Pre-workout supplements are designed to boost energy levels, increase focus, and enhance endurance during workouts. They are usually available in powdered form and contain a mixture of ingredients, like caffeine, amino acids, vitamins, and sometimes creatine.
So, does pre-workout expire? Pre-workout powder normally has an expiration date or a best-by date printed on the packaging, but other factors can indicate whether your supplement is at its prime or not. Despite their widespread use, many users are often unsure whether these supplements expire and if they lose their efficacy over time.
Does Pre-Workout Go Bad or Expire?
If you’ve spent a decent chunk of funds on a pre-workout supplement, you probably want to ensure it doesn’t go to waste. You may be tempted to use a pre-workout after its technical expiration date because you think, “Can this stuff really go bad”? Like most food and supplements, ingredients made for consumption eventually perish.
Reputable supplement companies are required to place an expiration date on the supplement packaging. This date is often two years after the manufacture date.
Understanding Expiration Date
Expiration dates on food products such as protein powder are straightforward — they indicate when the product is no longer safe to eat. However, the expiration dates on supplements, including pre-workouts, are less about safety and more about potency. Past expiration date, the product is not necessarily harmful, but the effectiveness of the ingredients may diminish. Therefore, while consuming pre-workout past its expiration date may not cause immediate harm, it may not deliver the desired benefits.
The expiration date on your pre-workout supplement also represents the manufacturer’s guarantee. Until this date, the manufacturer assures the product will maintain its quality and efficacy as advertised. Beyond this date, the manufacturer no longer guarantees the product’s integrity, which could be critical if you’re aiming for specific fitness goals.
How to Tell if Pre-Workout Supplement is Expired
Following the manufacturer’s instructions when using products or supplements is always recommended, including adhering to the expiration date. Companies invest in research to determine the optimal timeframe within which a product will deliver the intended results without causing additional side effects.
Similarly to food, using your senses can be an excellent resource to employ rather than solely relying on expiration dates. Some key indicators that your pre-workout has gone bad prior to the expiration date are unusual smells, tastes, or excessive clumping. An expired pre-workout doesn’t necessarily mean the supplement has become harmful, but it might make it less enjoyable or more challenging to consume.
Smell
If your pre-workout has a foul or stale smell, this is a telltale sign that it’s time to throw it out.
Mold
If you can see mold growing on your pre-workout, it’s best to throw it out and start fresh to avoid health risks associated with expired pre-workout supplements.
Taste
There is a difference between not liking the flavor of pre-workout and tasting flavors that aren’t meant to be a part of the flavor profile. If your powder tastes a bit “off,” it likely is, and this could indicate that your pre-workout has expired.
Unusual Clumping
Some pre-workout powders clump more than others, but if yours does so more than usual, it could be expiring. If not stored correctly, moisture can creep in and cause the powder to clump and reach expiration sooner than the expiry date.
What Happens if You Take Expired Pre-Workout?
The most likely outcome of consuming an expired pre-workout is nothing, meaning it has become ineffective. This is a sign that the pre-workout may have gone bad after mixing.
In other cases, an expired supplement may cause GI discomforts like gas and bloating. These aren’t typical symptoms of taking a pre-workout, so consider what may be causing these side effects if you do experience them.
Consuming moldy pre-workout powder can cause its own set of issues, like food poisoning, which is a severe form of an upset stomach. If you see any mold on your pre-workout, throw it out!
Is Clumpy Pre-Workout Bad?
Older pre-workout may tend to clump more than a freshly bought powder, but this isn’t always a bad thing. Also, some pre-workout supplements typically contain more hygroscopic ingredients than others. These ingredients (like glycerol, citrulline, malate, and creatine nitrate) tend to draw more water, which increases the moisture content, thus leading to clumping. Proper storage can help mitigate this issue.
If you try to mix your pre-workout in a shaker or blender bottle and it remains clumpy, the powder may be too far gone, indicating that the pre-workout went bad. However, if you have clumpy pre-workout powder, you can always unclump it in a blender to make it powdery again.
How to Prevent Clumping
Don’t remove the silica packet to ensure proper storage and maintain the pre-workout shelf life and effectiveness. While removing the silica packet (“Do not eat” packet) from your container may be tempting, this is a crucial addition to the supplement to keep moisture out.
How Long Can You Keep Pre-Workout in Water?
Drinking your pre-workout right after mixing is generally recommended to avoid any decrease in shelf life and effectiveness. If you’d rather not, once you mix pre-workout in water, you should aim to drink it at least within the day (12 hours max). This is because certain ingredients like creatine can begin to degrade and lose their efficacy.
How to Know if Pre-Workout is Working
First, drink pre-workout beverages approximately 30 minutes before a workout to feel its maximum benefits. This is a common practice among fitness enthusiasts. If you drink expired pre-workout beverages, they may not work as well as intended and could lead to a lack of energy boost or even an upset stomach.
Understanding if a pre-workout supplement is working depends on your personal fitness goals, how you feel during and after your workout, and tracking the shelf life and effectiveness of the product. Typically, pre-workout supplements are designed to enhance performance, increase energy, improve endurance, and reduce muscle fatigue, which can be compromised if the pre-workout lasts past its expiration date. You should feel an immediate boost in your energy levels and focus within 60 minutes of consumption.
How to Store Pre-Workout
Properly storing your pre-workout supplements is essential for maintaining their effectiveness and prolonging shelf life. Avoid opening the product until you’re ready to use it, as exposure to air can accelerate degradation.
Store the supplements in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, and consider refrigerating them, especially in hot and humid climates. Ensure the container is unopened and tightly sealed to prevent moisture and air from getting in. Keeping the supplements in their original packaging is usually best, as manufacturers design them for optimal storage conditions.
Final Thoughts
If your pre-workout expires, it’s usually best to chuck it out and replenish your stores with a new one to boost the total energy. Regarding health and fitness, it’s typically best to err on the side of caution. However, suppose your senses tell you it is usable, and you notice exercise enhancement benefits after taking the pre-workout. In that case, your technically expired pre-workout may still be okay to use, though it is advisable to avoid expired pre-workout supplements.
If you’re looking to buy pre-workout supplements, it’s always a good idea to educate yourself on how to keep them from going bad to get the most bang for your buck. Knowing how to store them can be beneficial and extend the shelf life of all your supplements, not just pre-workout, by protecting them from air and moisture.
Before starting new dietary supplements, check with your doctor or consider booking a consultation with a nutrition and fitness professional.
