If you have made cannabutter, congratulations, that is a feat in itself! The next step is to learn how to refrigerate and freeze cannabutter for long-term storage and prevent mold or spoiled final product.
Table of Contents
Features
- How to refrigerate cannabutter for short-term storage
- How to freeze cannabutter for long-term storage
- Tips and tricks for making better butter and edibles
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Cannabutter is no doubt an essential ingredient for any cannabis kitchen. From cannabis gummies to cannabis steak, there’s not much cannabutter can’t be used to make.
Recently, a member of my Well With Cannabis Community wrote to me about how bummed he was that his cannabutter got moldy. I get it; it is so sad!
You put so much effort into making your own cannabutter that the thought of a batch of butter then going bad is absolutely devastating.
The good news? There are ways to help prevent this and preserve your weed edibles!
In this guide, you will discover the best way to store, refrigerate, and freeze your cannabutter so you can easily make cannabis-infused edibles at any time.
Skip the hard work and have perfectly dosed, delicious, pure Bliss Cannabutter delivered directly to your door! Shop Now →
Ingredient Notes
- Cannabutter: There are so many different ways to make a cannabutter. From the slow cooker or crockpot, Instant pot, stove top, and infusion machines to different types like CBD cannabutter, kief butter, and my Bliss cannabutter.
- Silicone butter molds: Teaspoon molds or stick-shaped silicone molds work best. Opt for a teaspoon mold if you want to enjoy your cannabutter in small quantities. If you like to bake edible cannabis products, such as a batch of cookies, opt for a stick mold for easy measuring.
Note: a complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions is located in the recipe card below.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Step 1 – After preparing your cannabis-infused butter, strain the plant material and leave the liquid butter behind. If you used regular butter, you must discard the separated water and milk solids first.
- Step 2 – Place the molds on a baking tray so they are easy to handle. Pour the melted butter into your mold of choice, such as one teaspoon or stick silicone mold. Place the tray in the refrigerator or freezer.
- Step 3 – After one-two or more hours, when the butter is solid, you can separate the cold butter from the silicone molds.
- Step 4 – Store the properly dosed cannabutter in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or a mason jar. Store that in the refrigerator or freezer for future use.
Note: complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the recipe card below.
Storage Instructions
There is no one right way to store cannabutter, but the shelf life of cannabutter will be affected by many different factors, including your storage method.
If you want to leave the cannabis butter at room temperature, use it within 5-7 days, as the shelf life is not that long, and it is most prone to mold.
When storing, opt for a cool, dry, dark location. Avoid natural light or sunlight, which can degrade cannabinoids such as THC or CBD.
A dry storage place is essential, as moisture can breed bacteria and promote mold growth.
Store your final product in an airtight container in the refrigerator according to the expiration date on the butter you used. Cannabutter will often last in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
You can store cannabutter for a longer time in the freezer. If you keep it in the freezer, wrap the cannabutter in individually sized portions to ensure easy and convenient dosing.
In most cases, when properly stored, cannabutter can last in the freezer for more than six months.
For the best, most proper storage of edibles long-term, use freezer bags or a vacuum sealer. If needed, store your final product in a child-safe container.
Thawing Instructions
Some recipes, like pie crust, call for cold butter. Other recipes, like pot brownies or chocolate chip cookies, call for room-temperature butter.
While it may be tempting to speed up the thawing process, the best way to bring cold or frozen cannabutter to room temperature is to allow it to sit naturally and get to temp.
Always avoid thawing the cannabutter in the microwave, as the high temperature can destroy the cannabinoids.
If you need to apply heat, only choose low heat options.
Notes and Expert Tips
- If you’re brand new to cannabis edibles, check out my beginner’s guide.
- Remember, you may notice liquid water separation if you make cannabutter with regular butter, like salted or unsalted butter. The liquid stays at the bottom, and the pure cannabutter floats. This is normal, and the liquid can be discarded.
- If you’re unsure of the right amount of cannabis to use in your infusion, use this cannabis flower-to-oil ratio guide to decide. An ounce of cannabis can make a very strong batch of cannabutter, depending on how much butter you add. A cup of butter will be twice as potent as two cups of butter.
- Don’t worry about the final color of your cannabutter; it is not an indicator of potency. But if you want a less green end product, skip the grinding process!
- A lack of labeling is one of the most significant risk factors for overconsumption or unknowing consumption. If you are storing your sticks of butter long term, the first step is to label them appropriately. This will help you remember what you stored and when.
Frequently Asked Questions
Storing cannabutter can be brand new to even the most seasoned cannabis consumer, so here are some of the most common FAQs I get asked by my Well With Cannabis Community.
No, the low temperatures of the freezer are a great way to preserve the key ingredient, the THC molecules. Freezing edibles is one of the best ways to store edibles long-term.
This will depend on many factors. The expiry date of the butter, the type of product, if there was moisture present in the cannabis if it’s been stored in a sealed container, a dark place, etc. It’s best to go by the expiration date on the butter you used. 2-3 weeks is a general time frame.
This is a personal decision. Some people avoid storing in plastic containers for fear of the chemicals degrading into the cannabutter. Glass jars are a good choice.
You can store the sticks in an opaque bag like a Ziploc bag or wrap them in plastic wrap, wax paper, or parchment paper and then store them in plastic bags.
Freezing is hands down the best way to store cannabutter.
Have no fear; we have a guide to help you fix weak cannabutter.
Determine The Dose
Want to get a more accurate guesstimate of the potency of your cannabis infusions and extractions? Try my popular edibles dosage calculator. Not sure what your perfect dose is? Learn more here.
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More Cannabis Recipes You Will Love
Take your edibles to the next level…
My Edibles Made Easy Online Cooking Course will teach you how to easily make cannabis edibles and topical recipes at home. This step-by-step video course will teach you how to infuse, extract, and create edibles with many different product types – all from the comfort of your own home.
How to Refrigerate and Freeze Cannabutter
Equipment
- 1 silicone teaspoon mold
What You Need
- 1 cup Bliss cannabutter still liquid or melted
Instructions
- After preparing your cannabis-infused butter, strain the plant material, and leave the liquid butter behind.
- Place the molds on a baking tray, so they are easy to handle. Pour the melted butter into your mold of choice such as a teaspoon or stick mold. Place in the refrigerator or freezer.
- After two or more hours, you can separate the cold butter from the silicone molds.
- Store the properly dosed cannabutter in an airtight container, such as a glass jar or a mason jar. Store that in the refrigerator or freezer for future use.
Notes
- Cannabutter will often last in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
- When properly stored, cannabutter can last in the freezer for more than six months.
Excellent info. I never thought to use the smaller molds for dosing the cannabutter. I’ll need a cleaner spout, but this was helpful information ?
Hi Sue! We’re so happy you found this helpful!
I received some Bliss butter from you. I can’t use it immediately. Should I keep it refrigerated or freeze it?
Hi Susan. This Bliss Cannabutter can be stored at room temperature for several weeks, longer in the fridge and up to six months in the freezer. Be sure to avoid sunlight or extreme temperatures. A cool, dark place is best.