The ‘best before’ date on Keurig K Cups is a contentious topic, and many consumers fear that it’s not safe to drink a K Cup after they’ve ‘expired’.
Keurig K Cups do expire, but fortunately it’s still perfectly safe to drink Keurig K Cups even long after their best-before date has elapsed. This date simply acts as an indicator of optimal freshness, flavor, and aroma. Unopened K Cups are completely safe to consume after this date. If the K Cup has been punctured or damaged, or the coffee tastes unpleasant, only then would we recommend throwing them out.
Keep reading as we explain how to tell if your K cups have actually gone bad, and how to improve the shelf life of your pods.
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Table of Contents
Do Keurig K Cups Really Expire?
Keurig K Cups come with two dates stamped on them – a production date and a best before date which is typically 12 months after the date of production.
While the product date is self-explanatory, what exactly do they mean by a best before date?
Keurig K Cups are hermetically sealed to protect the coffee inside from light, moisture, and oxygen. When they are manufactured, they are purged of any oxygen with the inert gas nitrogen, and then quickly sealed to stop any nitrogen from getting out, and any air from getting in.
In theory, this means the K Cups will last indefinitely.
In fact, we’ve heard reports of people drinking Keurig K Cups years past their best before date and still tasting great.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the best before date on a K Cup | An indicator of optimal freshness, flavor, and aroma. |
| Are Keurig K Cup safe to consume after the best-before date? | Yes, unopened K Cups are safe to consume after this date. |
| When should you throw out K Cups | If the K Cup has been punctured or damaged, or the coffee tastes unpleasant. |
| What is the shelf life of Keurig K-Cups? | Keurig K Cups are rated to be ‘best before’ 12 months after the date of manufacture, but they don’t have a legitimate expiration date. |
| How can you tell if a Keurig K Cup has been compromised? | Gently rub the foil seal on a K Cup and see if it bounces back. This indicates there’s pressure inside the pod and the seal hasn’t been broken or punctured. |
| How should your K Cups be stored to keep them fresh for longer? | Keurig K-Cups should be stored in a dry location, in a cool place, out of direct sunlight, and not left anywhere they could get scratched or punctured. |
What’s the Shelf Life of Keurig K Cups?
The shelf life of Keurig K Cups is astounding.
Keurig rates each K Cup to be ‘best before’ 12 months after the date of manufacture.
“Best-before dates are used to provide information about food quality… Food can be sold and eaten after its best-before date as long as it’s been stored properly. However, it may have lost some nutritional value and might not taste the best.”
From the Consumer website:
It’s important to differentiate that this isn’t an expiration date. Keurig K Cups don’t have a legitimate expiration date. They are safe to consume.
Keurig K Cups should be stored properly, so you can extend their shelf life even further, allowing you to store up and avoid having to purchase new ones for a long time.
How To Tell If Your Cup Has Been Compromised?
Air is our biggest enemy and the most likely culprit if your K-Cups taste off.
We recommend performing a visual check to see whether your K-Cups may have been accidentally punctured. Gently rub the foil seal on a K-Cup and see if it bounces back. This indicates there’s pressure inside the pod and the seal hasn’t been broken or punctured.
Is It Safe Drink Keurig K Cups After Their Expiry Date?
There’s nothing to worry about in terms of your health, but it won’t be the nicest cup of coffee you have tasted. In any case, drink it, even if it’s been years, but be warned that it might not be as good as it was at first.
There isn’t much difference between fresh and old K-Cups, even if they are really ancient. A few months old pods will occasionally create a coffee with less cream and a slightly flatter flavor.
Additionally, a bitterness or astringency may indicate that the coffee has oxidized.
None of these faults will render a cup of coffee that is in any way unsafe or could make you sick. Even if bacteria has got inside, the 93-degree hot water will in all likelihood kill them long before it gets to your lips.
4 Tips To Store Your K-Cups To Keep Them Fresh For Longer.
Even while Keurig K-Cups are designed to last, they might spoil rapidly if stored incorrectly.
You must understand how to properly keep your Keurig K-Cups if you want them to last as long as possible. It’s not complicated, but the following simple tips below will help you maximize the freshness, and longevity of your K-Cups:
1. Keurig K-Cups Shoud Be In A Dry Location
Despite the fact that the K-Cups are constructed of plastic and with a protective seal, there’s still the potential for the K-Cup to deteriorate if stored incorrectly.
Plastic is normally protected by layers of sealant, but if that’s scratched or stored in a corrosive location it can deteriorate rapidly. The best way to do this is to keep your K-Cups dry.
2. Keep your K Cups In A Cool Place
Heat will speed up reactions, such as the deterioration of the flavors in your Keurig K Cup.
The best thing to do to keep things tasting like the day you bought them is to store your Keurig K Cups in a cool location.
The fridge is optimal, but we understand that fridge space is prime real estate, so somewhere cool and dark like in a drawer or your pantry will be ideal.
3. Don’t Leave Your K Cups In Direct Sunlight
Direct sunlight can cause the K-Cups to get really hot – especially darker colored ones! Keep them out of the sun to ensure none of the volatile flavors are damaged.
4. Don’t Let Them Get Scratched Or Punctured
The thin plastic seal on top of a Keurig K-Cup is designed to be punctured.
Don’t leave your K-Cups to roll around loose in your kitchen drawer for example, as they could get punctured.
As soon as air gets in their shelf life rapidly deteriorates and really should be drunk right away.
Conclusion
The key takeaway here is that Keurig K Cups do not actually expire, although they can lose their flavor with time or due to other circumstances. It’s perfectly safe to drink expired K Cups as long as their seal isn’t broken and they aren’t damaged or mouldy. On top of this, by implementing simple storage practices, you can actally proglong the shelf life and improve the taste of your next Keurig coffee.
Of course, the easiest way to ensure you’re drinking fresh coffee is by brewing a fresh cup of coffee.
With our Green Pods, you can grind the beans right before you brew – guaranteeing freshness and making best-before dates a thing of the past.
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