Have you ever bought a mass gainer, excited to finally pack on muscle mass, then tasted it and gagged? Yea, many of us have been there, especially if you've been in this game a while. But companies are creating better-tasting mass gainers as the landscape becomes more competitive.
I've bought, tried, and tested many mass gainers in my over a decade and a half of training, and I will share with you what I believe are the best-tasting mass gainers.
I'm a chocolate guy through and through, so every mass gainer below is a review about the chocolate flavor. I’ll never stray from it.
Header |  Best Tasting Mass Gainer |  Best Tasting Animal-Based Mass Gainer |
|---|---|---|
Product | ||
Size | 2500 g | 3243 g |
Protein | 40 g | 47 g |
Serving | 125 g | 130 g |
Price |
Best Tasting Mass Gainer
Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer
Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer is my go-to mass gainer when I’m in a rush to replace a meal or when I’m bulking and need extra calories. The chocolate flavor tastes just like a typical whey protein shake which is unusual for a mass gainer and why I enjoy it so much.
It’s also unusual for a mass gainer to taste great when it’s not maltodextrin based. Instead, Crazy Nutrition uses oats as the primary carbohydrate source, but they flavor the powder with real cacao chocolate.
It is further sweetened with sucralose, which is a zero-calorie sweetener present in almost every mass gainer on the market. I mix mine in water in a shaker cup, and it doesn't clump, so you don't get hits of dry powder. Overall, it's like drinking a chocolate shake, especially if you've acquired the taste for protein supplements.
This is one of the reasons it’s rated my #1 best weight gain supplements for skinny girls and guys. If you want a more in-depth breakdown, you can read my Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer review.
Pros
Cons
Best Tasting Animal-Based Mass Gainer
REDCON1 MRE Meal Replacement
When I first looked at the ingredients label for REDCON1's MRE Meal Replacement, I thought it would be foul. Beef, salmon, chicken, and pea protein mixed in one concoction? I’m sure you’re thinking what I was when first seeing it.
But after trying it, I'm hooked. It sits in my cupboard as an alternative to Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer if I feel like a larger meal replacement. The taste is like a thicker chocolate shake than the Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer. I would consider Crazy nutrition "light" and REDCON1 "heavy" regarding texture.
But I have no qualms against the MRE Meal Replacement as I enjoy it. I suspect the great flavor comes from the dehydrated goji berry and the addition of sucralose. Importantly, you don't get any beef, chicken, pea, or salmon aftertaste like you do when taking a pure animal or vegan protein powder.
Beef protein powders can leave a bloody aftertaste in the back of your nose, and pea protein just tastes like sawdust. REDCON1 have managed to hide these aftertastes with their formulation. You also don’t get any clumping when mixing in a shaker cup.
Pros
Cons
Best Tasting Budget Mass Gainer
Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass
Optimum Nutrition’s Serious Mass is a supplement I mention to avoid in my best weight gain supplements for skinny guys because of the extreme serving size and maltodextrin carbohydrate base.
But if flavor is all you're after on a budget, nothing comes close to Serious Mass. It's a little over $50 and tastes just like their Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey Protein, likely because it's simply maltodextrin, protein powder, sweetened with sucralose.
Simple and easy. You will struggle to mix this if you use the full serving size, so it's better to use ½ or ¼ the serving size, so it mixes well.
Pros
Cons
What Makes A Mass Gainer Taste Good?
The main ingredients that make mass gainers taste great are artificial sweeteners. Most companies use zero-calorie sucralose to sweeten the powder. Then depending on the desired flavor, they will add those ingredients.
For example, chocolate-flavored mass gainers may include cacao, while fruit flavors may use dehydrated berries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Mass Gainers Taste Bad?
Some mass gainers may taste bad because of their ingredients. Mass gainers trying to be "natural" may use stevia to sweeten the powder, which changes the flavor profile entirely. And not in a good way.
If it’s a vegan mass gainer, the base protein is often pea protein which has a distinct flavor very few people like.
What Mass Gainer Tastes Good?
Crazy Nutrition Mass Gainer, REDCON1 MRE Meal Replacement, and Optimum Nutrition Serious Mass all taste great in my experience. Most companies manufacture great-tasting mass gainers because it's impossible to compete in such a competitive market if your supplement tastes horrible.
How Can I Make Mass Gainer Taste Better?
If you're not accustomed to the taste of mass gainer, you can do a few things to enhance the flavor. Firstly, you can mix it with milk instead of water. It creates a stronger milkshake flavor instead of a “flavored water” taste.
Secondly, make sure it’s cold. Using room temperature liquid makes all protein taste average. Thirdly, you can make a fruit smoothie with your mass gainer. Include milk, banana, your favorite berries, and you’ve changed the flavor instantly.
Do You Need Mass Gainer To Get Big?
You don't need a mass gainer to get big, but it can help if you struggle to eat at a caloric surplus. Mass gainers make it easier to consume more calories since you can drink them, which is easier to digest and eat than chewing more meat and potatoes.
Summary
Taste is an important consideration when choosing a mass gainer. If you’re going to be drinking it every day to gain muscle, you better enjoy it. The best-tasting mass gainer in my experience is Crazy Nutrition's Mass Gainer as it has a light chocolatey texture.