How to Store Your Edibles: Essential Tips & Eco-Friendly Solutions
Updated: 9/24/24
Mastering how to store edibles is essential for safety and flavor.
Imagine enjoying your favorite edibles - whether they're delectable baked goods, chewy gummies, or rich chocolates - at their peak freshness all the time! Storing edibles properly ensures they stay potent and tasty while also preventing unwanted access, especially in homes with children or pets.
In the love letter to edibles and eco-friendly packaging that follows, we'll dive into the best storage methods and share essential safety tips to keep your edibles secure and effective.
From airtight containers and optimal temperatures to smart labeling and safe storage practices, you'll learn how to maintain the quality and safety of your treats. Stick with us as we explore these crucial techniques, making sure your edible experience is always enjoyable and worry-free.
Understanding the Need for Storing Edibles
Edibles have become a popular way to consume cannabis without the perpetual smoke clouds or pungent aroma of traditional means. These infused treats, whether gummies, chocolates, or baked goods, offer a delicious and discreet alternative to smoking or vaping.
However, just like any other food product, edibles need proper storage to maintain their quality, potency, and safety. We’ve all typed “can you freeze edibles” or “can you freeze thc gummies” into a search box before.
Without the right storage methods, you risk losing the beneficial effects of THC and CBD, facing unwanted spoilage, and possibly endangering those who might consume them accidentally. Let's dive into why understanding how to store edibles is crucial and how you can ensure they stay fresh, potent, and safe.
Maintaining Quality and Potency
If you want to keep your favorite edibles potent and fresh, you need to know how to store weed brownies, gummies, and other treats. Exposure to light, heat, and air can degrade THC and CBD, turning a potent treat into something far weaker and less enjoyable.
Baked goods can spoil quickly, and gummies might lose their chewiness. Improper storage can also lead to mold growth, spoilage, and a loss of flavor, making them both unappealing and unsafe to consume.
So, how long do weed gummies last in storage? Properly stored, they can maintain their quality for several months but always check for signs of degradation.
Ensuring Safety
If you want to keep edibles at home, it's important to keep them away from children and your pets. They often look like regular snacks, making them tempting but potentially dangerous.
Using child-proof containers and clearly labeling your edibles is the best way to store gummies to prevent accidental consumption and ensure they are only accessed by those who should be enjoying them. While you're putting labels on your edible jars, keep our intuitive branding and container design team in mind.
Just because they're mainly for personal use doesn't mean your edibles need to be in a plain jar with a masking tape label and a permanent marker scrawl.
Extending Shelf Life
Proper storage extends the shelf life of edibles, ensuring they remain fresh and effective. For instance, gummies can last 6 to 24 months when stored in a cool, dark place, while baked goods may only last a few days without proper preservation methods. Tinctures, when stored correctly, can maintain their potency for up to five years.
Knowing how to store edibles properly helps maintain their freshness and potency over time, preventing waste and ensuring you get the most out of your products.
Knowing the ABC of edible storage also means you'll always enjoy them at their best. Imagine biting into a gummy that's just as chewy and potent as the day you bought it or using a tincture that's still effective after years.
Best Way to Store Edibles
Proper storage of edibles is key to maintaining their quality, potency, and safety. Here are some essential tips to help you keep your edibles in top condition.
Use Airtight Containers
Containers that don't take in air once sealed are the best for preserving the freshness and potency of your edibles. They prevent exposure to air, which can degrade THC and CBD, leading to a loss of effectiveness.
Types of Containers: Glass and metal containers are ideal. They don't retain odors and are resistant to temperature changes. Some popular brands include Mason jars and stainless steel canisters. However, if you want to go the eco-friendly route, we’ve got you covered with our own selection.
Quick Tips for Ensuring a Tight Seal: Make sure the lids are closed tightly, and consider using containers with rubber gaskets for an extra seal. Avoid plastic containers as they can let in air over time.
Store in a Cool, Dark Place
Light and heat can rapidly degrade the cannabinoids in your edibles, affecting both their potency and flavor.
Importance of Avoiding Light and Heat: UV light and high temperatures can break down THC and CBD, rendering your edibles less effective.
Ideal Storage Locations: Choose a pantry, cupboard, or drawer that stays cool and dark. Keeping your edibles in a basement or cellar can also work well.
Combining with Airtight Containers: Using airtight containers in these locations further protects your edibles from environmental factors that can cause degradation.
Control Humidity Levels
Humidity can be a silent destroyer of edibles, promoting mold growth and spoilage.
Negative Effects of Humidity: High humidity can cause mold and bacterial growth, while low humidity can dry out edibles, especially baked goods.
Tips for Maintaining a Dry Environment: Use silica gel packets or other desiccants in your storage containers to keep humidity at bay. Store edibles in a room with stable humidity levels, ideally below 60%.
Avoiding High-Humidity Areas: Steer clear of storing edibles in bathrooms, kitchens, or any area susceptible to moisture.
Consider Freezing for Long-Term Storage
Does freezing edibles kill THC? No, it maintains the potency. Freezing can greatly extend the shelf life of your edibles, especially those you don't plan to consume soon.
Benefits of Freezing Edibles: Freezing preserves the cannabinoids and prevents spoilage, maintaining the edibles' potency and flavor.
Proper Packaging for Freezing: Use vacuum-sealed bags or airtight containers. Wrap individual portions in parchment paper before placing them in the container to prevent sticking.
Types of Edibles Suitable for Freezing: Can you freeze weed brownies? Yes, baked goods freeze well. Avoid freezing items that might lose their texture, like chocolates. Can you freeze gummies? Yes again. In fact, freezing gelatinous substances makes them chewier and intensifies the burst of flavor.
Knowing how to store edibles properly can make a huge difference in their quality and safety. The best ways to store edibles are in airtight containers, cool, dark places, controlled humidity, and freezing for long-term storage. By following these tips, you ensure that your edibles remain potent, flavorful, and safe to consume.
Choosing the Right Packaging for Your Edibles
Selecting the best packaging for edibles is crucial for maintaining their freshness, potency, and visual appeal. The right packaging protects the product and enhances its marketability. At Tree Hugger Containers, we offer premium, eco-friendly solutions designed to meet all your packaging needs.
Premium Glass Jars and Bottles
Our recycled glass jars and bottles are perfect for a wide range of cannabis edibles, from gummies and candies to chocolates and beverages. These containers are child-resistant, ensuring safety, and are made with at least 50% recycled glass. If you’re looking for our personal pick, this is the best way to store pot gummies.
2oz, 3oz, and 4oz Recycled Glass Jars
Ideal for various edibles, these jars are sturdy and environmentally friendly. They come with child-resistant lids made from ocean-bound plastic, available in white, black, and custom colors.
1oz, 2oz, and 4oz Recycled Glass Bottles
Available in clear and amber, these bottles are perfect for tinctures and liquid edibles. The amber bottles contain 75%+ recycled glass, offering superior protection against UV light.
Eco-Friendly Mylar Bags
Our post-consumer recycled Mylar bags are another excellent edible packaging solution. These bags are custom-printed, child-resistant, and made with 43-65% PCR material, making them a sustainable choice for packaging edibles.
Custom Size Mylar Bags
Perfect for specific needs, these bags ensure your products remain fresh and secure.
Standard Sizes
Available in 1-gram, 3.5, 7, 14, and 28 grams, these bags are versatile and practical for various edibles.
Environmental Impact and Sustainability
Choosing sustainable packaging helps the environment and resonates with eco-conscious consumers. Our commitment to sustainability is reflected clearly in our use of recycled materials, such as glass and ocean-bound plastic, which reduces waste and promotes a greener planet.
Comparing Packaging Solutions
When comparing different packaging options, consider the following:
Glass vs. Plastic: Glass is inert, doesn't retain odors, and is highly recyclable. Plastic, especially when recycled, can be durable and cost-effective but may not offer the same level of protection against UV light.
Custom vs. Standard: Custom packaging solutions can be tailored to fit your brand's unique needs, while standard sizes offer flexibility and convenience. Ask us how!
We believe in offering the best packaging for edibles that combines quality, safety, and sustainability. Our glass jars, bottles, and Mylar bags ensure that your cannabis edibles stay fresh, potent, and visually appealing while making a positive impact on the environment. Elevate your edibles with our premium, eco-friendly packaging solutions.
Innovative Eco-Friendly Packaging
We're passionate about innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions that not only look great but also help protect our planet. As packaging enthusiasts, we understand the environmental impact of beautifully branded jars, labels, and boxes. That's why we're excited to share some of the latest advancements in sustainable packaging materials.
Mushroom Packaging
Mushroom packaging is made from mycelium and hemp hurds. This compostable material is perfect for box inserts and other products sensitive to temperature.
Seaweed Packaging
Seaweed packaging offers a home-compostable alternative to plastic wraps used in food and beverage packaging. It biodegrades in 4-6 weeks and is made from renewable seaweed.
Molded Fiber Packaging
Molded fiber packaging uses biodegradable pulp like wood, bamboo, and recycled materials. It's versatile and customizable for various packaging needs, from inserts to boxes and bottles.
Post-Consumer Plastic Packaging
Post-consumer plastic packaging repurposes plastic waste into new packaging, helping clean up the environment. It's ideal for plastic lids, joint tubes, and other cannabis packaging.
These innovative materials are still developing, but as adoption grows, their quality and usability will improve, making them even more suitable for the cannabis industry and other retail sectors.
At Tree Hugger Containers, we prioritize recycled glass for its environmental benefits and recyclability. To learn more about our planet-first packaging solutions, visit our full article on eco-friendly packaging.
By exploring these materials, you can join us on the journey to sustainable packaging and make a positive impact on the environment.
Enjoying Your Edibles at Their Best
Storing your edibles effectively is essential for maintaining their freshness, potency, and safety. Use airtight containers, store them in cool, dark places, and control humidity levels to prevent spoilage, mold growth, and cannabinoid degradation. These practices ensure that your edibles remain enjoyable and effective for as long as possible.
At Tree Hugger Containers, we offer innovative, eco-friendly packaging solutions designed to keep your products fresh and safe. Browse our website to learn more about the proper storage of edibles and explore our range of sustainable packaging options.
Join us in our mission to provide high-quality, planet-friendly packaging that benefits both you and the environment.
-
Bloom Labs. (2022, April). Cannabis edibles and drinkables: Determining shelf-life. Retrieved from https://www.bloomlabs.ca
Herb.co. (n.d.). How to store gummy edibles like a pro. Retrieved from https://herb.co/guides/how-to-store-gummy-edibles-like-a-pro
Get Snoozy. (n.d.). Do edibles expire? Retrieved from https://www.getsnoozy.com/blogs/educational/do-edibles-expire
Perennia. (2022, April). Cannabis edible shelf-life factsheet. Retrieved from https://www.perennia.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Cannabis-Edible-Shelf-Life-Factsheet.pdf
CannabisMD Telemed. (n.d.). Understanding the shelf life of gummy edibles: How long until they expire? Retrieved from https://cannabismdtelemed.com/blog/understanding-the-shelf-life-of-gummy-edibles-how-long-until-they-expire
SeedSupreme. (n.d.). How should I store my cannabis edibles? Retrieved fromhttps://seedsupreme.com/blog/how-should-i-store-my-cannabis-edibles
