Top 10 Ways to Use up Flat Cola

By Peggy Trowbridge Filippone

Updated 11/03/17

Do you end up tossing out half cans or bottles of flat cola? Save it to cook with. Believe it or not, flat cola has many applications in the kitchen. Use it in recipes for savory roasts to decadent desserts without imparting any cola flavor. Experiment using diet colas, but keep in mind that long cooking times at high temperatures can turn diet colas bitter. The cola should be at room temperature when you begin cooking. Other sodas or seltzer may be substituted in many of the recipes.
  • 01 of 09
    Make a cake
    chocolate icing on a chocolate cake
    Martin Poole / Getty Images
    This easy sheet cake is wonderfully decadent and rich. The cola enhances the flavor of the chocolate without adding cola flavor. Loaded with chocolate chips, you can use your favorite chocolate frosting or sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.
  • 02 of 09
    Make a baked brisket
    Beef Brisket
    John Madden / Getty Images

    Cola not only tenderizes this brisket, it also makes a fabulous gravy. Requires no marination, but plan on up to three hours of cooking time to cook the brisket.

  • 03 of 09
    Make a ham
    Mustard glazed ham on a plate, with a carving knife
    William Shaw / Getty Images

    Southern ham cooked in cola must be tried to be believed. Bone-in ham is first boiled in cola with an onion, then baked in a glaze of mustard, molasses, and cloves.

  • 04 of 09
    Make a barbecued pork sandwich
    Pulled Pork And Cole Slaw
    Robert Simon / Getty Images
    Start with boneless center cut pork loin or pork shoulder and marinate for a day in a mixture of cola, Worcestershire, vinegar, and garlic. Then slow-roast about 3 hours with a cola and Jack Daniels sauce for utterly delicious pulled pork sandwiches. Try this with different sodas, such as root beer and cherry or use brisket instead of pork.
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  • 05 of 09
    Make a 7-bone roast
    Potroast dinner with potoatoes and carrots.
    tim buckner / Getty Images

    7-bone roasts are one of the few remaining beef values these days, economical and flavorful. You won't taste cola, but the gravy is to die for! Oven-baked pot roast and vegetables are enhanced by a rich gravy. Can also be made in a slow cooker.

  • 06 of 09
    Make a molded salad
    By Shadle (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
    Perfect for Thanksgiving, potlucks, or family dinners, make this in a pretty molded shape for extra pizzazz. The salad uses cranberry sauce, gelatin, pineapple, nuts, and cream cheese for a rich texture. Goes together quickly.
  • 07 of 09
    Make spareribs in the crock-pot
    Pile of grilled spare ribs, close-up
    Dorling Kindersley / Getty Images
    Start these ribs in the crockpot and finish with a cola sauce on the grill or under the oven broiler. Plan at least a day ahead for pre-cooking in the crockpot, refrigeration overnight, and then finishing on the grill or under the broiler.
  • 08 of 09

    Make a prime rib roast

    Prime Rib Roast
    Jason Poole / Getty Images
    Plan a day ahead to marinate this roast in a mixture of olive oil, cherry cola, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, thyme, onion powder, garlic, and a special Greek seasoning blend before grilling and smoking.
    Continue to 9 of 9 below.
  • 09 of 09

    Make beef jerky

    Beef Jerky
    Juanmonino / Getty Images

    This beef jerky marinade can also be used on meats to be cooked on the grill or broiled. Marinate from 2 hours to overnight. The cola helps break down the fibers and tenderize the meat.