Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, has become extremely popular in the mainstream health and wellness industries. CBD is available in many types of products, including edibles, beverages, vape pens, and even beauty items and cosmetics. Many people prefer to keep a tincture of food-grade full-spectrum and broad-spectrum CBD oil on hand. While oil form is one of the easiest ways to ingest cannabidiol, storing it can be a different challenge altogether. Proper storage is vital for ensuring that CBD oil retains its effectiveness.
How Long Does CBD Oil Stay Good?
As long as it is kept in proper conditions, you can keep CBD oil for many months. Generally, under the right conditions, your CBD oil can stay viable for anywhere between 14-24 months. However, as with any natural product, cannabidiol does break down eventually with age. Heat and light exposure can spoil CBD oil, and moisture can break down the cannabidiol and even invite mold.
Here are a few places NOT to store CBD oil:
- In a car
- Near heat-producing appliances, including dishwashers, laundry, refrigerators, stoves, or televisions.
- In direct sunlight
- In a bathroom or other humid room
Does CBD Oil Expire?
Yes, it does. FDA guidelines require CBD products to display an expiration date on the label. Factors including when the CBD was extracted, and any additional flavorings or ingredients can affect the expiration date. The brand of CBD oil you use also plays a significant role in the expiration date. The different types of CBD oils available also have different expiration dates. With a full-spectrum CBD oil, the minimal processing helps extend its shelf life over other oils containing additives.
Can I Consume Expired CBD Oil?
CBD oil doesn’t expire in the same way that other products do. Expired CBD oil isn’t dangerous to consume (as long as it doesn’t contain any other ingredients that decompose over time). Still, it won’t be as effective as it once was as the compounds have broken down and evaporated. The reduced potency can affect the levels of active CBD in your system after taking some.
Tips for Storing CBD Oil
The best way to ensure you get the maximum shelf life out of your CBD oils centers around how you store the product. Once you have a system and established spot that meets all of the criteria for long-term storage, your CBD oils should last you for the duration of their shelf life at their optimal efficiency.
CBD oil should be stored upright and kept in a location free of extreme light, temperature, and moisture. When deciding how to store CBD oil, it’s helpful to know which carrier oil is mixed into the CBD product. All CBD extracts are combined with a carrier liquid. Some of the most common carrier liquids are MCT oil, coconut oil, or even olive oil. All you need to do is to consider how you would store those oils in your home. While the CBD oil itself has a shelf life of up to two years, the carrier liquids may have different shelf lives that can potentially be shorter and possibly degrade your oil more quickly. For these reasons, inside the kitchen pantry is an ideal place to store CBD.
Does CBD Oil Need to Be Refrigerated?
The quest to extend the shelf life of CBD oil is one that continues to evolve. New and regular CBD oil users continue to ask another popular question: do you refrigerate CBD oil? While CBD oil is shelf-stable and can survive for extended periods in normal room temperatures, are you supposed to refrigerate CBD oil, and can it lead to extended shelf life?
Not Necessarily, But It Also Couldn’t Hurt
While it’s not necessary to refrigerate CBD oil, some people keep it in the fridge because they believe it lengthens its shelf life. If you’d like a particular bottle of CBD oil to last longer than a year for whatever reason, it can be stored in the refrigerator. However, there are some factors about the composition of the oil that would necessitate an extra step.
Depending on the oil and carrier oil used, the oil may thicken if it gets cold, but that doesn’t affect the quality. Run the bottle under hot water to thin it out for use. At the end of the day, keeping CBD oil in the refrigerator comes down to personal preference.
Can You Freeze CBD Oil?
With the use of CBD oils on the rise, people attempt to find different ways to maximize their purchase value. Some people have begun looking at how they buy their CBD products in search of the best deal. Some daily users find that buying CBD oil in bulk is more cost-effective for them. However, in that case, the CBD may need to last longer than its shelf life.
When you need your CBD oils to last longer than their listed shelf life, freezing some vials can be a viable option. CBD can be vacuum sealed and frozen for extended periods. However, you should proceed with caution when you want to use your freezer stored CBD oils again. When it’s time to use the product, slowly let it warm to room temperature. Once you have thawed the oil, it is essential to remember not to refreeze a thawed product once opened.
Once you’ve figured out your CBD oil storage situation, you should find that it lasts for up to a year without issue and possibly under ideal conditions. However, most people who use CBD regularly will replace it well within that time.
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If you have questions about storing your CBD oil, want to buy CBD infused gummies, or would like to learn more about CBD ReThink, contact us today.
