Soft drink

Seal the bottle tightly and refrigerate it; it is usually best within two to three days, though it may be safe to drink for longer if it has been kept cold and smells and tastes normal. Cans lose their fizz quickly once opened, so pour any leftover drink into a covered container.

It is safer not to freeze a sealed fizzy bottle or can: the liquid expands and pressure can make the container split or burst. For a slushy, pour it into a freezer-safe container with room for expansion and stir it every 30 minutes until partly frozen.

You cannot reliably restore the original fizz at home. Chill it and pour it down the side of a glass to preserve what carbonation remains; adding sparkling water can bring back some bubbles, but it will dilute the flavour.

Cola is often served with burgers, pizza or salty snacks, while lemon-lime drinks work well alongside spicy food. For a simple non-alcoholic mixer, combine soft drink with lime juice and plenty of ice.

Use chilled sparkling water with fruit juice and sliced citrus for a less sweet, fizzy punch. Ginger beer or lemonade also works when you want a stronger flavour; add it just before serving so the bubbles last.

Light soft drink is sweetened with low- or no-energy sweeteners rather than relying on sugar for sweetness; its carbohydrate content can therefore be lower. For comparison, cola soft drink has 44 kcal per 100 g, while light soft drink has 0 kcal per 100 g.

Some do and some do not: cola commonly contains caffeine, while many lemon-lime and orange drinks are caffeine-free. Check the ingredient list for caffeine if you need to avoid it.