Can Edibles Go Bad

As cannabis has become widely available, users have also diversified. Some people want a discreet or smokeless experience or just want to find relief thanks to different cannabinoids. Other people have started using them for recreation, like boosting their sex life or unwinding.

These are why many people have turned to edibles, products infused with hemp or cannabis-derived extracts. Besides being known for their strong potency and taking more time to “hit,” edibles are the perfect way to start with small doses.

While edibles are an excellent solution for a smokeless experience, you might want to know some basics to keep them fresh. 

For this, we’ve gathered a simple guide to help you get to keep your hemp-infused products fresh or at least have some cues on how to keep them from going bad for longer periods.

Key Takeaways

• In general, edibles will stay fresh for up to 6 months. However, edibles like gummies and beverages will stay fresh longer than cookies or brownies.
• The main reasons why edibles go bad are heat, light, moisture, and bacteria.
• Stale flavors and no effects are the main indicators that an edible has gone bad. 
• If you suspect an edible has gone bad, don’t consume it.

How Long Do Edibles Last and Stay Fresh?

This is a little bit tricky. While the shelf life of edibles generally stays between the 3 and 6 months window, it can vary depending on the product’s nature.

For example, gummies and drinks can last a little longer than products like cookies or brownies. That said, products bought from dispensaries and licensed stores will have a longer expiration date than local products.

Do Edibles Have a Similar Shelf Life to Regular Gummies?

Infusing food with cannabinoid extracts won’t necessarily change the product’s usual shelf life. This means that baked goods like cookies or brownies will have the same shelf life as their regular counterparts, which is usually a week or two before they go stale.

So, much like regular gummies, edibles will lose flavor in the same time as regular candy. This is also why some products like infused gummies will last longer than other edibles like brownies, as they can have preservatives that won’t let the candy go stale easily.

In addition, some cannabinoids, like HHC, have a much more stable structure, leading to a longer shelf life than Delta-9 THC or CBD products.

Reasons Edibles Can Expire

Like all foods, edibles can expire. However, most expired edibles will lose potency rather than the actual food rotting down. Some factors that might make hemp or cannabis-infused product lose their potency are heat, light, moisture, and bacteria.

Let’s explore each of them individually so you can keep your goodies from turning bad.

Heat

Warm temperatures can degrade certain cannabinoids, specifically CBD and some THC variants. And while keeping your gummies or brownies in the fridge, we don’t recommend freezing them as it can make your products also lose their potency.

Light

Exposure to light rays over long periods can also degrade cannabinoids. And some cannabinoids like Delta-9 THC will degrade to cannabinoids like CBN. So, avoid clear containers and keep your products in the dark to avoid this.

Moisture

Like most foods, bacteria and fungi love moisture on edibles. Unless you want your gummies to go bad, we recommend keeping them in a cool and dry place to avoid moisture. If you put your products in the fridge, you can always saran-wrap them or use a few parchment papers to reduce the moisture inside the container.

Bacteria

Lastly, bacteria can mess up your edibles. This is why keeping your products from direct sunlight or factors that can increase the chance for bacteria to thrive is the best option. 

So, the rule of thumb to keep hemp products from these small pests is to keep your products in a dry and dark place, and if you live in a place with warm weather, stock them in the back of your fridge.

Do Edibles Lose Potency Over Time?

Yes, products infused with cannabinoids can lose potency over time. While THC generally degrades slowly over time, other hemp-derived compounds like HHC have a longer shelf life.

In general, however, edibles can stay intact anywhere between the 3 and 6-month window if properly stored. This means it won’t get you as high or have fewer wellness effects and will probably be stale.

Other factors, like oxygen, can contribute to the degradation of psychoactive cannabinoids, specifically Delta-9 THC. Our top recommendation is to use air-tight bags or containers to keep them from going stale and to keep their potency.

How to Tell if Edibles are Bad

Well, in the worst-case scenario, you’ll be able to notice that your product is bad because of mold. In the best case, your edible won’t hit as hard as intended. So at least on the cannabinoid side of things, you might feel like it doesn’t really pack a punch.

Expired edibles like gummies or soda will typically just taste stale and lose their flavors, besides their potency. For fresher products, like baked goods, you’ll tell by the color, the taste, or even smell if it went bad pretty easily.

Lastly, if you suspect your edible has gone bad, it is best not to consume it. Specifically, if your product has dairy or eggs on it, they can attract harmful bacteria after their shelf life is gone. 

If you really must, you can freeze your edibles and then thaw them when you want to consume them, but this might result in less potency and flavor from certain products.

Can HHC Gummies Expire?

Yes, HHC gummies have an expiration date, just like all edibles. Although HHC has a longer shelf life, the rest of the gummy ingredients may not last as long. After a while, HHC will start to degrade like other cannabinoids, losing its potency and the ability to produce any type of high.

How Long do HHC Gummies Last?

When stored correctly, hexahydrocannabinol or HHC can have a much longer shelf life than other cannabinoids like CBD or THC. But this is not to say that all HHC gummies last as long as HHC itself. In any case, it is necessary to see how long the rest of the gummy ingredients last and if the preservatives could prevent it from going bad for so long. It is best to check the expiration date marked on the package, as the shelf life of an HHC gummy can vary significantly depending on the production method, ingredients, and preservatives each manufacturer uses.

How Long Does HHC Stay Good?

HHC is the most stable form of THC that exists. Under proper storage conditions, HHC can last up to two years without degrading. But, this time applies to HHC isolate distillates and concentrates such as HHC vape cartridges or oils. If we talk about the HHC flower, the duration of the plant matter has a significant influence. Although HHC itself can last two years without degrading, HHC flower lasts considerably less, staying fresh for about six months or up to a year if you store it in the best possible way.

Do Delta-8 Edibles Expire?

Yes, Delta-8 groceries also expire. Although Delta-8 is on par with HHC in how long it can last before it starts to break down, Delta-8 edibles also contain other food ingredients that generally don’t last as long as cannabinoids. There may be some edibles that last longer than others. For example, baked goods last much shorter than candy edibles since edibles like cookies or brownies contain flours or sugars that expire much faster than gummies or caramels. Likewise, all edibles eventually expire, regardless of what kind they are.

Does Delta-8 Have an Expiration Date?

Short answer, yes. Although Delta-8 has a shelf life just as long as HHC, after a couple of years, it will begin to degrade just like all cannabinoids do. The expiration date of Delta-8 depends on when it was synthesized, the type of product it comes in, and how you store it once you buy it. At best, the Delta-8 contained in your edibles can last up to two years, just like HHC. However, this time is relative and depends on all the mentioned factors.

How Long Can Delta-8 Gummies Last?

High-quality gummies, with the correct preservatives and stored correctly, can last up to 2 years. But, over time, the gummies can lose flavor and other qualities. Additionally, we cannot generalize regarding all gummies. The shelf life of a Delta-8 gummy can also vary significantly depending on the brand and the techniques and ingredients used to make it. In any case, it is best to check the expiration date indicated on the package and avoid eating them if they are already past the date.

What Happens When Delta-8 Expires?

Once your Delta-8 expires, it will be practically useless. Delta-8 expires in the same way that CBD does. This means Delta-8 will gradually break down and lose its potency over time. Eventually, the expired Delta-8 will be completely ineffective and unusable as it will lose the ability to generate any effect at all. This is just what would happen if you, for example, smoke an expired cart: you would end up tasting poor flavors and probably not experiencing any kind of therapeutic effect.

How Long Do Gummy Edibles Last Until They Expire?

Generally, gummy edibles with natural ingredients and no preservatives will last 3 to 6 months from the time they are made when stored properly. After that time, the edible ingredients of your gummies will likely begin to deteriorate, and the cannabinoid content in them will start to degrade. In fact, studies show that THC degrades into CBN with time, and after excessive storage, almost all THC in edibles will be gone.

Some gummies might last a little longer, especially those that use preservatives, which extend the shelf life of the edible ingredients in the gummy. If your gummies contain HHC or HHC-P instead of regular THC, their cannabinoid content may take a little longer to break down. In any case, we do not recommend storing these gummies for more than 8 months as you risk them stale and loose their therapeutic qualities.

Are Expired Edibles Safe to Eat?

In general, we could say yes, but without a doubt, eating expired edibles is not the most convenient thing to do. Depending on the expiration time of the edible, you will most likely have to put up with a poor or bad taste and reduced therapeutic potency. It is best to store your edibles under the right conditions and try to eat them before they expire.

Eating an expired edible is unlikely to kill you or do too much damage. But it could make you sick or cause stomach discomfort. But, if the expired edible is in a terrible state, has mold, or even small bugs, we strongly recommend not eating it. If the goal is to obtain the potential benefits of cannabinoids, likely, an expired edible can no longer provide them. Eating it will only give you a bad experience, an unpleasant taste, and most likely give you a stomach ache.

What Happens if You Eat Expired Edible Gummies?

Nothing will likely happen if you eat expired edible gummies. However, if you know your gummies have expired, avoiding eating them is best as you probably won’t get the desired effects and may cause you stomach discomfort. When gummies sit too long in storage, their flavor will eventually deteriorate or be lost, which can be very unpleasant to taste. Also, cannabinoids degrade over time to the point that you may not feel the therapeutic effects you expect. Therefore, even if nothing significant happens when eating expired edible gummies, it is preferable not to do so.

Tips for Storing Cannabis Edibles 

As we stated above, bacteria and fungi love humidity and warm temperatures while stocking edibles. So, our main recommendation is to get an air-tight container to prevent temperature changes and moisture.

While see-through containers are useful, using opaque containers to keep your herb and edibles is the best option to prevent the light degradation of certain cannabinoids. 

Now, let’s talk about something a little controversial. We recommend that, unless you live in warm places, you don’t store your edibles in the fridge. Keeping edibles in the fridge is not a good idea in the long term because some cannabinoids are also temperature sensitive.

Lastly, you can wrap infused-baked goods with parchment paper before putting them in airtight containers. This helps to prevent moisture and light degradation, which both help to preserve your edibles for longer.

How to Store Edibles

Storing cannabis edibles can be a bit different than storing regular edibles. This is because cannabis edibles carry a cannabinoid content responsible for generating the potential therapeutic effects of edibles. The point is that cannabinoids in edibles can deteriorate or degrade when they are not stored properly.

If you know how to store hemp flower or THC-rich cannabis buds, you’ll have an idea of the proper way to store infused edibles. By keeping your edibles properly, you will preserve their precious therapeutic charge and flavors and ensure that they stay fresh until you want to eat them. To store your groceries correctly, you must do the following.

Keep in a Cool and Dry Area

Heat has a degrading effect on cannabinoids, causing them to convert into other minor cannabinoids or to lose their therapeutic properties. Also, bacteria and fungi love humidity and warm temperatures while stocking edibles. So, the best way to prevent your edibles from stale fast is to avoid temperature changes and moisture by storing your edibles in a cool and dry area.

Use Sealed Airtight Containers

The best way to keep the storage conditions of your groceries in check is to use sealed, airtight containers. In this way, you prevent your groceries from having to withstand weather conditions and prevent the formation of fungi or bacteria inside the container.

Keep the Container Away From Direct Sunlight

Sunlight and the heat it generates can quickly break down the cannabinoids in your edibles. Therefore, it is best to use light-blocking containers to store your edibles and place them away from sunlight. While see-through containers are helpful, using opaque containers to keep your herb and edibles is the best option to prevent the light degradation of certain cannabinoids.

Use Humidity Packs

You might be surprised how useful humidity packs can be for preserving your edibles. Humidity packs help control the humidity conditions inside the container, which can extend how long your groceries can stay fresh while in storage. A couple of humidity packs can help preserve the ideal humidity so your edibles remain fresh for as long as you need to store them.

Avoid Handling the Edibles Too Much

Try to handle your edibles as little as possible or wear gloves when doing so. Even if we wash our hands constantly, they can carry bacteria that are invisible to the eye and that, when handling food and putting it back in the container, could proliferate and contaminate the rest of the food. So, to prevent shortening the shelf life of your edibles, avoid handling them unnecessarily.

Where to Buy Quality Edibles

Now that we’ve visited the best tips and everything you’ve got to know about edibles, let’s look at some of our favorites. First, let’s go with our favorite non-psychoactive gummies derived from hemp.

If you want to try CBD, the CBD Gummies Mixed Flavors are a great way to start. With 25mg of CBD per gummy in a 12-pack with lots of different flavors, you can choose to take your cannabinoid dose discreetly whenever you want. And remember, these are fully non-psychoactive, so you can relax without feeling intoxicated.

For something a little lower on the psychoactive dose, you can try out our Delta-8 THC Gummies. These have 30mg of Delta-8 THC per gummy but are easy to slice into pieces for microdosing. They come in different flavors with citric acid coating, perfect for achieving your wellness goals.

Some people might prefer a little stronger dose. If you are interested in something a little stronger, you can get our fully hemp-derived Delta-9 Microdose Gummies in a mixed flavor pack. These come with 5mg of CBD and 5 mg of Delta-9 THC per edible, perfect to start taking THC for your wellness goals.

However, you can also try the Delta-9 THC Gummies Mixed Variety for something a little stronger or for chronic pain. These have 15mg of CBD and 15mg of legal, hemp-derived THC for a stronger dose.

If Delta-9 THC is not a good choice in your state, you can always try the HHC Gummies in the raspberry flavor with 25mg of this cannabinoid. Hexahydrocannabinol is believed to have 80% of THC’s potency while being fully legal at a federal level. 

Or, for a little mango flavor, you can try the Delta-10 THC Gummies in the mango flavor with 30mg of this cannabinoid per edible.

Thanks for stopping by! We’ve got a wide selection of Botany Farms gummies to try.

Cannabis Edibles: FAQ

Do edibles work if they are old?

It all depends on how old they are. THC, CBD, and all other cannabinoids break down and still slowly lose potency over time. Some experts believe that cannabinoids like CBD might kill bacteria, but they definitely won’t make edibles don’t go stale eventually. 

The therapeutic power of edibles remains intact for approximately 3 to 6 months, depending on how they are stored. After that, its potency and medicinal qualities will decline; although likely, they will still have some of it, it will likely be less. Nevertheless, if your edibles are already too old, you may not feel anything when eating them other than an unpleasant taste and perhaps even stomach discomfort.

How do you know when an edible goes bad?

All edibles have different expiration times depending on the type of edible they are. While edibles like brownies or cookies can go bad in as little as a week, others like gummies or hard candies can last for months, even up to a year or more. In any case, edibles sold at licensed dispensaries often have an expiration date on their packages indicating when the edible is no longer safe to eat. It is best to always check the production date and expiration date of edibles before consuming or even buying them.

Thanks for stopping by! We’ve got a wide selection of Botany Farms gummies to try.