How to store CBD oil properly

14. 02. 2024

The popularity of CBD and especially CBD oils (often called CBD drops) has been steadily rising to a peak and this trend doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. In addition to specialized online stores like ours, you can purchase CBD oils in many different places, from organic food stores to pharmacies, fitness centers, and even gas stations. And although you'll come across CBD oil stored at normal temperatures in stores, some say CBD oil needs to be kept in the fridge to maintain freshness.

If you want to preserve the proper shelf life and all the beneficial properties of CBD oil, proper storage is essential. So should you store CBD oil in a cool, dark place without having to use the fridge or even the freezer? Or can you safely store it at room temperature, provided that no air gets to the extract? What is the ideal way to store CBD oil? In this article, we look at the issue of storing CBD drops in detail.

Do you need to store CBD oil in the refrigerator?

The key is to avoid exposure to the sun and air, as these two factors cause the degradation of cannabinoids and terpenes, compromising the effectiveness of your product. However, it's not absolutely necessary to store CBD oil in the refrigerator to preserve the active ingredients. Of course, refrigerating CBD oil can be recommended if you are buying CBD in bulk and stocking up for the year ahead. This is because the shelf life of CBD oil is approximately 1 year.

But if you use CBD oil regularly and buy it month after month, storing it in the fridge doesn't make much sense. The contents of the bottle will remain effective long enough if you store it in a cool, dry place. When you store CBD oil in the fridge, its density increases, making it harder to dose - especially if you use highly potent CBD oils that contain fractions of plant compounds such as waxes and chlorophyll.

Should you freeze CBD oil?

Similar to storing CBD oil in the fridge, freezing it only makes sense if you're stocking up for several months in advance. Otherwise, placing it in the freezer is neither necessary nor desirable. Extremely low temperatures can affect the consistency and viscosity of the oil, especially if, for example, coconut oil is used as a carrier oil, which solidifies at low temperatures.

Freezing CBD oil can also cause the chemical compounds in CBD oil to behave differently. After freezing, it can be difficult to get the oil out of the bottle and you can also make an unnecessary mess. When you take the CBD oil out of the fridge or freezer, it can be cloudy, which can make it look weird. But there's nothing to worry about, it doesn't negatively affect the quality of the CBD and the potency of the drops. If you've put CBD oil in the freezer because you didn't know how to store it properly, don't panic. Leave it at room temperature for a few hours to get it back to normal. But definitely don't heat it in the microwave, as high temperatures cause the active ingredients to degrade.

What is the shelf life of CBD oil?

CBD drops can usually be used for approximately one year without worrying about their effectiveness. For alcohol-based tinctures, this shelf life is extended to two years. How long CBD oil lasts depends primarily on how it is stored. If you know the important factors, you can extend the shelf life of CBD oil significantly without having to store it in the fridge.

Quality: Really high quality products are more durable. And when it comes to the quality of CBD oil, you have to consider the quality of the extract as well as other ingredients such as carrier oil, flavorings, etc.

Additives: Apart from quality, various additives can also affect the durability of CBD oil.

Extraction Method: The gold standard for CBD oil production is the CO2 extraction method because it does not use toxic solvents that could leave dangerous residues in the product and compromise the stability of the hemp compounds. Our Hemnia oils are also produced using this method (supercritical carbon dioxide extraction).

Packaging: Reputable CBD companies use dark glass bottles to help preserve the freshness and therefore potency of these products. The dark containers prevent exposure to light and minimize the risk of cannabinoid degradation over time.

How long does CBD oil last once opened?

As mentioned, proper storage can extend the shelf life of CBD oil without having to store it directly in the refrigerator. Once the bottle is opened, the overall chemical profile of the product should remain unchanged for at least 6 months - provided you store it in a cool, dark place. Lower temperatures can preserve compounds in the oil that are sensitive to storage conditions, keeping the product fresh for longer.

How do I know if CBD drops are still safe to use?

CBD oils, like other dietary supplements and other similar products, have a limited shelf life. So you can always find an expiration date on the packaging of each one to make sure you can use the product safely. But if you don't have the packaging, common sense can help.

There is an easy way to distinguish CBD oil that is safe to use from a product that has gone bad. Just look at its colour. The darker the oil is, the weaker the effects it will have. So as soon as you notice any changes in color, use the oil as soon as possible. But dark colour in itself may not be a bad thing - CBD oils with a higher concentration of CBD tend to be darker in colour.

Another good indicator is smell. If the CBD oil smells funny, it may have gone bad. If it doesn't contain terpenes or is not laced with sweeteners, it should have a nutty and earthy taste. If you notice that the taste is unpleasant, then the oil is probably tainted.

Can I get sick from using expired CBD oil?

If you have taken CBD oil and it had a strange taste, don't worry. In fact, the oil is only tainted and in the worst case scenario, it will lose its potency. This means that you may not get all of its benefits as a result, but it is unlikely to make you sick.

Main factors at work when storing CBD oil

Now, you already know that CBD oil doesn't need to be stored directly in the refrigerator to maintain its freshness. But what exactly causes CBD oil to lose quality and potency, and how can you prevent it?

There are 3 factors that can affect the storage quality of CBD oil:

Temperature: High temperatures can weaken the effectiveness of CBD oil. The cannabinoids and terpenes contained in the oil begin to degrade when exposed to heat. High temperatures break down the essential components of CBD oil, so it is a good idea to store it at room temperature or lower temperatures.

Light: If CBD drops are exposed to too much light, it can deteriorate. Even dark-coloured vials do not prevent light from penetrating completely, so caution is never enough. Don't rely on the oil's packaging and keep it in a cabinet or drawer and do not expose it to direct sunlight.

Air: If you're wondering why CBD oils are packaged in small bottles of up to 30 milliliters, it's because the manufacturer wants to make sure you don't take too long to consume them. CBD interacts with air molecules (oxygen, carbon dioxide and nitrogen). It is oxygen that causes the most damage to the product. When oxygen molecules reach the CBD oil, it degrades faster.

How to properly store CBD oil

Packaging, the mother of wisdom. CBD oil reacts to light, heat and air and can begin to lose potency if stored incorrectly. The best way to store CBD oil is to keep it in its original packaging. Dark bottles prevent much contact with light, so just find somewhere cool and dark in the house. For example, a medicine cabinet, drawer or bathroom cabinet should suffice.

Summary or principles of proper CBD oil storage

Contrary to popular belief, CBD oil does not need to be stored in the refrigerator. CBD products themselves have a very long shelf life - 1 to 2 years - so as long as you observe proper storage conditions, it should not spoil or lose potency. If you want the CBD oil to return to normal after removing it from the fridge, leave it at room temperature for a few hours.

When storing CBD oil, avoid exposure to 3 environmental factors: light, heat and air. All of these factors can cause degradation of the product by breaking down the cannabinoids and terpenes in the extract. To preserve the freshness of CBD oil, it is best to keep it in a first aid kit or drawer. Similar to refrigerating CBD oil, freezing it is also an option, but only if you have a large quantity of CBD oil and want to make sure it will last for the declared period of time. Otherwise, the simplest solutions are the best ones.

Photo: Shutterstock

In stock

27,90 €

Add to Cart