Of course, Coke lasts for a shorter period of time if it is not stored properly. But remember that if Coke and Pepsi, like a lot of other soft drinks, usually have a best by date and not an expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use Coke to compliment your favorite meal for months after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Soft Drinks are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Although not a perfect test, your senses are usually the most reliable instruments to tell if your soda has gone bad. The first thing to go bad with any soft drink is the loss of CO2 (the carbon dioxide which makes the soda fizz when you pour a glass). So, it is not harmful to drink soda if the bubbles begin to diminish and then eventually disappear (6-9 months past the best by date), but it will taste flat.

*What you need to be careful of is Diet Sodas because of the artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners in diet sodas begin to chemically break down over time and the diet soda will actually taste worse the further away you get from the eat by date (plus being flat).

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled drinks so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your drinks before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Soft Drinks to extend their shelf life?

You can help Coke keep fresh longer by storing it in a cool dark place with a constant temperature. If the coke is unopened, you can store it in your pantry. A sealed bottle of soda will keep its CO2 a day or two longer than an open can will. The little plastic lids that are made to close up a soda can may be beneficial for keeping your soda fresh for about a day longer than the above table.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Soft Drinks:

How long are Soft Drinks good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does Coke last? That depends. How long does ice cream last? In general, coke lasts only as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Soft Drinks lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Soft Drinks.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Soft Drinks shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please drink responsibly!