Do Edibles Expire, and How to Best Preserve Them
Marijuana edibles are a fun and often very tasty way to consume marijuana: It’s also one of the most popular methods of consumption (though smoking remains #1 according to recent research). With this in mind, you may find yourself making marijuana-infused products, and decide you want to make a big batch to last you a while. But then the questions comes into play: Do edibles expire? If so, how long does it take? And just as importantly, what’s the best way to preserve them?
Spoilage: How Long Does it Take for Edibles to Go Bad?
Sadly, edibles will go bad over time, unless frozen.
If placed in a sealed, air-tight container and put in the fridge, most marijuana edibles will remain good for several weeks.
Studies have shown that THC and CBD stay active at room temperature for three months, and up to a year if refrigerated. In other words, you’ll have to worry about the butter itself going bad long before you’ll need to worry about it losing its potency, which is why typically a few weeks is a good estimate (sometimes less when making things like marijuana pizza which have a shorter shelf-life once cooked).
If frozen, marijuana edibles can remain good for months, and maybe even years.
How Long Does it Take for Edibles to Go Stale?
If left at room temperature, edibles can go stale very quickly: Sometimes within a few hours.
If refrigerated, it depends on the product. If we’re talking about, say, marijuana cookies or brownies, typically they will become stale after 4-5 days, though at this point they are still perfectly fine to eat.
Should I Freeze or Refrigerate Edibles?
If you plan to eat the edibles within a 1-2 week period, it’s best to place them in the fridge.
If you plan to, or think you might, delay consuming the edible/s for at least a couple weeks, it’s best to freeze them and then saw at room temperature for a couple hours when ready to consume.
Is the Potency of Edibles Reduced Over Time?
As mentioned above, studies have shown that even at room temperature THC and CBD can remain good for months: In the fridge or freeze it’s exponentially longer.
In other words, although you do need to worry about your edibles getting stale or even going bad, you don’t really need to worry about them losing their potency.