Exact Answer: 2 years
Protein powders are consumed as protein shakes, among other ways of consumption and are becoming popular nowadays. These powders are the most common nutritional supplements available in the market today.
You can easily purchase a protein powder or protein shake via online stores or nutrition stores world-wide. The shelf life of protein powder differs depending on the ingredient used during processing. Therefore, in this article, we shall go through how long does protein powder last and why.
How long does protein powder last?
| Protein Powder Type | Lifespan |
| Casein | 2 years |
| Whey | 18 months |
| Soy | 2 years |
As previously stated, the shelf life of a protein powder is affected by the ingredients used during processing. Protein powders come in three forms which are; Casein protein, Whey protein, and Soy protein. Each of the above protein powder product features a different shelf life.
Usually, most protein powders have a shelf life of approximately two years. Once these years have elapsed the protein powder is said not be safe for consumption. These powders come with best by or expiry dates to help keep track of the expiry date.
Drinking or consuming expired protein powder or shake is equivalent to consuming gone off milk. Usually, an expired protein powder muscle-building ability becomes inactive; therefore, avoiding its consumption is highly recommended.
Why does protein powder last long?
Apart from ingredients that interfere with the protein powder shelf life, the method of storage is essential when it comes to increasing its shelf life. For your protein powder to have an extended shelf life, it is advisable to seal the container after use.
This means that you should avoid keeping the box open for long. Keeping the box for long will increase moisture content which will favor the growth of microorganisms.
You should avoid exposing the powder to heat, moisture, direct sunlight and oxygen for long since these are aspects that favor the development of microbes. However, you should store your powder, in a cool, dry and dark environment.
Such an environment will prevent the powder from absorbing moisture or heated up by direct sunlight hence preventing the development of microbes.
How to tell a spoilt protein powder?
It is straightforward to determine a spoilt protein powder or shake. There is an unpleasant odor from soy, milk or egg-based protein powder when they become rancid. However, when there is no moisture available, the protein powder will not smell fusty.
AT this point, you might consider tasting a small sample on your finger and assess the difference in taste. There is the formation of wet clump within the protein powder when spoilt. This occurs when moisture finds its way into the container.
In such a situation, the powder is said not to be safe for consumption and throwing it away is highly recommended.
Conclusion
Protein powder is essential when it comes to bodybuilding; however, consumption of spoilt protein powder or shake might be hazardous to your health. Therefore, you should always check the expiry date or best before date before considering using the powder. Furthermore, proper storage of the powder is essential in extending its shelf life.
References
https://lait.dairy-journal.org/articles/lait/pdf/2002/04/13.pdf
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I didn’t realize that different types of protein powder had different shelf lives. This is really eye-opening.
Definitely something to consider when buying protein powder. I’ll be checking the shelf life next time.
I know, I always thought they all lasted the same amount of time. Good to know the differences!
Very informative article, thank you for breaking down the different types of protein powder and how to tell if it’s gone bad. I’ll be more careful with mine now.
Great article, very straightforward and useful information.
I agree, I’ve never really thought about how to tell if protein powder has gone bad. Thanks for the tips!
I appreciate the clear and concise way this information is presented. It makes it easy to understand and retain.
Definitely, I feel like I’ve gained a lot of knowledge from this article.
I didn’t expect to learn so much from an article about protein powder. This was very educational.
It’s impressive how much information was packed into this article. Definitely a useful read.
Agreed, I didn’t realize there was so much to consider when it came to protein powder. Great insights here.
The sensory indicators of spoiled protein powder were very helpful. I’ll be using these to check mine in the future.
Definitely, that was an important part of the article. Clear, straightforward information.
Yes, it’s great to have clear signs to look out for. Makes it easier to know when it’s time to throw it out.
This article is a must-read for anyone who uses protein powder. It’s important to be aware of these things.
Agreed, I’ve learned a lot from this. Well-written and informative.
This is a reminder to stay informed about what we’re consuming. Thanks for putting this together.
I agree, the importance of knowledge about our nutrition can’t be overstated.
Absolutely, the more we know, the better choices we can make. Great article.
I find it interesting that the method of storage can have such a big impact on shelf life. Good to know!
Absolutely, I’ll be more conscious of how I store my protein powder from now on.
I’m glad this article touched on the importance of proper storage too. All aspects to consider are covered.
Yes, the storage tips are crucial and often overlooked. This was a great reminder.
Absolutely, I’ve definitely been careless with my protein powder storage in the past. Not anymore!
I wasn’t aware that expired protein powder could be harmful. This article was a wake-up call for me.
Yes, the health implications are concerning. I’ll be checking my protein powder from now on.
Absolutely, this is definitely a reminder to be more cautious about what we put into our bodies.