Storing Cannabis Concentrates | How-to

Cannabis concentrates are super potent and exciting for many users. They have also been gaining a lot of traction in the medical world because they contain high doses of THC or CBD. However, how to store cannabis concentrates so that they remain as potent can be challenging. Nothing is quite as disappointing as opening your extracts to find that they has lost all their “glory” over time. If you run a dispensary it’s even worse because no one will be returning for more wax if what they got in the first place was drab and stale. Before explaining the best ways for storing cannabis concentrates, it’s first important to understand exactly what these extracts are and why they need to be stored properly.

What are Cannabis Concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates are extracts derived from cannabis flowers that are processed into a concentrated form. Terpenes and cannabinoids are separated to create a pure compound. The purity of concentrates may range from 50%-90% cannabinoids by weight. Concentrates can be smoked, dabbed or formulated into products such as edibles, tinctures, or skincare products.

There are different forms of cannabis concentrates including:

• Kief
• Hash
• Butane hash oil
• Rosin
• Isolates

Why is the Right Cannabis Concentrate Storage Important?

From the appearance of cannabis concentrates, you would be forgiven to imagine that there is not much that goes into its storage. Contrary to it, cannabis concentrates can easily degrade when exposed to poor storage conditions.

Humidity, heat, and excessive light can all accelerate the rate of degradation of your cannabis concentrates. Just as humidity control is important to your cannabis, it is also vital to your concentrates. The cannabinoids will break down and cause the concentrates to lose potency over time. Concentrates may also go stale and develop mold when exposed to excessive moisture. Lastly, contamination can also affect the quality of your cannabis concentrates.

Short-Term Storage for Cannabis Concentrates

For short-term storage of cannabis concentrates, medical grade silicone does well.  Silicone is durable and offers amazing non-stick properties to suit the sticky nature of cannabis concentrates.  Find the ideal size of a container that does not allow too much air in. Be sure to keep your cannabis concentrates in a cool, dark place with as little exposure to air as possible. This should keep them fresh and potent for at least one week. Because silicone containers are not air-tight, they cannot keep concentrates fresh for long, Over time, the THC breaks down with exposure to excessive light, humidity, and moisture. To store your concentrates for longer periods, it’s best to use one of the storage methods suggested below. 

Tips For Medium Term Storage

When storing cannabis concentrates for two weeks to a month, non-runny concentrates can be wrapped in parchment paper and placed in an air-tight container. 

1. Break up the concentrates into sizable pieces and fold the parchment tightly around each piece to prevent air from getting in. 
2. Place the pieces in an airtight container and place this in a cool, dry, and dark place. This should keep concentrates fresh for up to one month.

Tips For Long Term Storage

To store cannabis concentrates for many months, freezing is usually the go-to option. However, freezing can expose the concentrates to fluctuations in temperature and high moisture which is bad for your cannabis.

To make the most of freezing, prepare the concentrates as explained above in parchment paper. Then, place these in air-tight glass containers. After doing so, place your glass containers in the freezer. Breaking the concentrates into pieces will prevent thawing and refreezing. The also exposes the concentrates to moisture and temperature fluctuations. 

Cannabis concentrates keep for 6-12 months when stored properly in the freezer.

Thanks to technological advancements, there are better options for storing cannabis concentrates long-term. Atmospheric packaging is one of them. To keep cannabis concentrates fresh for months, it may be necessary to do a nitrogen flush to clear out the oxygen. This reduces the chances of mold formation and helps to keep the concentrates fresh for a long period.

More advanced packaging for cannabis concentrates helps to maintain optimal levels of humidity, light, and temperature in the storage container. When this is sorted out the concentrates will remain fresh and potent for months. Always make sure that the technology is tried and tested.

If you choose to freeze your concentrates, do it with confidence in Grove Bags Fresh Frozen Pouches. The instant quick freeze film allows you to freeze your concentrates as soon as possible. This helps retain the full plant profile and process the highest quality concentrates possible, making it the best option when it comes to preserving both potency and freshness of your cannabis concentrates. 

Related: How to Prevent Mold When Curing and Storing Cannabis