Do Dabs Expire? Signs that Your Concentrate Has Gone Bad
Most weed consumers will already know that cannabis flower has a limited shelf life, but do dabs expire? The short answer is yes, dabs do have a limited shelf life and can expire.
The good news is that storing your cannabis concentrates properly will extend your dabs' shelf life and maintain their quality for longer. Minimizing exposure to damaging environmental factors will also help them retain their aromatic and therapeutic properties for as long as possible.
Shelf Life of Dabs
Unlike perishable food items, dabs don't come with a specific use-before date to guide consumers. Anecdotal evidence suggests that dabs retain their peak quality for around six to eight months, or even up to a year when kept in proper storage conditions.
What Happens When Dabs Expire?
When dabs like badder or budder expire, they degrade and lose the properties that make them so appealing. For example, when the THC in cannabis concentrates degrades as a result of exposure to sunlight, it transforms into CBN, causing the dab to lose potency.
Naturally, this will have a significant impact on the effects of your product as CBN doesn't offer the same high as THC. Many consumers turn to dabs for a powerful hit of the psychoactive THC but will find that a degraded product containing CBN offers a much more sedative effect.
Terpenes Also Degrade Over Time
Cannabis concentrates with a high terpene content are prized for their aromas. One of the most appealing aspects of full-spectrum cannabis concentrates is their delightful flavor and aroma profile.
However, terpenes also degrade over time. Expired dabs will lack the depth of flavor and scent of a fresh product, offering a much flatter aromatic experience. You may be able to detect an old product through changes to the smell of your cannabis dabs.
Signs of Expired Concentrate
There may be physical signs that your dabs have expired before you try them. Signs of degradation include:
Change in consistency: A change in the texture of your dab may be a clear sign that it's past its best.
Discoloration: Dabs that were once light yellow, honey-colored, or light amber may degrade into a much darker amber or rusty hue due to oxidation.
Changes in flavor and scent: A noticeable change in smell or taste can be a clue that the concentrate is past its prime.
Is Consuming Expired Dabs Dangerous?
Consuming expired dabs isn't thought to be dangerous. However, consuming an expired cannabis concentrate won't offer you the same psychoactive effects or aromatic experience as a fresh dab. And if you see mold on your concentrate, definitely throw it out!
If you're using medical cannabis to treat a qualifying condition, it is even more important to retain your strains' therapeutic benefits. Though consuming an expired dab likely won't make you ill, it may not offer you the relief you need to cope with your condition.
How to Store Dabs to Maximize Shelf Life
The principle behind maximizing the lifespan of THC concentrates and ordinary cannabis flower is simple: keep your products away from environmental factors that impact their quality.
Store in airtight or even vacuum-sealed containers: The correct container reduces exposure to oxygen and moisture.
Keep in a cool, dark place: Light exposure leads to THC and terpene degradation.
Avoid frequent fluctuations in temperature: Consistent storage conditions are key. For example, choose a cupboard away from the oven to avoid temperature changes.
Can You Store Dabs in the Fridge or Freezer?
The merits of keeping some dabs in the fridge or freezer is a debated question in the cannabis community. Keeping your dabs in the fridge or even in the freezer could be beneficial for mid- to long-term dab storage in some circumstances.
However, storing them in cold environments can also be problematic as your product may be exposed to light and moisture that degrade the product. If you keep dabs in the fridge, keep them in an opaque container in a part of the fridge that experiences the fewest possible temperature changes.
Though keeping your dabs in the freezer may extend its shelf life, it also potentially exposes your products to other risks like freezer burn. Concentrates are vulnerable to condensation as they thaw, which can lead to mold development. If you freeze your dabs, make sure you vacuum seal them to prevent excess moisture from building up inside the container.
Dabs that might benefit from staying in cold conditions include:
Live resin: This concentrate is prized for its rich flavor profile. Store your live resin in a glass container in the fridge to maintain optimum freshness and protect its terpene profile.
Bubble hash: Studies suggest keeping hash in the freezer at around -20ºC (-4ºF) with minimal light exposure degrades THC significantly less than hash stored at room temperature.
Store Dabs Properly to Maximize Shelf Life
Understanding how to store concentrates properly is key to retaining the freshness of your products and reducing waste. Keep your dabs and all other cannabis products in an airtight container in cool, dark conditions to guarantee the best possible experience.
Because different cannabis products have slightly different storage requirements, it’s important to understand the most ideal conditions for each product to maximize its shelf life. The expert budtenders in our Seattle, WA dispensaries would be happy to answer any further questions you have about storing dabs and other kinds of cannabis products.