Do Edibles Go Bad?

You know that weed brownie your bestie gave you that’s been chillin’ in your pantry for the last month? You better get to eating it, Greenie! You’ve probably wondered at some point in your life if edibles go bad–the short answer is yes! If you dabble in edibles often, you’ll want to know all the details on this, so let’s dig in. 

The ingredients play a huge part  

Like with anything else, the ingredients in your edible are a huge factor in determining how long it’ll be good for. Some foods are more perishable than others! For example, if your edible has any sort of dairy ingredients (think milk, butter, oils, etc.), it’ll most likely have a shorter shelf-life than other edibles. This includes fresh, baked goods like cookies, cakes, and brownies.

You’ll experience this the most when purchasing your edibles from smaller or local businesses that home-make their edibles (like mine at The Green Baker!). 

We don’t add any kind of preservatives to the mix for a longer shelf-life, whereas some larger-scale cannabis companies do since they produce in such large quantities. 

A few things to keep in mind with edible expiration

• While some edibles may not ‘go bad’ because they don’t have those dairy ingredients, like gummies and chocolate, they can still get stale (hard pass!).
• Any edible you buy from a dispensary will have an expiration date on the packaging. Stick to those as much as you can.
• If you’re wondering if your edible has gone bad, smell test that shit! If it smells, tastes or looks funky, it’s time to get rid of it.
• Refrigerated edibles typically last 5-7 days and candies, gummies, and lollipops usually last the longest 

What happens to an edible’s potency over time?

If you’re questioning whether your edible has gone bad or not, you’re also probably wondering if it’ll still be as potent as when you first bought it. You would think that the closer an edible gets to expiring, the less potent it becomes, right? 

That’s actually not the case! Regardless of the edible itself going bad, the potency of the cannabinoids in the edible remains relatively the same. If you’re talking a 3-6 month period, the potency would remain unchanged, unless stored incorrectly.  

When comparing CBD to THC in an edible though, THC slowly degrades over time, whereas CBD is a lot more stable. You can expect the THC potency in your edibles to last around 6 months.

The way that you store your edibles also has an effect on their potency and ability to last! Allowing too much oxygen to get to your edibles, for example, can definitely lead to degradation. 

Air, light, heat, and time are all working against your edibles, which is why it’s essential you store them right. Use common sense. If you leave a cannabis-infused rice crispy treat out on the counter, unwrapped, it’s going to go bad and lose its potency faster. 

How to preserve and store edibles appropriately

To truly enjoy your edibles like they’re meant to be, you need to keep them in pristine condition! The last thing you want to do is buy a bunch, take a couple bites, and leave them half-opened on your counter for days or weeks.

Keep these things in mind:

• Refrigerate more perishable edibles that have dairy ingredients (cakes, cookies, brownies, etc.)
• Store edibles like gummies, chocolate, etc. in cool, dry and dark places (like your pantry)
• Put your edibles in air-tight bags or containers to keep them as fresh as possible
• Sticking your edibles in the freezer is also an option and can help with longevity 
• Try not to hang on to edibles for more than 6 months 

The Green Baker’s two cents 

My advice to you? Don’t wait so long to eat your edibles! Or purchase smaller packs so you’re more likely to eat them before they go bad. You don’t want to waste your money, right? And you definitely don’t want to eat edibles that taste like shit! 

With all of the edibles I make, I provide care instructions for them so you know exactly how to store them and how long you can enjoy them. You already know I have a whole ass selection that’s continuing to grow! 

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