Opening a tub of pre-workout powder and finding it full of lumps or starting to stick together can be very frustrating. It's by far the most common product complaint we receive here at The Supplement Store, accounting for around 90% of our total item related inquiries, and we understand the concern. The good news though is the clumping is extremely common and doesn't usually mean there is anything wrong with the product. In most cases it does not effect either the safety or efficacy of the product. Its also often easy to fix.
Why is my pre workout powder clumpy?
Pre-workout formulas often contain ingredients that naturally attract moisture. These are known as hygroscopic ingredients, and many of the most popular performance-boosting compounds fall into this category. Examples of such ingredients are citrulline malate, glycerol, creatine, certain salts and various aminos and stimulants. Even tiny amounts of moisture can cause the powder to start to stick together. This can happen during transport, in warehouses (either at manufacturer, distributor or retailer level), in your kitchen or simply from repeated opening and closing of the tub.
Other factors that may increase clumping risk are: warm or humid rooms, storing the tub near kettles or radiators, leaving the lid loose, a half empty tub (more air volume = more humidity inside), long periods without using the product.
Are clumpy pre workout powders safe to use?
In almost all cases yes.
Clumping is usually just a cosmetic issue caused by moisture, not spoilage. If the following are true, the product is almost always fine to use:
- - the internal seal was intact when you first opened it
- - the expiry/best before date is still valid
- - there is no foul smell or visible mould
- - the powder is not obviously discoloured
Effectiveness isn't diminished either. The ingredients are still there in the same amounts. You may just need to break up the powder before scooping so the serving size remains accurate.
How to fix clumpy pre workout powder
These simple methods usually work well:
1) Break it up manually
- Use a clean fork, spoon or knife to press through the larger lumps. This alone usually restores it to a usable texture.
2) Shake or sift it
- Pour the powder into a shaker bottle, give it a firm shake, then return it to the tub. If you have a fine kitchen sieve that works even better.
3) Use a blender
- For more severe clumping, remove the silica packet (this is usually included to reduce moisture), pour the powder from the tub into the blender, blend for a few seconds then return it to the tub and replace the moisture packet.
How to stop it clumping again
Once you’ve fixed it, these storage habits help keep it loose:
- - Keep the silica gel packet in the tub - it absorbs moisture
- - Close the lid firmly every time
- - Store it in a cool, dry place (avoid bathrooms, cars and windowsills)
- - Shake the tub every few days if you’re not using it often
- - Don’t leave it open for long when scooping
- - Avoid temperature swings - these cause condensation inside the tub
With good storage, most pre-workouts will stay loose for their whole lifespan.
Our policy on if you receive a pre workout from us that is clumpy:
We genuinely wish no customer ever received a clumpy pre-workout, as we never want anyone to be disappointed with an order. Unfortunately, that outcome isn’t always realistic. We are resellers rather than manufacturers, and many pre-workout formulas naturally contain moisture-absorbing ingredients. As long as brands continue to use these compounds, there will always be a small risk of clumping.
We do everything we can to minimise this: we keep turnover high, store products for as short a time as possible, and operate from a cool, dry warehouse to reduce humidity exposure. Despite this, clumping can still occur - even when tubs are fresh from the manufacturer.
If you receive a pre-workout (or another product prone to this, such as certain creatines or hydration formulas), we recommend first trying the methods outlined above, as these resolve the issue in the majority of cases.
If the clumping is extremely severe - for example, if the powder has hardened into a single solid mass - please get in touch. In those situations, we can refer the case to the manufacturer who, in some instances and at their discretion, may authorise us to provide a replacement tub.
