Does Whey Protein Go Bad?

Whey protein is known as one of the popular supplements used around the globe. Bodybuilders mostly use it to gain weight. Mostly, people buy it in bulk. If you have bought more numbers of whey protein containers than you need, you may be worried about its expiry.

If you have bought one container of the whey protein and after using some amount, you took a gap of few months, now you won’t be sure whether to use it further or not. If you managed to store that protein powder in good conditions, there is no need to worry. This article will tell you about the storage, shelf life, and going bad of whey protein.

How To Store Whey Protein?

If whey protein is stored in proper storage conditions then it can last for a longer period. You will have to make sure that you store the whey protein in those conditions which are suitable for it. If you have bought more whey protein than you need, you should take care of its storage conditions, as discussed below in this article.

Store in a cool and dark place

Sunlight and high temperature can affect whey protein. If it is exposed to air and sunlight, there will be a chance for bacteria to grow. It will affect the quality of whey protein. It will be best if you always place the whey protein in a cool and dark place.

Keep it in an airtight container.

Usually, whey protein comes in plastic jars, which are very easy to seal and open. However, some companies pack it in plastic bags or in a container that can not be sealed properly once opened. S, it is recommended to transfer such protein powders in a separate plastic jar to be sealed tightly.

Once the package is opened, the Moisture and contaminants can reach it. They will affect the quality of whey protein. So, make sure that to keep it sealed tightly after opening the package.

Use dry utensils

You should keep in mind if you want your whey protein to stay fresh for a longer period to keep milk, water, or any liquid away from the powder. It is suggested to use dry utensils. A wet teaspoon might cause the substance to go moldy.

Can You Freeze Whey Protein?

Many of the food products are stored in the freezer to increase their shelf-life. But for protein powder, is not a good option. Whey protein powder is very sensitive to Moisture. When you freeze the powder, there will be a chance of Moisture coming in. Moisture can affect the whey protein’s quality.

Storing whey protein in a cool or dark place is the best option. So, if you want your whey protein to last for a long period, you should not freeze it.

How Long Does Whey Protein Last?

If we talk about the shelf-life of whey protein, we can say that it does not have a very long shelf-life. The shelf-life of whey protein depends on its storage conditions and the best by date labeled on the container in which it comes.

This best by date tells us the time until which it can retain its best quality. It doesn’t mean that the whey protein will get soiled right after passing that date. It can last for a few more months after passing that date, but it will not retain the quality and freshness.

It is recommended to use the whey protein before it passes the date labeled on it. The shelf-life of an unopened package of whey protein is up to 9 months. And an opened package of whey protein can last for three to six months. The shelf-life of the opened package is less because once it is opened, the chances of moisture and bacteria formation increase.

How to Tell If Whey Protein Is Bad?

It is quite clear that powder doesn’t get moldy unless it interacts with liquid. After opening the whey protein package, if it is not taken good care of, there will be a chance for bacteria to grow. Bacterial growth and Moisture ruin the powder.

It is not very difficult to tell whether the whey protein is bad or not. If you cannot identify between a fine and bad whey protein powder, you need to check the following things.

• When the power interacts with water, there is a formation of lumps and mold in the powder. So, check the powder. It looks like wet sand and has big lumps in it. Then you should discard it at once.
• Check the smell of the powder. If you feel that it doesn’t smell like before, you need to get rid of it.
• The last thing you can check is the taste. If it tastes bad, then try not to use it.

Sources

• Does It Go Bad
• Health Line
• Can It Go Bad