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We've all been there, we've all done it - Taken out the delicious soda bottle from the fridge, thrown it on the couch, sat next to it only then to realize, that the throw has shaken it and we now have to wait until the pressure has cleared or we are in for an entire afternoon of cleaning.

What is the fastest way to depressurize a shaken bottle that contains carbonated beverage?

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  • The best I found is simply to 1) wash the bottle 2) open the cap (slightly, to reduce the flow) in a container to collect the foam/liquid.
    – JinSnow
    Jul 2, 2022 at 12:13

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Swap it for one still in the fridge, and walk away.

There is no way to "calm down" a soda quickly after it's been shaken; it'll take a minimum of an hour or so sitting quietly in refrigeration of the carbon dioxide to redissolve and the pressure inside the bottle or can return to its normal value.

The closest I've ever been able to come is to open the bottle very, very VERY slowly. And if it's badly shaken, this may only result in getting a soda shower.

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  • You might want to add a reference about tapping the can not working. I was going to post an answer, suggesting it but found lots of references that it does not work. Making your answer the best one I can imagine.
    – James Jenkins
    Jun 29, 2020 at 18:26
  • @JamesJenkins The OP specificallty asked about a bottle, making can references irrelevant. I never believed tapping, tab-snapping, or other vibrations likely to do anything but make the soda inside the can even angrier -- but that's referential only to cans, not bottles.
    – Zeiss Ikon
    Jun 29, 2020 at 18:30
  • That would be the infamous John Dorian Three Tap Method
    – infinitezero
    Jun 30, 2020 at 13:56
  • Tapping [can or bottle] frees up any bubbles stuck to the sides, re-gaining a slight air-gap at the top. This will give any new foam more headroom. It's not perfect but it can be very very slightly beneficial. [QI covered it recently, can't find an easy link]
    – Tetsujin
    Jun 30, 2020 at 18:14
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You can't depressurize the can quickly. BUT you can make it so that opening the can has less of an effect.

Bubbles are trapped on sides and bottom of the can. These rapidly expand when open, forcing liquid up.

Just tap along the sides and bottom to knock the bubbles to the top. The gas on top will expand, but no liquid above it to cause a mess.

For reference, watch "Non-Exploding Soda Can" on Youtube.

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  • In a comment on Zeiss Ikon's answer, James Jenkins "found lots of references that it does not work", but unfortunately didn't list any of them.
    – Ray Butterworth
    Apr 6 at 13:18
  • The gas on top cannot expand as you suggest. The can is of fixed size.
    – Chenmunka ♦
    Apr 6 at 17:26
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Turn it upside down

Turn the bottle upside down, keep it there for maybe 20 seconds, then slowly turn it right side up, and open. This is an old waiter's trick for use with accidentally-shaken champagne bottles... I assume it will work for soda too.

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  • You might mention why this trick works (assuming it does). In the upright position, the water level is in the neck with only a small area for the air/water interface. When it's upside down this area is many times larger. The CO₂ dissolves back into the water at this interface, so the larger it is, the faster the rate of transfer.
    – Ray Butterworth
    Apr 6 at 13:21
  • @RayButterworth Thanks for sharing that info. I wonder whether tilting the bottle sideways would be even better since that would maximise the area of the liquid/air interface.
    – Lawrence
    Apr 8 at 17:55

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