How to Store CBD Oil

CBD oil is becoming increasingly popular in the health and wellness community. As more and more people start including it in their daily routines, it’s essential for beginners to learn how to keep their CBD oil fresh for longer. After all, it’s the best way to ensure that it stays potent and effective and that you don’t waste the products bought with your hard-earned money. 

On average, CBD oil stays good for around one to two years. However, numerous factors can affect its shelf life. A lot depends on the storage conditions, the temperature, as well as light exposure. By storing your CBD oil properly, you can keep it fresh and enjoy using it for longer.

To help you get the most usage out of your CBD oil, this article will guide you through everything you can do to make the most of your products.

Why Is Proper Storage So Important?

Before diving straight into the subject, let’s take a minute to talk about the importance of ensuring proper storage conditions for your CBD oil.

CBD is made from natural ingredients, such as cannabinoids and other plant compounds. Such ingredients always have a certain shelf life, and over time, they degrade, lose their potency, and eventually expire. Unless they’re made from CBD isolate, CBD oils, tinctures, and various edibles also contain other additives which also have their own lifespan. 

For instance, to make full- or broad-spectrum CBD oils, manufacturers often use carrier oils such as MCT oil, which is extracted from palm kernel oils. If you purchase flavored CBD gummies, they will also contain ingredients such as sugar, pectin, or carnauba wax, made of the leaves of the carnauba palm. These can have a shorter lifespan than pure CBD oil and shorten the overall shelf life of your CBD product.

Keep in mind that shorter shelf life doesn’t have to be considered a drawback. If you use your CBD products regularly, be it CBD cream or broad-spectrum CBD oil, you should have no issues with finishing it well before its expiration date. 

How to Store Your CBD Oil Properly

Although you shouldn’t have issues with finishing one bottle of CBD oil on time, some people use their CBD products only occasionally or have an extensive collection that they won’t be able to use up in a single year. In such a case, proper storage is essential. 

It’s best to keep your CBD oil, as well as other CBD products, in a cool and dark place, such as a pantry or a kitchen cabinet. If you like to take CBD with you when you’re on the go, don’t leave it in a hot car, and remember to take it out of your bag or backpack at the end of the day. 

Usually, there’s no need to refrigerate your CBD oil, but you can choose to do it if you live in a particularly hot climate. However, you shouldn’t freeze it, whether it’s a liquid tincture or solid gummies. 

It’s also important to keep your CBD products in their original packaging. Some people may be tempted to transfer their CBD oil from the original opaque bottle to a clear container, but the dark glass is not there for aesthetics only. In fact, it helps protect your product from light exposure.

Products such as CBD gummies, CBD softgels, and CBD topicals should also be kept in the original containers. In case they break or the lid doesn’t close properly, you can transfer them to an airtight container.

FAQ

What can you mix CBD with?

CBD can be mixed with a variety of liquids and foods that will help make it easier to consume. Some popular options include mixing it into drinks such as coffee, tea, or smoothies or adding it to foods like salad dressings, oatmeal, or pasta sauces.

How to tell if CBD oil is expired?

There are several signs that can indicate your CBD oil has gone bad:

• strange odor — if you notice a strange, rancid odor, it is likely that your CBD oil has gone bad.
• separation — if the ingredients in your CBD oil have separated, this can also signify that the oil is expired.
• clumping — if you notice clumps or solidified particles in your CBD oil, it may be past its shelf life.

How to dispose of spoiled CBD oil?

Spoiled CBD oil should not be used as it can be ineffective and cause unpleasant side effects. The best way to dispose of it is to first check the label for any disposal instructions provided by the manufacturer. 

If there are no specific instructions, the general practice is to mix the oil with an absorbent material, such as kitty litter, seal it in a plastic bag and throw it in the trash. Avoid pouring it down the drain or flushing it in the toilet.

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