Any high-performing athlete could tell you about the importance of energy gels and electrolyte powders in our lives. However, we can easily store them for a long time and forget about consuming them, especially if we aren’t frequent users. Thus, it begs the question about their expiration and if it is alright to drink them past the expiration date.
So, do energy gels & electrolyte powder expire?
Energy gels and electrolyte powders come with a set expiration date. Electrolyte powders have a longer shelf life, going 3+ years without any problem. Meanwhile, energy gels can last anywhere between 8 to 12 months, depending on the quality of the ingredients and the packaging. The longevity of both the products depends on how and where they are stored.
The world is divided between the best time to consume, use-by date, and best by date, among other things. Here is a quick rundown on the top brands and their ideal time to consume:
Brand
Offical Validity
Expiry Date Grace Period
Clif Shot Energy Gel
18 Months From The Time Of Packing
Up to 24 Months post-manufacturing.
Gu Energy Gels
11 Months From The Date Of Production
Up to 18-24 Months post-manufacturing.
SiS Energy Gel
3 Months From The Date Of Production
Undefined
Maurten Energy Gel
Generally 7-8 months from manufacturing
Could have altercations with taste, but never really goes bad.
Huma Chia Energy Gel
Doesn’t have an expiration.
Can last forever if stored correctly.
What’s Covered ?
How Long Do Energy Gels Last?
How Long Does Gu Energy Gel Expire?
Do Clif Gels Expire?
Where Do You Store Energy Gels?
The Packaging Factor
Can You Freeze Energy Gels?
Contents Of Energy Gels
Can You Use Expired Electrolyte Powder?
Best Way To Test An Energy Gel Or Electrolyte Powder
Depending on the quality, energy gels last from two months to twelve months. The determining factor is the quality of ingredients, type of ingredients, and packing. Foil packing helps with longevity better than other methods.
However, there are two dates you should understand.
Best By Date: If you’re looking for a rich flavor, you will have to go with the best by date. It tells you the date the flavor will remain unspoiled. After that, nobody knows how it is going to taste.
Use By Date: Use by date shows you the exact date or time before which you should consume the product. You shouldn’t risk consuming any product past this date.
In most cases, a product past its best date is considered expired. But, it could still be consumed if it was stored right or if the product is still around the best date.
On a side note, from my humble experience of competing in a few dozens of long-distance endurance events such as Ironman triathlons and 100k+ UltraMarathons ( Check my bio for more), I found GU Roctane Energy Gel (Amazon Link) complemented with Stealth Energy Gel and Some other solid food every now and then to be the best combination for body and more accurately my stomach. The GU gel version with caffeine gives me that boost and the stealth Gel is just very gentle on the stomach which keeps me going but it’s hard to get your hand on some. As a substitute for Stealth, I would recommend trying SIS GO Isotonic Energy Pack (Amazon Link)
Gu energy gels have a shelf life of 18 months from the date of manufacturing. Gu energy gel is more on the longer side of the expiration date. If you visit the official website, they claim that their products are fine to consume even 12-24 months after their best date.(Source)
However, the company uses the best by date to inform the users of the best time to drink it. Most of their gels have a best-by date of 11 months from the manufacturing date.
Also, check out or post on “How To Take GU Energy Gel (And How Often) ?!“
Do Clif Gels Expire?
Clif gels will expire after 18 months from the date of manufacturing. You can also check their best by date at the bottom of the packing, at the seam. If you can’t find the date, get the one that has it. (Source)
You can try to boost the life cycle of Clif gels by freezing them or storing them properly.
Where Do You Store Energy Gels?
You can keep energy gels at room temperature almost anywhere. It can be in a bag that you carry around. However, you need to be wary of the hot climate. The hotter the climate, the worse it can get for the energy gels. Don’t consider the everyday hot temperature in summer as your average room temperature. It would be better to store them in a refrigerator.
You can also freeze the energy gels, extending their shelf life for a couple of months. But that’s about it.
The Packaging Factor
Energy gels that come with foil or multi-layered packing are longer lasting.
If they don’t get exposed to air or oxygen, that’s even better. The same applies to humidity and water.
If the packing isn’t damaged, you can expect the contents to be acceptable to consume past the expiration date.
If the packaging is damaged or leaking, the content isn’t OK to consume even before the expiration date.
In most cases, you will compromise on the taste
For more on this we recommend that you check out our post “Where Do You Store Energy Gels? (While Racing Or Not)“
Can You Freeze Energy Gels?
You can freeze or cool your energy gels to extend their shelf life. Cooling of gel won’t impact the shelf life too much. It could even turn the gel thicker and less convenient to consume. In colder climates, it is advised to keep the gel closer to your body so that your body’s warmth will keep it intact.
Contents Of Energy Gels
Energy gels mostly have a mix of carbohydrates like sugar and glucose. They are fine to consume if your digestive system breaks down and consumes sugars.
Caffeine, tea extracts, flavoring agents, fructose, and such are also fine for consumption past the expiration.
Some energy gels will offer BCAA and other additional elements. Vitamins and minerals included. Their shelf lives could be shorter, but it shouldn’t impact the quality of these ingredients much.
Generally, it is not ideal to consume any energy gel with digestive enzymes past their expiration dates. These types of energy gels also have a shorter shelf life.
Can You Use Expired Electrolyte Powder?
Electrolyte powders are generally safer to consume than energy gels past their expiration date. Most electrolyte powders will last 3+ years from the date of manufacturing. It is not advised to consume anything past the expiration, but it is generally safe.
On a side note, if you are looking for an electrolyte source, I highly recommend Nuun tablets Energy (Amazon Link). Aside from the nice flavors offered, I think Nuun is among the few, if not the only electrolyte tablets that have caffeine in them. I have tested it for a while and just couldn’t find any better substitute.
Best Way To Test An Energy Gel Or Electrolyte Powder
Check the pack and see if there was any leakage.
Consider the storage where you found it. Was it ideal for long-term shelf life?
If only a day or maximum of a month has passed the expiration date, you can still give it a try.
First, taste a little bit to check the flavoring. It could have changed. Don’t consume if the contents release a foul smell or appear unsightly to consume.
Try to mix the contents with a glass of water for better solubility and use.
Always make sure to taste it first before consuming the entire content. See if you react to it. If not, then you can go ahead and consume it.
The Expiration Date Is There For A Reason
So, the bottom line is that energy gels and electrolyte powder come with expiration dates
The manufacturer would know better than us about their products. There is a misconception that they put expiration dates to increase the sales of the products. But that’s not entirely true.
The expiration date is there because almost anything can go bad. It is also for room temperature. If you have stored these in a hotter climate, it will spoil faster. Similarly, freezing it could preserve the contents for a more extended period.
The products past their Best By Date are still completely safe for consumption and their performance will not be influenced in the following 12-24 months past this date. There might be a slight change in taste or flavour or in consistency.
We are happy to help! see less The Electrolyte Powder Pack is best consumed within 3 years of the date of manufacturing date. However the product does not expire or become unsafe after this time. Manufacture date and instructions for proper storage is provided on the box.
Every bottle, packet, or roll or SaltStick electrolytes is clearly labeled with the product's expiration date and lot number. Please scroll down for instructions on how to locate the expiration date and lot number on your product. We recommend replacing product that has passed the expiration date.
Energy Gels will thicken in cold temperatures, so ensure you have them close to your body to keep them warm ready for use. GU Energy Gels shelf life of 18 months is based on the sensory attributes, the efficacy of active ingredients, and food safety considerations as the product ages.
In general, hair gel has a shelf life of about three years. After that, it starts to break down and can cause hair to become brittle and dry. So, if you've been holding onto that bottle of hair gel for a few years, it's probably time to let it go.
"If the product loses some efficacy, there isn't really a problem with using it after its expiration date," he says — other than the potential for disappointment. However, if the product is contaminated with microorganisms, he says, then there could be health risks associated with using the product.
When should you use an electrolyte powder? The best electrolyte powders are safe to drink everyday, or whenever you need a quick boost to rehydrate. Mix them with water and have a drink before you head to work in the morning, to ensure that you're alert and ready to get the day started.
Is it OK to drink electrolytes every day? You can drink electrolytes every day (or choose to consume a supplement instead). This is especially necessary if you exercise and/or sweat often. Electrolytes will help replace minerals, such as sodium, magnesium, and potassium, that are lost when you sweat or get sick.
Most energy gels have an expiration date of 12 to 24 months from date of production. GU energy gels for example have a shelf life of 18 months, Honey Stinger energy gels and chews also last 18 months. Other brands like Spring Energy, have a Best By date of 6 months.
If the container of powdered Gatorade mix is unopened, its shelf life is about two years past the date on the label. Once you open it up, the product will begin to degrade in quality, and you should use it within six months for best quality.
We recommend eating one Energy Gel or four Energy Chews every 45 minutes along the way. Whenever you eat, it's important to hydrate to assist with absorption!
Translated, in workouts where you are using multiple packs of e-Gel, we strongly recommend that you drink 14 ounces of water before you rip open your second pack (and so on).
On average, hair gel lasts up to three years. Some gel-based products with a shorter shelf life are only good for two years or less, depending on the ingredients within the products and other factors. Following the expiration date, most hair products start breaking down, leading to dry, brittle hair strands.
As a rule of thumb, an unopened bottle of shampoo can probably last for 2-4 years if properly stored. Meanwhile, an opened bottle of shampoo may go bad anywhere between six months to two years. Of course, this would also depend on the type of shampoo formula — specifically, the nature of the preservatives used.
Petroleum jelly can live up to 10 years or even longer after being opened, despite frequently having a best-by date of 3 years. Never put your fingers into the petroleum jelly jar to preserve its shelf life. It will prevent the introduction of dangerous bacteria or fungi.
The short answer is yes. How long perfume lasts depends on the chemical composition and how the perfume is stored. Many perfumes don't have a set expiry date and can last between 1-10 years. Perfume shelf life depends on how it's stored.
Electrolyte supplements aid with moderate dehydration and fluid balance restoration. These electrolyte powders can be useful for those who have recently puked, are exercising, or are outside in the heat. These powders often include specific, pure components.
But just like anything, too many electrolytes can be unhealthy: Too much sodium, formally referred to as hypernatremia, can cause dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea. Too much potassium, known as hyperkalemia, can impact your kidney function and cause heart arrhythmia, nausea, and an irregular pulse.
Electrolytes are necessary to regulate the amount of water in your body. That's why it's necessary to balance them for proper kidney function. They're also needed to balance your pH level, which is your body's base/acid level.
Bottom line: Gatorade = more sugar, Pedialyte = more electrolytes. Both drinks offer sugar-free versions, but generally Gatorade has a lot more sugar than Pedialyte, which can be good if you're engaging in intense exercise. Many Pedialyte drinks offer more electrolytes than their Gatorade counterparts.
Drinking too much water, can cause the electrolyte levels in the body to get out of whack and cause sodium levels plummet. The nerve and heart issues that occur with over-hydration can be deadly.
Do caffeine pills expire? Like all tablet formula items, caffeine pills do expire. Date of expiry is typically 5 years after manufacturing. Expired caffeine pills won't have any harmful effect on your body, they just might not be the optimal potency.
In fact, this date corresponds to the time until which you can use a cosmetic without risk to your health and without losing its initial properties. For shower gels, the shelf life varies from 24 to 36 months. If you exceed this time limit, it is best to throw it away.
Energy drinks contain toxins such as caffeine and sugar that can cause health problems in large doses. When energy drinks are expired, their concentrations of toxins are even higher and can become dangerous. The caffeine will degrade over time, making the drink taste bitter and unpleasant.
Studies of liquid antibiotics, aspirin, nitroglycerin and insulin, for example, have found signs of physical decay. So, for these it's probably best not to use them past their manufacturer's expiration dates.
According to Sigma-Aldrich, pure caffeine has a shelf-life of four years at room temperature, or many years at 2-8°C. A caffeine solution can be stable for months even at moderately high temperatures.
Bottom line: Most vitamins are considered safe for up to two years past their expiration date (unless they contain mold), but may become less potent over time. Pregnant women and people in need of regular supplementation due to deficiency should talk to their doctor before relying on expired vitamins.
Introduction: My name is Wyatt Volkman LLD, I am a handsome, rich, comfortable, lively, zealous, graceful, gifted person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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