Even the highest-quality cannabinoid-infused product on the market, with potent servings of your favorite cannabinoids, and the terpenes of the most prestigious strain in the world, won’t give you the effects you were hoping for if the product is expired. Like anything organic, all hemp products have a shelf life, and what many people don’t know is that if you aren’t storing your products properly, they’ll actually expire even sooner. Given that, we must discuss some best practices for storing your cannabinoid-infused products, whether you’re dealing with edibles, vapes, or whatever you have. We’re also gonna talk about when hemp products naturally expire, so that, you know that what you’ve got in your arsenal is good to last for a while.
Cannabinoid Products and Their Expiration Dates
Cannabinoid-infused products of all kinds are composed of hundreds of individual chemical compounds which’re organic in nature, and each compound is going to degrade after a certain length of time – that’s just how nature works. Now, with that being said, different types of hemp products expire at different rates, depending on whether or not they’re extract-based (extraction preserves the compounds for longer than, say, dry-curing, which is done for flower), and the other ingredients that are in the product, as, for example, edibles made with fresh ingredients can expire sooner than the actual extract of hemp. Let’s get more specific:
- Flower: Dry-cured, which preserves the buds so that they last longer. Still, flower is at its absolute peak for up to 6 months, and likely expired within a year.
- Concentrates: Typically have the same shelf life as flower, which is 6-12 months.
- Gummies/Candies: May last for about 6 months. Despite containing hemp extract, which can last for up to 2 years, the ingredients in gummies can expire sooner than the hemp compounds.
- Baked Goods: May expire even sooner than gummies, depending on the specific ingredients in the product.
- Beverages: Many beverages can last for a good year if they’re canned, which keeps the contents airtight.
- Capsules: Capsules typically last for about 2 years.
- Tinctures: Also last for about 2 years, unless they contain flavoring ingredients that expire sooner.
- Topicals: Can usually last for about 2 years.
- Vapes: Be it bottled e-liquids, AIO (All-In-One) disposable vape pens, or pre-filled vape cartridges, these also last for roughly 2 years.
Note: When we say that a cannabinoid-based product has expired, that doesn’t mean that it’s unsafe. It means that the compounds have broken down so much over time that they’re no longer effective. If a product does take on a strange odor, or appears discolored, or if there is mold present, then, at that point, it’s unsafe to use/consume the product, and it must be thrown away.
How to Store Your Cannabinoid-Infused Products to Make Them Last
Now you’re aware of the natural expiration timelines of all of the key types of hemp products. But, did you know that products can go bad sooner if they’re not stored properly? The compounds in hemp are sensitive to their environment, and exposure to certain elements can cause them to degrade at a fast rate. If you found an old, say, pack of gummies lying around, and they didn’t give you the effects you were expecting, it’s likely that poor storage was the culprit.
In general, cannabinoid-infused products should be kept in a dark, dry, and cool place, like a closet, cabinet, or drawer. And, the product should be kept in an airtight container of some kind (including its original packaging), as this will keep the contents fresher over time. Let’s further look at individual product types, and the more specific needs when it comes to storing them.
Storing Hemp Flower
Hemp flower can be kept in its original packaging, but once that package has been opened, it’s important to ensure that it’s always kept airtight, whether it’s a pouch or a jar. If you prefer to keep flower in a stash jar or box of some kind, make sure that you keep an eye on it to ensure it never gets too dry or too moist, as both of these things can interfere with how the flower smokes. And, if the flower gets too moist, that can lead to the development of mold, which is an even bigger issue.
There are, actually, some tricks to correcting the moisture level of flower. If it’s too dry – that is, dry to the touch and crumbly – place a lettuce leaf or moist paper towel in the container, as the flower will steal some moisture from it. If the flower is too moist – that is, feels wet and mushy to the touch – place a dry paper towel in the container, as the paper towel will absorb some of its moisture.
Storing Concentrates
Hemp concentrates also need to be kept in an airtight container, as they are also prone to either drying out or getting too moist depending on their environment. And, the same tricks apply should they get too dry or too moist.
Storing Tinctures
Tinctures are especially sensitive to heat, humidity, and light, and that’s a big reason why more companies are switching to dark-tinted bottles, as they are better at blocking light out. Besides keeping them in a dark, dry, and cool area, make sure that the cap is always tightly fitted onto the bottle so that air doesn’t seep in when not in use. Some people choose to refrigerate their tinctures, but this actually isn’t necessary, as room temperature is just fine for the formula.
Storing Gummies
Gummies also don’t typically require refrigeration, unless explicitly specified on the product label. A dark, dry, and cool place is, once again, the ideal environment. If the gummies come in a non-resealable pouch, find an airtight container or resealable bag to store them in instead.
Storing Baked Goods
Companies that produce hemp-infused baked goods like cookies, brownies, and similar products usually specify on their label whether or not the product needs to be refrigerated, as this depends on how fresh the ingredients are. Again, an airtight container is critical.
Storing Topicals
Topicals like lotions, salves, creams, etc., should be kept in a dark, dry, and cool place, with the lid on airtight (if there is a lid). It’s common to keep these products in a bathroom along with other topical products, but remember, the humidity of a bathroom shower could cause the product to degrade faster. Therefore, we recommend keeping it in a drawer, cabinet, or closet in your bedroom, instead.
Storing Vapes
Vapes should be kept sealed in their original packaging until you’re ready to use them. The general rules of storage apply to vapes, but keep in mind that a loose disposable or vape cartridge should be kept in a clean place too, for the sake of the mouthpiece. You don’t want the mouthpiece getting dirty, as you’ll be placing it in your mouth. Similarly, the mouthpiece can get clogged with debris from a pocket, purse or drawer, so be extra careful where you keep it when you’re not vaping. Also, try to stand it upright, as that also keeps the e-liquid in a better place.
A Brief Word on Buying
Since you have a better understanding of how and why cannabinoid-infused products do expire, you will need to be mindful of how much you buy at any one time. For instance, if you’re a casual user and you’re buying up tons of gummies at once, you may end up with a lot of products that go to waste since you never got around to them.
Basically, be aware of how much of a product you realistically go through on, say, a monthly basis. For instance, if you’re a once-a-day gummy user, buying a 30-pack of gummies each month makes sense. If you take gummies as needed, maybe once a month or so, it doesn’t make sense to stock up on bags of gummies, as they’ll likely expire before you finish your supply.
Storage Matters with Friendly Hemp Products!
Yes, all cannabinoid-infused products are gonna expire at some point. But the good news is though, if you store your Friendly Hemp products properly, they’ll last for long enough for you to get the full potential out of them. Besides that, all hemp products require the same general storage rules, which couldn’t be easier to follow. As long as you have a dark, dry, and cool area of your home, you can make your hemp gummies, vapes, tinctures, and other products last!
