Does Pre-Workout Go Bad?: How To Fix a Clumpy Pre-Workout

Does Pre-Workout Go Bad?: How To Fix a Clumpy Pre-Workout

So you just opened a brand spankin' new container of pre-workout expecting to indulge in its powdery freshness, only to find it's turned into a solid block! 

You might find it even more puzzling after you take a glance at the expiration date and see that its still well within its suggested shelf life.

If you find yourself in this situation and you're wondering what should you do with this clumpy pre workout...

Don't worry, we've got you covered in this guide so you can get to using your new preworkout safely, with minimal frustration.

Do preworkout supplements have an expiration date?

Like all dietary supplements, pre-workouts do have an expiration date, and using them past this date may cause unpleasant side effects or reduced effectiveness.

In this article, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to help determine if your pre-workout is expired, how to store it properly, and what happens if you consume expired pre-workout.

Can pre-workouts expire?

Pre-workouts like many other powder form supplements such as protein, creatine, amino acids, can indeed expire.

Most products will have the expiry dates printed on the jar (usually on the bottom) or somewhere on the label.

Can pre-workouts go bad before their expiry dates?

You may find that your preworkout has gotten awfully clumpy even long before its expected expiry date.

Here are some factors to consider if your preworkout is clumpy or rocky:

Does the preworkout contain high amounts of nitric oxide boosters such as agmatine sulfate?

If yes, certain nitric oxide boosting ingredients are more prone to causing what's known as "soft clumping" as they attract moisture and absorb it from the air due to their hygroscopic nature.

Generally, these soft clumps can easily be broken down by using a simple utensil such as a spoon to stir up or smash down the clumpy nuggets in your jar.

Aside from Agmatine Sulfate, here are a few other ingredients to keep an eye out for that can potentially cause soft clumping:

1. Glycerol
2. Sodium Bicarbonate
3. Beta-Alanine
4. Citrulline Malate
5. Betaine Anhydrous

Has the jar been exposed to excessive heat, sun light, or moisture?

Heat and humidity can accelerate this clumping effect and may even cause soft clumps to form into harder clumps that don't break down as easily when trying to use a spoon.

If your preworkout has been exposed to heat or absorbed moisture, you can try the following steps to try to restore it back to a finer and more powder-form state:

1. Empty the contents of your pre-workout jar into a blender or a clean coffee grinder.

2. Use the device you have at your disposal to help blend or crush up the preworkout back into a fine powder.

3. Return the contents from within the blender or coffee grinder back to its original jar or use an air-tight container if you feel that the original jar may have been compromised with any cracks or air leaks.

How to tell if your pre-workout is expired:

Signs of an expired pre-workout include:

• Strong foul smell (most pre workout supplements don't have a strong odor)
• Hard clumping (too solid or too sticky to try to blend or breakdown)
• Changes in mixability (doesn't dissolve when mixed with water)
• Powder is severely discolored (expired pre-workouts can sometimes have a dark and gooey texture)
• Mold (this one should be pretty obvious and easy to tell)

How To Prevent Your Pre Workout From Clumping

To prolong the shelf life of your pre-workout and prevent it from going bad:

1. Seal the container tightly.
2. Store your preworkout container in a cool, dark place (away from direct sunlight or exposure to moisture)
3. Avoid getting water in the container.
4. Try not to open or break the seal underneath the lid of your container until you're ready to use it.
5. Ensure that the container is tightly sealed after each use.

To wrap it all up:

The key takeaway from this guide should be that it's important to adhere to the expiration date on your pre-workout, and clumping itself doesn't necessarily indicate any issues with the product before that time.

Even  the highest quality pre-workouts can experience clumping, which can be a little frustrating to deal with at times.

To steer clear of this issue altogether, consider exploring pre-workout alternatives that do not contain the ingredients that are prone to clumping mentioned above.

Always check the expiration date of your pre-workout and store it properly to ensure its safety and effectiveness.