What happens if you drink expired Dr Pepper?

As with most soft drinks, we all have that one that we love to drink the most. Dr. Pepper is one of those sodas that people love or can’t stand. In fact, for a while their slogan was “There’s nothing like a Dr Pepper” to explain their unique taste.

As with any much-used item in our home, we sometimes stock up on beverages that we know we will drink. If you find a good deal, you may be tempted to really stock up, but what happens if your Dr. Pepper goes past the expiration date? Let’s find out!

What happens if you drink Dr Pepper after expiration date?

According to the USDA, most sodas like Dr Pepper, Mr. Pibb / Pibb Extra, and store brands like Dr Thunder are perfectly fine to consume 9 months after the expiration date.

Regardless of brand name, 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 pepper soda has lessened by a lot and will make the soda taste flat or even bitter.

Fun Fact: Dr Pepper claims they are neither a cola nor a root beer, that they prefer to be called a pepper soda!

If you have an expired diet pepper soda, 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 pepper soda.

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 Dr Pepper, 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 soda deal comes along.

Does unopened Dr Pepper go bad?

If you have a case of Dr Pepper 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 Pepper Soda 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 Dr Pepper still good?

Dr Pepper has a very strong taste that is mostly described as peppery and some feel that it tastes very strongly carbonated.

This means that Dr Pepper past the expiration date, may taste less peppery and more flat and less carbonated.

Mr Pibb/Pibb Xtra on the other hand, to me has a sweeter less peppery taste, so past the expiration date it tends to taste less sweet and slightly flat.

Pepper Soda 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 pepper soda 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.

What can you do with expired Dr Pepper?

Even though soda past the expiration date is fine to drink, the flavor may not be that great. This doesn’t mean it is no longer usable!

Some fun ways to use up flat or expired pepper soda is to use it in baking (check out dump cakes with a cake mix and a can of soda).

We also like to use Dr Pepper, Mr Pibb/ Pibb Xtra, or the generic versions like Dr Thunder as a marinade on pork. You can also use it in a crockpot to make pulled pork or a roast! (Don’t worry the soda acts as a tenderizer and you really can’t taste the soda in the final product)

Expired Dr Pepper can also be used to unclog kitchen sinks, clean toilet bowls, and remove rust from nuts and bolts!

For more information about expired products, check out “Can I eat expired Altoids?” and “What happens if you eat expired Greek Yogurt?“