Shelf Life & Potency
How long will your cannabutter, gummies, or infused oil stay good — and how much strength do they keep? Pick a product and a storage spot.
What did you make?
Where does it live?
Good for about
2–3 weeks
Potency kept over that time
~99%
Airtight and opaque is the goal: light and air, not time, are what degrade an infusion in the fridge.
Freshness expires before potency does. THC in a well-stored infusion fades slowly (roughly 10–20% a year), so if it still looks, smells, and tastes right, the dose is close to what you made. When in doubt about spoilage, though, toss it — same as any food.
Typical ranges for home-made edibles, assuming clean, airtight, opaque storage. Educational, not medical or food-safety advice — anything that smells off, is off. Label everything clearly and keep it away from kids and pets.
Storing an infusion you just made? Work out its strength first with the infusion potency calculator and write the mg-per-tablespoon on the label — future you will be grateful.
Frequently asked questions
How long does cannabutter last?
Two to three weeks in an airtight, opaque container in the fridge, or up to six months frozen. At room temperature treat it like any butter — a couple of days at most. Freezing it in pre-portioned cubes is the most practical option for occasional bakers.
Do edibles lose potency over time?
Slowly. Well-stored THC degrades roughly 10 to 20 percent per year, converting gradually into CBN, which is more sedative than intoxicating. For most homemade edibles, freshness runs out long before potency does — the exception is alcohol tinctures, where potency fade is the only real clock.
What degrades THC fastest?
Light, heat, and air, in that rough order. An airtight, opaque container somewhere cool solves all three, which is why a mason jar in a dark cupboard or the fridge is the default advice for infusions.
Can you freeze edibles?
Almost all of them, and it barely touches potency. Butter, oil, baked goods, and chocolate freeze well; gummies survive with some texture change. Portion before freezing and label every container with the dose per serving and the date.
More free tools
All 16 toolsWhat's My Starting Dose? Quiz
Five questions, one conservative milligram number to start from, and three recipes that suit it.
Edibles Dosage Calculator
Estimate THC per serving from your flower or concentrate, amount, and number of servings.
Infusion Potency Calculator
Work out the strength of your cannabutter or infused oil before you cook with it.
Edible Onset Timeline
See when your edible should kick in, peak, and wear off based on dose, stomach, and experience.
Recipes that use this
Free original recipes where this calculation matters.
Salted Dark Chocolate & Almond Bark
No-bake infused chocolate bark, scored into a precise grid so every square is a known microdose — and it keeps for months.
Infused Chili Crisp Oil
Sizzled garlic, shallot and chili flakes in plain oil, cooled, then stirred through with infused oil. A jar that doses noodles, eggs and dumplings a spoon at a time.
No-Bake Infused Energy Balls
Oats, peanut butter, and honey rolled into grab-and-go bites with a gentle, even dose.
Read next
The guides and quick reads behind the numbers.
Never lose track of a batch
Log every infusion in the Canabee app with its potency and date, and portion recipes with exact per-serving doses.