We often buy products from the grocery and leave them forgotten in our cupboards, and one drink you may have noticed that is past its best-by date is Coke.
You may be wondering if Coke goes bad. I did the research for you, and here is what I found!
Does Coke Go Bad?
Coke is a carbonated beverage that does go bad no matter how many preservatives and sweeteners are added to Coke. Typically, Coke goes bad around 6-9 months after the expiration label stamped on the Coke container. On the other hand, Diet Coke and Coke Syrup will go bad three to six months past their best-by dates.
If you are keen to know more about Coke and whether it goes bad, Coke’s shelf life, and how to make Coke last longer, then keep on reading!
How Long Before Coke Go Bad?
Contrary to common belief, Coke generally goes bad 6-9 months after the expiration date.
However, Coke is only safe to drink within 6-9 months of the expiration date if the Coke is unopened and free of any damage.
Note that Coke falls under the non-perishable goods category, meaning that Coke is still safe for consumption even when past its stamped date.
Coke’s given life duration is a rough estimate since Coke heavily contains preservatives, sweeteners, and carbonated water.
Does Coke Go Bad After Being Opened?
If you can’t finish a serving of Coke upon opening, expect the Coke to lose carbonation and go bad only after an hour of being open.
Exposing Coke to air invites bacteria, which will cause Coke to spoil quickly.
On the other hand, Coke can last for 2-4 days at most if you properly sealed the Coke and kept the Coke in the fridge after opening.
Does Coke Go Bad In Heat?
Heat is a big factor in most commercial products in the market, and your can of Coke is no exception. Once exposed to high heat, Coke will start to react and Coke’s ingredients will change.
Sweeteners will start to lose their form while the carbonation will start to diffuse due to the warm temperature.
Additionally, the colorings and flavorings in Coke will also be affected, further degrading the quality of the Coke.
Over time, bacteria will proliferate and the Coke will completely go bad. Not only will the drink taste flat and bad, but there’s also a chance the coke can or bottle can explode in extreme heat.
Does Unopened Diet Coke Go Bad?
Diet Coke is very similar to regular Coke except that Diet Coke has no sugar, and Diet Coke is also susceptible to going bad, specifically if Diet Coke is unopened three to six months after the best-by date.
However, if you care about consuming the Diet Coke within the realms of its fresh quality, drink it within three months after the expiration date.
On the other hand, opened Diet Coke will go bad after one day especially if left out at room temperature.
Does Coke Syrup Go Bad?
Coke Syrup is a concentrated version of regular Coke, and concentrated Coke can go bad approximately 6 months after the expiry label indicated on the box.
Coke syrup is sugar-based and brimming with additives, so this duration is only an estimate.
However, some soda syrups can last for a longer time if you store sugar syrups properly and keep sugar syrups away from potential damage and extreme weather.
How To Tell If Your Coke Has Gone Bad?
You can tell Coke has gone bad when the can or container contains less soda than usual.
If there is less Coke in the container, the container has been damaged and the carbonation has escaped.
Therefore, the Coke has been exposed and is likely contaminated, making the Coke unsafe to drink.
If the container is airtight and undamaged, the second way you can check for freshness is to pour the Coke to see if fizz appears.
Your Coke is safe to drink if there is fizz, but Coke will not be safe for consumption if there is no fizz because the Coke will be too old and flat.
Finally, you can take a small sip of the Coke to see if the Coke tastes the same. Discard the Coke immediately if there is a difference in flavor.
How To Store Coke To Avoid Going Bad?
If you want to keep your Coke in tip-top quality even when the Coke has gone past its best-by date then keep the Coke away from extreme heat.
Coke is a carbonated beverage and does not do well with hot temperatures.
Therefore, Coke should always be refrigerated if you want to minimize the chances of Coke going bad.
You may also keep unopened Coke containers upside down in the fridge to keep the Coke carbonated for longer.
If you want to learn more about if Coke keeps you awake, if Coke evaporates, and if Coke expires, read our related articles.
Conclusion
Your Coke will go bad only 6-9 months after the expiration date. On the other hand, both Diet Coke and Coke syrup will go bad 3-6 months after the best-by date.
If you expose your Coke soda to extreme heat, damage, or air, your Coke will likely have gone bad.