The Science of Airtight Storage: How to Store Herbs, Cannabis, and More
Are you struggling to keep your herbs and cannabis potent, no matter how hard you try? If you are seeking better storage for your herbs and cannabis, it might be time for you to consider airtight storage options. Proper storage for your favorite herbs and cannabis not only helps you retain their freshness longer but also saves you money in the long term while helping your products stay usable—even after their expiration date sometimes!
If you’re curious about airtight containers, you’re in luck! This article will discuss how airtight storage maintains freshness and potency, especially for dried goods like herbs and cannabis. We’ll also explore the importance of moisture control, protecting your products from light and temperature, and how you can choose a suitable airtight container. Before we get into containers and how to choose one for your home, let’s first explore why herbs and cannabis lose their potency and why this matters.
Why Herbs and Cannabis Lose Potency
When you first purchase your herbs or cannabis, it’s hard to forget the strong scent and potency that they possess right away. However, over time, you’ll find that this is not the case, as dried cannabis will lose its potency after about six to twelve months on average. However, dried herbs might take up to three years. Unfortunately, that’s even in meticulous storage containers that you might have at home!
If you’re wondering why, you’re not alone. Research shows that even with exceptional storage in your home, your cannabis or dried herbs might be exposed to light, oxygen, moisture, and even extreme temperatures. Exposure to sunlight can reduce the potency and quality of the dried goods, and the same thing happens with oxygen: increased oxygen exposure can slowly degrade your herbs and cannabis products.
Moisture can cause your cannabis or herbs to begin to mold, which is a sure sign that you should throw it out rather than get it out to use it. With extreme temperatures, you’ll also see similar results, as the cannabis and dried herbs might begin to worsen in quality over time, making it unpleasant for you even to try to use. However, if you’re looking for a way to make your cannabis last longer, airtight containers for cannabis can do wonders!
How Airtight Containers Preserve Freshness
For those seeking a more optimal storage solution for their dried herbs and cannabis, airtight containers are an amazing choice for a number of reasons, the first being that they can help with freshness. Airtight containers limit the amount of air that gets into the container and near the herbs or cannabis, which in turn limits oxidation. By limiting this, you’ll enjoy your herbs and cannabis for longer because you’ll be preventing the deterioration of the taste and texture of your products.
Tightvac containers, such as the TV1, are an excellent choice to keep your buds fresh
Limiting oxidation can also help you avoid microbial growth, which can degrade the quality of your cannabis or dried herbs over time. Using an airtight container will also help you reduce the humidity levels of your products. For any dried product—especially herbs and cannabis—you can’t let it get exposed to moisture because this leads to mold and mildew. Fortunately, an airtight container can limit or eliminate any humidity, so you’ll preserve the freshness of your favorite cannabis or dried herbs for even longer.
The Importance of Moisture Control
Cannabis and herbs are substances that do not do well in extreme humidity, which means you have to store your products in an ideal location. To preserve your cannabis’s freshness, you should aim for around 59% to 63% humidity. On the other hand, kitchen herbs can be stored at a slightly higher humidity level, between 50% to 60% humidity.
Controlling the moisture for your cannabis and herb storage is not an extra step but a required one because too little humidity will hurt the plant’s potency, but too much moisture will cause the products to mold. Finding the right balance will make sure that your favorite items are not becoming too dry or moldy, leading you to have to toss them out.
Airtight containers can be an ideal choice for containing the right amount of moisture while keeping out the rest. However, be sure to monitor your airtight container of cannabis or herbs to ensure it is not too dry. Opening the airtight container periodically can help regulate the humidity.
Protecting Against Light and Temperature
Interestingly enough, light and temperature can affect both cannabis and herbs in distinct ways. Light has the potential to degrade the terpenes and cannabinoids—two critical components of cannabis—which leads to less potency. Since dried herbs have a similar issue, limiting the exposure to light for both substances, even with airtight containers, is something that you should strive for if you want optimal storage.
The best way to do this is with an opaque container, as the design of the container is the real source of protection. With an opaque, airtight container, you can limit the exposure to light and protect your cannabis and herbs. Because the airtight container is not transparent, you’ll ensure that your cannabis and herbs are safe from light and outside elements. However, we also can’t forget about taking steps to protect our dried products from extreme temperatures.
As mentioned, extreme temperatures can ruin dried goods like herbs and cannabis, which is why these items should be stored in environments around 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit. That way, they remain mostly at room temperature but are also not exposed to environments that could produce mildew or further harm the quality of your favorite blends. With an airtight container, you can ensure your products are safe from extreme temperatures and don’t overheat or freeze.
Related blog post: How to Keep Weed Fresh for Longer
Choosing the Right Airtight Containers
Cannabis and dried herbs need to be stored in the proper containers, but how do you choose what airtight container to get? With plastic, glass, and metal airtight containers at your disposal, here are some of the key differences between them to help you make your choice:
- Plastic: These tend to be lightweight and affordable, but they can lose their quality over time, which also makes it easier for your products to absorb odors.
- Glass: Glass containers are durable and do not absorb any odors, but they can be more fragile, and one drop is all it takes to break it sometimes.
- Metal: Metal airtight containers offer similar benefits to glass containers, but they are even more durable and slightly more expensive.
If you’re looking for an airtight container for cannabis and herb storage, the Tightvac Minivac is a wonderful choice. Tightvac containers have so many benefits, including the durability of the stainless-steel material, the easily sealed top to block out the elements, and the convenient array of sizes to choose from. Best of all, Tightvac is affordable compared to other companies, making it a worthy choice for those who want to upgrade their current storage options.
Get Your Tightvac Container Today
Now that you know the many benefits of these containers, cannabis and herb storage has never been easier. With the ability to block out the elements and seal in the freshness, you’ll enjoy fresh cannabis and herbs for many months to come. To purchase your first Tightvac, visit our selection of airtight containers today. With so many sizes to choose from, you’re bound to find the perfect product for your needs!
- Brie Allen
