Concentrate Storage

Have you recently purchased some new dabs for your next dabbing adventure? If so, it’s crucial to understand that storing them is just as important as how you actually get your ‘dab on’ with them. Many of us underestimate the importance of proper dab storage until it’s essentially too late, and we have caused our dabs to expire and therefore no longer have the ability to satisfy us in any meaningful way.

Storing your concentrates doesn’t need to be complicated – it’s just a matter of using the right kind of storage container and making a real effort to avoid certain environmental factors that can cause them to prematurely degrade. So, how do you store your concentrates the right way then in order for them to last for as long as possible, staying fresh along the way, of course?

Do Concentrates Expire?

Yes, concentrates do expire. And, they expire sooner than you may think. Due to the nature of producing concentrates from raw plant material, they don’t exactly maintain the best chemical stability. This means that they degrade at a faster rate than, say, dry herb, or distillates.

Concentrates are usually good for up to 6 months on average. After that point, they don’t go “bad” in the traditional sense, in which they become dangerous to use, but they do lose their potency as the terpenes and cannabinoids end up degrading. This makes the compounds all but useless after a while – those cannabinoids just won’t deliver the effects that you want, and the terpenes will lose their taste.

Why Does Storing Your Concentrates Matter So Much?

Once you have new concentrates in your possession, you need to make a point to store them properly right away. Failing to store them in the right way will cause them to degrade almost immediately, and eventually lose their potency long before you’ve finished them in many cases. Even though concentrates have a shelf life of several months, that depends on how you store them. Storing them in undesirable ways can cause them to degrade faster, meaning that they can lose their potency in an even shorter period of time. Also, if you’re the type to stock up on large quantities with each purchase, this will result in a good amount of wasted cash.

The Best Type of Storage Material

First, let’s talk storage containers – more specifically, their materials. Everyone who dabs should have a dedicated concentrate container that is meant to keep the contents inside fresh. It should have an airtight seal, as the more oxygen gets inside and mingles with the compounds, the faster they’ll degrade.

#1: Glass

Airtight glass containers are quite commonplace, and overall, they can do a good job at keeping the product fresh. But, this is more the case in the short-term. If the glass is clear rather than amber, then light can enter the container which can play a role in degrading the compounds. Another thing to keep in mind is that dabs are sticky. And, they will stick to the interior of the glass. Meaning, you’ll need to work a bit to really scrape that concentrate off its walls and base.

#2: Silicone

Silicone is the most popular storage container material. Its nonstick surface makes it much easier to scrape concentrates out of a silicone container, and the dabs are less likely to really stick in the first place. Beyond that, silicone is thick and opaque, which means that light will not get inside. Plus, the thickness of silicone helps make the interior of the container less responsive to changes in temperature and humidity which can also impact the concentrates.

#3: Parchment Paper

Parchment paper is the old-school method of concentrate storage. It comes from the days when concentrates were not readily available, and purchased through the black market, much like a plastic baggy used for flower. While parchment paper is great in terms of its nonstick nature, it’s not the best solution. Only a short-term storage method though, that simply can’t maintain an airtight seal to keep the contents fresh. It’ll also keep the dabs exposed to all kinds of elements like heat and humidity that can destabilize the compounds.

#4: Original Packaging

Finally, there’s the packaging that the concentrates came in, which is rarely adequate. The highest-grade packaging tends to be glass, which we’ve already discussed. But, many concentrates come in plastic materials that simply won’t do a good job keeping the compounds fresh by blocking heat, light and humidity.

Other Quick Tips for Storing Your Concentrates Properly

Yes, choosing the right storage container is extremely important, but that’s not all that you need to consider when storing your concentrates. These are just some of the other things you can do in order to keep your dabs staying as fresh as possible.

Tip #1: Keep Them Out of the Sun

First off, bright light can speed up the breaking down process of those cannabinoids and terpenes. This is why you’ll need to keep your dabs out of the sun. This applies to indoors as well, as even a sunny windowsill can interfere with your dabs’ quality.

Tip #2: Keep Them Away from Humid Areas

Another thing to avoid is humidity, which can also cause the compounds to degrade pretty quickly. This means avoiding storing your concentrates in a bathroom, where the humidity of the shower can do damage. Don’t keep your concentrates by a stove, either, as even the evaporation of liquids nearby can introduce humidity into your concentrates.

Tip #3: Keep Them Away from Heat

Concentrates should not be kept in a warm or hot environment, such as an area by a heating vent. Heat is likely slow-cooking your dabs so that they gradually break down more rapidly than the pace at which you can enjoy them.

Tip #4: Make Sure They’re Sealed

Of course, a storage container is not going to do its job if it’s not sealed properly. Avoid leaving your stash container open any longer than is necessary. The more oxygen gets into your dabs, the faster they’ll degrade.

Tip #5: Don’t Leave Them in the Car

A big but pretty common mistake is leaving dabs in a car, where fluctuations in heat, light and temperature are all going to destabilize the compounds in your concentrates. This also applies to any outdoor area such as a shed, porch or garage.

Store Your Concentrates the Right Way So You Can Enjoy Them to the Fullest

Storing your dabs properly is critical if you want to be able to get as much enjoyment out of them as possible. After all, expired dabs are basically useless. So, make an effort to invest in a good storage container – preferably silicone – and keep your concentrates in a cool, dark, and dry place so that you can enjoy them each time you start a dabbing session.