Does Nesquik Powder Expire?

Like most foods, Nesquik powder will spoil eventually. However, it is designed to stay good for an extremely long time. Thankfully, it is easy to tell when the powder has gone bad. The shelf life of Nesquik powder can be extended by storing it properly.

Keep reading to learn more about Nesquik powder and its shelf life. 

What Is Nesquik Powder?

Nesquik powder, contrary to popular belief, is not dehydrated milk. Instead, it is a chocolate-flavored powder that is often added to milk. Nesquik powder is flavored with real cocoa, which is what gives it a delicious chocolate flavor. As Nesquik powder does not contain as much dairy protein, it stays good for much longer than dehydrated milk powder. 

 Does Nesquik Powder Expire?

Nesquik powder does not have an expiration date. This is common for products that last an extremely long time. Instead, it has a best-by date.

It’s important to keep in mind that a best-by date is very different from an expiration date. You should not consume expired products. However, you can still consume products that have passed their best-by date. However, the food or beverage may not be as tasty.

Nesquik powder starts to lose its flavor after it hits its best-by date. This process happens slowly, so you may not even notice a difference for the first week or two. It is still safe to consume Nesquik powder at this time (as long as it hasn’t spoiled).

How to Tell If Your Nesquik Powder has Expired

If you simply want to check the best-by date on your package of Nesquik powder, take a look at the bottom of the can. The best-by date should be there. If it has rubbed off, open up the package and check to see if it has spoiled.

Nesquik powder is usually spoiled by mold growth. This can happen when moisture gets into the product, as this creates the sort of dark, moist environment that mold prefers.

Mold spoilage happens far more frequently in opened packages, but it can happen in unopened packages if the seal is broken. If your Nesquik powder has been spoiled by mold, you should be able to see the mold upon close inspection. The powder may also smell bad.

It may be tempting to simply dump out the moldy powder and continue to use the powder that looks fine. However, even the powder that looks fine could by contaminated by small amounts of mold. Even small amounts of some types of mold are enough to make you sick.   

The Best Way To Store Nesquik Powder

There are many ways to store Nesquik powder safely. However, all methods have one thing in common: they prevent oxygen, heat, humidity, and sunlight from reaching the powder. This is because all these factors can cause Nesquik powder to spoil quickly.

Avoiding Oxygen

The original Nesquik powder packaging is always air-tight, no matter what size you get. This is because oxygen can cause the powder to go bad more quickly. Air that gets into the package can bring moisture and even fungal spores. This can lead to mold growth, even if the opening in the package is too small to see with the naked eye.

If you’ve already opened your Nesquik powder or you’ve noticed that the seal is broken, you should transfer it to another air-tight container. This will keep the powder from spoiling far more effectively than storing it in the opened Nesquik container. 

Keeping Out Moisture

While keeping oxygen from getting into the package of Nesquik powder is important, keeping moisture out is the most crucial factor in keeping your Nesquik from spoiling. Nesquik powder is prepared in such a way that its sugar and dairy proteins cannot be consumed by most fungi when the powder is dry.

This changes as soon as the powder gets wet. If the powder does get wet, both fungi and bacteria will likely begin to grow almost immediately. Keeping your Nesquik in an air-tight container should also help keep moisture out. If it does get wet, you should make as much as you can drink that day and throw out the rest. 

Managing Temperature & Humidity

Like most foods, storing Nesquik in a cool, dry place will help it last longer. Again, this is because mold and bacteria prefer warm and moist environments. Many people will store Nesquik in their pantry. However, that may not be the best place for it.

Instead, you may want to store Nesquik in your fridge. This is because your fridge will be much cooler and drier than your pantry. Of course, this may not be an option for people who have a small fridge. 

Avoiding Sunlight

It’s not a good idea to keep Nesquik on a countertop that receives direct sunlight. This is partially because the warmth caused by the sunlight will create a welcoming environment for bacteria and mold. However, this is not the only reason.

Nesquik contains many vitamins and minerals. These vitamins and minerals will start to degrade if they are exposed to sunlight. This will not affect the flavor of chocolate milk made with Nesquik powder. However, this will greatly reduce the nutritional value offered by Nesquik drinks.