Why Do Mass Gainers Taste Bad? (how I make it good)

January 9, 2024 |

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In this article, we’ll discuss the possible reasons behind mass gainer’s not-so-delectable taste.

If taken properly and regularly, mass gainers can significantly help you gain weight. But the problem arises when you can’t drink it for more than two to three days because of the unpleasant taste.

Mass gainers may taste bad due to specific components in their composition, such as creatine, BCAAs, and artificial sweeteners.

This might leave you wondering what can be done to improve their flavor.

Therefore, in this article, we’ll not only address the underlying factors that make mass gainers taste so bland but also share useful tips to make your supplement enjoyable to consume.

Moreover, we’ve also included a list of our top picks containing mass gainers that taste so well on their own that you’ll not have to improvise.

Keep reading to find all this and more.

Here’s why mass gainers taste bad

There are a whole lot of mass gainers available in the market, some of them with natural ingredients while mostly are formulated with different artificial flavors and chemicals.

Although most of the ingredients have no noticeable impact on the flavor, a few components are to blame for the unpleasant and bitter taste.

Thus below are the ingredients that make mass gainers taste so bad:

1. Creatine ingredient

Creatine is the most powerful supplement for building muscle and enhancing strength. It’s a bodybuilding and fitness essential. Creatine sales are estimated at around 400 million dollars per year worldwide – making it one of the most popular and regularly-used supplements worldwide.

On one hand, it’s an important component in mass gainers, but on the other hand, it may be the reason for their bitter taste.

This is because creatine is produced from the amino acid methionine, which has a peculiar sulfur-like taste.

Moreover, adding the hydrochloride group to the creatine molecule decreases the pH, leaving the creatine more acidic. It is normal for Creatine HCl to taste sour or acidic.

We would recommend you to blend mass gainer having creatin with fruit juice or another sweet beverage to make them more appealing; nevertheless, for some users, even this method is ineffective.

2. BCAA’s

Another component that can make them taste unpleasant is BCAA ( Branched Chained Amino Acid).

BCAAs are a group of three essential amino acids: leucine, isoleucine, and valine which help in building muscles and help with protein synthesis. Although they’re an essential mass gainer component, they often have a rather bitter flavor profile.

Leucine is the most bitter of the three BCAAs, along with being the most effective at promoting muscle protein synthesis.

Consequently, the product with more leucine concentration will taste more bitter and unpalatable.

3. Contains Artificial flavors

One of the reasons why certain weight gain drinks have a bad taste is because they contain artificial sweeteners and flavorings.

Since artificial sweeteners are manufactured in a laboratory, they can be distasteful. They are synthetic substances not derived from animals or plants, which everyone might not like.

Mass gainers with artificial flavors mostly taste chalky and may leave a strange aftertaste.

4. Vitamins & Minerals

Some mass gainers can be chemical tasting due to the inclusion of certain vitamins.

Also, the inclusion of essential minerals like zinc, copper, or chromium along with vitamins leaves a metallic taste in the mouth, making them extremely unpleasant.

Consequently, this metallic taste can make you reduce the usage of nutritional supplements, hence diminishing the treatment’s efficacy.

How Can I Make my Mass Gainers Taste Better?

Some mass gainers taste bland and horrendous, but that doesn’t mean you need to throw them away and waste your hard-earned money.

We share some useful tips below to help your awful mass gainer palatable:

Mix it properly: Sometimes, you cannot mix the powder properly, making it gritty and powdery. We recommend you use a blender instead to get a well-mixed rich drink without clumps.

Add milk instead of water: Replacing milk with water makes a big difference as you get a creamy protein-filled drink instead. You can use oat milk or almond milk. Low-fat or whole milk to add creaminess to your mass gainer.

Add some fruits: You can also add fruits of your choice to your supplement. Like if you bought a strawberry-flavored mass gainer, you can also add fresh strawberries to give it a real taste and cut the bitterness of the creatine and BCAA’s.

Make it a smoothie: Turning mass gainer into a rich smoothie is a win-win situation. For making it, you can add oats, fruits, and milk and blend it with some ice to make a refreshing smoothie with double nutritional value.

Mass Gainer That Tastes Good – My 5 Best Options

Our review of the top 5 mass gainers is based primarily on user feedback and our personal experience with some of the products on this list.

So, if you’re searching for a good-tasting mass gainer, we’ve got you covered.

1. Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer

Mass gainer bottle

Crazy Nutrition Gainer is supplied and manufactured by Wolfson Brands (UK) Limited, a reputable name in the supplement market.

They provide high-quality supplements manufactured in FDA-approved facilities and contain 100 % effective ingredients based on their innovative and thoroughly researched formula.

Crazy Nutrition’s Mass Gainer formula is a nutritious meal replacement smoothie. The ingredients are 100% natural and carefully chosen to produce significant outcomes.

The company uses multiple natural food sources to fill the carbohydrate content instead of cheap carbohydrate fillers like maltodextrin.

The formula contains creatine, an essential component for muscle growth, boosting strength, and increased recovery.

Other natural food sources include whey protein, gluten-free oats, sweet potato flour, pea starch, and flaxseed powder.

Oats are one of the most important foods for bodybuilders of all levels. They are high in fiber, take longer to digest, and provide minerals like magnesium and zinc.

Now, if we talk about the flavor, this mass gainer only comes in two flavors, vanilla, and chocolate, and we think this is wise.

It’s always better to introduce two best-tasting flavors than multiple terrible ones.

And, as you can see, its composition contains simply creatine; there are no BCAAs or other fillers to ruin the supplement’s flavor.

Let’s see what real users say about Crazy Nutrition mass gainer, especially its taste.

User reviews

Reviewing user ratings on several platforms reveals that users were extremely pleased with its use.

According to the majority, it provides them with a tremendous boost without leaving them overly exhausted.

People appreciate that the product mixes so well and that both flavors are delicious. Most of them were found to prefer the chocolate flavor to vanilla.

In addition, consumers were satisfied with the mass gainer’s natural ingredient composition devoid of artificial fillers.

2. Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass

optimum nutrition serious mass

Optimum Nutrition is a well-known brand in sports nutrition, providing a wide choice of high-quality protein powders and supplements for the everyday gym goer, sports enthusiast, and even pro athletes.

It’s Serious Mass gainer contains 1,250 calories per serving and 50 grams of protein to aid muscle repair.

It gives you the necessary equipment to put on the pounds and achieve your desired body.

Considering the ingredient profile, serious mass derives its calories primarily through protein-sparing complex carbohydrates and a high-quality protein combination consisting of whey protein concentrate, calcium caseinate, and egg albumen.

Moreover, Creatine monohydrate, glutamine, choline, and inositol have been added to maximize each strength training session. At the same time, a complete vitamin and mineral profile ensures that your body receives a handsome amount of nutrients.

Serious mass is available in five distinct flavors, but we prefer chocolate based on our experience.

User reviews

There are many favorable reviews on Amazon and other trustworthy online forums.

According to a client, after using Serious Mass for three weeks on his underweight autistic son, she noticed a significant difference.

Another user reported gaining 12 pounds in two months by being consistent and making lifestyle changes.

We noticed in the review sections that people enjoyed its vanilla flavor in addition to chocolate.

Some of them claimed that Serious Mass is transformed into a scrumptious smoothie that they loved to cheat on by adding nuts and dried fruits.

3. Rivalus Clean Gainer

rival nutrition mass gainer

Rivalus Clean gainer is a Rival Nutrition product that NUTRIVO LLC bought in 2013.

All Rival Nutrition products are produced in-house and adhere to the highest standards in the industry.

They produce potent blends, employ no illegal chemicals, and specify every ingredient in their unique formulations.

The Rivalus Clean Gainer has 560 calories per serving and contains clean, high-quality macros. It’s devoid of fillers and empty calories.

Every two scoops offer 30 grams of protein, 90 grams of carbohydrates, and 7 grams of fat, which is ideal for putting on quality weight without accumulating undesirable fat.

The 90 grams of quick and slow-digesting carbs from eight different sources, while the 30-gram protein content comprises only milk protein, which contains the two most common and effective proteins available: whey and casein.

Furthermore, all healthy fats come from MCTs, flaxseed, avocado, and sunflower.

Let’s get to the flavors, Rivalus clean gainer comes in 6 different flavors, but only one or two are palatable to consume.

Most people choose chocolate fudge over all other flavors.

User reviews

The majority of people were in favor of the product based on user reviews posted to various online forums. They reported that after three months of use, the supplement helped them significantly gain weight despite being hard gainers.

Upon review, we discovered that most individuals enjoyed its chocolate fudge flavor. They were happy with how simple it is now to consume mass gainer, which was a difficult chore previously.

4. BSN True Mass Weight Gainer

BSN True Mass Gainer

Bio-Engineered Supplements and Nutrition, Inc. (BSN) has been a global leader in sports nutrition for over a decade by pushing the limits of innovation and result-producing solutions.

Its products are the result of extensive research, and it supports its products like True Mass with abundant scientific evidence.

Considering ingredient profile, True Mass has included eight protein sources in its Protein Matrix, which appears to be well-equipped to assist you in gaining lean muscle mass.

BSN True Mass targets casual gainers who do not require a mass gain shake with insane calorie counts.

It supports weight gain with a 2:1 carb-to-protein ratio, a good 700 calories per serving, 87 grams of carbohydrates (maltodextrin), and 18g of fat.

If your goal is to increase lean mass and develop a well-rounded body, 700 calories can go a long way – particularly when combined with the proper diet and workout.

We have included this in our list of best-flavored supplements because True Mass blends so well with milk that you get a milkshake flavor and consistency that will delight your taste receptors.

True mass comes in 4 flavors, but our personal favorite is vanilla ice cream.

User reviews

Let’s see what the consumers have to say about True Mass:

According to a 57-year-old weight lifter, he does not experience any digestive concerns when using True Mass, and he loves how nicely the powder mixes and tastes.

Another woman related that her husband had always struggled with his weight and disliked the chalky feel of whatever protein shake he tried. However, he is pleased with True Mass’s results, notably its incredible flavor.

She also divulged the secret to this shake’s excellent flavor when combined with vanilla ice cream.

Only a few reviews were not in favor of the product, but the majority are authority, so.

5. Dymatize Super Gainer

super mass gainer

The manufacturer of Super Mass Gainer is Dymatize Nutrition. The company was established in 1994 and had its headquarters in Dallas, Texas.

Super Mass Gainer is a protein powder containing vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and other substances that accelerate muscle building.

It is crucial to constantly nourish your muscles when looking to gain weight. This is why Super Mass Gainer combines Whey and Casein proteins to provide your muscles with rapid and sustained fuel for growth.

In addition to providing enough calories to burn and prevent muscle mass from being used as fuel, it provides enough protein, BCAAs, Creatine, several vitamins, minerals, and Glutamine to aid recovery, strength, and endurance.

Super Gainer comes in two flavors Gourmet vanilla and rich chocolate; both are average in taste as the formula of Super gainers includes Creatine and BCAA’s as well.

User reviews

There are mixed reviews of people on Amazon and different online portals.

However, those mixed reviews weren’t particularly about the flavor. In fact, most of them happened to like its chocolatey richness.

A 24-year-old user reported that super gainer helped him gain 20 pounds in 3-4 months. However, he suggested combining it with heavy weights to exhaust muscles to build muscle.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I mix mass gainer?

A scoop or two of mass gainer should be mixed with milk or water. Shake vigorously until the powder is entirely dissolved and a smooth shake is made; for best results, use a blender to mix it well.

How to make mass gainer less thick?

The ideal solution is a high-speed blender, but a shaker bottle is also excellent. Simply put all of your ingredients into a blender and process until smooth. When using a shaker bottle, pour half of your liquid, then protein powder, and shake.

Does Serious Mass gainer taste good?

Serious muscle gainer comes in five different tastes, but not all of them are really enjoyable. It has a delicious chocolate flavor that is enhanced by the addition of nuts and frozen dried fruits.

Are mass gainers bad for your health?

Mass gainers are generally safe for healthy individuals, although they do have some adverse effects.

The highly high sugar content present in the majority of weight gainers can not only result in unhealthy weight gain but also increase the chance of getting type 2 diabetes.

Conclusion

Mass gainers might be helpful, but purchasing the right product can be challenging due to several factors that can create obstacles. We believe the flavor is an important one since if you cannot drink it, you cannot determine if it is beneficial or not.

Therefore, in the above article, we have attempted to assist you by detailing all aspects that can affect the flavor of mass gainers.

And from our list of top five best-tasting mass gainers, I hope it will be easy for you to select the ideal product.

Important Disclaimer: The information contained on MAX HEALTH LIVING is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Any statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA and any information or products discussed are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or illness. Please consult a healthcare practitioner before making changes to your diet or taking supplements that may interfere with medications.

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We are a team of fitness, health, and supplement experts, and content creators. Over the past 4 years, we have spent over 123,000 hours researching food supplements, meal shakes, weight loss, and healthy living. Our aim is to educate people about their effects, benefits, and how to achieve a maximum healthy lifestyle. Read more.