Soda tends to lose its fizz and go flat over time after opening. However, there are several factors that affect just how long an opened soda will stay carbonated and drinkable. Things like the type of soda, container, storage temperature, exposure to air, and ingredients all impact shelf life. With optimal storage conditions, most sodas can maintain good carbonation and flavor for 5-10 days after opening.
Quick Summary
Unopened sodas can last 3-9 months or longer past the printed expiration date if stored properly. Once opened, shelf life depends on these factors:
- Soda type – Citrus and fruit-flavored sodas lose carbonation faster. Colas maintain bubbles longer.
- Container – Cans keep carbonation longer than plastic bottles. Bottles are better than cups.
- Storage temperature – Keep refrigerated at 35-38°F for best longevity.
- Air exposure – Cap tightly to prevent escaping carbon dioxide.
- Ingredients – Diet sodas with artificial sweeteners hold carbonation longer.
With optimal conditions, opened sodas typically stay fizzy and flavorful for:
- Canned soda – 1-2 weeks
- Plastic bottle soda – 3-5 days
- Fountain soda – 1-2 days
Signs that opened soda is going bad include flat taste, off flavors, and mold growth. Drink refrigerated soda within 5-7 days and discard any that becomes flat or tastes bad.
Does Unopened Soda Ever Expire?
The “expiration” or “best by” date printed on soda cans and bottles refers to optimal flavor and carbonation retention. It does not necessarily mean the soda is spoiled or unsafe to drink after that date.
If stored properly, unopened canned and bottled soda can typically last:
- Canned soda – 3-6 months past the expiration date
- Plastic bottle soda – 9-12 months past the expiration date
Over time, soda gradually loses carbonation, may develop metallic flavors from the can liner, and natural flavors can degrade. But the soda should still be safe to consume for quite a while after the printed date, especially if the containers are kept cool.
Does Soda Ever Go Bad Unopened?
It is very rare for unopened canned or bottled soda to actually spoil or become dangerous to drink. Signs that an unopened soda has truly gone bad and may not be safe include:
- Bulging or leaking container – Indicates gas buildup from bacterial growth.
- Corroded or rusted can or bottle – Allows bacteria to contaminate the soda.
- Glass bottles that lose carbonation – Lack of carbonation in glass bottles can mean microbial growth.
- Unusual odors, colors, textures – Obvious signs of contamination or separation of ingredients.
As long as sodas are stored at moderate temperatures and show no signs of damage to the container, the contents should remain shelf stable and safe to drink for many months past any printed date.
How Long Does Soda Last After Opening?
Once opened and exposed to air, soda begins to lose its carbonation and flavor more rapidly. But shelf life varies based on these factors:
Type of Soda
The ingredients that give soda its flavor also affect how quickly it goes flat:
- Cola – Lasts 1-2 weeks due to phosphoric acid preserving carbonation.
- Lemon-lime soda – Lasts 1 week since citric acid causes faster CO2 loss.
- Root beer – Lasts 1-2 weeks.
- Fruit-flavored soda – Lasts less than 1 week due to acidic ingredients.
- Cream soda – Lasts 1-2 weeks.
- Ginger ale – Lasts 1 week or less due to acidic ginger flavor.
Soda Container
The container the opened soda is stored in impacts shelf life:
- Can – Lasts 1-2 weeks. Cans are air-tight to preserve carbonation.
- Plastic bottle – Lasts 3-5 days. Plastic allows more gas exchange.
- Cup – Lasts 1-2 days. Rapid CO2 loss from wide opening.
Storage Temperature
Warmer temperatures speed up the rate of carbon dioxide loss:
- Room temperature – Opened soda lasts 24-48 hours.
- Refrigerated at 35-38°F – Lasts 5-7 days for best flavor and carbonation.
Air Exposure
Minimizing contact with oxygen by recapping soda tightly helps retain carbonation and freshness. Pouring into a cup or new container exposes the soda to more air, reducing shelf life.
Ingredients
Shelf life can vary based on ingredients:
- Regular soda – Lasts 5-7 days refrigerated.
- Diet soda with artificial sweeteners – Lasts 1-2 weeks refrigerated since artificial sweeteners help maintain carbonation.
- Craft sodas without preservatives – Typically last only 2-3 days.
How to Tell if Opened Soda Has Gone Bad
Signs that opened soda has spoiled and should be discarded include:
- Flat taste – Lack of carbonation is a clear sign soda is past its prime.
- Off odors – Soda gives off chemical smells instead of normal fruit/spice aromas.
- Off colors – The soda appears discolored, faded, or cloudy.
- Off flavors – Sour, bitter, or medicinal flavors indicate spoilage.
- Mold – Any fuzzy spots or film on the soda’s surface means it’s bad.
- Yeast growth – Tiny granules or sediment can develop if yeast in soda grows.
Drink refrigerated, opened soda as soon as possible, within 5-7 days. Discard any soda that tastes or smells bad or becomes flat.
Does Soda Need to Be Refrigerated After Opening?
Refrigeration is the best way to maintain soda’s carbonation and flavor after opening. The cold temperatures help slow the escape of carbon dioxide gas. If kept at room temperature, opened soda will quickly lose its fizz within 24-48 hours.
For best taste and mouthfeel, store opened sodas in the fridge and drink ice-cold. Most sodas can maintain good quality for 5-7 days if refrigerated immediately after opening and recapped tightly.
Can Soda Be Left Out Overnight After Opening?
It’s best to avoid leaving soda out overnight at room temperature if possible. Without refrigeration, opened soda left overnight can lose nearly all effervescence as the carbon dioxide dissipates into the air.
Flat soda regains a little fizz and life if cooled in the refrigerator again. But the loss of carbonation overnight will still result in diminished flavor and soda that goes stale more quickly overall. Always cap opened sodas tightly and return to the fridge for storage.
Tips to Make Opened Soda Last Longer
Here are some tips to help maximize the shelf life and enjoyment of soda after opening:
- Refrigerate immediately – Quick cooling helps retain carbonation.
- Recap tightly – Screw caps on tightly to prevent gas escaping.
- Avoid pouring into cups/glasses – This exposes the soda to more air.
- Keep away from strong odors – Onions, fish, etc. can taint the soda’s aroma and flavor.
- Clean container rims – Dry rims so sticky soda doesn’t attract bugs, dust, or other contaminants.
- Consume within 5-7 days – Drink refrigerated soda within a week for best quality.
Can Flat Soda Be Fixed?
Opened soda that has lost its fizz can regain a bit of carbonation, but it won’t be quite as bubbly as a freshly opened drink. Methods to add some fizz back include:
- Recap and chill – CO2 reabsorbs into cooler liquid better than at room temp.
- Add a pinch of salt – Sodium chloride provides nucleation points for forming new bubbles.
- Use a SodaStream – Quickly add more carbonation by pressurizing the soda.
- Drop in sodium bicarbonate – Baking soda tablets fizz and introduce more carbon dioxide.
- Add acid – A little citric acid or vinegar helps release CO2.
Unfortunately, these DIY methods won’t restore perfectly flat, lifeless soda back to peak fizzy excellence. But they can revive it just enough to make it somewhat more drinkable.
Does Shaking Soda Increase Carbonation?
Agitating a soda by shaking it up has minimal effect on carbonation. The amount of dissolved CO2 in the solution can’t exceed the saturation point at equilibrium. Plus, shaking causes some gas to break out of the liquid and escape, reducing carbonation.
Shaking can make soda foam and seem more bubbly immediately after opening. But it doesn’t actually increase the concentration of carbon dioxide within the liquid itself. It just releases more bubbles temporarily before the soda goes flat again.
Can Expired Soda Make You Sick?
Out-of-date sodas that have been stored properly in sealed containers are very unlikely to cause foodborne illness or other health issues. Only under extremely rare, worst-case scenarios might old soda potentially be unsafe to drink.
Possible (though highly rare) risks from drinking expired soda could include:
- Food poisoning – If containers became compromised and contaminated.
- Toxic leaching – From can linings breaking down over very long periods.
- Mold – In odd cases of inadequate sealing conditions allowing fungal growth.
Unless soda cans/bottles show obvious signs of damage, contamination, or tampering, decades-old sodas stored at room temperature should pose no toxicity risks.
Can Drinking Flat Soda Make You Sick?
Flat soda that’s lost its fizz due to natural degradation over time after opening is harmless to drink. The worst it might do is taste stale or odd.
In the very rare instance that an opened soda went completely flat due to contamination and growth of mold, bacteria, or yeast, then it could potentially cause illness if consumed. This is extremely unlikely, but any oddly colored, bitter, or bad smelling flat soda should be discarded.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does soda last in the fridge after opening?
Properly refrigerated and tightly sealed, opened soda will stay fresh and fizzy for 5-7 days on average. Canned soda lasts longer than plastic bottled soda in the fridge.
Do sodas expire?
Yes, soda does expire eventually. But unopened, commercially sealed cans and bottles are generally safe to drink for many months beyond any printed date. Refrigeration prolongs shelf life.
Why does soda go flat?
Soda goes flat as carbon dioxide gas dissolved in the liquid escapes into the air. Factors speeding up CO2 loss include heat, agitation, humidity, air exposure, pH, and fruit flavors.
Is it bad to drink soda after the expiration date?
Generally, no. With proper storage, unopened sodas are still safe and tasty for quite some time past the printed expiration or best-by date. Older sodas may lose fizz though.
Does bottled soda expire?
Yes, bottled sodas do expire and degrade in flavor over time. But the expiration dates are very conservative. Unopened, refrigerated bottles are fine for 9-12 months past the printed date in most cases.
Can old soda make you sick?
Extremely rarely, yes – but only if the can or bottle was severely damaged and became contaminated with dangerous levels of mold or bacteria, which is highly unlikely under normal storage.
Is it OK to freeze soda?
Freezing soda is fine and can prolong shelf life, though it may alter the texture and taste. Avoid freezing carbonated sodas, as expansion can lead cans to explode.
Conclusion
The shelf life of soda depends heavily on whether it is unopened versus opened. Sealed, unopened soda can last months past any expiry date if stored properly. Once opened, contact with air causes soda to lose carbonation quickly but it remains drinkable for about a week when refrigerated.
The type of soda, container, storage temperature, air exposure, ingredients, and other factors also affect how long the soda stays fizzy after opening. With optimal refrigerated storage and minimal contact with air, most opened sodas can retain enjoyable carbonation and flavor for 5-7 days before taste degradation occurs.
Be sure to drink refrigerated sodas within a week and discard any that appear discolored, smell odd, taste flat, or show signs of contamination. Proper storage and consumption within a short window of time are the keys to enjoying fresh, fizzy soda before it goes flat.
