Shelf Life Tips
- How long do unopened soft drinks last? The precise answer to the question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - store unopened cans or bottles of soft drinks (including cola, ginger ale and root beer) in a cool, dark area.
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To extend the shelf life of unopened soft drinks, keep unopened soft drinks away from direct sources of heat or light.
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How long do unopened soft drinks last at room temperature? Properly stored, unopened soft drinks will generally stay at best quality for about 6 to 9 months after the date on the package when stored at room temperature, although they will usually remain safe to drink after that.
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How long do unopened soft drinks last in the refrigerator? Properly stored, unopened soft drinks will generally stay at best quality for about 6 to 9 months after the date on the package when stored in the fridge, although they will usually remain safe to drink after that.
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Are unopened soft drinks safe to drink after the "expiration" date on the can or bottle? Yes, provided they are properly stored and the can or bottle is undamaged - commercially packaged unopened soft drinks will typically carry a " Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the unopened soft drinks will remain at peak quality.
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Storage times shown are for best quality only - after that, the unopened soft drinks' color or flavor may change, but in most cases, they will still be safe to consume if they have been stored properly and the can or bottle is not damaged.
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Discard all soft drinks from cans that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented.
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How to tell if unopened soft drinks are bad? If unopened soft drinks develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, they should be discarded for quality purposes.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
