Do CBD Edibles Expire and How To Tell

Did you forget about that CBD edible you stashed on the highest shelf in the back of the pantry? Don’t worry about it too much, yet. There are a few ways you can tell if your CBD edible has gone bad or if it is still safe to eat. However, there are a few different factors that you have to consider. And you should know the signs to look for if your edible has gone past the point of salvaging. It would be a shame to waste an edible, but it might be more of a waste to still eat it. It really depends on what kind of edible we are talking about.

What Happens When an Edible Ages?

Let’s first start by talking about what happens when a CBD edible starts to get old. This will inevitably happen over time, no matter how the edible is made or stored. However, proper storage of edibles will help prevent rapid aging or degradation. Exposure to air, heat, light, and moisture can accelerate the degradation of an edible and make it less potent. This is because the cannabinoids within the edible are being exposed to elements that accelerate their transformation into CBN. Although the cannabinoids will not go bad over time, they might start to convert and disappear from the edible.

What About A 100% CBD Edible?

The good news is that CBD is a lot more stable of a cannabinoid than its partner, tetrahydrocannabinol. That means that CBD will degrade less over time, and a CBD edible will retain its potency for longer. On average though, an edible can lose up to 20 percent of its original potency over the course of a year, if it’s not stored properly.

How Do You Know If Your CBD Edible Has Expired?

So, if your edible has been sitting in the back of a closet, or in a hot or humid location for longer than six months, there is the chance that it has gone bad. It might still be safe to consume, but it also may have lost the majority of its original potency. However, determining if your edible has completely expired just requires the use of some basic common sense.

Consider The Ingredients In Your Edibles

You first need to consider what ingredients were used to make the edible. Sugar can act as a great preservative, so anything that is sugar-based will last longer than something made with dairy or eggs. However, some baked good edibles now include preservatives and come in vacuum-sealed packaging, to help extend their shelf life. But, an edible that is a chocolate bar or homemade brownies will not last as long. Although they might still contain CBD and be technically safe to eat, they could be stale and tasty to consume.

Consider How The Edible Looks, Smells and Tastes

Your basic sense of smell, taste, and touch will be the most helpful tools for determining if an edible has gone bad or not. Give the edible a whiff. Does it smell the same as when you made or purchased it? Take a look at the edible. Does it have the same color and texture as when it was fresh? Take a nibble of the corner of the edible. Does it taste like something you actually want to eat? There is no need to suffer through a bad CBD edible these days since they are readily available in many states across the US.

Consider The Label Information

If your edible was purchased from a licensed medical or recreational dispensary, then the label will be able to provide you will all the information you need. This manufacturer of the edible is often required to put an expiration or best-by date on the label. This expiration date is normally generous, and it’s best to stick to the dates that the manufacturer recommends. Every edible is different, and the other ingredients included in the edible may expire at different rates. If the CBD has clearly expired according to the label though, then you should clearly toss it.

How Should You Store Your CBD Edibles?

To help prevent a CBD edible from going bad too quickly, you can take measures to store the edible properly. Depending on the ingredients in the edible, there are different methods you can use. Putting a lollipop in the freezer is a bit pointless, but tossing some homemade CBD brownies in the freezer can actually preserve them for longer. If you do add edibles to the freezer though, it’s important to store them in an airtight container so that they do not absorb the other flavors in the freezer. Speaking from personal experience, a defrosted edible might not taste the best but it will have retained its potency at least.

Tips for CBD Edible Storage

So how can you store your edibles properly and not affect their taste? Choose a cool, dark location to store your stash, and be sure to seal your edibles away in an airtight container. Exposure to oxygen can accelerate the degradation of the edible’s potency, as well as excessive heat or humidity. Also, buy edibles in smaller quantities, so that you do not run the risk of your backup stash going bad. It’s best to consume most CBD edibles within six months, but if that isn’t possible then you can use your senses to decide if your edible is still good enough to eat.

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