Diet Coke Lovers Are Claiming This Hack Makes It Even Better

Are we devolving as a species or are we simply blessed to live in an era in which “Diet Coke influencers” exist? Your opinion on that last sentence may color your feelings on a new TikTok trend that devotees are identifying as “marinating” their favorite soda.

Craft cocktail aficionados might assume that this refers to some sort of muddling. They would be wrong. In fact, “marinating” a Diet Coke refers simply to leaving it in the refrigerator for an extended period.

Why Are People Marinating Diet Coke?

In the case of a recent video, TikTok influencer hauskris (aka Kristen) let the can of her favorite soda cool for 10 days. “I center myself on the values, principles, and belief that the best Diet Cokes are the ones that come in a can that have been marinating in the fridge for at least three days. Three days is preferred, five days is really good, over a week is phenomenal, two weeks plus, we’re talking a really crispy Diet Coke,” she said.

The video creator is a stan for True Lime, packets of powdered lime juice. Her “Diet Coke breaks” typically include pebbled ice, True Lime, and a “marinated” can. After trying the 10-days-marinated soda, her reaction was, “I’m too stunned to speak. Delicious.”

The Diet Coke brand's account even commented on the video with "nothing like the first sip of a marinated Diet Coke."

The Best Diet Coke on the Face of the Earth

“Never settle girlies!!!” said Kristen in the description of a September video. “Always strive for bigger and better diet coke breaks.” In that video, she described “The best Diet Coke on the face of the Earth.”

That soda concoction included her latest innovation of pebbled ice made from more Diet Coke. She served it in a frozen glass with frozen limes, True Lime, and drank it through a reusable straw. “It’s all so unbelievably delicious,“ she said in summary.

Can You Really Change Diet Coke by Refrigerating It Longer?

In a word? No. According to Lifehacker writer Allie Chanthorn Reinmann, “There's a way to get even colder soda, but 'marinating' ain't it.” Essentially, putting a Diet Coke in the fridge only gets it as cold and crisp as the refrigerator’s temperature itself. Storing it for longer doesn’t do anything to change that.

Chanthorn Reinmann went on to explain to readers that the only way to truly get a colder soda is by reducing your refrigerator’s temperature. But that could freeze other stored items. “Instead, if you're committed enough, you should really buy a second Diet-Coke-only fridge. Set the temperature to 33 degrees F and load it with Diet Coke. Now you’ll have the coldest beverage on TikTok,” the writer said.