why vanilla is the reigning ice cream champ when making milkshakes is that, in general, vanilla tends to have less added sugar than other ice cream flavors. Your milkshake will be plenty sweet by the time it is ready with all of the other ingredients added in, so there's no sense in throwing in unnecessary sugar by using flavored ice cream.
3. Using rock-hard ice cream
When inspiration strikes and you are suddenly in the mood for a milkshake, you may understandably want to make one as quickly as possible, pulling all of your ingredients out from the refrigerator and freezer to whip together a dessert within minutes. But this is when you want to practice restraint and be a little patient, allowing your ice cream to thaw for several minutes before you begin blending. Rock-hard ice cream is no fun to work with, and can leave you more frustrated than excited at the prospect of scooping your frozen treat into the blender in order to make a delicious milkshake.
When it comes time to thaw your ice cream, whatever you do, do not turn to your microwave to speed things along. And simply setting on the counter to thaw at room temperature can quickly turn the texture to soup. So it is absolutely worth the wait to let your ice cream sit in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes (per Cook's Illustrated).
4. Messing up your ice cream-to-milk ratio
Perhaps the biggest mistake people make when whipping together a milkshake is messing up the ice cream-to-milk ratio. If you add too little milk, the blender will not be able to mix any of the ingredients together and may get stuck. But if you add too much milk, your milkshake will come out closer to a liquid-like consistency, or worse, the ice cream and milk could separate. So, what ratio should you be aiming for?
A perfect milkshake requires less milk than you may realize. The ratio you want to aim for is approximately a quarter-cup of milk for every cup of ice cream, according to Food Network. Of course, you may have to toy around with different ratios when you are just starting out to determine what works best based on your particular brand of ice cream, milk type, and how hard the ice cream is when it comes out of the freezer. Keep in mind that super-thick milkshakes may appear like they need more milk, but the drink will gradually melt as you enjoy it, making it easier to drink without running the risk of adding too much liquid to thin it out.
5. Not considering milk substitutes
Milk substitutes such as oat milk, coconut milk, and soy milk have risen in popularity over the years thanks to improvements in flavor as well as an increase in the amount of shoppers seeking healthy alternatives to dairy, especially if they are experiencing any kind of intolerance. These milk substitutes can be swapped in wherever you would normally use cow's milk, including in your morning coffee. But do they also work when making a milkshake? When an ultra-creamy consistency is what we are aiming for, you may feel a bit apprehensive before substituting a liquid that does not have the same milkfat content. But it is possible to still achieve the milkshake of your dreams with a dairy alternative.
If you want that creamy texture, Unicorns in the Kitchen suggests sticking to oat milk, as it has a creamier consistency among the dairy-free milks. I Live For Greens also points out that oat milk has a milder flavor, which could blend well with all kinds of ice cream types or added ingredients depending on the milkshake you want to make. But do not just consider non-dairy liquids when thinking about milk substitutes. You can also swing in the entirely opposite direction and go with a dairy product that has even more milkfat than milk, like heavy cream. Also look into adding milk powder to achieve that perfect amount of creaminess.
6. Using a traditional blender
When it is time to mix all of your ingredients together to make that perfect creamy milkshake, most of us will reach for our blender. But you may actually be making a mistake by not considering other small appliances in your kitchen that can get the job done just as well, if not better.
Next time you make a milkshake, skip the blender altogether and instead pull your food processor out of storage. According to America's Test Kitchen, food processors add more air to the ingredients as they blend together, thanks to the fact that most processors are wider and more flat, as opposed to blenders, which are taller and more narrow. That added air will help to make your milkshakes fluffier. These are also a better appliance to use if you plan on tossing in ingredients like Oreos, since food processors are built for chopping up harder pieces of food. In additon, food processors create more heat than blenders, so if you have ice cream crystals that need melting, you'll be able to do so more effectively than in a blender.
7. Adding too much whipped cream
When you order a milkshake at your local diner, it almost always comes topped with a mountain of whipped cream (and usually a cherry, which you may or may not try to pawn off on somebody else at your table). While some might think there is no such thing as too much whipped cream — in fact, a third of people we. surveyed said it's the best ingredient to add to a milkshake – we are going to make the argument that less is more.
One Redditor suggests that whipped cream is unnecessary because it will either dilute the ice cream when mixed in, and it is simply in the way of getting to the milkshake. Another sharp-eyed Redditor points out that whipped cream is often used to fool diners into thinking they are getting more than what they actually ordered, since the whipped cream can add to the overall height of the milkshake. A third user on Reddit simply adds that whipped cream is not necessarily the best food item for you, and there is no need to double down on the dairy by topping a milkshake with it. If you love whipped cream, then this tip may seem skippable, but if you want to make the best milkshake possible, and enjoy more of it, then burying it under too much whipped cream can distract from the actual dessert.
8. Adding ice
Part of the appeal that a milkshake offers is that it is a cold beverage, especially enticing if you are looking for a treat to enjoy on a hot day. But whatever you do, it is imperative that you avoid adding ice cubes to your milkshake as you blend the ingredients together.
Adding ice might seem like a sound idea, whether you are looking to make your drink colder or to add to the thickness of the shake. But this move can ultimately water down the consistency of your milkshake, which is the opposite of that creamy texture and rich flavor you want (via Food Network). In fact, if you were to make any mistakes when blending together a milkshake, you would probably be better off adding too much milk than adding ice cubes, according to Chef's Corner Store. The ice will water down the consistency more than the surplus of milk will. It might be a good idea to check on your milkshake as you blend it to see if it needs any additional ingredients. If it is not thick enough, just add another scoop of ice cream.
9. Leaving out tasty toppings
What if we were to tell you that a milkshake only needs to be half of the dessert? If you have ever feasted your eyes on a Crazy Shake from Black Tap, then you will know that a milkshake is merely a vessel for some insane, larger-than-life toppings (via Fox Business). Think full-size cookies, slices of cake, and enough candy to open up your own sweets shop. Even Panera Bread is getting in on the elaborate milkshake game, complete with ornate toppings.
The good news is that you do not need to whip out your stand mixer and bake an entire batch of cookies to come up with inventive toppings for your milkshakes. Look around your pantry to see what sweets you may have in stock to throw on top of your milkshake. Store-bought cookies, candy, and even salty snacks like pretzels could work. Sometimes you can't beat a simple milkshake that only blends together ice cream and milk, but it is also a lot fun to experiment and come up with different ways to bring your milkshake to the next level.
10. Not experimenting with flavors
Vanilla and chocolate milkshakes are classics for a reason, especially if they are your go-to ice cream flavors. And strawberry is the preferred milkshake flavor for many (via RTA Outdoor Living). But what if your favorite ice cream flavor is something more unique, like coffee, peanut butter, or cherry Garcia? These days, many ice cream shops offer an assortment of creative milkshake flavors, including cheesecake, caramel, and pineapple, to name a few. But you don't have to go to a shop to make your own delicious milkshake at home, in a variety of flavors, if you're willing to get experimental.
If all you are doing is sticking to the same old milkshake recipe, as good as it may be, you are missing out on a world of possible flavor combinations. Any ice cream flavor can be blended into a milkshake, and there are tons of ingredients that can be added to vanilla ice cream to transform your shake into an explosion of flavor. Think outside the box and try not-so-obvious ingredients, like avocado, bacon, or cake mix — just maybe not all in the same shake. If you are feeling really adventurous, you can even add a shot of liqueur to turn your milkshake into a boozy treat.