Cannabis-infused foods do not contain any ingredients which spoil as quickly as dairy, eggs, or meat do. Some people like to freeze their edibles for later consumption–although this will cause a slight change in taste. Edible cannabis products have become a big business, whether bought from the store or made at home. The shelf life of an edible product is dependent on the food product that has been infused with THC and other cannabinoids. For example, chocolate bars will last longer than brownies because they do not contain any dairy or eggs which can spoil more quickly.
Whether purchased from a licensed dispensary or made in your own kitchen, cannabis edibles offer a tasty way to cop a good buzz without the health risks associated with smoking or vaping. But if you look at an edible product closely, you’ll probably notice an expiration or “best by” date printed on the packaging. What does this date mean? Is consuming an edible after its expiration date unsafe? Will it still get you high? The shelf life of the food product that’s been infused is the most important factor behind an edible product’s expiration date.
What are edibles and what do they look like?
Cannabis edibles are food products that have been infused with THC and other cannabinoids. They can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors depending on the dish they’re made from or recipe used to make them. Cannabis-infused foods might include granola bars; brownies; cookies; pasta sauce; yogurt; ice cream; and many other dishes.
What do cannabis edibles do?
Cannabis-infused food products offer the same benefits as smoking or vaping, but with a much longer shelf life than flowers. Consuming either of these products can provide relief for chronic pain in addition to temporary treatment for anxiety, depression, PTSD, seizures, and more.
How to store your edibles
To ensure that your cannabis edibles do not expire, it is important to store them properly and keep the packaging intact. Avoid food storage in a hot or humid environment as this can cause bacteria growth which will shorten how long they last. Cannabis-infused food products should be stored at room temperature (32 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit), away from sunlight, and sealed tightly in the packaging they came in. Avoid storing foods with dairy or eggs.
When should you throw away your cannabis edibles?
Edibles with weed and food products do not contain any ingredients that spoil as quickly as dairy, eggs, or meat. You should throw away cannabis edibles if they have been compromised in some way and are no longer safe to consume. Never eat an expired edible product–the THC content will be much lower than it was when the package was first sealed. For example, chocolate bars will last longer than brownies because they do not contain any dairy or eggs which can spoil more quickly.
How long can you keep a cannabis edible in the fridge or freezer?
Some people like to freeze their edibles for later consumption–although this will cause a slight change in taste. Frozen edibles do not last as long as a fridge- or freezer-stored food products, but they will retain the same THC content no matter how many times you melt and refreeze them. That’s because the heating process does not do anything to the actual THC levels.
Temperature at which the edible is being stored. A cannabis-infused brownie, for example, should be consumed within a week after being made if it was not frozen or refrigerated and kept in an airtight container between 65°F (18°C) and 75°F (24°C). The shelf life of perishable goods like dairy products can range from three days to two weeks before they go bad. If your individual chocolate bar contains milk or cream then you’ll only have about six months before its expiration date arrives due to spoilage factors like those mentioned above. But what happens when we freeze our edibles?
In most cases, freezing cannot be done with perishable goods like dairy, but it can work for edibles that have been made without perishable ingredients. If you freeze a cannabis-infused brownie, for example, the shelf life will increase to two years–as long as the temperature remains at or below 0°F (-18°C).
Potency over time
When it comes to potency, the THC levels in cannabis edibles can gradually decrease over time. That’s because of oxidation–a chemical process that breaks down plant material and causes THC to degrade into a less potent substance called CBN or cannabinol. This won’t happen if you keep your edible products sealed tightly and out of sunlight as they age. But once an edible has been opened, exposed to air (oxygen), heated up too many times, stored at room temperature for an extended period, or is more than three months after its expiration date–throw it away!
If you do not plan to use the edible within about two months, store it in your freezer at a temperature of 0 degrees Fahrenheit or lower. Keep this product away from foods such as steak and eggs that can react badly with THC-infused products. If you do not have access to a refrigerator, store them in an airtight container.
What is the typical expiration date for gummies?
Gummy bears do not contain any ingredients which spoil quickly, so they can be stored in a freezer or fridge indefinitely without worry of them expiring.
Baked goods, like cookies or brownies, will stay fresh for about two weeks if stored in an airtight container. Cannabis edibles do not expire for as long as they are stored properly. When you see an expiration date on a cannabis edible product, it indicates the length of time from when that particular dish was prepared and sealed to consume without any changes in taste, texture or smell–not how long before it will become unsafe to eat.
