Does Nesquik Powder Expire or Go bad?

There are so many questions about Nesquik® powder. What type of food or drinks have no expiry date? If you purchased food that didn’t have an expiry date, would you go for it?

If you found out that Nesquik is still good ten years after you purchased it, would you give it to your kids?

This article will delve into Nesquik powder and will answer the most frequently asked questions so you can satisfy your curiosity.

Let’s get into it.

How long does Nesquik last?

There seems to be some discrepancy and controversy over the subject, causing an amount of conjecture.

So here goes for a stab at facts. If you are like most people, you will throw out a milk powder product after the expiry date, and it’s not worth running the risk of getting food poisoning.

However, the boys and girls at Nesquik® don’t indicate that the product is no longer safe to consume.

The shelf life of Nesquik® is between 18 – 24 months before it loses some of its properties but does not go bad. The added vitamins are no longer potent, but the drink is safe to consume.

Interestingly, long past the expiration date of Nesquik®, the product does not go off or taste bad. It lost its flavor profile which is how Cocoa responds to expiration.

Although it is touted that you can consume Nesquik® safely after it has expired, you should try to consume the product before the expiration date for the best quality.

If the package has not been opened, it could be ok after ten years as Nesquik does not expire but degrades.

Can I drink expired Nesquik?

Nesquik does not go bad, so drinking expired Nesquik® will not impact your health. But drinking expired Nesquik® will impact your taste buds.

As Nesquik® ages, it loses many of its properties and flavor profile and becomes a bland, uninteresting drink.

The older it gets, the worse it becomes.

Can you freeze Nesquik powder?

Freezing Nesquik® with such a long shelf life seems to have little purpose, but it is recommended not to freeze the product.

Freezing the product can cause some of the ingredients to split, rendering the product garbage.

What kind of milk does Nesquik use?

Each eight fluid-ounce serving of Nesquik® Double Chocolate Low Fat Milk contains 8g of protein and is prepared with 100% genuine milk. You may keep Nesquik® in your pantry because it is precisely packed. So go ahead and stock up, but remember to put whatever you open in the fridge.

However, the quality of milk in powdered Nesquik may be questionable to its authenticity.

Related: Does hot chocolate expire?

Does Nesquik powder have milk?

Nesquik is not a vegan product. It does. But you are encouraged to add milk to the product for the best flavor profile. Nesquik contains powdered milk and milk derivatives.

Nesquik® contains powdered milk and milk derivatives. It is an exciting concept that Nesquik® has such a long shelf life if it contains milk powder and derivatives.

According to the USDA, milk powder has a long shelf life of maybe ten years if not opened but once opened, the proposition changes.

If milk powder is stored correctly at room temperature, a packet of opened powdered milk will last about three months. It is a long way from the ten-year mark.

What happens if Nesquik gets moist?

If Nesquik® gets moist, then it will spoil and go bad. The moisture will be absorbed by the Nesquik® powder and become a potential breeding ground for mold spores. 

This is typically only a concern to those who have opened Nesquik packages. If this is your product, throw it in the garbage and start again.

How should you store Nesquik powder?

You have a couple of choices to help your Nesquik® powder stay in good condition. You can store it unopened or opened in a cool and clean pantry.

You could store Nesquik® in the fridge if you wish. However, the fridge is a haven for moisture, so make sure the lid has clicked home before you place Nesquik® in the fridge.

There are other choco powdered drinks on the market that use inferior packaging to Nesquik®, which places them at a disadvantage regarding the product’s longevity.

If your Nesquik® container becomes compromised in any way, remove the contents and place them in an airtight container to keep the integrity of the product.

The Coca powder in Nesquik® will oxidize if not kept sealed correctly. It is essential not to leave the container open for extended periods. This will speed up the oxidation of the product and reduce its flavor profile.

If your kitchen is steamy, resist cracking open the Nesquik®, the dry powder will absorb moisture quickly, decreasing its life and flavor.

No second dips. When you spoon out Nesquik® powder, make sure the spoon is dry. If you have stirred your drink and decide you would like more Nesquik® powder get a clean, dry spoon.

Contamination from mouth to powder is bad news for the powder, and moisture may shorten the product’s life.

What happens if I drink expired Nesquik?

It depends on how far beyond the expiry date you are drinking the product. If it’s a few months, the product will taste fine. If it’s a year or more, the product may have lost some of its flavor profile.

In terms of health problems, you should not have any ill effects on you, but your taste buds may be disappointed.

Nesquik® lasts for a long time when stored correctly, but the older it gets, the less potent the flavors are until it reaches a point where the taste is negligible.

Why do you have solids in your Nesquik powder?

If your Nesquik® powder has solids, it is due to moisture absorption. The solids will dissolve easily with a stirring motion if there is no mold.

Why does Nesquik not dissolve?

The Nesquik® powder will dissolve. What you are witnessing is the cocoa powder not breaking the surface tension of the water. 

Cocoa powder is light and a fine powder causing it to sit on the surface, but it does not contain soy lecithin.

Soy lecithin, like many food additives, is not without controversy. Lecithin is a dietary ingredient that can be found in soy, among other sources. It is typically added to food as an emulsifier or lubricant, but it can also be used as an antioxidant and flavor preserver.

Stir the drink thoroughly, and the coca will dissolve.

Can you drink Nesquik cold?

Yes, cold Nesquik® is a great drink and adds to your vitamin intake, and you will receive additional calcium from the milk.

To prepare cold Nesquik®, add three heaped tablespoons of Nesquik® powder and 200 ml of cold milk. Mix thoroughly and drink.

How long has Nesquik been around?

It was developed in the US in 1948 and was a Nestle product and was called Nestle Quik. It didn’t take long before Nestle Quik was a hit with kids across the country and was then sold in the UK in 1957, where the product became a marketing wonder.

Nesquik® is now sold in more than one hundred countries. Worldwide.

Does Nesquik help you grow?

Nesquik would be more than happy to claim that their product was responsible for your child’s growth. In fact, they used to state it was essential that your child drank Nesquik® every morning for health and growth.

However, the facts are always slightly different from the marketing ploys of Nesquik®. If these ingredients support your child’s growth, then maybe you should see a doctor. The ingredients are:

• Sugar.
• Cocoa.
• Soy.
• Lecithin.
• Sodium Ascorbate (Vit C).
• Tricalcium.
• Phosphate.
• Ferric phosphate (iron)
• Niacinamide (B3)
• Vit A.
• Palmitate.
• Natural flavorings.

Ok, there are some vitamins in the mix,  but if you just pick a lesser-known substance like Palmitate, the story gets ugly.

It is claimed there is solid evidence showing that consuming large amounts of palmitic acid can raise the risk of cardiovascular disease. According to one study, consuming a lot of palmitic acids increases the likelihood of obesity and insulin resistance, both of which are risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

It seems reasonable that the added milk every morning could have taken most of the credit for a child’s growth!

Final thoughts

Does Nesquik powder expire? Yes, does it go bad? No. That’s the answer to the initial question dealt with.

However, it’s not as clear-cut as it seems. Nesquik is a unique product with no definitive shelf life, making this a complex proposition.

Nesquik can last beyond ten years unopened and many years opened if stored correctly and not exposed to moisture.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Although expired Nesquik can taste as good as the day you purchased it, the product is degrading.

The longer you leave Nesquik®, the worse the product becomes in the sense of the loss of its vitamin potency and flavor profile.

For the best Nesquik® experience, use it within the expiry date.