Imagine this: you have successfully survived leg day and you take a swing of your protein shake, and it’s sour. You can’t properly refuel and your taste buds have been taken over by something funky.
Considering how expensive protein powder is, its longevity should also be taken into taken into account when picking out the best brand. On average, a container can cost anywhere between $30 and $150 and can take between two and four weeks to finish a two-pound tub if a person is consuming two servings a day. However, what happens when you skip a few workout days and that four-week mark is up? Keep reading.
Can protein powder go bad?
The simple answer is yes. It is better to ditch the powder tub that has been sitting in your cabinet for the last few months than to risk having a gross drink or not getting the amount of protein that you need.
How can you tell if protein powder has gone bad?
A disadvantage of protein powder with a smudged and unreadable expiration date is not being able to tell if it has gone bad. Unlike dairy and meat, protein powder does not spoil and won’t make you sick, but it won’t be able to do the job protein powder is supposed to.
Instinctively, you can tell when something has gone bad just by smelling and tasting it. TikTok creator Tommy Zaknoen, @t_zaknoen_fit, suggests doing a smell test on your protein powder first can be helpful in determining its drinkability. A weird smell could be caused by chemical reactions like Maillard browning where amino acids interact with sugars and break down lysine— an important element in maintaining the nutritional value of the powder’s protein.
Additionally, if there is unusual clumping or a color change, it is for the best that the tub gets thrown away.
How can I make protein powder last longer?
Ensuring that you store protein powder in dry and cool places away from sunlight is rule number one in maintaining your investment. Refrigerating or freezing protein powder does not extend its shelf life, and there seems to be no way around its short lifespan. If you’re worried about a tub going bad or if you don’t use protein powder as frequently, buy it in smaller quantities to avoid having it sit for too long.
Is expired protein powder safe to use?
Lucky for protein powder users, Healthline reports that since protein is low moisture it is less prone to bacterial growth and making people sick. So generally, you should be alright to still use expired protein powder, but you won’t be getting your money’s worth since its nutritional content is depleted from age.
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