Do Edibles Expire?

Besides smoking, cannabis edibles are by far the most popular way that stoners enjoy weed. Edibles these days come in a vast array of different types and flavors and have many different kinds of uses.

While edibles are often used recreationally, they’re also extremely popular within the medical marijuana industry. Some patients are prescribed cannabis flower, but since inhaling smoke of any kind (yes, unfortunately, including weed smoke) is damaging to the lungs, many people opt for a less harmful method of consumption such as edibles.

Regardless, whether you’re enjoying edibles recreationally or medicinally, it’s essential to know: do edibles go bad? We’ll break down the answer to this question and tell you exactly how long you have to enjoy your infused goodies, as well as a few tips and tricks to help make the shelf life of your edibles last a little bit longer.

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What are edibles and how do they affect you?

Weed edibles are food products that are infused with cannabis––or cannabinoids, in particular. The most popularly infused cannabinoid is THC, but you can also enjoy weed edibles of the CBD and delta 8 variety as well.

Eating weed edibles will affect you very differently than smoking weed. Since you’re digesting the cannabis and absorbing it through the stomach rather than inhaling it and absorbing it through the lungs, the effects are going to hit a bit harder and last a bit longer. A high from smoking weed is fast and intense but can be somewhat fleeting, with the peak lasting anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or so. On the other hand, edibles take a bit longer to kick in but will last a lot longer (anywhere from 4-6 hours, typically.)

How long do edibles stay good for?

While every type of edible does have a finite shelf life, the specific answer to this is going to depend entirely on what kind of food the edible is made out of. Just like some foods stay good for longer than others, the same principle applies to edibles.

Q: Do pot brownies go bad?

A: Yes, pot brownies will expire after some time, although brownies and other baked goods bought from dispensaries may last a bit longer than their homemade counterparts due to the addition of preservatives that help them last a bit longer on the shelves.

Q: How long do weed brownies last?

A: Baked goods like brownies, cookies, or marshmallow cereal bars will last roughly 5-7 days. (They may last up to a week longer than that if you refrigerate them.) After a certain amount of time, they will go stale before they go bad, but that shouldn’t affect anything other than taste, so while they may not taste as great, they can still be eaten.

Q: Do edible gummies expire?

A: Gummies will go stale long before they go bad, but yes, even edible gummies will expire after some time. You should always check the expiration date on the bag of the gummies, but a good rule of thumb is to try and finish them within a year of purchase.

Q: How long do edible gummies last?

A: THC gummies’ shelf life is usually anywhere from 3-6 months while still in their sealed packages. If you’re wondering how long do edible gummies last in the fridge? In the fridge, gummies and candies may last even longer.

Q: Do edibles lose potency over time?

A: Although the food ingredients that make up edibles do expire after time, the actual cannabinoids in the edibles do not. However, they do degrade and lose potency over time.

As always, if you have any concerns about whether or not your edible is expired, we recommend making sure you’re paying attention to the way your edible looks and smells. If it looks off or has an unusual or foul odor, it’s best to abstain from eating it no matter what the package date says.

Can you extend the storage life of edibles?

There are a couple of different factors that affect the shelf life of edibles. Most edibles that you buy from a dispensary will be factory produced and have added preservatives to help keep them fresh on the shelves for longer, so they don’t go bad while waiting to be sold.

While they are still in their original packaging, they should be safe to consume up until the printed expiration date. But once they’re opened, you have to be careful of a few factors that will affect their quality and storage life.

• Oxygen. Once food is exposed to oxygen, it has a much shorter window of freshness before it goes bad.
• Temperature. Cooler temperatures will keep food fresher for longer. If you leave your edibles out at a temperature that’s too warm, they may spoil a lot quicker.
• Ingredients. Edibles with dairy ingredients (such as milk, cream, eggs, cheese, etc.) will spoil much faster than those without them.

Although edibles do have a finite shelf life, there are some tips and tricks you can do to extend the life of your infused goodies.

• Keep your edibles in airtight containers, like a glass mason jar.
• Keep your edibles cool. Make sure you aren’t leaving them out during super hot months where they will be susceptible to excess heat and humidity. To extend their shelf life, you can refrigerate or even freeze them. (Make sure they’re still in some kind of packaging; they will go stale if you refrigerate or freeze them naked.)
• Keep them away from sunlight. Like excess heat and humidity, excess sunlight will also expedite the expiration process of your edibles.
• If you repackage your edibles, make sure you label them with their original expiration date. This will help you remember how long they are supposed to be good for!

In Conclusion

So, can edibles expire? The answer is yes, edibles can definitely go bad. Essentially, edibles are just food items with cannabis items in them and should be treated as such. Adding cannabis to food doesn’t provide any additional preservation, so the edible will only last as long as the food itself. Just make sure you’re paying attention to the storage of your edibles so that you can enjoy them for as long as you can!