Health

Does CBD Oil Go Bad or Expire?

By Josh Hall
Crystalweed Cannabis, Unsplash

Most packaged goods have a shelf life, including Cannabidiol. If you’ve recently found an old bottle of your supply buried in a drawer and wondered, “Does CBD oil go bad?” we have the answer for you.

Does CBD Oil expire?

Yes, CBD oil can go bad, but most CBD products are good for at least 12 months. Additionally, you can extend the shelf life of your CBD oil by purchasing a quality product, checking the package for its “best by” date, and storing it properly.

Why CBD Oil May Go Bad

While even the best CBD oils do expire, its long shelf life will keep the abundance of benefits coming for months. The word “expire” tends to cause concern with many of us, but expired CBD won’t make you sick—it just won’t smell or taste very good. But while we’re on the topic of CBD oil going bad, let’s talk about how long it usually lasts, how to tell if it did go bad, and how to preserve it so that it lasts longer.

How long does CBD oil last?

Fortunately for consumers, the shelf life of a bottle of CBD oil is a bit longer than a gallon of milk. There are a lot of variables that can impact the outcome, including how well you store the product, but most experts peg the shelf life of CBD oil to be anywhere from 1-2 years

When we talk about why and how does CBD oil expire, we’re referring to the degradation of quality of the infusions and extracts. Essentially, it means that the compound becomes less potent over time and breaks down. However, because of the long shelf life, most users will end up replacing their supply long before this degradation takes place.

Buy Affordable CBD

Rather than buy too much CBD, which can expire in time. Try to find quality brands with affordably priced products. This makes a regular purchase easier on your wallet. Naternal is a regular on our best CBD oil list and the price-per-milligram of their CBD tinctures are hard to beat.

How to tell if your CBD oil has gone bad

The easiest (and fastest, for that matter) way to discover if a CBD oil has gone bad is by the smell and taste. Thankfully, it may not come to that since expired CBD has one other telling sign: visual appearance. CBD oil that has expired will often appear murky and cloudy. By holding the bottle up and examining its contents, you should be able to tell if your CBD oil is nearing (or has reached) the end of its shelf life.

How to preserve your CBD oil to last longer

Now that we’ve answered the question of does CBD oil expire, you might be wondering what you can do to extend the shelf life of your product. It’s crucial that you protect your CBD oil from exposure to harsh elements like extreme heat, bitter cold, or stifling humidity.

Like many therapeutic or food products, the ideal location to store your CBD oil is in a cool, dry, and dark place like your pantry. Some people choose to keep their CBD oil in their refrigerator, which is fine, but it can result in the oil thickening. All you need to do is dip your bottle in a cup of hot water before use to solve this problem.

Avoiding air exposure is another vital practice involved with preserving your CBD oil. It’s advised that you keep your product in its original packaging to prevent the cannabinoids from breaking down.

We know that oxygen can slowly affect the chemical balance of CBD oil, thus reducing its effectiveness. This is a process known as oxidative stress, and it’s something that manufacturers and bottlers plan for during production. This is why manufacturers design CBD tincture bottles specifically to prevent light or air from spoiling the product.

Whether it’s temperature, direct sunlight, or air exposure, any of these elements can have a measurable impact on the shelf life of your CBD oil and reduce its potency faster than expected.


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Final thoughts on the expiration of CBD oil

No one wants to taste or smell anything unpleasant, and CBD oil cultivators and manufacturers understand this better than anyone. That’s why you’ll find a “best by” or expiration date on the packages of most CBD products. Pay attention to that date when you purchase your product and check it frequently.

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