Powdered Drinks Delivery or Pickup

Powdered drink mixes have a best-by date that will let you know how long the product will offer optimum flavor. Most powdered drink mixes are good for another two years past this expiration date if they are unopened and stored properly in a cool, dry place. Once opened, you should use a powdered drink mix within six months. Drink powders will degrade quickly once they're opened.

Powdered milk has a particularly long shelf life. Manufacturers typically recommend using powdered milk within 18 months. However, you can use unopened powdered milk for up to 10 years after the best by date. If powdered milk has a yellow tint or unpleasant odor, it should be discarded.

Drink mixes can start to clump or harden over time, particularly once they've been opened. To help prevent clumping, always store powdered drink mixes in airtight containers. A moisture absorber can help prevent clumping in powdered drinks as well. Only use food-safe desiccant packs for this purpose.

If your powdered drink mix is already hard or clumpy, break up the clumps by putting it in a food processor or blender. You may also be able to crush the clumps by placing the drink mix in a zip-top plastic bag and crushing it with a rolling pin.

The health benefits of any powdered drink depend on the ingredients. One of the primary benefits of powdered drinks is that they can encourage you to drink more water if you don't enjoy water plain. Those who strongly prefer flavor in their water might be able to stay hydrated easier by using powdered drinks.

Some drink mixes may also contain a small amount of fiber and vitamins. Do be mindful of ingredients like caffeine, sugar, or artificial sweeteners, which are often present in drink mixes.

When you're making your beverage from a powdered mix, you have the opportunity to adjust how much flavor you add. If you have children who are resistant to drinking water but love juice, you can gradually dilute your drinks, adding more water each time until you're using only a small amount of powdered mix. 

Nearly all powdered drink mixes rely on some kind of sweetener. Some drinks, such as Kool-Aid, will have you add the sugar yourself, in which case you know exactly how much sweetener you're adding. Check the nutrient label for any powdered drink mix to see what kind of sweetener it has. 

While many drinks will advertise that they're "sugar-free", this does not mean that they're free of sweeteners. Aspartame, saccharin, sucralose, stevia, and acesulfame potassium are artificial sweeteners often used in low-calorie sugar-free beverages. Some people are sensitive to artificial sweeteners, so it's important to check the ingredients in any drink so you can determine how much sugar or sweetener you're consuming.