How Does the Infusion Process Affect the Shelf Life of Pre-Rolls?

Pre-rolls have become a popular option for many cannabis consumers. Their wide variety, effects, and easy consumption methods have been praised by both beginner and experienced smokers. However, many of these products include different infusion processes depending on the brand and quality. So, how does the infusion process affect the shelf life of pre-rolls?

With the experience Sorting Robotics has gathered as part of the cannabis industry, we want to elaborate on the effects it has on the overall smoking experience. We will highlight the importance of shelf life in cannabis products and its necessity. This way, you’ll know which products to go for and which to avoid for a more pleasant and long-lasting experience. 

Continue reading to discover all there is to know about the influence the infusion process has on the shelf life of pre-rolls!

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How Does the Infusion Process Affect the Shelf Life of Pre-Rolls?

The shelf life of cannabis products determines their longevity and freshness. As with any product, they have an expiration date before which they’re best used. Even though the longevity is different depending on the type of cannabis product you’re interested in, pre-rolls are supposed to last from six months to a year before they expire.

Furthermore, cannabis is known to degrade in quality over time. While it may not be harmful to the user, the pre-roll can start losing its potency and flavor, leading to an unsatisfying smoking experience. Some studies even show how long this herb has been stored based on the concentration of CBN and THC cannabinoids. 

The results indicated that the plant experienced 16.6% potency loss after a year, and the numbers only went up as more time passed. 26.8% potency loss was noticed after the second year, 34.5% in the third year, and 41.4% in the fourth. 

While a normal pre-roll consists of ground cannabis compacted in the rolling paper, infused ones also contain certain concentrates. They can either be applied inside the joint or on the outside layer of the rolling paper. But how can different infusion techniques affect the shelf life?

How differently do pre-roll infusion techniques affect the shelf life?

Since there are a lot of variations of infused pre-rolls, there are also many different infusion techniques. Additionally, automated infusion systems have become increasingly prevalent in streamlining the infusion process efficiently. To better understand how they affect the shelf life, we want to review each separately. Here are the most common techniques we come upon at Sorting Robotics and their unique aspects:

• Hash and kief

• Wax

• Live resin extracts

• Rosin

• Moon rocks

Hash and kief

The most common type of infused pre-rolls are the ones containing hash or kief. While hash comes in a compressed form by heating the cannabis trichomes, kief represents the dried loose trichomes that come off the flower. They’re both used to increase the potency and flavor of the pre-roll and can be applied easily inside the joint.

All you need to do is mix some of the material inside alongside the ground cannabis. However, when using hash, you should always be careful not to damage the rolling paper with the sharp edges. Since both kief and hash have the same shelf life as normal pre-rolls, they don’t make a difference in longevity. 

Live resin extracts

Live resin extracts are the second common infusion technique used in pre-rolls. They’re usually made by extracting active cannabis compounds through the use of solvents or solventless methods. However, instead of using dried buds, they’re extracted from fresh frozen material. 

Several variations are available with varying textures and potencies due to the unique extraction procedure. The most common types we come across at Sorting Robotics are the following:

• Shatter: Known as one of the purest forms of concentrates, it’s extracted by using solvents. It has a glass-like appearance and is very brittle and easy to break. 

• Diamonds: Crystal-like material made from almost 100% cannabinoids and no terpenes. They may be pricier because they contain THCA, which turns into THC when heated through decarboxylation.

• Budder: Named after its similarity to butter, it’s known for its creamy texture. This is due to it being extracted with higher temperatures and pressures. 

• Crumble: This honeycomb-like material is dry and easy to crumble. Due to its brittle consistency, it can be easily applied to a joint.

These extracts have a shelf life of a year. However, some may last for up to two years.

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Rosin

Rosin is a solventless cannabis material made by applying heat and pressure to hash or a cannabis flower. It’s often referred to as hash oil due to its appearance. Even though this product has become a recent hit on the market, it does have a longevity setback. There’s a really small window in which it stays fresh since no concentrates were used during the extraction method.

When using this infusion technique at room temperature, we recommend you do so within approximately 72 hours for the best smoking experience. After the time frame has passed, the rosin might start losing its freshness and effects.

Moon rocks

The last infusion method you should know of is the renowned moon rocks. Even though they’re a fairly new product containing around 50% THC or more, they’ve won over the hearts of many consumers. What makes these products so unique is that they’re made from dipping cannabis nugs in cannabis extracts and then rolling them in kief.

If you want something lighter, you can try the so-called cannabis caviar option. It’s the same as using moon rocks, but the cannabis nugs aren’t rolled in kief. Like the live resin extracts’ shelf life, these products can last up to two years. Thus, they don’t interfere with the pre-roll longevity.

Factors Affecting Shelf Life

After we’ve elaborated on the importance of shelf life and how it’s affected by the infusion process, we also want to highlight other factors that influence it. Even though each pre-roll has a predetermined expiration date, they can lose their freshness for several reasons. That being said, here are the main factors that affect the shelf life of pre-rolls:

• Oxidation and exposure to air

• Moisture content and humidity control

• Packaging and storage conditions

Oxidation and exposure to air

The first factor influencing the pre-roll shelf life is oxidation and exposure to air. High levels of oxygen are known to quicken the cannabis plant’s degradation process. Once this happens, it’ll also use its flavor and potency, resulting in an unpleasant smoking experience.

When exposed to air, the cannabis plant begins to dry out, and its cannabinoids, terpenes, and phytonutrients begin to degrade. If your product contains THCA, it’ll slowly turn to THC when exposed to light and air. Then, it’ll continue turning to CBN and might lose the desired effects.

Moisture content and humidity control

Moisture content and humidity control are the second factors that affect the pre-roll’s longevity. So, maintaining a proper humidity level is of utmost importance if you want your product to last as long as it's meant to.

The biggest issue with high humidity levels is that they accelerate the molding process. On the other hand, low humidity levels are known to dry out the cannabis herb and degrade its cannabinoids and terpenes. Thus, the ideal relative humidity score should be around 59%-63%.

If you live in an area with high or low humidity, there are various humidity pack products available on the market. Using them is the easiest way to keep your product fresh and ready to smoke.

Packaging and storage conditions

Lastly, the packaging and storage conditions also play a key role in the shelf life of pre-roll products. You can’t expect your product to stay fresh if you leave it lying in direct sunlight. To ensure the pre-roll lasts as long as expected, you should inform yourself of the proper storage options and always check the pre-roll packaging.

First, ensure your product is in a concealed tube-like glass package. This way, you’ll know it hasn’t sustained any damage beforehand. If you don’t plan on smoking it right away, you can safely store it in mason jars, titanium jars, or a humidor. You can also use tight-sealing plastic bags as temporary storage if you plan to smoke them soon. 

Role of Infusion Materials

We also want to elaborate on the role of infusion materials. So, we’ll focus on concentrates, terpenes, and their impact.

Concentrates and their impact

Cannabis concentrates are known to have high potency with high levels of THC, especially the ones that are solvent-based. That’s why they usually lead to a more intense smoking experience, suitable for more experienced users. Since most of these concentrates have a similar shelf life as pre-rolls, except rosin, they don’t usually affect the longevity and freshness. 

However, to ensure they don’t go bad, it’s also important to store them properly. We recommend using containers designed for concentrates, glass jars, and freezing for long-term storage. Short-term storage options include plastic jars, silicone jars, and parchment paper.

Terpenes and flavor retention

Terpenes are renowned chemical compounds that give herbs unique smells. In the cannabis industry, their various types are often the defining characteristics of different strains. Not only do they influence the smell and taste, but they are also known for their possible therapeutic effects.

Even though the terpenes are naturally produced in the cannabis plant, they’re extremely sensitive and can easily get damaged. Thus, manufacturers have to be vary of light, moisture, soil quality, farming techniques and processing methods. 

The general shelf life of high-quality terpenes can be around six months to a year, overlapping the longevity of pre-rolls. Plus, they must be properly stored to ensure they last as long as the expiration date. 

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Konstantin Goldenberg

Conclusion

So, how does the infusion process affect the shelf life of pre-rolls? While the infusion methods may create a more potent product and smoking experience, the longevity of these products depends mostly on the storage methods. Remember that exposure to air and moisture are the main reasons your product may go bad before its expiration date.

If you’re looking for ways to enhance your smoking experience or are interested in the cannabis industry’s latest developments, you can explore here on the Sorting Robotics website. Not only do we want to educate the users, but also highlight the newest innovations!