In recent years, CBD has taken the world by storm. Now, it’s a widely used substance in various industries, including the health and wellness scene. Thanks to this surge in popularity, those who are just starting their journey with this natural and non-intoxicating substance can choose from a wide range of CBD-based products.
Depending on your needs and preferences, you can take CBD oils and tinctures, use CBD topicals and vapes, or consume CBD softgels and edibles. The latter include CBD gummies, which are essentially just like any other gummies but enriched with full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, or CBD isolate.
However, just like with any other CBD product, CBD gummies have a certain shelf life, which means that you need to take proper care of them. After all, nobody likes munching on stale gummies that lost a great deal of their initial flavor before their time. By learning how to store them properly, you’ll extend their shelf life and save money.
Here’s what you should know about storing your CBD gummies and preventing them from expiring too soon.
Why Do You Need to Store Your CBD Gummies Properly?
One of the main reasons that speak in favor of learning how to store CBD gummies is the fact that it makes it possible to extend their shelf life. Although the exact ingredients can vary from one brand to another, aside from CBD, most CBD gummies are made with sugar, gelatin, or pectin (vegan), water, and flavorings.
Gelatin is a translucent, colorless, and flavorless ingredient made from collagen from animal bones and connective tissue. It sets in cool temperatures but can melt if it gets too hot.
If you’re vegetarian, vegan, or want to avoid gelatin for any other reason, you can also find CBD gummies made with pectin. Pectin is a naturally-occurring starch found in most fruits and vegetables. Since it doesn’t attract water, it needs other ingredients to gel, and these may be sugar or some kinds of acid.
Regardless of whether your CBD gummies are made with gelatin or pectin, the water they contain will continue to evaporate over time. While you can’t stop this process altogether, you can slow it down significantly by storing the gummies properly.
What Factors Do You Need to Consider When Storing Your CBD Gummies?
Undoubtedly, CBD gummies are one of the most popular and delicious ways to get your daily dose of CBD. They’re easy to munch on, incredibly convenient, and highly discreet. You can take them on the go, and unless you show someone the original bottle they came in, no one will even know you just took a product that contains CBD.
However, to start eating your gummies, you’ll usually need to buy a whole bottle that typically contains 30 or more gummies. You won’t eat them all at once, which means that from the moment you open the packaging, they will be exposed to the elements, such as air or moisture.
To prevent your gummies from dehydration and contamination, consider these factors when storing them:
Moisture
Moisture and CBD gummies don’t get along well. Excessive humidity can affect the shelf life, flavor, and texture of your product. While the ideal humidity in the storage area should fall anywhere between 59% and 63%, it may be hard to measure. That’s why instead of worrying about the exact numbers, you should keep your gummies in a cool and dry place.
Sunlight
Direct sunlight can heat up your gummies to temperatures high enough to speed up the evaporation process. It can also melt them or even promote mold growth. That’s why you should never keep your gummies in a kitchen cabinet that gets affected by direct sunlight.
Temperature
Extreme temperatures, be it heat or cold, can destabilize the ingredients in your CBD gummies. If you freeze them accidentally, they won’t look or taste the same anymore. If you leave them by a heat source, such as a hot radiator, they will melt, and you won’t get them back to their original shape or texture.
You should also follow these precautions when storing other CBD products, such as CBD salves or even CBD dog treats.
How to Store CBD Gummies?
Once you know all the don’ts of storing your CBD gummies, you may be wondering about the dos. First and foremost, before you put the gummies away, you should make sure they’re in some kind of container. You can keep them in the original packaging or transfer them into an air-tight container. Just make sure to properly close it each time you take out a gummy.
Kitchen Pantry or Cupboard
If you have a walk-in pantry in your kitchen, it may be the perfect place to keep your gummies. Not only will it allow you to always have them close by, but most walk-in pantries have no windows, which will prevent heat, moisture, or sunlight from reaching your gummies.
Refrigerator
If you live in a particularly hot area and the heat often gets so intense that it affects products you keep in the pantry or cupboards, you can also keep your CBD gummies in the refrigerator. It’s not humid, has low moisture levels, and provides a stable, cool temperature.
However, avoid storing the gummies on the refrigerator’s doors since this can expose them to frequent temperature changes. Additionally, remember never to freeze your gummies.
How to Tell if Your Edibles Have Expired?
Even though you’d probably want your CBD gummies to last you as long as possible, sometimes, despite your best efforts, they still may go stale. That’s why, if you have doubts regarding the quality of your gummies, you can look for signs that will tell you whether they’ve surpassed their shelf life:
- foul odor,
- changes in color,
- mold or mildew,
- condensation in the storage container.
If you notice any of these in your gummies, don’t risk eating them. You can simply dispose of them in the trash. While this solution probably won’t be the best for your bank account, it’s always better to be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to things that you consume.
Eating edibles and foods past their expiration date can cause you to develop symptoms of food poisoning, such as upset stomach, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. If you consume gummies that have gone off and experience any of these issues, don’t eat more gummies and contact a doctor.
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