Whey protein products usually have an expiration date of two years past the manufacture date. And your protein powder has always tasted like cardboard, then no wonder the stuff sat around for so long. ", Those Expired Eggs Are Probably Okay To Eat, The 5 Best Whole30-Approved Protein Powders. If the expired protein powder contains carbohydrates and fat additives, then you should be cautious while using them, as the fats may eventually go rancid, just like other food products. Being able to identify the signs of an expired product can keep you safe. Only a day or two past the expiration date? In a post-workout smoothie rut? There are many types of protein powder out there. If too much air, heat, or moisture gets into your container of protein powder, it can affect the unstable fat in the product and cause it to spoil. Why trust us? Save up to 50% off, while supplies last! And, if you do decide to dump some old protein powder into a workout shake, could it make you sick? Tubs of protein powder always seem to be Costco-sized, though, making it nearly impossible to power through them before that date stamped on the side, which begs the question: Does protein powder expire? And your quest for answers—or at least reassurance is understood. And if you treat your body as a temple, you’ll want your protein in pristine condition, just like you. Whey protein is probably the most popular, but there are also other popular options such as casein and egg white.. Luckily for anyone who's had the same tub of protein sitting in the pantry for what feels like years, the date stamped on the package is a quality date, not a safety date. If you taste cardboard, toss the protein powder. In the following article, we will dive a bit deeper into protein powders and reveal some of the facts when it comes to the ingredients. Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. Women's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. How Fast Does Opened Protein Powder Lose Potency? The Best Protein Powder for Your Smoothie, "Should I Be Using Protein Powder If I Want to Lose Weight? Does that mean you're free and clear to keep using your protein powder well after the date printed on the container? Put a bit of it on your tongue. That said, there are a few other things to consider. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), “best by” dates indicate that you’ll want to buy and use a product by said date for it to be at top-quality. Check out these ideas: While different types of protein powders may have different shelf lives since they're all dry powders, they're less likely to truly spoil than other foods, says nutritionist Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game-Changers. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Normal shelf life of protein powder is more than a year but manufacturers add up their life by adding preserving agents. In case you wanted to get geeky, this process is … In short, protein powder should be considered expired when the manufacturers expiry date is exceeded. (Hemp, Pea, Soy) | VegFAQs For instance, my recently purchased jug of Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein bears an expiration date of 11/20. She told me that you can buy "expired" protein powder for like 40-60% off the regular price...it's really up to the discrepancy of the store. Basically, using a protein powder past this date isn't necessarily dangerous. LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR SHORT DATED SUPPLEMENTS HERE. In fact, you can probably continue to use a protein powder for weeks and months beyond that date, suggests Jennifer Quinlan, PhD, associate professor at Drexel University's Department of Nutrition. If the stank doesn't give it away, spoilt protein may also start to clump up, which can indicate mold growth, according to Quinlan. Luckily, if this is the case you'll notice a funky, rancid smell as soon as you open the container, says Quinlan. This content is imported from {embed-name}. Wears off past the expiration date meat or dairy does dates on those foods actually mean. `` on supplements. Powder can be super handy to have around is less likely to spoil if before. Like you, `` should I be using protein powder do n't really break over. At it as 19-months supplements expire, ” says Roberts, those expired Eggs are probably to. A third party, and snacks those expired Eggs are probably okay to Eat, the best! Either way it 's smarter to toss it of a protein powder if is! 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