Does Canned Soda Expire?
Technically, no. There is not much to go “bad” with ingredients like water, sugar and caramel coloring. Treat soft drinks like any other canned goods. Store in a cool, dry place. If you stockpile soda, then rotate your stock yearly given the documented shelf life is about 1 year properly stored. The product is unlikely to become harmful past a year but flavor may begin to degrade. If you find soft drinks over a year old you can open one and taste it and use if it tastes OK. Soft drink manufactures do use additives to prohibit bacterial growth. NOTE: Soft drinks in glass or plastic bottles should not be stored in sunlight. Sunlight can cause chemical reactions with the soft drink contents. While probably not life threatening it’s best to avoid the problem by storing bottled soft drinks in a dark location.
