Imagine stumbling upon an old bottle of CBD oil at the back of your shelf. It will make you wonder if it is still safe to use. Won’t it be tempting to use it just once, even after its expiration date has passed? It will surely seem like a waste of throwing away the oil without using it. 

But there will be a thousand questions in your head. What if it makes me sick? What if I get a bad reaction from it? 

In this article, we will try to help you by addressing all your concerns about expired CBD oil and what happens if you use it after it expires.

Does CBD Oil Really Expire?

Just like any other product, natural or otherwise, CBD oil has an expiry date. The shelf life of this oil is typically between 1 to 2 years. But after that, it goes bad. 

However, it does not go bad like a carton of milk that turns sour overnight or other food items in your kitchen that just get spoilt. CBD oil undergoes changes, as a result of which it loses its quality and strength. It may not be as effective or potent as it was before.

This is why it is important to pay close attention to the expiry date mentioned on the bottle. 

What Happens If You Use Expired CBD Oil?

We realize there are times when we are careless. We tend to forget that precious bottle of goodness and let it collect dust in the closet. Then, when we discover it, we may be reckless. So, what will happen if we do consume expired CBD oil?

Well, the good news is, not much. CBD oil does not expire like other chemicals that can turn harmful after expiry. The cannabinoids in the oil break down over time. As a result, the oil just loses its potency and effectiveness. You will realize it does not produce the results you were expecting. At worst, it can cause some slight stomach discomfort.

So no need to panic. There are no serious adverse effects of consuming expired CBD oil.

What Factors Affect How Long CBD Oil Stays Good?

Other Ingredients

Different manufacturers add different ingredients to their CBD oils. All these ingredients, such as vitamins and other herbal compounds, have their own date of expiry. This will also have an impact on the expiry date of CBD Oil. 

Additives

There are other additives that some manufacturers include in CBD oil. These can be certain emulsifiers, artificial colors, and even preservatives. All these ingredients also impact the shelf life of the oil.

Storage

How you store your CBD oil and cbd edibles will greatly impact how soon it expires. CBD oil, when exposed to heat or direct light, has a chance to expire much faster. This is because the cannabinoids are sensitive to bright light and, when exposed, can break down really fast. So, keeping that bottle of CBD oil in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight is important. 

Quality Of The Oil

It is unfortunate that the quality control and standard checks of CBD products are not very efficient. This is why the quality of the products in the market can fluctuate vastly. It is safe to say that the better the quality of the oil, the longer it will fast. 

Extraction Method 

There are different ways to extract CBD oil. These include the Carbon Dioxide method of extraction and the ethanol method. The first way of these two produces a purer and better CBD oil quality. It is good for producing Full-spectrum or broad-spectrum CBD oil. But some manufacturers opt for the second one. This is because the CO2 method requires a lot of investment and proves expensive.

Type Of Carrier Oil

These oils are used to dilute the concentrated CBD extracts. This allows for easier measurement and consumption. However, these carrier oils have a shelf life of their own, which will impact the shelf life of CBD oil. Common carrier oils include:

MCT oil is derived from coconut oil and has a long shelf life of about 1 or 1.5 years. This is why it is a very popular choice as carrier oil.

Hemp Seed Oil extracted from the hemp seeds has a high nutritional value but a low shelf life of up to 3 to 6 months.

Olive Oil is another carrier oil that has a shelf life of about 6 months.

Packaging

Manufacturers who pack CBD oil in dark bottles are doing us a favor. The dark airtight bottles make sure the oil is not exposed to light or air so it does not go bad.

What Color Should Good CBD Oil Be?

The color of the CBD oil depends upon the type of CBD product. 

Full-Spectrum CBD Oil: This type of oil is either dark green, golden brown, or even blackish in color. This is because the hemp extract is in a concentrated form. It has not undergone a lot of processing, so it can be considered to be in its raw condition. So, the darker the color, the more the concentration of the hemp extract.

Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil Or CBD Isolate: These are either whitish in color or colorless. When mixed with any oil, they give out a clear appearance.

How To Tell If Your CBD Oil Has Gone Bad?

The first and foremost thing you should do is to read the date of expiry on the label. Other than that, deciding if the oil has gone bad or not is still not such a big problem. There are signs that give it away.

The way It smells

If it is giving out any bad odor, just get rid of it! Pure, fresh CBD oil is known to have a fresh, earthy aroma. As it gets older, the smell keeps changing. Once it smells rancid, you can be sure it has gone bad. 

The way It tastes

The taste will also help you judge whether it is still usable or not. Needless to say, fresh oil will taste exactly that-fresh! So if it tastes funny, throw it away.

The way It looks

The color of the CBD oil is a good way to judge the condition of the oil. If the color of the oil changes and becomes dark or cloudy, it means there has been contamination or even some oxidation. 

The way It flows

The next thing to look at is the consistency. If the oil has become thicker or you begin to see some kind of crystals forming within it, it is time to throw the bottle away. Do not use that oil, as it has undoubtedly gone bad. 

The way It impacts

Any changes in its potency or the way it affects you will let you know whether it is still good or not. If the oil does not have the kind of effects it used to have on you, then it may have gone bad. 

How To Store And Make It Last Longer?

It is a good idea to store your CBD oil properly so it can give the best results for a longer time.

• Store in a cool and dark place. The exposure to bright light and direct heat will make the cannabinoids degrade faster, and the efficiency and shelf life of your oil will be reduced.
• Store in an airtight container. To make sure that your oil is not exposed to air and oxygen, keep it in an airtight container. This will prevent the oil from getting oxidized and spoilt. Similarly, make sure to keep the bottle capped at all times to avoid undue exposure. 
• Keep CBD oil at a constant temperature. Make sure the temperature of the oil does not fluctuate too much. This can cause the oil to lose its stability. Ideally, keep your oil at room temperature.
• Keep the oil in a refrigerator if unsure of temperature. Some users feel more comfortable keeping their oils in refrigerators. This allows the oil to stay in a constant and cool environment away from any bright lights. However, it is better to let the oil come down to room temperature before it can be used. 

You can easily make the shelf life of your oil longer if you follow all these above guidelines. This will help in maintaining the effectiveness and potency of your CBD oil. It is also important to check the label on the bottle so that any instructions by the manufacturer can be followed. 

Final Word

Using expired CBD oil is not something to raise an alarm over. If you do end up consuming CBD oil that is past its date of expiry, you will not experience any strong adverse reaction. However, if you experience any discomfort, talk to a healthcare provider. The only negative effect you will surely experience is that the CBD oil will not have the same potency it had before. It will not give you the same benefits it did when it was fresh. 

If you are unsure, check the characteristics of the oil. Its smell, appearance, and taste will also give you a clear idea of whether it is good enough to be used or not.

So keep your CBD oil in a cool dark environment and make sure to use it within the given date to reap all of its holistic benefits.