
Does protein powder expire and go out of date? The simple answer to this question is yes. But there are several things to bear in mind.
If you’ve landed on this article, the chances are that you are looking to find out whether your expired protein powders is still OK to consume or not.
Protein powders are some of the most popular supplements around in the health and fitness industry, and you probably need no introduction to them.
The purpose of this article is for us to take a close look at protein powder from all angles, paying particularly close attention to expired protein powder and whether it’s OK to have it when it is out of date.
Editor's note: The content on this website is meant to be informative in nature, but it should not be taken as medical advice. Our articles and the products featured in them are not intended for use as diagnosis, prevention, and/or treatment of health problems. Always speak with a certified medical professional before making any changes to your lifestyle, diet, exercise routine, and/or taking any supplements.
So, now that we have got the introductions out of the way, it’s time to start taking a closer look at Protein Powder and what to do when it expires.
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What is Protein Powder?

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If you’re reading this article, then you probably know all about protein powder, but let’s cover the basics quickly anyhow.
In case you didn’t know protein powders are one of the most popular gym and fitness supplements around.
They are used by millions of people worldwide to support their health and fitness goals.
In case you didn’t know, Protein contributes to the growth and maintenance of muscle mass. Therefore, making sure that you have enough of it in your diet is important if you’re looking to build muscle and get into shape.
Taking a protein powder from time to time can be an efficient and convenient way to increase your protein intake to support your health and fitness goals.
The protein sources in protein powders vary. One of the most popular types of protein supplements is Whey Protein, which comes from Cow’s milk.
But there are plenty of other protein powders, many of which are vegan friendly, such as hemp and pea protein, and brown rice protein.
Protein powders usually come in flavored powders which you can mix in to a drink. Some protein powders are also added to other products such as protein bars and pancakes.
Protein powders often come in Chocolate, Vanilla and Strawberry flavor, but there are plenty of other options and unflavored products to choose from as well.
Now that we’ve taken a look at the basics of protein powders, it’s time see whether out of date protein powder expires and goes bad.
Does Protein Powder Expire?

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The short answer to this question is yes, Protein Powder does expire.
Like most food products, protein powders have a shelf-life, and they should not be consumed after their ‘use-by’ or ‘best before’ date.
If you are looking to find out whether your protein powder has expired or not, carefully check the packaging for the use-by or best before date.
Most protein powders last around two years before going bad. Most products are clearly labeled with an expiration date, and this should be your point of reference for whether it is OK to consume your protein powder or not.
It’s important to follow the correct storing procedures for your protein powders. Each product will likely have storage instructions on it, but generally speaking, they should be kept in a cool, dry place and away from heat and moisture.
You’ll want to make sure that your protein powder is not exposed to direct sunlight, heat or moisture.
It’s also very important to make sure that your protein powder is sealed in an airtight container. For most tubs, this means just making sure that the lid is screwed on tightly.
So, now that we’ve covered the basics about protein powder and its expiration, let’s take a look at whether it is OK to consume out of date or expired protein powder.
Is it OK to have Out of Date Protein Powder?

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The simple answer to this question is no, you should not consume out of date or expired protein powder.
Generally speaking, it is not a good idea to consume protein powder after its expiration date. The expiration dates are provided for a reason – to let you know the timeframe in which the supplement is safe for consumption.
It is thought that some of the benefits of consuming protein powder diminish after it passes the use-by date, so the supplement may not be as effective as before.
As whey protein comes from cow’s milk, using an out of date way protein powder could be compared to drinking gone-off milk. It’s not a good idea.
Although protein powder is dry, unlike meat and dairy products, it can still go bad if given enough time.
To summarize, we don’t recommend using a protein powder – or any other supplement for that matter – after its expiration date.
Anything Else to Consider?
As always, you shouldn’t expect miracles from any supplements.
Protein powders are a good way to increase your protein intake to support your health and fitness goals, but they will not do the hard work for you.
You should always make sure that you are sticking to a healthy diet and training regime before thinking about using any supplement for the first time.
In addition to this, you should only think about using a protein powder if you are already working hard in the gym, eating right and getting plenty of rest.
A supplement cannot make up for bad lifestyle choices. They should be seen as additional products to support your goals, not miracle powders to turbocharge your results.
We also strongly advise that you speak to a certified medical professional before taking any new supplement for the first time or making any major changes to your lifestyle or diet.
Protein powders are good tools for supporting your muscle-building goals, but you should be able to get enough protein from your diet if you stick to a proper nutrition plan.
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, here we are at the end of our ultimate guide to expired protein powder and whether it’s OK to use after the expiration date or not.
We’ve walked you through the basics when it comes to protein powders, including why they are so popular and how they can help to support your health and fitness goals.
We’ve also explained how protein powders do expire, and the expiration date is usually clearly shown in the label or packaging.
It’s not a good idea to consume expired protein powder. You should store your protein powder in a cool, dry place, and away from direct sunlight to ensure optimal conditions to keep it fresh.
If in doubt, contact the manufacturer of the protein powder for tailored advice for your situation.
Generally speaking, you should not consume expired protein powder. The expiration date is provided for good reason – to prevent you from consuming an out of date product that could be potentially harmful.