Coke soda

Yes: use it to braise pork or chicken, or simmer it with ketchup, vinegar and spices for a sticky barbecue-style sauce. Add it early enough to reduce and thicken; its sweetness can make a sauce catch, so keep the heat gentle.

Seal the bottle or can and refrigerate it. It will lose fizz fastest if left open, so for the best sparkle, finish it soon after opening.

You can freeze it in an ice-cube tray, but leave room for expansion and expect it to lose some fizz as it thaws. Do not put a full, sealed bottle in the freezer: expanding liquid can split the container.

It is commonly served with a squeeze of lime, or mixed with rum and lime in a Cuba Libre. For a non-alcoholic drink, add lime and plenty of ice.

Regular Coke soda usually contains caffeine, while caffeine-free versions are also sold. Check the product ingredients if you need to avoid caffeine.

Coke soda has 35 kcal per 100 g, compared with 42 kcal in regular cola; its carbohydrate is 8.7 g, compared with 10.4 g.