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.