tincture expiration dates

Thinking about saving up for my old age.

It's pretty easy. Decarbed in oven, helps to use a canning jar, leave the lid rather loose to let off pressure. Only fill the jar part way, and lay it on its side. Half way through the decarb process, turn the jar to mix contents a bit. Finish decarb. Cool in jar. Add everclear to top of herb. Leave it sit there for about three minutes, swirl it around gently. Strain with stainless kitchen strainer, the finer the weave, the better. Then back into the everclear container for storage. Actually, i do several runs of everclear over the herb, to make sure that i get it all, i 'jar' and label each run seperate. Then, when i think it's all 'out' i use the herb to make hot chocolate, and usually, there's enough left in the herb to do a couple of runs of hot chocolate, too. That hot chocolate gets me pretty thoroughly medicated...

Or, the simple method...get rso oil from dispensary and squeeze that into everclear. I like to keep my dosing pretty 'even', and the rso oil helps with that. I use one ml to a 375 ml bottle of everclear. Then i use the cap off the bottle as my measuring device. One cap per 16 oz glass of juice. I really like using tart cherry juice, unsweetened. Some evenings i will drink two glasses (and be up peeing during the night), but that's for the bad fibro nights.

I might try this in my bourbon balls recipe. I use defatted peanut powder instead of pecans, cuz i like it and it's WAY less $$$.

Why do i not just use the rso straight? I find it very hard to dose, right out of the syringe, and it's sticky as hell.

bon appetite!
 
Tincture of cannabis, made with grain alcohol, should 'keep' indefinitely in the sense that it won't 'go bad' as in become something or become a growing medium for something that would make a person ill. However...

Cannabinoids have this way of degrading or transforming from something that has more desirable effects to something that has less desirable effects. How quickly those transformations occur depends on many things, and there is very little publicly available research on the subject, especially with regard to tincture. Refrigerating the tincture is not necessary to keep it food safe, but that will most likely slow down the transformation.

US states with legal/regulated cannabis markets may require a 'use by' or 'expiration' date on grain alcohol-based tinctures, and retailers may be prohibited from selling 'out of date' tinctures, but the most likely impact of, say, a year or two on a shelf at room temperature is a loss of potency, or a change in effect from something more uplifting to something more sedative.
 
Freezing would likely add to the 'best by' time.
Yes. Some people don't like the condensation that forms inside the container when it's opened to do something like (re)fill a dropper bottle. In my case, the fridge has more room and is easier to access than the freezer. Testing identical tinctures over time stored in refrigerator vs freezer to document changes in cannabinoid levels might resolve the issue. I'm thinking about doing that.
 
@nannymouse

Not that this helps much, but I've listened to hundreds if not thousands of hours of podcasts regarding all sectors of the cannabis industry, and I have never heard anyone broach this topic. (And certainly no accredited scientist yet)... and, I have been wondering the same.

However, you are suspending the oils in the alcohol, which I would assume to be the very best method to use. I don't drink, so the alcohol has to go... but if I tore a page out of your book and just took my cap-full as you do and cook the alcohol off in a shot glass on the warming plate of the coffee maker before adding the dose to whichever application I may be using at the time, I might extend its longevity. (Same would hold true for cooking off unwanted moisture.)

The only down side I see, is how much more storage area it would take up in a refrigerator.
 
Thinking about saving up for my old age.

It's pretty easy. Decarbed in oven, helps to use a canning jar, leave the lid rather loose to let off pressure. Only fill the jar part way, and lay it on its side. Half way through the decarb process, turn the jar to mix contents a bit. Finish decarb. Cool in jar. Add everclear to top of herb. Leave it sit there for about three minutes, swirl it around gently. Strain with stainless kitchen strainer, the finer the weave, the better. Then back into the everclear container for storage. Actually, i do several runs of everclear over the herb, to make sure that i get it all, i 'jar' and label each run seperate. Then, when i think it's all 'out' i use the herb to make hot chocolate, and usually, there's enough left in the herb to do a couple of runs of hot chocolate, too. That hot chocolate gets me pretty thoroughly medicated...

Or, the simple method...get rso oil from dispensary and squeeze that into everclear. I like to keep my dosing pretty 'even', and the rso oil helps with that. I use one ml to a 375 ml bottle of everclear. Then i use the cap off the bottle as my measuring device. One cap per 16 oz glass of juice. I really like using tart cherry juice, unsweetened. Some evenings i will drink two glasses (and be up peeing during the night), but that's for the bad fibro nights.

I might try this in my bourbon balls recipe. I use defatted peanut powder instead of pecans, cuz i like it and it's WAY less $$$.

Why do i not just use the rso straight? I find it very hard to dose, right out of the syringe, and it's sticky as hell.

bon appetite!

I always just assumed it is indefinite and would increase in strength due to evaporation. ?


I know it isn't what you asked and this is a young-ish thread, so I hope this can help some one.

I have done the RSO dilution (brilliant, btw) (or any extract, for that matter, (whole plant distillate works great)) except I do it with coconut oil. this way I can fill capsules because the coco is solid at room temp. in fact, I have a jelly jar (1 syringe RSO to 2 oz coconut oil,) filled and in the back of the fridge.

works great ingested OR as a topical.
 
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I keep my tinctures in the fridge and consider them good indefinitely. I use the 200 proof alcohol as well and do a cold tincture process, so it isn't growing anything. I use the amber dropper bottles off amazon and use masking tape to mark what strain each bottle is. Here's the recipe I follow.

I decarb the ground up weed in the oven on a cookie sheet with foil. Spread everything out evenly and thin. Once it's done, Pick up the foil and pour into a Mason jar and into the freezer overnight. Alcohol goes into the freezer overnight as well.

In a day or two, pour just enough of the "frozen" alcohol over the frozen weed to cover it, put the lid on tight and shake vigorously for 3 minutes. Back into the freezer for 10 minutes, then repeat shaking. Have a spare Mason jar with a paper coffee filter tucked inside the mouth and a rubber band to keep it in place. Use chefs cheesecloth over the top of the alcohol jar and pour into the coffee filter jar. You end up with a nice clean tincture.

Set the tincture in front of a fan and evaporate until roughly half of the tincture is gone. You are left with a nice concentrated tincture that will keep damn near forever. I then use a small funnel and pour the tinctures into the amber dropper bottles, so I can give some to my son and his friends as needed. They don't get more if they don't bring the amber dropper bottles back lol...
 
I keep my tinctures in the fridge and consider them good indefinitely. I use the 200 proof alcohol as well and do a cold tincture process, so it isn't growing anything. I use the amber dropper bottles off amazon and use masking tape to mark what strain each bottle is. Here's the recipe I follow.

I decarb the ground up weed in the oven on a cookie sheet with foil. Spread everything out evenly and thin. Once it's done, Pick up the foil and pour into a Mason jar and into the freezer overnight. Alcohol goes into the freezer overnight as well.

In a day or two, pour just enough of the "frozen" alcohol over the frozen weed to cover it, put the lid on tight and shake vigorously for 3 minutes. Back into the freezer for 10 minutes, then repeat shaking. Have a spare Mason jar with a paper coffee filter tucked inside the mouth and a rubber band to keep it in place. Use chefs cheesecloth over the top of the alcohol jar and pour into the coffee filter jar. You end up with a nice clean tincture.

Set the tincture in front of a fan and evaporate until roughly half of the tincture is gone. You are left with a nice concentrated tincture that will keep damn near forever. I then use a small funnel and pour the tinctures into the amber dropper bottles, so I can give some to my son and his friends as needed. They don't get more if they don't bring the amber dropper bottles back lol...

related PM being sent.
 
I always just assumed it is indefinite and would increase in strength due to evaporation. ?


I know it isn't what you asked and this is a young-ish thread, so I hope this can help some one.

I have done the RSO dilution (brilliant, btw) (or any extract, for that matter, (whole plant distillate works great)) except I do it with coconut oil. this way I can fill capsules because the coco is solid at room temp. in fact, I have a jelly jar (1 syringe RSO to 2 oz coconut oil,) filled and in the back of the fridge.

works great ingested OR as a topical.
I word of caution for those who don't have a gall bladder anymore... you ingest a little too much coconut oil and try to trick your grandkids into "pulling on your finger" when they stop by at Halloween, and you just might have a pretty decent representation of what it would look like if you owned a 350 lb parrot that just spontaneously crapped on the floor... explain THAT to the cute little buggers, and the rest of the Trick or Treaters they have in tow, dumb-ass... it sets the stage for a pretty quiet Christmas Season at Grampa's house.
 
I word of caution for those who don't have a gall bladder anymore... you ingest a little too much coconut oil and try to trick your grandkids into "pulling on your finger" when they stop by at Halloween, and you just might have a pretty decent representation of what it would look like if you owned a 350 lb parrot that just spontaneously crapped on the floor... explain THAT to the cute little buggers, and the rest of the Trick or Treaters they have in tow, dumb-ass... it sets the stage for a pretty quiet Christmas Season at Grampa's house.
I think there should be more than one word of caution for that situation. Maybe a roll of (crime scene) tape.
 
...you mean like a pre-consumption release form that you have to sign right after you attend a compulsory victim awareness class similar to DWI school, along with a victim-impact-surcharge payable at delivery of the oil?... no, I think it would be unfair. After all, you don't have to do all that before parking under the Golden Arches, with the risks being far greater for a unprompted catastrophic event mounting with each bite... just by passing through the doors, you HAVE to assume some responsibility for your personal risk, be it emotional or physical...
 
I keep my tinctures in the fridge and consider them good indefinitely. I use the 200 proof alcohol as well and do a cold tincture process, so it isn't growing anything. I use the amber dropper bottles off amazon and use masking tape to mark what strain each bottle is. Here's the recipe I follow.

I decarb the ground up weed in the oven on a cookie sheet with foil. Spread everything out evenly and thin. Once it's done, Pick up the foil and pour into a Mason jar and into the freezer overnight. Alcohol goes into the freezer overnight as well.

In a day or two, pour just enough of the "frozen" alcohol over the frozen weed to cover it, put the lid on tight and shake vigorously for 3 minutes. Back into the freezer for 10 minutes, then repeat shaking. Have a spare Mason jar with a paper coffee filter tucked inside the mouth and a rubber band to keep it in place. Use chefs cheesecloth over the top of the alcohol jar and pour into the coffee filter jar. You end up with a nice clean tincture.

Set the tincture in front of a fan and evaporate until roughly half of the tincture is gone. You are left with a nice concentrated tincture that will keep damn near forever. I then use a small funnel and pour the tinctures into the amber dropper bottles, so I can give some to my son and his friends as needed. They don't get more if they don't bring the amber dropper bottles back lol...
I also do mine this way, but I evaporate all the alcohol so I'm left with hash oil. I store it in the freezer.
 
...you mean like a pre-consumption release form that you have to sign right after you attend a compulsory victim awareness class similar to DWI school, along with a victim-impact-surcharge payable at delivery of the oil?... no, I think it would be unfair. After all, you don't have to do all that before parking under the Golden Arches, with the risks being far greater for a unprompted catastrophic event mounting with each bite... just by passing through the doors, you HAVE to assume some responsibility for your personal risk, be it emotional or physical...
....Depends.
 
So, I've always wondered about the storage of THC in fat cells in the body and how that works.

I was searching for a white paper on the topic; particularly, smoking Delta 9 vs 11 hydroxy, and found "what is to me something interesting that I'll post on my non-sense thread; "Stupid Thoughts and Irrelevant Outbursts"... I fear I have fouled this thread too much already, but it does loosely relate the the subject matter of the OP, but not directly.
 
Since i make my own tincture with everclear, i was wondering how long this will keep in a cool dark area.

I would think that it would be years, but am waiting for expert advise.

thanks in advance!
I have been giving this more and more thought recently as I have a number of jars sitting in the freezer myself.

I know this is not the professional advice you are seeking, but I don't think one would really know unless it was tested in a lab. I suppose the most likely way one might tell is if it seemed to have largely turned to CBN and had a strong sedative effect... which might be desirable anyway depending on what you are needing it for.

But, there is one thing that I will add that might help prevent you from throwing it out prematurely... and that is a caution as to what water will do to the appearance of oil. Every mechanic knows that it takes very little water in a differential, engine, or transfer case to make the oil look milky and perhaps might give the appearance to someone that the (cannabis) oil has gone bad. (The other oils are waste.)

In the case of possible water/condensation build up, I would:

#1 avoid stirring the oil when taking out a glob. #2 re-heat the jar on the hot plate of the coffee maker to evaporate the water/condensation. #3 would be to do nothing at all, as the water/condensation would have very little effect on the oil itself, IMHO.

It has crossed my mind to do something with honey (encapsulating) the oil because honey is the only food source that will never go bad... or not for many decades anyway. But because honey is not a fat based product, all it would do is develop a protective coating, it wouldn't blend with the oil, or not very well anyway. That would/might in itself become a problem because the desired dosing from day to day may change.

I have also thought about leaving a smidge of alcohol in the oil for storage purposes (because it's miscible), then simply take the desired amount out and put it on a hot plate to evaporate the remaining alcohol/water before use (since I don't drink). Someone who does consume alcohol, might choose to consume the oil with the remaining alcohol in it... Q: Would this hasten the onset of the oil?

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the oil over flower because of the onset times and the longer overall effect... perhaps once I fully retire I'll take to it more regularly, but it is a great way to deal with the trimmings that are not going into the jars as flower.

There may have been a time when someone might suggest to pay it forward in order to get it back if you needed it in the years to come, but time and experience has taught me at least one unwavering lesson, people's memories are terrific at knowing where to procure things, but fade almost instantly when it's time for repayment.

Never confuse family with friendship.

You'll only have a couple/few "real" friends in your lifetime if you are fortunate.

Always prepare to deal with problems on your own, because you will likely be forced to.

The best way to prevent loosing what you have, is to keep your mouth shut.

Sorry to get negative on your thread nannymouse, but at least you didn't hear me cuss and didn't see me spit on the floor. ha ha!
 
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There's no evaporation.

I would just add dispensary RSO to alcohol or
would decarb flower and run alcohol through.
M not even thinking of making RSO.
I mean water from opening and closing the refrigerator in the form of condensation under the cap... obviously it would be a small amount... the same thing you see under the lid of your ice cream bucket if yours last longer than mine has a habit too...
 
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