So you've heard all the great things on CBD.
Most likely from friends or family members.
You received your first bottle of CBD oil.
You even tried it!
So far so good.
Now what?
- How do you store the CBD?
- Should it be refrigerated?
- Does it even go bad?
So many questions.
Let's jump into how to store CBD so that you can get the most out of it.
We'll also cover why the type of CBD you have can really affect how it should be stored.
We'll cover these topics:
- How should you store CBD?
- Should CBD be refrigerated?
- How long can you store CBD for?
- Can CBD be stored in plastic?
- Should CBD be stored in the dark?
- Does type of CBD affect how you store it?
Lots to cover.
How should you store CBD?
The type of CBD (full spectrum versus isolate) really affects this question.
We'll get more into that later but the general rule of thumb is…
CBD should be stored in a dark, dry, and cool place.
Think pantry.
It's the same for most semi-perishable items.
Another rule of thumb is this…
The darker or greener or goopier the CBD oil, the more careful you'll have to be about how you store it.
It really comes down to the base oil that the CBD is added to.
The three main base oils are:
- Olive oil
- Hemp oil
- MCT (extract from coconut) or coconut oil
Hemp oil probably requires the most consideration on proper storage as it will go bad faster.
The more the plant material in the oil, the shorter the period it can be stored and the more care you will have to give it.
How much care? What about the refrigeration of CBD?
Should CBD be refrigerated?
Refrigeration is not needed for CBD storage but will definitely extend the life.
This is especially true for full-spectrum or hemp oil CBD.
Olive oil and MCT/coconut oil do not require this.
CBD itself requires no refrigeration and is generally a white crystalline substance.
It's really the oil in question for refrigeration.
Refrigeration should not hurt the effectiveness of the CBD itself in any way.
More on whether CBD should be refrigerated here.
How long can you store CBD for?
- Hemp oil starts to get thick and goopy after a few months with 6 months max.
- Olive oil has a general shelf life of 18-24 months once opened.
- Coconut oil extract (MCT) is similar or longer than the olive oil.
Refrigeration is not required but will definitely extend the shelf life.
Can CBD be stored in plastic?
We don't want to store CBD oil in plastic bags.
Ideally, we don't want oil we ingest to be in contact with plastic.
There can be small amounts of BPA or other chemicals that make their way into the oil.
There's plenty of research and even news coverage of the negatives associated with plastics in and around us.
They can be hormone disruptors or worse.
IndigoNaturals CBD bottles are glass to avoid this issue.
Should CBD be stored in the dark?
Reputable CBD brands will have darker bottles to protect CBD from light.
Light will break down the base oil over time.
That's part of the dark, dry, and cool storage requirement for CBD oil.
At IndigoNaturals, our CBD oil bottles are already tinted to help with this.
Does the type of CBD affect how you store it?
Full-spectrum CBD will require better storage or it will start to go bad.
It's more a question of becoming darker, goopy, and smelly.
This makes sense with all the plant material.
Hemp oil will also have a lot of plant material in there.
The same goes for olive oil although the process is slower.
MCT or Coconut oil with CBD Isolate has the easiest storage requirements.
That's one reason we use MCT oil as a base for CBD Isolate at IndigoNaturals.
The bigger reason is that it won't cause problems for the 40-60% of people that have allergy and histamine issues.
That's a little more important to us!
Always work with a doctor or naturopath with any supplement!
The information provided here is not intended to treat an illness or substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified healthcare provider.