How long does cola last, sealed and opened?
Quick answer
- In the fridge
- Opened, cap tight: 2–3 days
- In the pantry
- Unopened: best by the date; past it, diet within 3 months, regular within 9
Sources: USDA FoodKeeper, University of Georgia Extension (USDA soda guidance), FDA: Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food, Clemson Extension HGIC 3525: Food Storage – Pantry, University of Wyoming Extension: Cans Gone Bad, Love Food Hate Waste (WRAP): Fizzy drinks, Coca-Cola Switzerland: FAQ, Coca-Cola Germany: FAQ, Coca-Cola US: What is aspartame? · Last reviewed October 24, 2026
Unopened cola tastes its best until the best-before date printed on the label, the bottle neck or the bottom of the can. That date is about quality: after it, a sealed, undamaged can or bottle slowly loses fizz and flavor. A food-safety specialist at University of Georgia Extension, citing the USDA, advises drinking regular soda within 9 months of the date and diet soda within 3 months, because the sweetener in diet and zero-sugar colas fades first. Opened cola keeps 2–3 days in the fridge with the cap screwed on tight, the window USDA FoodKeeper gives for opened sodas, diet ones included. When in doubt, throw it out.
How to store cola
With cola you are mainly protecting the fizz and the taste. Heat, sunlight and frost work against both, so keep sealed bottles and cans in a cool, dark cupboard, standing upright, away from the oven, radiators and hot pipes. Packaging matters too: glass bottles suit long storage and cans protect the drink well, while PET plastic is not fully gas-tight, so carbon dioxide slowly seeps out even before the bottle is opened. Many diet and zero-sugar colas are sweetened with aspartame, which loses sweetness when heated, so keep them out of a hot car. In winter, don't leave a pack in the garage or car: frozen fizzy drinks can burst.
- Keep sealed cola in a cool, dark cupboard, away from the oven, radiators and sunny windows.
- Stand bottles upright, and keep them away from cleaning products and strong-smelling food.
- Stock up on glass bottles or cans and drink plastic bottles first, because PET slowly lets the gas out.
- Put new packs behind older ones and drink diet or zero-sugar cola before regular cola.
- After opening, screw the cap on tightly and put the bottle straight back in the fridge.
- Never freeze cola in its can or bottle; freeze leftover flat cola in an ice-cube tray for cooking.
Signs it has gone bad
- No hiss when you open it and a flat, syrupy taste: the carbon dioxide has escaped. Unpleasant, but this is how old cola usually declines.
- Diet or zero-sugar cola that tastes less sweet, bitter or odd: the sweetener has broken down, typically after heat or long storage.
- A bulging or leaking can, a dent on the rim or seam, or heavy rust: throw it out without opening it.
- Mold, cloudiness, floating bits or a sour, yeasty smell in an opened bottle: pour it away.
- A slightly different taste after the date is expected; drink makers say the product's properties can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Can you drink cola after the best-before date?
The date marks the best taste, and a sealed, undamaged can or bottle may still be drinkable after it, just flatter and less sweet. US guidance cited by University of Georgia Extension is to drink regular soda within 9 months of the date and diet soda within 3 months. Throw out any bulging or leaking can.
How long does opened cola last in the fridge?
About 2–3 days with the cap screwed on tightly: that is the window USDA FoodKeeper gives for opened sodas in bottles or cans, diet ones included. It will taste a little flatter each day.
Does diet or zero-sugar cola go bad faster?
Its taste fades sooner. Many diet and zero colas are sweetened with aspartame, which loses sweetness when heated, and US guidance is to drink unopened diet soda within 3 months of its date, against 9 months for regular soda. Once opened, both keep the same 2–3 days in the fridge.
Can you put cola in the freezer?
Not in its can or bottle: fizzy drinks can explode in the freezer, and freezing is one cause of bulging, leaking cans. If you want to keep leftover flat cola for cake or meat recipes, freeze it in an ice-cube tray.
Does cola keep longer in glass, cans or plastic bottles?
Glass bottles suit long storage best and cans protect the drink well. PET plastic is not completely gas-tight, so carbon dioxide slowly escapes even from a sealed bottle; drink plastic bottles first.