The limes are squeezed, the tequila is out and there is no cocktail shaker in the house. That is less of a problem than it looks. A shaker is just a sealed metal container you rattle with ice. What makes a shaken drink taste right is the ice doing its work: chilling, adding water and beating in air. Most kitchens hold something that can do the same job well enough for a margarita or a daiquiri tonight.
The substitutes are not equal, though. Some chill well and some barely chill at all. Some leak, some are hard to strain and some do a different job altogether. This guide explains why people look for a cocktail shaker alternative and what a shaker actually does to a drink. It covers the household stand-ins that work, from a mason jar to a pint glass, and the products worth buying if you would rather not buy a shaker.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a working restaurant kitchen looks for in bar tools, the makers’ own specifications and the bartending and food sources we name.
Why people look for a cocktail shaker alternative
People usually have one of a few reasons, and the best substitute depends on yours.
- You want a drink tonight. The jar, travel mug or protein bottle in the cupboard is faster than a trip to the store.
- Space. A shaker does one job. Some people would rather use a jar that also stores salsa, or a mug they already carry every morning.
- Leaks and stuck tins. Cheap three-piece shakers can drip, and a two-piece tin set takes a little practice to seal and open. A screw-on lid feels safer to a beginner.
- The drink is not meant to be shaken. A martini or a Manhattan is stirred, and a frozen margarita goes in a blender. For those drinks you need a different tool anyway.
- You want to try before you buy. Mixing a few drinks in a jar tells you whether a home bar is worth a proper tin set.
Quick verdict: the best cocktail shaker alternative
For shaken drinks such as margaritas, sours and daiquiris, the best cocktail shaker alternative is a 16-ounce wide-mouth mason jar such as Ball’s. Fill it about halfway with ice, add the drink, close the lid tightly and shake. Add a Jarware stainless shaker lid if you want a tighter seal. A leakproof insulated mug such as the Stanley Transit Flip Top is the next best, and its spout holds back the ice. For spirit-only drinks, skip shaking and stir in a mixing glass. For frothy drinks, a hand blender does what bartenders call flash blending. For frozen margaritas, use a blender.
Five shaker substitutes compared
Our five standout picks, one for each kind of drink, with what each maker or listing states. All ten products are reviewed in full below.
| Alternative | Best for | Chills and dilutes | Aerates | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Ball 16-ounce Wide Mouth Mason Jars, 3-packBest overall alternative
|
Margaritas, sours, daiquiris | Yes, a little slower than metal | Yes, when shaken hard | View on Amazon |
Stanley Transit Flip Top Mug, 20 ozBest insulated option
|
Shaking and pouring without a strainer | Yes; the outside stays dry | Yes | View on Amazon |
Cocktail Kingdom Yarai Mixing Glass, 500 mlBest for stirred drinks
|
Martinis, Manhattans, Negronis | Yes, more slowly and gently | No, which is the point | View on Amazon |
KitchenAid Variable Speed Hand BlenderBest for frothy drinks
|
Flash-blended and egg-white drinks | Yes, in seconds with crushed ice | Strongly | View on Amazon |
Ninja Professional Blender, 72 ozBest for frozen drinks
|
Frozen margaritas by the pitcher | Turns ice into slush | Some; texture is the goal | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Capacities and materials are as stated by each maker or listing; check the listing before you buy.
What a shaker does that a substitute has to copy
Before choosing a stand-in, it helps to know what you are replacing. Dave Arnold, the food-science writer behind Liquid Intelligence, writes on his Cooking Issues blog that shaking “completely chills, dilutes and aerates a drink in around 15 seconds.” He also found shaking “basically insensitive” to technique, so any sealed container shaken hard with plenty of ice gets you most of the way there. Stirring, he writes, chills and dilutes but adds no air and does not change a drink’s texture.
America’s Test Kitchen gives the simple rule for which method to use. Drinks made only of spirits, such as a Manhattan or a martini, are stirred. Drinks with fruit juice, egg or dairy are shaken, because shaking dilutes the drink to bring acid, sugar and alcohol into balance and makes it light and foamy. A margarita, with its lime juice, is a shaken drink.
The material matters less than you might think. Arnold notes that a metal shaker heats and cools quickly with little energy, while a pint glass soaks up more heat from the drink because of its thermal mass. Heavy crystal mixing glasses soak up the most, so he chills them first. In practice, a glass jar or a thick plastic bottle gives a slightly warmer drink than a metal tin unless you shake a little longer or chill the container first.
Seven stand-ins already in your kitchen
Before you buy anything, look in the cupboard. These are the household options that bartending and food writers suggest, with what each does well and badly.
A mason jar
The most common substitute. VinePair says the sealable lid keeps the drink in while you shake, and the thin flat lid can act as a rough strainer when you pour. Tasting Table, citing Cosmopolitan, suggests a Ball jar with a ring or solid screw-top lid. To strain, hold back the ice with a knife or spatula, or use a special shaker lid. The weak point is the two-piece canning lid, which can seep if you shake hard without screwing the band down tightly.
A protein shaker bottle
Built to be shaken and sealed, so it rarely leaks. Plastic is a poor heat conductor, so the drink chills a little more slowly than in metal, and the whisk ball rattles around with the ice. Never use one for anything carbonated: BlenderBottle says its bottles are not appropriate for carbonated drinks.
An insulated travel mug or tumbler with a lid
VinePair calls a travel coffee mug a good option for shaking and pouring, and Tasting Table, quoting Tampa Bay Times food editor Michelle Stark, points out that the lid separates the drink from the ice, so you need no strainer. Keep your thumb over the sipping slot while you shake. Only use a mug whose lid locks or seals; a slide-open lid will spray.
Two pint glasses or cups
VinePair calls this the last resort. You can nest a smaller cup inside a larger one, the way a Boston shaker works, or tape two plastic cups together. Avoid jamming two glass pints together: glass does not flex the way a metal tin does, so the seal is poor and a stuck pair is hard to open. Use plastic, or pour back and forth between two glasses with ice, which chills and mixes but adds less air.
A countertop blender
The right tool for frozen drinks, and a reasonable one for some shaken drinks. Tasting Table, citing Liquor.com, says a blender works best when the ingredients are already chilled and the drink is served on the rocks, and that frozen drinks with fruit are better made in one. Our margarita machine vs blender guide covers frozen margaritas in detail.
An immersion blender
Bartenders already use spindle drink mixers for a technique called flash blending, and a hand blender is the home version. In Punch, bartender Garret Richard calls a hand blender “a more economic way to do this” and puts it at roughly 70 to 80 percent of the power of a stand-up drink mixer. It suits frothy and tiki-style drinks, which are poured out unstrained with their ice.
A glass and a long spoon
If the drink is only spirits, you do not need a shaker at all. Stir it with ice in any sturdy glass for about half a minute, then strain it into a chilled glass. Arnold notes that stirring is slower than shaking and that stirred drinks end up a little warmer and less diluted, which is what a martini drinker wants.
Ten products that can replace a shaker
If you have none of the above, or want something better than a makeshift version, these are from identifiable makers and were in stock on Amazon on the day of writing. Each review says what it does well and badly for shaken drinks, and one honest reason to skip it.
1. Ball 16-ounce Wide Mouth Mason Jars, 3-pack – The Shaker Most Kitchens Already Own
A pint mason jar is the substitute VinePair, Tasting Table and Cosmopolitan all point to first, and for good reason. It seals, it holds enough ice for one or two drinks, and the wide mouth makes it easy to add ice, measure in the drink and pour it out again. Fill it about halfway with ice, add the measured ingredients, screw the band down firmly and shake hard over the sink for around 15 seconds.
Ball’s three-pack holds 16 ounces per jar and comes with two-piece lids and bands. Ball lists the jars as BPA free and made in the USA. The wide mouth also fits the Jarware shaker lid below, which turns a jar into a sealed shaker with a stainless top.
Be realistic about the results. Glass is slower to chill than a metal tin, so shake a few seconds longer, or chill the empty jar in the freezer first. The flat canning lid is not designed for shaking and can seep at the band. To strain, slide the flat lid back slightly and pour, or hold back the ice with a spoon. Our guide to the best cocktail shaker strainer covers proper strainers if you want a clearer drink.
Why we like it
- The substitute VinePair and Tasting Table both name first
- 16 ounces leaves room for ice and one or two drinks
- Wide mouth takes ice easily and fits shaker lids
- BPA free and made in the USA, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Wide Mouth Pint (part BHBS0519S4650-2) |
|---|---|
| Type | Glass canning jar, 3-pack |
| Material | Glass; metal lids and bands |
| Capacity | 16 oz each |
| Leakproof lid | Not stated for shaking; two-piece lid and band |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated in the listing |
| Power | None |
| Care | Not stated in the listing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want one cheap container that shakes a margarita tonight and stores salsa tomorrow, or if you want to see whether home cocktails are worth a real shaker.
Skip it if you shake drinks every week; a metal tin set chills faster and seals more reliably.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Seals with a screw-on band
- Useful far beyond the bar
- Three jars in the pack
Cons
- Glass chills more slowly than metal
- Canning lid can seep when shaken
- No built-in strainer
2. Jarware Stainless Cocktail Shaker Lid, Wide Mouth – Seals a Jar for Hard Shaking
VinePair and Tasting Table both mention specialty lids that turn a mason jar into a proper shaker, and this is one of them. Jarware’s lid replaces the two-piece canning lid with a single stainless steel top and a silicone gasket, which Jarware says keeps the drink from leaking even when you shake hard. It fixes the jar’s one real weakness.
The lid is 18/8 stainless steel and about 3.35 inches across and 2.3 inches tall. Jarware lists it as compatible with Ball, Kerr, Bernardin and Quattro Stagioni wide mouth jars, and recommends a 16-ounce jar, which makes it a natural partner for the Ball jars above. It is top-rack dishwasher safe. It is sold as the lid only, so you need your own jar.
One detail the listing does not settle is straining. It does not say whether the top includes a strainer, so plan to hold back the ice with a spoon or use a separate strainer until you see how yours pours.
Why we like it
- Silicone gasket made to stop leaks while shaking, per Jarware
- 18/8 stainless steel construction
- Fits the major wide mouth jar brands
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | 82668 |
|---|---|
| Type | Shaker lid for wide mouth mason jars |
| Material | 18/8 stainless steel; silicone gasket |
| Capacity | Lid only; 16-oz jar recommended |
| Leakproof lid | Yes, per the listing |
| Dishwasher safe | Top rack |
| Power | None |
| Care | Top-rack dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you like the jar method and want it to stop dripping, or want a shaker that packs flat in a drawer.
Skip it if you do not own wide mouth jars; for the price of a lid and jars, a cheap tin shaker may suit you better.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Fixes the jar’s leak problem
- Stainless, not plastic
- Small to store
Cons
- Jar not included
- Strainer not stated
- Wide mouth jars only
3. Stanley Transit Flip Top Mug, 20 oz – Shakes and Pours Through Its Lid
VinePair calls an insulated travel mug a good option for both shaking and pouring, and Tasting Table’s tip from Michelle Stark explains why: the lid holds back the ice when you pour, so you need no strainer. The catch is that most travel mugs have slide or sip lids that spray when shaken. Stanley’s Transit Flip Top is sold as leakproof, with a flip-top lid that locks shut.
It holds 20 ounces, enough for ice and a drink or two, and is made of 18/8 recycled stainless steel with double-wall vacuum insulation. Stanley says it keeps drinks cold for 12 hours and is fully dishwasher safe. Because the walls are insulated, the outside stays dry and your hands do not warm the drink.
The same insulation is the drawback. You cannot feel the mug get cold, the usual sign that a shaken drink is ready, so count to 15 instead. Keep the lid locked while shaking and point the spout away from you when you open it.
Why we like it
- Leakproof flip-top lid that locks, per Stanley
- Lid holds the ice back as you pour
- Double-wall vacuum insulated 18/8 stainless steel
- Fully dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | Transit Flip Top (part 10-21353-0005) |
|---|---|
| Type | Insulated travel mug |
| Material | 18/8 recycled stainless steel |
| Capacity | 20 oz |
| Leakproof lid | Yes, per the listing |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Power | None |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you want one container that serves as a coffee mug on weekdays and a shaker at the weekend, with no strainer to wash.
Skip it if you want to see or feel the drink as you shake; a jar or a tin tells you more.
Pros and cons
Pros
- No strainer needed
- Outside stays dry
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Cannot feel when it is cold
- Narrow spout pours slowly
- Not sold as a cocktail tool
4. BlenderBottle Classic V2 Shaker Bottle, 28 oz – Unbreakable and Leakproof
A protein shaker bottle is made to be shaken, which already puts it ahead of most kitchen containers. BlenderBottle’s Classic V2 has a screw-on lid that BlenderBottle says makes a leak-proof seal, a flip cap over the spout, and a 316 stainless steel wire whisk ball inside. It will not break if it slips from wet hands, which makes it a sensible choice for a pool or patio.
The 28-ounce bottle has measurement markings up to 22 ounces, in ounces and milliliters, which is handy for building a drink without a jigger. It is BPA and phthalate free and dishwasher safe, according to the listing.
For cocktails it has real limits. Plastic chills a drink more slowly than metal, so shake longer. The whisk ball takes up space and rattles with the ice; you can take it out. Most important, BlenderBottle says its bottles are not appropriate for carbonated drinks, and its FAQ warns that warm liquids can build pressure and pop the cap. Shake the base of a drink and add soda water in the glass.
Why we like it
- Leak-proof screw-on lid, per BlenderBottle
- Unbreakable plastic for outdoor use
- Embossed ounce and milliliter markings
- Dishwasher safe, BPA and phthalate free
Key specifications
| Model | C03603 |
|---|---|
| Type | Shaker bottle with whisk ball |
| Material | BPA-free plastic; 316 stainless whisk |
| Capacity | 28 oz (markings to 22 oz) |
| Leakproof lid | Yes, per the listing |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Power | None |
| Care | Dishwasher; no hot or carbonated liquids |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if glass is a worry, by a pool or with a crowd, and you want a sealed bottle that measures as you pour.
Skip it if you want the coldest possible drink; plastic is the slowest of these to chill.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Will not shatter
- Seals well
- Built-in measurements
Cons
- Slowest to chill
- Never for carbonated drinks
- Whisk ball crowds the ice
5. Cocktail Kingdom Yarai Mixing Glass, 500 ml – For Drinks That Should Be Stirred
Sometimes the best alternative to a shaker is not shaking. America’s Test Kitchen’s rule is that drinks made only of spirits, such as a martini or a Manhattan, are stirred, and Dave Arnold notes that stirring chills and dilutes without adding air, which keeps those drinks clear and silky. A mixing glass is the bartender’s vessel for it.
The Yarai is the faceted Japanese-pattern mixing glass you see on many bar tops. The 500 ml size holds 16.9 ounces, which Urban Bar, its distributor, describes as one to two drinks, at about 13 cm tall and 9 cm across. Urban Bar lists it as dishwasher safe. The heavy base keeps it steady while you stir, and the spout lets you pour through a julep or Hawthorne strainer.
Two cautions. It has no lid, so it cannot replace a shaker for margaritas or sours. And Arnold found heavy glass soaks up heat from the drink, so fill it with ice water for a minute before you start. You also need a bar spoon, below, and a strainer.
Why we like it
- The right vessel for spirit-only drinks, per America’s Test Kitchen’s rule
- 16.9 oz, one to two drinks, per Urban Bar
- Heavy base stays put while you stir
- Dishwasher safe, per Urban Bar
Key specifications
| Model | MXG-YAR500 |
|---|---|
| Type | Mixing glass |
| Material | Glass (type not stated in the listing) |
| Capacity | 500 ml (16.9 oz) |
| Leakproof lid | No lid |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes, per Urban Bar |
| Power | None |
| Care | Pre-chill before use |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if martinis, Manhattans and Negronis are your drinks, and you want them clear rather than cloudy.
Skip it if you mostly make margaritas; any shaken drink needs a sealed container instead.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clear, silky stirred drinks
- Stable, heavy base
- Pour spout
Cons
- Useless for shaken drinks
- Needs pre-chilling
- Spoon and strainer sold separately
6. Cocktail Kingdom Teardrop Bar Spoon, 30 cm – A Steady Spoon for Stirring
A long kitchen spoon will stir a drink, but a bar spoon makes it easier. The length reaches the bottom of a tall mixing glass, and the twisted shaft lets the spoon spin smoothly between your fingers, moving the ice around the glass instead of churning it. Dave Arnold notes that ice size, stirring speed and time all change a stirred drink, so a spoon you can control helps.
Cocktail Kingdom’s Teardrop is 30 cm long, in stainless steel, with a smooth coil and a weighted teardrop end that the maker says adds balance to the stirring motion. It is dishwasher safe, and Cocktail Kingdom pairs it with its own mixing glasses and tins, including the Yarai above.
On its own it does nothing for shaken drinks. Pair it with the mixing glass, or with any sturdy pint glass you already own, for stirred drinks only.
Why we like it
- 30 cm reach for tall mixing glasses
- Smooth coil for a steady spin, per Cocktail Kingdom
- Weighted teardrop end for balance
- Dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | Teardrop |
|---|---|
| Type | Bar spoon |
| Material | Stainless steel |
| Capacity | Not applicable (30 cm long) |
| Leakproof lid | Not applicable |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes |
| Power | None |
| Care | Dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you are setting up to stir rather than shake, and want the spoon bartenders reach for.
Skip it if you stir a drink only now and then; a long iced-tea spoon will do.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy, smooth stirring
- Long enough for any glass
- Dishwasher safe
Cons
- Stirred drinks only
- A long spoon does the basic job
7. KitchenAid Variable Speed Hand Blender – Flash Blending at Home
Flash blending is a bar technique, not a kitchen shortcut. As Punch explains, a stand-up drink mixer blends from the top down, leaving much of the ice whole while it adds air and water. Tiki bartender Martin Cate says three or four seconds chills, dilutes and aerates the drink. Garret Richard told Punch that a hand blender gives roughly 70 to 80 percent of a stand-up mixer’s power, which makes it the affordable way to try the technique at home.
KitchenAid’s KHBV53 has a variable speed trigger, a removable 8-inch blending arm with a four-point stainless steel blade, and a 3-cup BPA-free blending jar with a lid, which is a good size for one or two drinks. The arm is dishwasher safe and KitchenAid gives a one-year warranty. It also blends soups and salsas, so it earns its drawer space.
Know what it does differently. Flash-blended drinks are poured out with their ice, unstrained, and the result is frothier and more diluted than a shaken drink. It suits rum drinks with heavy syrups and egg-white sours. Blend for seconds, not minutes, or the drink turns watery.
Why we like it
- The home tool Garret Richard suggests for flash blending
- Variable speed trigger for short bursts
- 3-cup blending jar with lid included
- Dishwasher-safe arm; one-year warranty
Key specifications
| Model | KHBV53 |
|---|---|
| Type | Corded immersion blender |
| Material | Stainless blade; BPA-free jar |
| Capacity | 3-cup jar |
| Leakproof lid | Jar has a lid (storage) |
| Dishwasher safe | Blending arm |
| Power | Corded; wattage not stated in the listing |
| Care | Arm in dishwasher; wipe motor body |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you like frothy, tiki-style or egg-white drinks, or want one tool that also handles soups and sauces.
Skip it if you want a clear, strained margarita; a sealed jar or tin is the better tool.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Chills and froths in seconds
- Many kitchen uses
- Jar included
Cons
- Easy to over-dilute
- Needs an outlet
- Wattage not stated
8. Hamilton Beach DrinkMaster Drink Mixer, 28 oz – A Spindle Mixer for the Counter
The stand-up spindle mixer is the machine bartenders actually use for flash blending. In Punch, Martin Cate dates its use in cocktails to the 1920s and names three commercial models, among them Hamilton Beach’s 760C Classic DrinkMaster. He also says they are not essential for a home bar. This DrinkMaster is Hamilton Beach’s home version of the same idea: a spindle on a tilting head over a steel cup.
Hamilton Beach lists it for milkshakes, coffee drinks, fruit drinks and cocktails. The extra-large stainless steel cup holds 28 ounces, there are two speeds, and the head tilts back so you can lift the cup off. The spindle detaches for the dishwasher, and the listing gives a five-year warranty.
It works the same way as the hand blender above, from the top down, with less effort and no need to hold anything. Cate fills the cup with crushed ice and a few larger cubes, mixes for a few seconds and pours the whole lot into the glass. It is a single-purpose appliance that needs counter space, so it makes most sense if you also make milkshakes.
Why we like it
- The spindle-mixer design bartenders use for flash blending
- 28 oz stainless steel cup
- Two speeds and a tilt-back head
- Five-year warranty, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 730C |
|---|---|
| Type | Electric spindle drink mixer |
| Material | Stainless steel cup; chrome finish |
| Capacity | 28 oz |
| Leakproof lid | No lid |
| Dishwasher safe | Spindle, per the listing |
| Power | Corded, 2 speeds; wattage not stated |
| Care | Detach spindle for the dishwasher |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you make tiki drinks or milkshakes often and want hands-free mixing.
Skip it if counter space is tight; a hand blender gets you most of the way there.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Proper top-down mixing
- Big steel cup
- Long warranty
Cons
- Single-purpose appliance
- Home model, not the commercial one Cate names
- Drinks come out unstrained
9. Aerolatte Steam-Free Milk Frother – Foams Egg White Without a Dry Shake
Egg-white drinks such as a whiskey sour or a pisco sour are the hardest to make without a shaker, because the foam comes from a long, hard “dry shake” without ice. A battery frother can take over that part. The Daily Meal suggests a blender or milk frother for the foam when shaking is tiring or you are making several drinks.
Aerolatte’s frother is a small 18/8 stainless steel whisk on a battery-powered handle, about 8.4 inches long, with the batteries included. Aerolatte says to hold the power button for 30 to 60 seconds to froth milk. For a drink, whisk the egg white with the citrus and syrup in a glass until foamy, then shake or stir the whole drink with ice to chill it. Hand wash the whisk end in warm soapy water.
Be clear about its limits. A frother adds air and nothing else: it does not chill or dilute, so it never replaces ice. And if you use raw egg, the FDA advises shell eggs treated to destroy Salmonella or pasteurized egg products for anything served raw.
Why we like it
- Foams egg white in under a minute, per Aerolatte’s timing for milk
- 18/8 stainless steel whisk
- Battery powered, batteries included
- Two-year warranty, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 005 (satin finish) |
|---|---|
| Type | Handheld battery frother |
| Material | 18/8 stainless whisk; BPA-free plastic housing |
| Capacity | Not applicable (8.4 x 1.5 x 1.5 in) |
| Leakproof lid | Not applicable |
| Dishwasher safe | Not stated; hand wash the whisk |
| Power | Batteries (included) |
| Care | Hand wash whisk; wipe housing |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if you like sours with a foam cap and want to skip the long dry shake.
Skip it if you never make egg-white drinks; it cannot chill a cocktail on its own.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Quick foam with little effort
- Tiny to store
- Also froths milk for coffee
Cons
- No chilling or dilution
- Still needs ice and a vessel
- Hand wash only
10. Ninja Professional Blender, 72 oz – Frozen Margaritas by the Pitcher
A frozen margarita is not a shaken drink at all, so a shaker would be the wrong tool anyway. Tasting Table, citing Liquor.com, says frozen drinks with fruit want a smooth texture, which is what a blender is made for. If frozen margaritas are why you went looking for a shaker, buy a blender instead.
Ninja’s BL610 has a 1,000-watt motor and a 72-ounce pitcher with a 64-ounce maximum liquid capacity, enough for a round of drinks. Ninja says its Total Crushing blades turn ice into snow in seconds. The pitcher is BPA free and dishwasher safe, and the listing gives a one-year limited warranty.
The trade-offs are size and texture. It is a full countertop appliance, and it makes a slush rather than the cold, lightly frothy drink a shaker makes. For a margarita on the rocks, use the jar or the mug. Our margarita machine vs blender comparison explains when a dedicated machine is worth it.
Why we like it
- 1,000 W motor crushes ice, per Ninja
- 72 oz pitcher for a group
- Dishwasher-safe, BPA-free pitcher
- Also makes smoothies and salsas
Key specifications
| Model | BL610 |
|---|---|
| Type | Countertop blender |
| Material | BPA-free plastic pitcher |
| Capacity | 72 oz (64 oz max liquid) |
| Leakproof lid | Pitcher lid; not for shaking |
| Dishwasher safe | Pitcher |
| Power | 1,000 W, corded |
| Care | Pitcher in dishwasher; wipe base |
Why we recommend it
Choose it if frozen margaritas and daiquiris are what you make, especially for a group.
Skip it if you want classic shaken drinks; a blender makes slush, not a shaken cocktail.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Crushes ice quickly
- Big batches
- Many kitchen uses
Cons
- Bulky
- Wrong texture for shaken drinks
- Needs counter space
How to shake a margarita in a jar
This works in any sealed container from the list above. It is a classic margarita, shaken in the jar.
- Measure. Use a jigger or measuring spoons rather than pouring by eye. Measured drinks taste the same every time, and you know how much alcohol is in the glass.
- Chill the jar. Put the empty jar in the freezer for a few minutes, or fill it with ice water while you squeeze the limes, then tip the water out.
- Fill with ice. Fill the jar about halfway with fresh, hard ice cubes. Too little ice melts fast and leaves a warm, watery drink.
- Add the drink and seal. Pour in the tequila, lime juice and orange liqueur or syrup, then screw the lid and band down tightly. With a mug, lock the lid and cover the spout with your thumb.
- Shake hard for about 15 seconds. That is the time Dave Arnold gives for shaking to chill, dilute and aerate a drink. Hold the lid with one hand and shake over the sink the first time.
- Strain and serve. Pour through a strainer, the slightly opened flat lid, or a mug’s spout, into a glass with fresh ice. Never shake anything fizzy in a sealed container; add soda water in the glass.
Our frozen vs on-the-rocks margaritas guide explains how the two styles differ, and the best cocktail shaker for margaritas covers shakers sized for them.
When it is time to buy a real shaker
Every substitute here works for a drink or two. If you start shaking drinks every weekend, a proper shaker earns its space: metal chills faster than glass or plastic, a two-piece tin set seals without a gasket, and a good strainer pours a clean drink. Our guide to the best cocktail shaker compares tin sets, cobblers and Boston shakers, and our guide to the best cheap cocktail shaker covers simple, sturdy shakers for a first home bar.
Shaker substitute questions, answered
What can I use if I don’t have a cocktail shaker?
A mason jar with a tight lid, a leakproof travel mug, a protein shaker bottle or two nested plastic cups, shaken hard with plenty of ice. For spirit-only drinks, stir in a glass instead; for frozen drinks, use a blender.
Is a mason jar as good as a cocktail shaker?
Close enough for most home drinks. Glass chills more slowly than metal, so shake a little longer or chill the jar first, and screw the band down tight so it does not seep.
Can I use a protein shaker for cocktails?
Yes, for drinks without fizz. Plastic chills slowly, so shake longer. BlenderBottle says its bottles are not appropriate for carbonated drinks, and its FAQ warns against warm liquids because pressure can pop the cap.
Can I stir instead of shaking?
For drinks made only of spirits, such as a martini or Manhattan, you should stir, according to America’s Test Kitchen. For drinks with juice, egg or dairy, stirring will not give the same light, aerated texture.
Can I use a blender instead of a shaker?
For frozen drinks, yes, and it is the better tool. For drinks served on the rocks, a few seconds in a blender or with a hand blender chills and froths the drink, but it comes out more diluted and foamier than a shaken one.
How long should I shake a cocktail?
About 15 seconds of hard shaking with plenty of ice. Dave Arnold found that shaking chills, dilutes and aerates a drink in around that time, and that shaking much longer adds little.
Our last word on mixing without a shaker
For margaritas and other shaken drinks, a wide-mouth mason jar, shaken hard with plenty of ice, is the best cocktail stand-in you probably already own; add the Jarware lid if it drips. A locking insulated mug is the tidiest, because its lid strains for you. Stir spirit-only drinks, flash blend frothy ones and blend frozen ones. Measure every pour, and drink responsibly. For the rest of the setup, see our home margarita bar accessories guide.
And if you would rather someone else made the margaritas, see the drinks list and the menu, or call to order.