Is expired 5 hour Energy Drinks safe?
Whether you’re a mom running all around town for your kids or trying to hit an impending deadline at work, sometimes you need a caffeine boost. 5 hour energy drinks have been around for a long time and boast a sugar free caffeine shot to wake you up!
5 hour energy drinks come in handy for a long road trip or just getting through a tough week. I don’t drink them very often, so we sometimes have a few bottles sitting on a shelf for while. Let’s look into if 5 hour energy drinks expire, will they make you sick, and if it is ok to drink them after the expiration date.
Do five hour energy expire?
Most 5-hour energy drinks come in single bottles or multi-bottle packs. They most commonly have “best by” or “best if used by” dates written on the packaging.
These dates are not true expiration dates, because they suggest the flavor, color, and textures are the best quality before these dates. After the date, the product is not toxic or expired, it is just less likely to be at the highest quality.
This means that a 5-hour energy drink after the “best buy” date may have less flavor, slightly different color, and may have an altered texture.
How long are 5-Hour Energys good for?
5 Hour Energy drinks typically have a “best buy” date from 6 months to 1 year after the product is manufactured. As with most products the best by date is mostly irrelevant and what does matter is how the item is stored.
5 hour energy drinks are considered shelf stable and do not require refrigeration. Some people like their energy drinks cold in order to make them taste better, but they do not need to be stored in the fridge.
The ingredients in a 5 hour energy drink are mainly water, vitamins, caffeine, flavorings, and preservatives. It is a liquid that has a consistency similar to shampoo. It is a little think but also typically see through.
Unopened energy drinks like 5-hour energy drinks should be stored at room temperature in a dark cool place like a pantry or cabinet. Once a 5 hour energy is opened, then it should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
After 3 days, it is best to toss any remaining energy drink that you haven’t consumed. This is due to the possibility of bacteria growth from drinking directly from the bottle. (Your mouth transfers bacteria to the bottle, and then it can grow in the drink.)
Can you drink expired five hour energy?
As long as the energy drinks are stored correctly, they should last long past the expiration date. Each bottle has a safety band around the lid. As long as this band is intact and is not damaged, then this indicates that the drink should still be safe to consume.
If the bottle shows any other signs of damage like puncture marks or a smashed bottle, then it is best to toss the 5 hour energy drink.
An expired 5-hour energy drink is most likely to just not taste the same and possibly taste weaker in flavor. There isn’t any organic matter in a sealed bottle, so it is highly unlikely to grow bacteria or mold.
Energy drinks like Monster Energy, Red Bull, and 5 hour energy shots are typically fine to consume months and even years past the expiration date as long as it is in it’s original condition.
Will expired 5 hour energy make you sick?
Drinking 5 hour energy drink that is still in date, can cause an upset stomach for some people that are not used to the high dose of caffeine. The 5-hour energy drink holds slightly more caffeine in a 2 ounce shot than an 8oz cup of coffee.
If you are highly susceptible to caffeine, consuming this much in one quick shot can lead to an upset stomach, cause jitteriness, and in some cases a headache.
Drinking an expired 5-hour energy may cause the same symptoms so it would be hard to tell if it was the drink itself or if it was because it was expired.
According to many long-time energy drinkers, they mostly noted after the expiration date that the taste is slightly less than normal, and the effects were not as potent. No long-term effects were noted from drinking an expired 5-hour energy drink.
Is expired 5 hour energy safe?
Lots of medical professionals have debated whether 5 hour energy drinks are safe to begin with let alone past their expiration date. Drinking a lot of caffeine in a small amount of time can cause an increased heart rate, anxiousness, nausea, sleeplessness, and even seizures in cases of overdose.
Now if you are going to drink 4 expired 5-hour energy drinks in one day, you will probably get sick due to overdosing on caffeine. The fact that the drinks are expired is not going to make much difference.
The manufacturer only recommends drinking 1/2 a bottle to 1 bottle a day. So, drinking more than that may cause bad side effects.
If you were to drink 1 expired 5-hour energy drink, it is unlikely to harm you. If the little bottle is damaged or stored in direct sunlight, it may not be as effective or taste great, but it won’t hurt you.
Let’s be honest, that 5 hour energy drinks don’t taste well to begin with so most people won’t even notice if the taste weak or less like drinking cough syrup.
For most people, drinking a cup of coffee in a short amount of time will give you the same effect as 5-hour energy drink. A one-shot bottle of 5-hour energy can typically cost anywhere from $3-5, so it is actually cheaper to just drink coffee.
For more information, check out “What happens if you drink expired coffee?” and “Is it cheaper to make your own Coffee?“
