THC edibles are a great way to enjoy cannabis.

They’re tasty, potent, and come in a ton of different forms and flavors.

But is there such a thing as expired edibles — and how can you keep them as fresh as possible before they reach the end of their shelf life?

Here’s everything to know about edibles and their shelf life, from differences between types of edibles to signs that they may be past their prime and tips for maximizing freshness over time.

Table of Contents

• Do Edibles Have a Shelf Life?

• Types of Cannabis Edibles

  • Gummies

  • Baked Goods

  • Popcorn

  • Candy

  • Tinctures

  • THC Beverages

• 4 Signs Your Edibles Are Expired

  • Appearance

  • Smell

  • Taste

  • Texture

• 4 Ways To Maximize the Shelf Life of Edibles

  • Pay Attention to the Ingredients

  • Be Mindful of Packaging

  • Choose Optimal Storage Conditions

  • Know the Expiration Date and Shelf Life

• Fresh Edibles, Fresh Experience

Do Edibles Expire?

All edibles can eventually expire, which means they won't provide you with a potent and long-lasting high. In addition, eating expired edibles isn't always safe

One factor that affects spoilage is the type of edible you’re working with. From gummies to baked goods and beyond, edibles’ shelf life depends a lot on the ingredients and whether they're stored properly.

Let’s break down some of the different types of edibles, and a couple of the main components that might affect each one’s expiration timeline.

Types of Cannabis Edibles

The cannabis-infused edibles market continues to grow by the day. All edibles contain different blends of cannabinoids, different THC contents or potencies, and different forms.

Here are some of the most popular subcategories of THC edibles:

Gummy Edibles

THC gummies are compact, delicious, and incredibly convenient cannabis edibles.

They’re easy to throw in your pocket and take on the go and come in tons of different strengths and potencies. But how long do edible gummies take to expire?

The answer is typically up to a year. Two of the main ingredients in weed gummies — sugar and gelatin — tend to act as natural preservatives and can keep gummies fresh for months on end.

Baked Goods

Compared to gummies, baked goods like edible cookies and cannabis brownies have a shorter shelf life. That’s because they’re food products with perishable ingredients like eggs, milk, and butter. Once those go bad, so does the whole edible.

Because of this, it’s best to treat these types of edibles like you would any other baked goods and consume them within a couple of weeks.

Popcorn

From caramel to chocolate to cotton candy, THC popcorn edibles are the perfect sweet and salty treat.

Most cannabis popcorns contain fewer perishable ingredients than baked goods — usually only butter — so they may have a shelf life that is a week or two longer than your typical cookie or brownie, but still not as long as gummies.

Candy

Fruity taffy, peach rings, crunch gummies — candy edibles aren’t just your basic hard candies or mints anymore. Infused candies are becoming increasingly popular as more and more companies create edibles modeled after everyone’s favorite sweet treats.

Most candy edibles have a longer shelf life since they don’t contain perishable ingredients like baked goods, so they’ll typically last as long as gummies — for at least a few months.

Tinctures

Oil tinctures have a significantly longer shelf life than other forms of edibles and can last years if stored in the right environment.

From tinctures containing CBD to THC to CBN, this form of edibles is a particularly good choice if you’re worried about freshness or expiration over time.

4 Signs Your Edibles Are Expired

It’s important to avoid consuming expired edibles, as they can pose food safety and health risks such as food poisoning.

If you’re a beginner or new to edibles, you may not know how to identify an expired edible.

Here are a few things to look for when determining the status of your edible and whether it's reached the end of its shelf life.

1. Appearance

First, inspect the physical appearance of your edible. If it looks different than when you first got it and has any discoloration, mold, or film coating, it’s probably a sign that it’s expired.

2. Smell

Think of your edible like any other food you’d ingest. If it smells bad, sour, or markedly different than when you first took it home, it’s always safer to toss it.

3. Taste

Same with taste: if it tastes off, it’s probably a good sign not to keep eating it. Trust your taste buds, and don’t ingest anything that tastes overly sour or stale.

4. Texture

If your cookie is rock hard or your gummies feel too soft or sticky, these may be signs they’re past their prime. Sometimes, changes in texture can relate to the temperature they’re stored at, so be sure to read the instructions and use your best judgment.

4 Ways To Maximize the Freshness of Edibles

To avoid the signs of spoilage listed above, there are some things you can do to increase the shelf life of your cannabis edibles. Here are some tips and tricks for maximizing the freshness of your edibles.

1. Pay Attention to the Ingredients

When it comes to taking proper care of your edibles, one of the first things to do is check out the ingredients list. This can give you an idea of how best to store it, and give you a general idea of how long it may last.

2. Be Mindful of Packaging

If your edible doesn’t arrive in an airtight container, be sure to transfer it to one.

This is one of the best ways to keep your edibles fresh and ensure that over-exposure to oxygen doesn’t make them go stale prematurely.

3. Choose Optimal Storage Conditions

Proper storage is super important; when edibles are stored properly, they'll last longer.

General best practices are to store edibles in a dark place, out of direct sunlight, and in a dry place without exposure to moisture.

For baked goods, gummies, and tinctures in warmer climates, storing them in the refrigerator can be a great way to keep them as fresh as possible.

Whether you're ordering online or making your own edibles at home, the freezer is also an option. You can try freezing edibles like cookies and brownies when they’re freshly made and then thaw them as needed to extend their lifespan.

4. Know the Expiration Date

Expiry is inevitable, but being aware of your edible’s expiration date and ensuring you consume it before then is key.

This date can typically be found on the item’s product label, but if you don’t see it, you can try contacting the manufacturer. You also may find the manufacturing date on the label. This will tell you when the product was made so you can discern the likely expiration date for yourself.

Fresh Edibles, Fresh Experience

If you’re looking for fresh and tasty edibles, you’ve come to the right place. Mood is an online dispensary delivering high-quality, 100% legal cannabis products to your doorstep.

Shop our selection of edibles today.