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I’ve been drinking protein shakes almost every day for years. But it’s pretty annoying to have to prep, blend, and clean up after making a shake every day.
I love to make protein shakes the night before so I can grab one when I’m trying to rush out the door or sneak in a morning workout.
If you’re wondering if you can make a protein shake the night before.. the answer is yes! But we have some advice on the best way to store them.
Can You Refrigerate Protein Shakes Overnight?
Yes, you can make protein shake the night before you drink it and keep it in the refrigerator overnight. Protein shakes will keep for up to three days when refrigerated.
Making protein shake the night before can be a great way to save time in the mornings, particularly if you have a busy schedule or limited time for your morning workout.
Pro Tip!
I highly recommend storing your protein shakes in a mason jar. This makes it super easy to shake up and chug before you leave the house. You can also store it in a legit protein shaker if you want something you can bring with you!
The downside to making protein shake the night before is that the longer you leave your shake, the more it will lose its freshness. You may also find that the shake settles and separates overnight, which will mean you need to shake it vigorously until it is re-mixed and ready to drink.
If you need recipe ideas, check out our list of protein shakes for weight gain if you or our newer roundup of protein shakes for weight loss.
How to Store a Protein Shake Overnight
Store your protein shake overnight and keep it fresh for longer in four simple steps:
- Mix or blend your protein shake as you would normally
- Pour the shake into a sealed, airtight container (we recommend mason jars!)
- Place the container in the fridge immediately
- Drink your protein shake the next day or within three days at most
The #1 rule is to make sure you are using an airtight container.
If your protein shake contains fruit then it’s particularly important to make sure the container is airtight in order to prevent oxidation. Oxidation is where fruit turns brown and changes in consistency due to exposure to the air.
If you want to keep your protein shake for longer than three days – possibly even for as long as three months – then you should freeze your protein shake rather than storing it in the refrigerator.
Whether you use milk or water for protein shakes – both can be stored overnight!
Pros & Cons of Preparing a Protein Shake the Night Before
Making a protein shake the night before has its advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
- Saves time – The biggest advantage to making a protein shake the night before is saving time in the morning. Most people have busy morning schedules and it can be difficult to find time to mix a protein shake. Making your protein shake the night before means you can save time in your morning routine.
- Convenience – Another big advantage to making protein shake the night before is convenience. You can mix all the protein shake you need for the next two or three days, store it in the refrigerator, and simply pour a portion of protein shake whenever you want it. This is especially helpful if you have a lot of ingredients to mix with protein powder!
- Enjoy a cold shake – Protein shakes taste better when they are cold. By making your protein shake the night before and storing it in the refrigerator overnight, you’ll give your shake time to cool down to a refreshingly chilled temperature.
Cons
- Separation – When you make your protein shake the night before, you may find that it settles overnight and that the ingredients have separated when you come to drink it in the morning. If this happens, you’ll need to vigorously shake the protein shake to re-mix it. We store ours in mason jars because they are easy to shake and you can even mix protein powder without a shaker using them.
- Loss of freshness – You protein shake is at its freshest when you first make it, and will keep for three days at most in the fridge.
- Loss of nutritional value – Storing your protein shake in an airtight container will help to minimize the loss of nutritional value.
FAQs about Making a Protein Shake the Night Before
Yes, it is safe to leave a protein shake in the fridge overnight. Protein shakes can keep for up to three days when refrigerated. Making your protein shake the night before makes it easy to quickly grab a shake in the morning.
No, you do not have to drink your protein shake right away. Many people prefer to drink their protein shakes a few hours after they are prepared or even the next day. However, it is important to keep the shake refrigerated if you do not plan to drink it immediately.
Protein shakes that are kept at room temperature after mixing will last for between 2 and 4 hours. If you use milk for protein shakes, you should drink it within 1 hour unless you put it in the fridge. Protein shakes that are kept in the fridge should be consumed within 3 days. Protein shakes will last in the freezer for up to three months.
Our Verdict: Can You Make a Protein Shake the Night Before?
It’s totally fine to make protein shakes the night before! I do this all the time when I’m in a busy season of work or trying to hit morning workouts.
As I said, I highly recommend using a mason jar. This will keep your shake airtight and you can give it a quick shake to get the consistency back to normal.
Just remember – protein shakes only last in the fridge for about 3-4 days so make sure to drink it before it goes bad.
