How Long Do Edibles Last | Canna Culture

Scott Riefler, Chief Science Officer and Certified Food Scientist at SōRSE Technology, highlights that any food product infused with cannabis like a marijuana-infused chocolate bar will age the same as regular chocolate.

Thus, it is imperative to treat the cannabis-infused product the same as you treat the normal version of that food product.

What Are Edibles?

Edibles?are cannabis-based food products. Baking any food using activated marijuana as an ingredient is called an edible. It is slow-building, but it delivers very powerful effects.

When you consume cannabis fudge brownies or weedy cookies, these goodies in your stomach travel through the intestines, the liver metabolizes it, the cannabinoids enter your bloodstream, and then into the brain.

You may not feel its effects for 45 to 90 minutes because it depends on the following factors, i.e., the amount you consumed, activity level, metabolism, BMI (Body mass index), and the pot strain’s potency. Generally, the effects are felt within two hours.

The various baked edible goods include baked cannabis French toast, marijuana-infused apple pie, pot brownies, weed-infused red velvet cake, cannabis-infused gingerbread snack bars, weed cinnamon donuts, etc.

Besides baked goods, several cannabis-infused products are available in the store, such as chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, peanut butter cups, handcrafted marshmallows, gummy bears, lollipops, mints, cannabis beer, coffee, and soda.

Since they take more time to work, people often eat more. When the initial dose kicks in, individuals often feel nauseous, paranoid, or couch-locked. Therefore, please do not underestimate the potency of edibles, whether they are store-bought or home-baked.

Do Edibles Have the Same Shelf-Life As Food?

Several people prefer edible weed because it is different from smoking. Although it takes longer for the weed to come into effect, the high and the euphoria lasts longer.

But how long do edibles last?

The edibles, as mentioned above, more or less age the same as their regular counterparts. However, certain factors will extend the shelf-life of edibles, and some will cause spoilage.

Like canned goods, edibles with preservatives have a longer shelf-life than preservative-free ones. Moreover, the marijuana extract in the edibles is not the only ingredient you should worry about becoming stale because they also contain dairy products. Milk and other dairy products are capable of going bad before the marijuana extract.

How long will brownies last once you have baked the batch of cannabis fudge brownies?

You can store these weedy brownies for a couple of weeks. Like other foods, cookies and cakes can dry out and become stale. Plus, in extremely humid conditions, they can become moldy as well. If you are storing these brownies at room temperature, make sure to place them in a sealed container.

How long will cannabis cookies last in a ziplock bag?

If unrefrigerated, they will last for about a day or two. However, storing this ziplock bag of weed cookies in a refrigerator will increase their shelf-life, and they can easily stay for a week.

Cannabis cookies and pot brownies can last slightly longer than other baked products. It is because they are prepared differently, and it increases their shelf-life. However, if the homemade edibles remain untouched, they can go stale.

Furthermore, other edibles like marijuana candies, lollipops, and gummies are composed mainly of sugar. Thus, it allows them to last a bit longer than the other edibles mentioned.

Like you store regular foods to preserve, you can also refrigerate or freeze edibles. Keeping them in a cold place will extend their shelf life for five to seven days. It is best to consume the weed edible before seven days because it will begin to go downhill after that.

Plus, keeping them away from oxygen extends the shelf-life of edibles, and you can enjoy them for more days. You can also use a saran wrap to make these edibles last longer.

First, wrap them in a saran wrap and again with aluminum foil. Place them in your freezer. The edibles can stay fresh for up to six months.

In short, good storage is crucial if you want to make your cannabis goods last longer.

Do These Edibles Come With An Expiration Date?

Definitely yes! Like other food products, edibles do expire. However, the fantastic thing is that you can preserve them. Either place them in your freezer or refrigerator to make them last longer.

Besides keeping them in a cool place, wrapping edibles is a great option because it will prevent air contact.

Moreover, when buying edibles from the store, check the package’s best-by date. It is necessary to give heed to the expiration date because it will ensure maximum texture and flavor. Plus, it indicates whether it is safe to consume the product or not.

It is better to consume edibles before the expiration date and discard them once they expire. It is best for your health’s safety.

If we talk about homemade edibles, they might not last more than a week. You can also keep them in a cold place. However, it is a good practice to give it a smell before consuming the edibles. If it smells a bit funky, discard them.

Checking Label For Other Important Information Is Also Crucial

A store-bought edible has plenty of information that consumers should check out other than the expiry date.

This valuable information includes dosage guidelines, nutritional value, storage, and a batch number. Plus, the label also mentions dietary restrictions, so if you have any, check it out.

Do Store-Bought Edibles Have a Longer Shelf-Life?

If you are unsure about the shelf-life of homemade edibles, it is better to buy them from the dispensary instead of making them at home. These store-bought edibles are packaged in a way that you do not have to guess about how long they will stay fresh.

A “best by” date is always mentioned on these packages. It makes everything easy, and you are satisfied that you are not consuming anything spoiled.

Moreover, if you are still concerned about storing these edibles after opening them, you can talk to the budtender about this. A budtender might be able to resolve your queries about storing edibles.

For instance, cannabis gummies come in resealable containers that help to preserve freshness. However, baked cannabis goods and chocolate bars come in a nonresealable packaging. For such edibles, it is better to seal the unused portion in the plastic bag.

What’s more, a good thing to do is when you are thinking of purchasing the baked cannabis goods from the dispensary, ask the bartender how long will this baked good last. He will give you a heads-up, and you can consume the cannabis edibles before the expiry date.

Will Edibles Lose Potency With Time?

According to Reifler, the potency of THC degrades slowly over time. However, THC can retain its effectiveness for six months if stored properly, but it degrades with time. Unlike THC, CBD is a very stable compound.

But do various edibles lose their potency at a different time?

Oxygen is the main culprit behind the degradation of various edibles. In solid products such as lozenge or gummies, the oxygen cannot penetrate the interior easily compared to the beverage.

Moreover, the other factor that may accelerate the loss of potency is the environment, i.e., either too acidic or basic. Plus, the method of combining the cannabinoid into the edible also matters.

How Long do Edibles Last / Video

Video credit :Ahleaf Cannabis

Summary – How Long do Edibles Last?

Whenever this question pops in your mind, “how long do edibles last?” these are the following things you should keep in mind:

Edibles are baked and store-bought goods that contain activated ingredient marijuana. The edibles take a long time to kick in, but you should not underestimate their potent effects. The edibles take less than two hours to deliver the psychoactive effects; therefore, you should consume in small amounts.

Moreover, edibles have the same shelf-life as their regular counterparts. However, you can increase the shelf-life by proper storage.

Keeping the edibles in a cold place like a refrigerator extends the shelf-life. Plus, freezing the edibles by wrapping them in a saran wrap can help your goods stay fresh for up to six months.

Another thing we discussed is its expiration date. That is why it is essential to check the best by date before buying the edibles. Besides the expiry date, it is crucial to check the other necessary details mentioned on the package.

If you are concerned about your homemade edibles’ shelf-life, it is better to buy them from the dispensary. You can ask the budtender about their shelf-life and storage method. It will make things easier for you.

What’s more, edibles do lose their potency with time. CBD is a very stable compound as compared to THC. However, the degradation period among edibles may vary depending on their state, i.e., solid or liquid.

Cannabis Edibles Frequently Asked Questions

There you have it! Bon appetit!