Above all else, manufacturers take the guesswork out for you by including a “best by” or “expiration” date on the packaging. In many cases, products are crafted to last several months or even up to a year, although you’ll find this varies based upon what you purchase. When in doubt, only buy enough edibles to last you for the next week or two, as stocking up might cause some of them to pass their prime.

Tinctures, Oils, And More

Those who prefer alternative methods to getting their cannabis fix may find that a range of products other than flower or edibles work best for them. Items like balms and salves, cooking oils, infused butters, and concentrated tinctures all serve their own purpose, yet require even more care when storing in order to maintain their potency.

Remember the guiding idea that light, oxygen, and heat will degrade cannabis faster than intended, so when possible use airtight and opaque containers to store these items. Thankfully, most upscale dispensaries like The Bakeréé already offer these items in the proper storage containers, so as long as you don’t transfer them into anything else you should be good to go.

When it comes to cooking oils or infused butters, you can opt to make larger batches at a time and freeze them for future use. Many home chefs like to make their cannabis butter and store it in ice cube trays for easy portioning, while smaller batches can be put into your fridge.

Product quality and storage conditions will always vary from home to home, but one item you can bet on is that of a tincture, which is said to have an indefinite shelf life assuming that it’s stored and packaged correctly.

Using Common Sense

 Cannabis compounds do tend to degrade at the same rate whether you’re dealing with flower, food, or other products, but it’s the addition of extra ingredients that can play a major role in how long your items will last. Manufacturing processes, original packaging components, and the full ingredient list will always determine just how long your items will stay fresh for.

When in doubt, employ your common sense if you come across some hidden weed or a long lost cookie before simply going for it. While flower can be smoked even if it’s past what many would consider its prime, extra caution must be used with ingested items. Much in the way you might get food poisoning by eating an old taco from under your couch, an expired cookie or gummy is a gamble you probably don’t want to take.

If you’re looking for high-quality flower, edibles, tinctures, and more, head over to The Bakeréé and visit with our experienced budtenders. They’ll be able to give you even more information about how to properly store your products for maximum freshness and the greatest benefits possible. After all, consuming cannabis has come a long way in the last few decades, so it’s smart to get your money’s worth by utilizing proper storage techniques.