Perhaps you have heard that you shouldn’t drink soda after a certain date. Maybe someone told you it’s because the sugar turns poisonous, or maybe you read an article claiming sugar will ferment and give you explosive diarrhea. No one knows exactly why drinking soda past its sell-by date is considered risky. Theories range from the presence of mold to the introduction of new preservatives, to the risk of accelerated fermentation in unbalanced sugars. Whatever the reason, all sodas lose some of their flavors after being stored for too long in hot places like a warehouse or car trunk. To find out whether expired sodas pose a health risk, let’s take a look at what might happen if we leave a can of soda sitting on the counter for too long and find out what happens to different brands when they expire.
Can You Drink Expired Soda?
In general, it’s not a good idea to drink expired soda. The carbonation and sweetness may be off, and the taste may be unpleasant. Additionally, the ingredients in soda can go bad after a certain amount of time. For example, citric acid can break down and create a vinegar-like taste. So if you do drink expired soda, you may end up with stomach problems or an upset stomach.
What Happens To Soda When It Expires?
1. The Color Of The Soda Changes.
The first thing you notice when a soda gets older is the brown color that develops. This is caused by the breakdown of sugars, which turns liquid into a darker, thicker syrup.
2. The Taste Changes.
The taste of these sodas also changes, but in a more subtle way than their color does. Since the flavor molecules are still present, these sodas still have a similar flavor to the original one, just not in their exact form anymore. Often times this can be described as having an earthy or sour note to them due to the mold growing on them as they age. This can also cause very strange flavors like chocolate and banana milk to show up in older sodas that were never advertised for having those flavors in them! The most common flavors I have encountered are caramel and cola; however, I’ve even found ‘bubble gum’ and ‘soda’ flavors! Overall, it’s best not to rely on the color of the soda to determine whether it’s still safe to drink, but it’s a good guide for what types of flavors can be found in an older soda.
3. The Texture Changes.
Sodas that have been stored for a long time will often be very thick and viscous, almost like syrup. When you open the can, it may not pour well because of this, and will often leave some strange film on the can when you finish drinking it. This is caused by different types of mold that are growing on the soda at different rates due to varying temperatures in the warehouse or trunk where they were kept. As these molds grow, they change the flavor compounds in the soda from something sweet like caramel or cola (which is why they are so common) into more complex flavors like chocolate or even banana milk! It’s best to avoid sodas with strange flavors altogether, as they may contain mold that could make you sick!
4. The Can Itself Changes.
Expired soda cans are sometimes known to explode! They don’t do this on their own, though, but instead due to the fact that they can’s plastic has become brittle and weak. This usually happens when the soda was stored in a hot warehouse or trunk for long periods of time and is caused by the way that heat reacts with plastic. The can itself becomes weaker and more susceptible to cracking under pressure from the pressure inside of it, which could cause it to break open at any moment! This is why it’s best not to buy expired sodas from places where you don’t know what kind of storage conditions they were kept in.
5. The Drink Doesn’t Taste Right.
This is a very common complaint that I hear from my customers, and it’s also one of the most common signs that something is wrong with the soda! If you notice that your soda doesn’t taste right, whether it’s flat or off-tasting in some way, be sure to check the expiration date on the can! If you find a can that has expired for more than one year, throw it out, and don’t buy any sodas from that place ever again! You could get really sick by drinking an old soda.
6. The Can Explodes!
Some of you may have heard about this phenomenon before. When soda cans are kept in hot places for long periods of time, they can become extremely brittle due to heat damage and become more susceptible to cracking because of the pressure inside of them. This usually happens at room temperatures but can happen at even higher temperatures if they are placed directly on a heating element. If you see a soda can that has exploded, it’s best to throw it away immediately!
7. The Can Is Bulging Or Deformed.
This is one of the most common signs that your soda could be expired! If you notice that your soda can is bulging or deformed in any way, throw it out, and don’t buy any more sodas from that place! The can will be fine after it’s been opened, but it could still explode if kept in a hot place for too long! You should also check the expiration date on the can to make sure that the beverage inside of it isn’t expired, just in case you’re planning on drinking it right away.
How Long Does Soda Last?
- According to the Food and Drug Administration, a can of soda has an expiration date of one year from the manufacturing date.
- The FDA also states that a can with a manufacturing date of January 1, 2010, or later, may be stored for up to two years.
- There is no shelf life for non-carbonated beverages; any beverage that isn’t carbonated should be consumed within six months after opening.
- If you are concerned about whether your drink will get sick, it’s best to use them before they expire so you don’t have to worry about the taste going bad.
- The expiration date is marked on the bottom of the can or on the packaging, so it’s easy to find when you need to use a can before it expires.
Is Expired Soda Safe To Drink?
1. Identify The Brand Of Soda And The Expiration Date
The first thing we need to do is identify which soda it is and how old it is. There are a bunch of different brands, so you might need to check a couple before you find one that isn’t expired. You can use this handy chart from Wikipedia to help you identify the brand.
2. Open The Can
If your soda has been in a hot place, like on the kitchen counter, it’s probably going to be flat as a pancake. You may want to let it sit out for a few hours or overnight if possible before opening it (this will help prevent any exploding bottles). If your soda hasn’t been in a hot place, then chances are that it’s still good. If you don’t have any way of knowing how old your soda is, then just open it and try drinking some right away!
3. Take A Sip And See What Happens!
If you try a sip of your soda and it tastes fine, then you’re ready to go. If it’s flat, then let it sit out for a while and try again. If it still tastes fine after waiting, then it’s probably safe to drink! If not, check the expiration date again and see if that makes a difference.
4. Try Another Brand!
If you still don’t know for sure which brand is safe to drink, then try another one (just make sure to do this with different brands). The problem with expiration dates is that they’re only estimates and sometimes they’re just plain wrong (this has happened with the expiration date on my Fruitopia!). So if we don’t know which soda is safe, we can’t really test whether or not expired sodas are dangerous. However, I have heard from some people that some brands are safer than others so maybe there is something to this idea after all! First, let’s take a look at the main brands of soda that are used in the video.
Conclusion
This article has discussed the myths and facts about drinking soda after expiration. It has also discussed what happens to soda when it expires and which sodas pose the greatest risk of harm after expiration. Now that you know what could happen and what is safe to drink, feel free to crack open that can of soda that’s been sitting in your fridge for too long. It’s probably still safe to drink.
