Red Bull is one of the most popular energy drinks in the world. With its distinct sleek blue and silver can, Red Bull has become a staple drink for people looking for an energy boost. But like all food and beverages, Red Bull does not last forever. So how long does an unopened can of Red Bull last? And does Red Bull expire?
Quick Answers
Here are some quick answers to common questions about Red Bull expiration:
- Unopened cans of Red Bull have a shelf life of about 18-24 months from the manufactured date printed on the can.
- Once opened, Red Bull should be consumed within 2-3 days and kept refrigerated.
- Expired or bad Red Bull may have an off taste or lose its carbonation.
- Drinking very expired Red Bull is not recommended as it may cause vomiting, diarrhea or other side effects.
- Red Bull contains ingredients like caffeine, taurine, B vitamins and sugars which can degrade over time.
Does Red Bull Expire?
Yes, like any other food or beverage, Red Bull does expire eventually. Red Bull contains carbonated water, sugar, caffeine, vitamins, taurine and other ingredients. Over time, the quality and potency of these ingredients can degrade.
Carbonated drinks like Red Bull can lose their fizziness as the CO2 bubbles dissipate. The vitamins like B6 and B12 can oxidize and break down. Sugars can ferment producing gas or alcohols. And caffeine levels can drop decreasing the stimulant effect.
So while an expired can of Red Bull won’t necessarily make you sick, its taste, carbonation and energy boosting qualities can diminish over time. Drinking very old Red Bull is not recommended.
How to Tell if Red Bull is Bad?
Here are some signs that your can of Red Bull may have gone bad and expired:
- Flat taste – Red Bull has lost its carbonation and fizz
- Off odors – Smells odd, vinegary or unpleasant
- Change in color – Instead of golden, the liquid is brown or cloudy
- Expired date – It is past the date stamped on the bottom of the can
- Leaks or rust – Leaking liquid or rust spots on the can
- Change in consistency – Thicker or sticker texture
If your Red Bull exhibits any of these qualities, it is best to discard it rather than drink it. An expired can of Red Bull not only won’t give you wings, but it may cause stomach upset if consumed.
How Long Does Red Bull Last Unopened?
An unopened can of Red Bull will generally last for:
- 18-24 months from the manufactured date if stored properly
Red Bull cans have a “Best By” date stamped on the bottom of the can. This is the manufacturer’s recommendation for how long Red Bull will retain peak quality when stored properly.
The shelf life for an unopened can stored at room temperature is about 18-24 months from the manufactured date. So an unopened can that was made on January 1, 2021 would typically expire around July 2022-January 2023.
Note that canned beverages like Red Bull tend to have longer shelf lives than their “Best By” dates due to the canning process that sterilizes the ingredients and prevents oxygen from degrading the product. So an unopened can that is a few months past its date may still be safe and enjoyable to consume.
Maximizing Shelf Life of Unopened Cans
To maximize the shelf life of unopened Red Bull cans, it’s best to store them properly by:
- Keeping cans out of direct sunlight and away from heat sources
- Avoiding storage in hot garages, cars or sheds
- Storing cans at temperatures below 80°F for best retention of carbonation and flavor
- Placing cans in a cool, dark pantry, cabinet or cupboard
- Refrigerating cans once opened
With proper storage, unopened cans of Red Bull can last up to 2 years past the manufacturing date while retaining their safety and taste.
How Long Does Red Bull Last After Opening?
Once opened, the shelf life of Red Bull is reduced due to oxygen exposure. An opened can of Red Bull will last:
- 2-3 days after opening if refrigerated
Previously unopened Red Bull cans are sterile inside. But once exposed to oxygen after opening, the quality of the ingredients start to deteriorate through oxidation.
To maximize shelf life after opening, store Red Bull cans in the refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days. The cool temperatures help slow any further deterioration.
Leaving Red Bull cans out at room temperature after opening will shorten the drink’s freshness due to warming and increased chemical reactions. So refrigerate immediately after opening.
How to Store Opened Cans of Red Bull
To extend the shelf life of Red Bull after opening the can, remember to:
- Screw the tab back onto the can to help prevent oxygen exposure
- Refrigerate opened cans right away, do not leave on the counter
- Consume fully within 2-3 days for optimum taste and carbonation
- Don’t store opened cans for longer than 5-7 days maximum
Proper refrigerated storage helps slow the staleness once Red Bull cans are opened. But for best results, drink up quickly within a few days.
Does Refrigerating Red Bull Extend Its Shelf Life?
Yes, refrigerating both unopened and opened cans of Red Bull helps extend its shelf life. The cool temperatures inside a refrigerator (around 40°F) slow down chemical reactions and degradation of ingredients like caffeine, sugars and vitamins.
For unopened Red Bull cans, refrigeration can add a few extra months to the shelf life beyond the “Best By” date on the can. Refrigerating opened Red Bull is especially important for preserving carbonation and slowing oxidation.
So when it comes to maximizing how long your Red Bull energy drinks last, keep both fresh and opened cans stored in the refrigerator whenever possible.
Can You Freeze Red Bull?
Red Bull can be frozen, but this will impact the can and the taste. Freezing Red Bull is not recommended by the manufacturer.
The main reasons not to freeze Red Bull cans are:
- Cans may crack or burst from expanding gases
- Carbonation is lost upon thawing
- Ingredients like Vitamin B can deteriorate faster
- Texture and taste are altered
Red Bull cans are designed to be stored chilled or at room temperature only. The freezing temperatures can damage the cans and create a safety hazard if they leak.
Freezing also damages the carbonation, so thawed Red Bull will lack its characteristic fizz. And some ingredients like vitamins break down faster with frozen storage compared to refrigeration.
For these reasons, the Red Bull company does not recommend freezing their beverage. Refrigeration is the best way to extend shelf life once a can is opened.
What Happens If You Drink Expired Red Bull?
Drinking expired Red Bull that is past its “Best By” date is generally not dangerous or harmful. However, the taste, potency and side effects may be altered.
Here is what you can expect if drinking very expired Red Bull:
- Flat taste – Loss of carbonation and fizz due to CO2 dissipating
- Strange odors or colors – From degradation of ingredients
- Off flavors – Stale, metallic or rancid taste
- Reduced caffeine – Lower stimulation and energy boost
- Upset stomach – Nausea, bloating or diarrhea from spoiled ingredients
- Diminished vitamin content – Lower nutritional value
While not ideal, consuming very expired Red Bull a few months or years past its prime is not toxic. But the taste and quality will be inferior. And there is a small risk of digestive upset from the degraded ingredients.
For best taste and energy boost, drink Red Bull cans before their expiration date and refrigerate after opening. But if you accidentally ingest Red Bull past its prime, adverse health effects are unlikely in otherwise healthy adults.
How to Safely Dispose of Expired Red Bull Cans
If your Red Bull cans have expired, it’s best to properly dispose of them by:
- Emptying any liquid remains into the sink (do not pour down drain)
- Rinsing the empty cans
- Crushing the aluminum cans
- Disposing in recycling bin for metal cans
Never toss unused or expired Red Bull cans in the regular trash. The aluminum is recyclable and empty cans should always go into recycling bins. This reduces waste going to landfills.
Before placing Red Bull cans (empty or full) into recycling, it’s important to rinse them clean of residue. Many recycling centers will not accept dirty or greasy cans as it contaminates the recycling equipment and process.
Expired Red Bull cans still have value if recycled properly. So always discard unusable cans in the recycling stream.
Can Expired Red Bull Make You Sick?
Consuming Red Bull a few weeks or months past its expiration date is very unlikely to make you sick. However, drinking Red Bull that is years expired could potentially cause illness due to microbial growth or chemical changes.
Here are the risks of getting sick from drinking very expired Red Bull:
- Foodborne illness – From mold, bacteria or other pathogens if severely expired
- Toxicity – Chemical changes may produce harmful compounds
- Allergic reaction – To degraded ingredients
- Nausea or vomiting – From rancid or rotten compounds
These risks are quite low for Red Bull that is just a few months past date. But Red Bull stored for 1-2 years could potentially develop mold from moisture invasion, or the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Vitamin degradation may also yield molecules that induce nausea.
Unless the can was damaged, punctured or held in hot conditions, the most likely adverse effect of very expired Red Bull would be vomiting or diarrhea from the foul taste and chemical changes. Still, it’s best not to chance it by consuming Red Bull more than 6-12 months expired.
How to Check Red Bull’s Manufactured Date
Checking the manufactured date on Red Bull cans allow you to determine the expiration or “Best By date”. Here’s how to find the date code:
- Turn the Red Bull can upside down
- Look on the bottom of the can for a series of letters and numbers printed in black ink
- The first letter corresponds to the manufacturing plant location
- The next 2 digits are the year
- The last 3 digits are the day of the year
For example, a code of L06278 would be interpreted as:
- L – Plant location
- 06 – Year 2006
- 278 – 278th day of the year, October 5
Knowing the date of production allows you to estimate the expiration as around 18-24 months after manufacture.
Red Bull FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Red Bull and expiration dates:
Why does Red Bull expire so quickly?
Red Bull has a relatively short shelf life compared to other beverages due to its carbonation and sensitive ingredients like vitamins and caffeine. Exposure to oxygen and heat degrades the quality quickly once cans are opened.
Can old Red Bull make you nauseous?
Consuming Red Bull that is very expired, especially if stored in hot conditions, can potentially cause nausea or upset stomach from chemical changes. But nausea is unlikely if drinking Red Bull just a few months past its prime.
Is it bad to drink flat Red Bull?
Flat Red Bull that has lost its carbonation due to age is safe to drink, but the taste and mouthfeel will be inferior. Flat Red Bull also may have some diminished nutritional value.
Can Red Bull go bad if unopened?
Yes, even unopened cans of Red Bull have a shelf life of around 18-24 months from the production date before taste and carbonation degradation occurs. Storage conditions affect the exact shelf life.
Does Red Bull need to be refrigerated?
Refrigeration extends the shelf life of Red Bull cans once opened. But unopened cans can be stored in cool, dry pantry conditions. Refrigerating unopened cans is recommended for maximum freshness.
Conclusion
Like any food or beverage, Red Bull does eventually expire. Unopened cans have a shelf life of about 18-24 months when stored properly. Once opened, Red Bull only lasts 2-3 days in the refrigerator before taste and carbonation decline.
Expired Red Bull may smell or taste off-putting but is not harmful if consumed a few months past date. However, very expired Red Bull over 1 year old may cause nausea or stomach upset from chemical changes. For best taste and energy boost, drink Red Bull cans by their expiration date and refrigerate after opening.
Checking the manufactured date on cans allows you to approximate the expiration. With proper storage, Red Bull cans can retain their signature flavor and fizz for the duration of their impressive shelf life. Just be sure to follow the “Best By” date for optimum freshness and energy.
