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How Long Does Coke Last? [Shelf Life Guide]

Whether you are outdoors on a bright sunny day or chilling with friends indoors, Coke is the perfect fuzzy drink that satisfies your thirst.

There are many carbonated drinks out there, including Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sprite, and Orange Crush, to name a few, but Coke remains the most popular drink.

does coke go bad

But that is not to say that Coke or other carbonated drinks are healthy.

According to Medical News Today, high sugar content in carbonated beverages can have heroin-like effects on the human body and contribute to several diseases.

However, consuming small amounts will not wreak as much havoc on your health, so that you can drink it in moderation.

So, now, have you bought more cans of Coke than you can finish? Or you want to extend its shelf and lower your daily limit?

Read on to know if your Coke will go bad and how you can find out.

How Long Does Coke Last? Does Coke Go Bad?

how long does coke last

Coke contains carbonated water, sugar, sugar, and artificial flavorings like other carbonated drinks and some preservatives.

And they have the same shelf life. So the information you read here will also apply to other fizzy drinks.

Coke and other soda drinks come with an expiry date, and most people discard the bottle past that date.

But if the bottle or can is unopened, the carbonation is locked, and it is pretty safe from contaminants. Hence, you can still drink well stored and unopened Coke well past the expiry date.

Most carbonated drinks have a shelf life of six to nine months after the expiry date. Just keep it unopened in a dry and cool place where the temperature does not fluctuate, and your Coke is good to go for nine months.

If you have already opened the lid, you should transfer it to a smaller container to come into less contact with air.

Or seal the glass of Coke with aluminum foil to lock its fizz in and refrigerate it. Your Coke will retain the flavor and carbonation for up to four days.

But the shelf life of opened and unopened Coke mentioned here are only estimates. Depending on storage conditions, it may deteriorate earlier or last even longer.

So how long does Coke last? It can last for up to a year after the best before date if it is stored properly and there is no external damage to the can or bottle.

Some microbes may find the sweetened environment of soft drinks suitable for growth and considerably change Coke’s chemistry. Hence, expired Coke may pose some health risks.

How to Tell if Coke is Bad?

how to tell if coke is bad

Expired or not expired, cook looks the same. So you can’t tell if Coke has gone bad just by careful observation.

You can, however, rely on your sense of taste to know if it is terrible.

Coke’s fizzy taste is due to a lot of carbon dioxide compressed into the drink, which we call carbonation. Losing the carbonation indicates that it is going bad.

If Coke tastes flat, or there is no effervescence when you pour out the drink, it is not good.

When Coke is strong, it will make a hissing sound and produce lots of effervescence. But that decreases with time as the carbonation becomes weaker.

Coke is made with lots of artificial sweeteners, which break down chemically over a long period of time. So your Coke might begin to taste worse the further away it is from the expiration date.

You can tell if Coke is bad by only tasting it. If it tastes flat (without fizz or flavor) and tastes worse than its usual taste, it isn’t pleasant.

Dispose of your Coke: flush it down the drain if you sense that it has gone bad. A bad coke not only poses a health risk; it will not be worth drinking once the fizz and flavor are gone.

Conclusion

coke shelf life

Coke is undeniably our favorite soda drink.

So, if you find that you have bought more cans than you can consume before its best date, don’t toss it out. If the taste and carbonation are still intact, you can drink it for a few months more.

But also a word of caution: consuming it too much can pose severe health risks, as health experts suggest. So you might want to reduce your daily intake or share it with some friends.

While it is sensible to assess the dangers of consuming expired foods, we must also be aware of the positive and negative effects of food on our bodies.

After all, we all want to eat and drink healthy. Hence consuming carbonated drinks in moderation is the key to enjoy Coke without risking your health.

does coke go bad

How Long Does Coke Last? Does Coke Go Bad?

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Shelf Life
Servings 1 Serving

Ingredients
  

  • Coke
  • Labels and markers

Instructions
 

  • Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
  • Check the u0022Best-by-dateu0022 to know when it expires.
  • Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
  • Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
Did you make this recipe?Mention @EatDelights or tag #eatdelights!

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