What happens if you drink expired Canada Dry Ginger Ale?
Ginger Ale is a soda known by many for upset tummies, a mixer in alcoholic drinks, and just as a refreshing drink.
Sometimes we buy too ginger ale much when it is on a good deal, and it goes past the expiration date before we can drink it. Is it still good to drink ginger ale past the expiration date? Let’s find out!
What happens if you drink Canada Dry after expiration date?
According to the USDA, most sodas like Canada Dry ginger ale are perfectly fine to consume 9 months after the expiration date.
Regardless of brand name, whether it is Canada Dry, Schweppe’s, or Great Value they all follow the same rules for storage and expiration dates.
Typically, what happens after that 9-month period is that the carbonation (the fizziness) of the ginger ale has lessened by a lot and will make the soda taste flat or even bitter.
If you have an expired diet ginger ale, it is best to use within 3 months of the expiration date because the artificial sweeteners inside the soda will start to break down. This will also lead to a bitter taste in the diet ginger ale.
It is worth noting that soda in a can will last longer than soda in a bottle. This is because the cans keep the CO2 contained longer. Plastic bottles lose CO2 at a much faster rate.
If you find a good deal on ginger ale, consider only buying enough to last you for the next 6-9 months. Most soda when you buy it will have an expiration date of about 9 months later.
This way you are much more likely to drink it all before it starts to lose its flavor and carbonation.
We must also remember that sales typically happen in 12-week cycles. This means if you are limited on space, to stock up on 3 months’ worth until the next deal.
Does unopened ginger ale go bad?
If you have a case of ginger ale cans that are not opened, it will still be fine after the expiration date. The issue comes down to storage.
Unopened soda cans should be either stored in a dry cool place like a cabinet or pantry, or in a refrigerator. It is best to keep soda out of direct sunlight or heat, because that will cause the CO2 in the soda to degrade faster.
Some people believe that if you put ginger ale in the fridge and then store it at room temperature, that the taste will change when you refrigerate it again. For most people this is a myth.
To people with an extremely sensitive palate, they may notice a slight change to the taste. This is similar to what happens when beer is stored cold, allowed to warm up at room temperature, and then cooled again.
My husband can absolutely tell the difference and describes the taste as “skunky” or having a weird aftertaste. My brother on the other hand cannot tell the difference.
Is expired ginger ale bad for you?
Ginger Ale in a can is its own little sealed environment. As long as the can is not dented or damaged it is totally fine to drink.
If your soda cans have bulging seams or a blown bottom, this indicates that the can may have been stored in a temperature cold enough to partially freeze. Some grocery store warehouses are actually very cold and freezing a can of soda will cause it to partially explode.
Bottled ginger ale will not last as long as cans as far as taste go. As the bottles lose the CO2, the taste will not be as good, and the soda will taste flat, bitter, or sour.
If you open a bottle of soda and you don’t hear that release of fizz, it is a good indicator that the soda will be flat.
The Takeaway on Expired Ginger Ale
If you find a good deal on ginger ale, consider only buying enough to last you for the next 6-9 months. Most soda when you buy it will have an expiration date of about 9 months later.
This way you are much more likely to drink it all before it starts to lose its flavor and carbonation. We must also remember that sales typically happen in 12-week cycles. This means if you are limited on space, to stock up on 3 months’ worth until the next deal.
Most bottlers of soda do not reveal how long expiration dates are on their products. This is partly due there being no true regulations on expiration dates by the federal government.
This means each individual company makes up their own “best by” and “use by” dates. It is estimated that most sodas start with an expiration date that is 1 year after it is bottled, but unfortunately no company will admit this as fact.
For more information on expired foods, check out “Can I eat expired Altoids?” and “Does Nesquik expire? (Milk, Powder, & Syrup)“
