Buzz
The latest TikTok trend that’s left me questioning reality is the idea of a “marinated” Diet Coke. (Prepare yourself for an excessive use of quotation marks in this post.) As a food writer, I couldn’t resist diving into this curious concept to see if there was any truth behind it. After a deep dive, I quickly emerged, disappointed to discover that no Diet Cokes have actually been marinated. While I can enjoy an ice-cold, fizzy drink, this trend remains a mystery to me.
Let’s take a moment to describe this process: A can of Diet Coke is placed in the refrigerator for anywhere between three days and two weeks. Then, it’s consumed. What should we call this activity? Perhaps “storage” comes to mind. You could also simply call it “drinking Diet Coke.” Another fitting term might be “chilling,” which perfectly captures the essence of this trend in more ways than one.
This video explores the ‘marinating’ process for Diet Coke, where TikTok creator hauskris suggests refrigerating the can for at least a few days, though a longer wait may be even better. The rest of the so-called ‘recipe’ involves pouring the soda, selecting the right glassware, and adding lime flavors. These steps are all based on personal preference and how flat or fizzy you like your beverage. However, my main concern lies with the marinating process itself. She describes the Diet Coke as ‘super cold,’ supposedly because it’s been ‘marinated’ in the fridge. Let’s unpack that.
What exactly does marinating mean?
I was trying to come up with an alternative term for this trend—cured, fermented, pickled—but much like 'marinate,' each of these terms carries its own specific meaning.
Marinating refers to the process of soaking meat, fruit, or vegetables in a liquid known as a marinade. A marinade typically consists of an acid, fat, salt, and sometimes sugar. The acid helps tenderize the fibers and enhances flavor, while the salt ensures the flavors penetrate the food. Oil adds richness, moisture, and promotes browning during cooking, and sugar contributes to both flavor and browning. The ingredients in the marinade hint at its primary purpose: to infuse flavor and soften the food.
Does this apply to the Diet Coke 'hack'? No. Marinating requires a marinade, and you can't marinate a liquid. If you think about it too much, the concept becomes quite perplexing. Marinating a liquid with another liquid is simply mixing liquids, not marinating. You can't marinate Diet Coke, but you can use it as a marinade ingredient. In any case, a can of Diet Coke remains sealed and doesn't interact with anything—it neither absorbs nor loses any flavors. Its purpose, and that of any packaging, is solely to contain the soda.
But isn't the idea of 'marinating' just about getting the soda 'super cold'?
Perhaps 'marinating' is just a playful way to describe something that's left to sit for a while. Typically, foods marinate for several hours to allow the flavors of the marinade to fully infuse. This trend focuses on achieving a cold, crispy beverage, where the idea is that the longer a can stays in the fridge, the colder it becomes. While there's some truth to this, it's not quite how temperature works. If that were the case, why would we even need a freezer?
The soda, and anything else you place in the fridge, will only reach the temperature of the fridge itself. Depending on the starting temperature of your Diet Coke, it could take a few hours (not days, certainly not weeks) for it to match the fridge's temperature. Once it does, nothing will make the soda colder unless the fridge’s temperature drops further.
So how do you actually make your Diet Coke colder?
When you play with fire, as they say. Want that ultra-crispy cold Diet Coke? Why settle for a fridge set to a weak 40°F? According to NBC South Florida, diet sodas freeze at a slightly higher temperature than regular sodas (which freeze at 30°F). Diet Coke, on the other hand, freezes at 32°F. Looks like you've been missing out on an extra 8 degrees all this time.
You could always throw your cans of Coke in the freezer, but there's a risk of them exploding and making a mess of soda sludge. It could be a risk worth taking—just don't forget to set a timer so you don't leave them in too long.
For those truly committed, here's an alternative: You can adjust your fridge's temperature to a range of 32°F to 39°F. However, keep in mind that this refers to the main section of the fridge, and certain foods may freeze in the colder areas. If you’re up for it, the real solution is to invest in a dedicated Diet-Coke fridge. Set it to a precise 33°F and fill it with Diet Coke. This way, you’ll have the coldest drinks on TikTok.
