Soda that is a couple years old may be safe to drink, but it likely won’t taste very good. The main things that determine whether old soda is safe are the ingredients, packaging, and storage conditions. We’ll go over all the factors to consider when deciding if you should drink that 2 year old can of soda you found in the back of the fridge.
Does soda expire?
Technically, soda doesn’t really “expire” in the sense that it can go bad like milk or meat does. Since soda has no nutritious value, there are no concerns with bacteria growth or food poisoning. The ingredients in soda are natural preservatives – carbonated water, loads of sugar, sodium benzoate, phosphoric acid, natural flavors and caffeine – that prevent microorganisms from growing.
However, soda does have a “best by” date printed on the can or bottle. This is more of a guide for peak flavor and carbonation rather than an indicator of when the soda becomes unsafe to drink. The taste, fizziness, color, and aroma of the soda will deteriorate over time after the best by date.
How long does unopened soda last?
If the soda is unopened and stored properly, it can last well over a year past the printed best by date before the taste becomes noticeably degraded. An unopened plastic soda bottle or aluminum can is a very effective package that can keep soda fresh for extended periods of time if kept away from heat and sunlight.
According to Can It Go Bad?, an unopened plastic soda bottle can last:
- 6-9 months past its printed date if stored at room temperature
- 1 year past its printed date if refrigerated
- 2-3 years past its printed date if frozen
Unopened soda cans last just as long if not longer than plastic bottles when stored in a cool, dark place. The metal of the can creates an airtight, opaque seal that keeps the soda fresh. Generally, as long as the can is not damaged in any way, an unopened soda can should retain its safety and taste for:
- 6-12 months past its printed date at room temperature
- 1-2 years past its printed date if refrigerated
- 3+ years past its printed date if frozen
Does opened soda go bad?
Once opened, the shelf life of a soda drastically reduces. Exposing the soda to oxygen allows carbonation to escape and the ingredients to break down more rapidly. An opened soda stored at room temperature will go flat within a day or two.
However, avoiding contamination and refrigerating the opened soda can extend its shelf life. If stored properly, an opened soda can last:
- 3-5 days past the printed date if refrigerated
- 6-8 months past the printed date if frozen
When refrigerating opened soda cans, make sure to carefully pour out only what you plan to drink right away and close the can back up. Transferring the unused soda to an airtight container is ideal to minimize air exposure. You can help maintain fizziness by not putting the opened can directly on the refrigerator shelf, which can cause soda to absorb fridge odors.
What happens to soda after the best by date?
While soda doesn’t spoil in a way that makes it dangerous, the taste, aroma, color and carbonation do deteriorate over time after the printed best by date. Flat, stale soda may be safe to drink but provides an unenjoyable drinking experience.
Here’s a timeline of the changes you can expect as the soda ages past its prime:
| Soda age | Changes |
|---|---|
| 0-3 months past printed date | Subtle fading of carbonation and flavor |
| 4-6 months past printed date | Noticeable flatness, oxidation causing faded color |
| 7-12 months past printed date | Very flat with altered taste, paler color |
| 1-2 years past printed date | Extremely flat, significantly darkened/paler color, tastes stale and winy |
| 2+ years past printed date | No carbonation left, altered aroma, degraded taste and color |
The plastic from plastic soda bottles can also start to break down and leach chemicals into the soda if left for several years past the expiry date.
Is expired soda bad for you?
There are no safety issues with drinking old soda as long as it has been stored properly and the package is not damaged. It won’t make you sick or have any negative health effects.
However, there are some reasons you may want to avoid drinking very old soda:
- It simply won’t taste good – flat, oxidized and with degraded flavors
- For diet sodas, the artificial sweeteners can break down over time into compounds that have a bitter, metallic taste
- The packaging may leach chemicals into the soda after several years, affecting the taste and safety
- The texture may become syrupy and unpleasant
- Mold could grow inside the bottle if stored improperly, making it unsafe to drink
So while old soda won’t directly make you sick, the unappealing taste and texture provides enough reasons to avoid drinking it when it is past its prime.
How to tell if soda has gone bad?
You can assess the quality of an older soda before drinking by evaluating its appearance, aroma and carbonation:
- Appearance: Discoloration, cloudiness or particles can signal degradation
- Aroma: A smelly, off odor indicates staleness
- Carbonation: A lack of fizz when opening means the soda has gone flat
- Taste: Small sip will reveal flavor deterioration and synthetic notes from chemical breakdown
- Texture: Syrupy, sticky thickness denotes aging
If any of the above red flags are present, the soda is past its prime and best discarded. However, if the soda still tastes alright to you despite some fading carbonation and duller color, it should be safe to drink.
Does soda eventually become alcoholic?
There is a persistent myth that letting soda age for years may turn it alcoholic due to fermentation occurring inside the bottle. However, this is extremely unlikely under normal storage conditions.
In order for any significant fermentation and alcohol production to happen, the yeast and bacteria levels would have to be very high under just the right conditions – not too acidic and with ample sugars. Soda is simply too acidic and contains too many preservatives for wild yeasts to grow.
The only exception would be if soda bottles became clearly contaminated with visible mold growth due to improper storage. In that case, fermentation could occur but the soda would be unsafe to drink anyway.
Can expired soda make you sick?
Consuming soda that is years past its expiry date typically will not cause illness or health issues. Again, the ingredients are natural preservatives that prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, even with age.
However, there are some rare cases where spoiled soda could potentially cause sickness:
- If rodents or insects were able to contaminate the soda by puncturing the packaging
- If mold grew inside an improperly stored bottle
- If the bottle’s seal broke and bacteria entered
As long as the soda was unopened and stored in normal conditions, it should not have any microbes that can result in foodborne disease. But if the soda was left opened and exposed or shows visible contamination, it would be best to err on the side of caution and not drink it.
Does freezing extend the shelf life of soda?
Freezing unopened soda cans or bottles can significantly extend the shelf life past the printed best by date, prolonging the enjoyment of its optimal taste.
The cold frozen temperature puts the aging process in slow motion. It also prevents carbonation from escaping through the packaging and slows down chemical reactions among ingredients that can cause flavor deterioration.
An unopened frozen soda can maintain good taste quality and fizz for generally up to:
- 2-3 years past its printed date if kept constantly frozen
Make sure frozen sodas are stored in air-tight containers to prevent freezer burn or damage to the packaging. Once thawed, drink within a few days for best flavor.
Freezing opened soda
Freezing opened sodas is also effective at preserving carbonation and taste for 4-6 months past the printed date. Ensure opened cans or bottles are tightly closed with minimal air inside before freezing. They will only last around 5-7 days in the fridge once thawed.
Does refrigerating unopened soda extend its shelf life?
Proper refrigeration can double or even triple the time an unopened soda can stay fresh and enjoyable to drink past its printed date.
The cool 37-40°F temperature of the fridge significantly slows the loss of carbonation and deterioration of flavors. It also inhibits chemical reactions among ingredients that degrade the taste over time.
Refrigerating an unopened can or bottle will keep the soda tasting good for generally up to:
- 1-2 years past its printed best by date
Make sure to store sodas intended for long term fridge storage at the back of the top shelf. The door is actually warmer due to air exposure when opening.
How to store soda for maximum freshness
To optimize the shelf life of both unopened and opened soda, follow these storage guidelines:
Unopened sodas
- Store in a cool, dark place away from heat and sunlight
- Refrigerate for 1-2 years maximum freshness
- Freeze for 2-3 years maximum freshness
- Leave sodas in their original packaging
- Don’t let cans or bottles get wet or damaged
Opened sodas
- Refrigerate after opening and tightly reseal the package
- Drink within 3-5 days for best taste
- Freeze in air-tight container for 4-6 months maximum freshness
- Pour into an airtight bottle if not finishing within a day or two
FAQs
Can you drink soda after the expiration date?
Yes, soda is still generally safe to drink after its printed expiration date as long as it was stored properly. However, it will start to lose carbonation, color and flavor intensity over time. Unopened, refrigerated soda cans stay good 1-2 years past expiry while frozen cans can last 2-3 years.
Does soda go bad if not refrigerated?
Soda does not necessarily “go bad” if left unrefrigerated, but it will lose quality and taste faster. Unopened cans/bottles kept at room temp are fine 6-9 months past printed date versus 1-2 years if refrigerated.
How long can you store an opened soda in the fridge?
An opened, refrigerated soda stays good for 3-5 days past its printed date. Make sure to reseal the package tightly. Pour into an airtight bottle if you won’t finish within 1-2 days.
Can old soda make you sick?
Generally, no – soda tends not to harbor bacteria due to its preservatives and acidity. However, if stored improperly and contamination entered the bottle, it could potentially cause illness.
Does soda expire if never opened?
Unopened soda cans/bottles do not exactly “expire” but will slowly degrade in taste and carbonation after 1-3 years past the printed date. Proper refrigerated or frozen storage extends the time it remains fresh.
Is 2 year old soda still good?
A 2 year old soda may still be safe to drink but will likely taste flat and have faded color/flavor. Unopened cans/bottles stored in a cool, dark place have the best chance of still being good at 2 years past their date.
The bottom line
So can you drink 2 year old soda? If the soda has been continuously sealed and properly stored, it should retain enough carbonation and acceptable flavor at the 2 year mark to still be safe and reasonably enjoyable to drink. Opened sodas don’t fare as well, but can last up to 8 months in the freezer.
While not a health hazard, soda over 2 years old may just end up falling flat and tasting unpleasant. Freeze or refrigerate your stash if you intend to keep it around past the printed date! And remember, smelling or tasting a little first is the best way to determine if that vintage soda is still good.
