How long do energy drinks last, opened and unopened?
Quick answer
- In the fridge
- Opened: 2–3 days, covered
- In the pantry
- Unopened: until the date on the can, below 29°C (85°F)
Sources: USDA FoodKeeper, USDA FSIS: Shelf-Stable Food Safety, USDA FSIS: Freezing and Food Safety, Virginia Cooperative Extension: Food Storage Guidelines for Consumers, Monster Energy: FAQs · Last reviewed October 24, 2026
An unopened energy drink is at its best until the date printed on the can; once opened, it keeps about 2–3 days in the fridge. USDA FoodKeeper gives that window for opened soft drinks in cans or bottles, diet versions included, so sugar-free and regular cans follow the same rule. The date on a sealed can is a best-before date: USDA says such dates mark peak quality rather than safety, so a can a little past it may simply taste less fresh. Not every brand prints a drink-by date. Monster cans sold in the US carry a production code instead, where the first letter is the month the can was made, from A for January to L for December.
How to store energy drinks
Sealed cans keep best in a cool, dry cupboard. USDA advises storing canned goods below 29°C (85°F), never beside the stove, under the sink, in a damp garage or anywhere with temperature extremes; Virginia Tech's extension service puts the ideal for canned goods at 10–21°C (50–70°F). Damp air corrodes cans over time, and a badly corroded can may develop tiny holes and leak. Save fridge space for cans you are about to drink and for leftovers: once the tab is open, carbon dioxide escapes, so cover the can and keep it at 4°C (40°F) or below. Skip the freezer for a quick chill. The drink expands as it freezes, the can swells and the seam can burst.
- Keep unopened cans in a cupboard or pantry below 29°C (85°F), away from the oven and radiators, and don't leave them in a car parked in the sun.
- Keep multipacks off damp garage or basement floors, where cans can corrode.
- Check the date, often stamped on the bottom of the can, before buying in bulk, and put new cans behind older ones.
- After opening, cover the can or pour what's left into a bottle with a screw cap, refrigerate it and finish it within 2–3 days.
- Chill cans in the fridge, not the freezer: a forgotten can swells and can burst.
- Store sugar-free and regular cans the same way and go by each can's own date.
Signs it has gone bad
- A lid or bottom that bulges outward, or a can that feels hard and swollen: don't open it, throw it out, even if you think it only froze.
- A leak, sticky residue around the tab or rim, or rust or corrosion that won't rub off with a paper towel.
- A deep dent you can lay a finger in, or any sharp dent on the rim where the lid is sealed on.
- After opening: a sour or off smell or taste, or bits floating in the drink.
- A drink that has only gone flat has lost its carbon dioxide, which alone is not a sign of spoilage. If the smell, the look or the can seems wrong, the rule is simple: when in doubt, throw it out.
Frequently asked questions
How long is an energy drink good for after opening?
About 2–3 days in the fridge, the window USDA FoodKeeper gives for opened canned and bottled soft drinks. Cover the can or pour the rest into a capped bottle; the 2–3 days don't apply to an open can that sat warm on a desk for hours.
Can you drink an expired energy drink?
The date on most cans is a best-before ("best if used by") date, which USDA says marks peak quality, not safety, so an undamaged can stored somewhere cool may just taste less fresh. A bulging, leaking or deeply dented can goes in the trash, and when in doubt, throw it out.
Can you put energy drinks in the freezer?
Better not. USDA lists canned food among the few things not to freeze: the liquid expands, the can swells and the seam can split. If a can froze by accident and now bulges, leaks or has a burst seam, throw it out.
Where is the expiration date on an energy drink can?
Usually printed on the bottom. Some brands print only a production code there: on Monster's US cans the first letter is the month (A to L for January to December), followed by two digits for the year and two for the day it was made. USDA notes such codes are not use-by dates; to know how long a can keeps its quality, ask the maker.
Do energy drinks go bad in a hot car?
USDA advises keeping canned goods below 29°C (85°F) and out of places with temperature extremes, and a car parked in the sun is one of them. Bring cans indoors, and throw out any that come back bulging or leaking.