Shelf Life Tips
- How long do unopened sports drinks last? The precise answer to the question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - store unopened bottles of sports drinks in a cool, dark area.
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To extend the shelf life of unopened sports drinks, keep unopened sports drinks away from direct sources of heat or light.
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How long do unopened sports drinks last at room temperature? Properly stored, unopened sports drinks will generally stay at best quality for about 12-18 months when stored at room temperature, although they will usually remain safe to drink after that.
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Are unopened sports drinks safe to drink after the "expiration" date on the bottle? Yes, provided they are properly stored and the bottle is undamaged - commercially packaged unopened sports 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 sports drinks will remain at peak quality.
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Storage times shown are for best quality only - after that, the unopened sports 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 bottle is not damaged.
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How to tell if unopened sports drinks are bad? If unopened sports 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
