It’s primarily recommended to store your CBD oil in a cool, dry, dark place, such as your kitchen cabinet or pantry, so that you can preserve the oil’s shelf life and potency. It’s only natural then, for consumers to wonder if they can also freeze or refrigerate their oil. Many people also wonder if freezing their oil will make it last longer. The good news is that these questions are common and can be easily answered.
Is it Possible to Freeze CBD Oil?
Freezing CBD oil is feasible, but not recommended. You should only do this if you have an abundance of oil stocked up and want to ensure that it lasts you for as long as possible. CBD oil will not freeze because it’s not water-based, however putting your oil in freezing temperatures can change its consistency. When oil is brought to very low temperatures it becomes much thicker. Moreover, temperatures below zero can cause the components in the oil — the terpenes, phytonutrients, and cannabinoids — to react differently. Additionally, even though the oil won’t freeze, it can still become crystallized. This ultimately makes it harder to get it out of the bottle.
If your oil is made with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil, then freezing it will cause it to become solidified. If you do mistakenly store your oil in the freezer, you shouldn’t panic. Simply remove it from the freezer and let it sit on your counter at room temperature for a while until it returns to a liquid state. You may be tempted to try to warm it up in the microwave or oven. It’s not recommended to do this because high heat will cause the cannabinoids to degrade, which will make your oil less potent.
How Should CBD Oil be Refrigerated?
It shouldn’t be. If you want to preserve your CBD oil’s strength and freshness, then it’s important that you store it properly. Along with avoiding the sun and air that can cause the oil to lose its potency, you may also want to avoid sticking your oil in the refrigerator.
Refrigeration is not necessary, and can also cause your oil to thicken. Just like freezing CBD oil, this will also make it more difficult to dose in the long-run. If you routinely receive a bottle of CBD oil each month, then freezing or refrigerating your oil doesn’t make sense. You will get as much time as you need out of your oil and be able to preserve its potency if you simply store it in a cool, dark, dry place like your kitchen cabinet or pantry.
How Long Does CBD Oil Last?
High quality CBD oil that’s made using a top-notch extraction method can last for quite a while, providing that it’s stored properly. Once you’ve opened up your bottle of oil, its potency and chemical profile should stay the same for around six months.
Because the compounds in hemp are so fragile, non-extreme lower temperatures can help keep the oil fresher for longer periods of time. So if you want to help your oil stay as potent and effective as it can be, then it will pay to be mindful of how you’re storing your oil once you twist the cap.
What is the Shelf Life of CBD Oil?
The shelf life of your oil depends on a lot of different factors. Some of the most important ones are:
- Quality: CBD oils made by trusted brands last longer over time. So, in thinking about how to check the quality of your CBD products, you should take things like ingredients and extract quality into consideration.
- Extraction Method: Currently, the CO2 extraction method is the industry standard for obtaining clean and potent extracts. The biggest reason for this is because this process doesn’t leave any harmful residue in the final product. Additionally, it also doesn’t mess with the general stability of the cannabinoids.
- Ingredients: As we just mentioned above, knowing the quality of the product’s ingredients is important. Low quality ingredients can have a negative effect on your oil’s shelf life.
- Packaging: There’s a reason why respected brands use dark brown or blue glass bottles in the packaging of their CBD oils. Not only do these types of bottles preserve the freshness of the oil, but they also stop the oil from being exposed to light, which can break down and degrade the cannabinoids over time.
Factors That Can Affect the Storage of CBD Oil
There are three main factors that can cause your CBD oil to lose its potency and quality. Knowing what these factors are is the first step to learning how to prevent them from ruining a perfectly good bottle of oil.
The three factors that can have a negative impact on the storage of your CBD oil are:
- Temperature: High temperatures can break down the cannabinoids and terpenes in your CBD oil, rendering it less potent over time. This is why you should store your oil at room temperature.
- Air: One of the main reasons why CBD oils are bottled in small volumes of up to 30ml is because your favorite brand wants you to consume it in a timely fashion. CBD interacts with air molecules like carbon dioxide, oxygen, and nitrogen. Out of all three, it’s oxygen that causes the most damage to your oil.
- Light: Direct exposure to light can cause the cannabinoids in CBD oil to break down. While dark brown or blue glass bottles help to shield the oil from light, they don’t block it out completely. Never rely on your oil’s packaging to protect it from light. In storing your bottle in a dark cabinet, you can help further prevent light from degrading it.
How to Store CBD Oil Correctly
Because CBD oil is broken down by air, heat, and light, it can quickly become less effective if it’s not properly stored. First, you should always keep your oil in its original packaging. Since the dark glass bottle does a nice job at helping to protect the CBD oil from light, all you’ll have to do is store the bottle in a cool, dry, dark place like a cabinet, cupboard, drawer, pantry, or medicine cabinet. As we said before, refrigeration or freezing your oil isn’t necessary.
What About Storing Other CBD Products?
If you’re wondering if other types of CBD products need the same type of care as oils, you’re not alone. The good news is that products like gummies, soft gels, and topicals aren’t as sensitive to air, light, and heat as CBD oils are.
You still, however, may want to treat these types of products in the same way that you do your CBD oil just to be on the safe side. Remember that threats like heat, air, and light can go a long way in making your CBD products less potent and effective. Therefore, you may want to err on the side of caution.
Why is it Important to Store CBD Oils Correctly?
The cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients in CBD oils are more sensitive than you think. So even though the potency and quality of your oil may not break down immediately, if not stored properly, it will degrade steadily over time. In fact, you may notice a dip in your oil’s potency after only a few weeks if you’ve been careless about storing it the right way.
Since top-quality CBD oil isn’t exactly cheap, you should be mindful about storing it correctly. Nothing is more frustrating than throwing away your hard-earned money on an oil that’s lost its potency and effectiveness through improper storage.
FAQ
Does CBD Oil Freeze?
Even though CBD oil doesn’t freeze, it can become thick. Also, if the oil was made using an MCT oil like coconut oil, then it can solidify in freezing temperatures. While this may not damage your oil, it certainly will make it harder for you to draw out your dosage.
Will Freezing Your CBD Oil Extend Its Shelf Life?
If you have an overabundance of CBD oil stocked up, then many people consider placing some of their bottles in the freezer. If you’re looking to store your oil for longer than a month, then freezing it can be an option, but it’s not recommended, as there’s no telling how well your oil will hold up under those sub-zero conditions. Rather than worry about storage planning, it could be easier to simply get on a subscription service that automatically sends you the oil you need at the right times.
How Long Can You Store CBD Oil?
When properly stored, your CBD oil can have a shelf life of one to two years. If you want that kind of longevity out of your oil, then be sure to store it in a cool, dry, dark place like a kitchen cabinet, medicine cabinet, cupboard, or pantry.
How Can You Tell if Your CBD Oil is Still Safe to Use?
Like most natural supplements, CBD oils also come with an expiration date. One way to tell if your CBD oil is still safe to use is by looking at its color. Some coloration is due to the carrier oil or the hemp extract, but as your oil ages, it tends to get darker in color. The darker the color of your oil, the less potent it will be. Also, if your oil smells kind of strange, then it may have expired. If you prefer to buy your oil without any added sweeteners, then it should taste earthy or nutty. If you notice that the flavor tastes strange, then there’s a good chance that your oil has gone bad.
How Long Does CBD Oil Last After It's Been Opened?
Once you’ve turned that cap and broken the seal, your CBD oil should last at least six months, providing you’ve been careful with how you’ve stored it after you’ve taken your first dose.
Will Taking Expired CBD Oil Make Me Sick?
If you’ve already swallowed a dose of CBD oil after you’ve realized that it tastes strange, you shouldn’t worry. The worst thing that could happen here is that the oil has lost its potency, so you won’t be getting the most out of it. Therefore, since you’ve only taken one dose of weak oil, it’s not likely that you’ll get sick from it. Having said that, just to play it safe, you should discard any oil that has expired.
Parting Thoughts on Freezing CBD Oil
CBD oil doesn’t have to be frozen or refrigerated. As long as you take care to store it properly, your unopened bottle of oil can stay fresh, potent, and effective for one to two years. You should only consider storing your oil in the fridge or freezer if you have an alarming overabundance of bottles on hand because you’ve bought enough all at once to last you through the year.
Placing your bottle of oil in a cool, dry, dark place should be enough to protect it from the heat, light, and air that breaks it down over time. If you try freezing or refrigerating your oil, not only will it become too thick to properly dose, but there also won’t be any guarantee that your oil’s potency will hold up in those temperatures.
If you’ve already refrigerated or frozen your oil, there’s no reason to worry. Leaving it out at room temperature should return it back to its normal viscosity so that you can properly draw your dose from the bottle.
