Red Bull is a sealed, shelf-stable canned drink, and that holds only while the can stays sealed and undamaged. Below: what official guidance says about dates, heat, freezing and opened cans, where the evidence gives no definite answer, and when to toss a can.
Does Red Bull go bad?
The Short Answer
Slowly, yes. An unopened can may remain acceptable past its printed date if it is undamaged and has been stored properly, because USDA says dates are for quality, not safety. We found no Red Bull-specific guidance on how long that lasts, so we don’t give a month count. Keep cans cool, since heat can damage canned products. Once opened, it goes flat quickly, so finish it the same day. Discard any can that is bulging, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented.
For a complete pantry storage reference, see our Food Storage Guide. For another canned drink, see our guide on whether Coke goes bad.
Does Red Bull Go Bad: At a Glance
Unopened, undamaged, stored cool
USDA says dates are for quality, not safety. We found no Red Bull shelf-life figure
Past the date on the can
Not a safety date, per USDA. Check the can itself before you open it
Hot car, garage or sun
Avoid. USDA says below 85°F is best and over 100°F harms canned goods. After prolonged heat, a normal-looking can isn’t proof it’s fine
Opened can
Goes flat. We’d finish it the same day and refrigerate anything you save
Frozen
Don’t. Freezing can bulge or split a can. Discard any that bulges, leaks or bursts
Bulging, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented
Discard it
Caffeine
80 mg in an 8.4 fl oz (250 ml) can, per Red Bull. FDA has cited 400 mg a day for most adults
Key Takeaways
Red Bull is a sealed, shelf-stable drink. USDA says product dates are for quality, not safety, and a product should still be safe if handled properly until spoilage is evident.
We found no shelf-life figure published by Red Bull or by USDA or FDA for energy drinks, so we don’t give a month count.
Heat is the storage factor to watch. USDA says below 85°F is best and over 100°F is harmful to canned goods, and Oregon State Extension says the risk of spoilage rises as temperatures rise.
Don’t freeze a can. Discard any can that is bulging, leaking, heavily rusted or deeply dented.
Once opened, Red Bull goes flat. We’d finish it the same day and refrigerate anything you save.
Which Red Bull Do You Have?
This guide covers sealed aluminum cans of Red Bull Energy Drink and its sugar-free and flavored versions. Sugar-free versions use non-sugar sweeteners in place of sugars, and Red Bull’s international Sugarfree ingredients page names sucralose and acesulfame K for its Sugarfree. Ingredients can vary by product and country, so check your own can’s ingredient panel. For colas, see our guide on whether Coke goes bad.
What Do the Sources Say About Red Bull and Dates?
These are USDA’s general rules plus what we could and couldn’t find from Red Bull.
What Matters
What the Sources Say
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