Freezer Curing Cannabis

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
Ok been reading on a few different sites about best cure methods. I came across a thread where a guy cured his nugs in a freezer. About the same time frame as jar curing but its supposed to smoke smoother, have more pungent smell and taste spectacular. He was quoting from a book by Ed Rosenthal. Has anyone heard of or tried this method with positive results? Thanks...
 

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
I guess this is the method used. Cut down plant.. Let drying in normal fashion until stems snap (or close to that), manicure branches, cut off buds, place in mason jars, place in freezer for minimum of two weeks with burping every other day. Some have recommended placing buds in cardboard box with holes in the side. After 2-4 weeks take out of freezer and store in cool dry place still in jars. Within 2-3 days bus will have regained smell and better taste.
 

dannyboy602

Well-Known Member
its got to come out of the freezer sometime. and once the buds are exposed to room temps and humidity they'll change.
curing has more to do with humidity than anything. whats the humidity in a freezer? if its more stable than outside a freezer (you'd think it would be) than maybe freezer curing is a good thing especially for folks in dryer climes like here in AZ. or even better...cure regular and store in a freezer. idk...i'm for trying anything but than again shit doesn't last that long that i worry about it.
 

Merlot

Well-Known Member
Freezing isn't going to remove moisture, it'll freeze it...

The local pond scum use to sell ditch weed that had been put in a fridge/freezer to stop the bud losing weight....so you'd buy an eighth, but you'd end up with like 1.5-1.7 once it dried out for a few hours.
 

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
A freezer does dry things out - That is what freezer burn is......What about freeze drying? You would have to have a low temp deep freeze to try IMO...Real low temps actually help D8thc change to D9....kinda like decarbing......Years ago, some used dry ice to do this while in a freezer. Because it takes a long time to do......If I remember right, it was placed between two blocks of Dry ice and put in a home deep freeze.... can't remember how long though........
Any sixties and seventies kids out there remember that one???
 

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
A freezer does dry things out - That is what freezer burn is......What about freeze drying? You would have to have a low temp deep freeze to try IMO...Real low temps actually help D8thc change to D9....kinda like decarbing......Years ago, some used dry ice to do this while in a freezer. Because it takes a long time to do......If I remember right, it was placed between two blocks of Dry ice and put in a home deep freeze.... can't remember how long though........
Any sixties and seventies kids out there remember that one???
Interesting because on another forum some guys swore by it. Though the site is not near as good as riu in any way. That's why I questioned it. But maybe as a Lil experiment I'll drop about 7 grams in and see how it works. If it fucks up I'll cry a little but won't be too traumatized. I'll report back with the findings afterward.
 

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
Humidity inside freezers is usually very low, i dont know if that affects buds sealed in a mason jar, but someone asked what the RH in a freezer was.
Ive read that humidity varies in a freezer especially when the door opens it can double or even quadruple. Not sure if its true. Just what I read.
 

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
T
its got to come out of the freezer sometime. and once the buds are exposed to room temps and humidity they'll change.
curing has more to do with humidity than anything. whats the humidity in a freezer? if its more stable than outside a freezer (you'd think it would be) than maybe freezer curing is a good thing especially for folks in dryer climes like here in AZ. or even better...cure regular and store in a freezer. idk...i'm for trying anything but than again shit doesn't last that long that i worry about it.
They said that after 2 or 3 weeks you can take it out the freezer and store in cool, dry place like normal. And after a few days of burping it will reach its full potential.
 

hotshotisdashit

Well-Known Member
"Finish drying my bud in the freezer in my kitchen" is the title. Its on icmag. Its about 24 pages long. If someone can read at least a few pages and give me their opinion I'd be greatful.
 

Bunduki

Active Member
Old thread but hey...I read a few pages, seemed legit but people like different tastes and textures of weed so you don't really know until you try it yourself imo.

I have, I put an open box in, plus 2 open jars and a closed box. The joint I'm smoking now I took out of the freezer about 6hrs ago after 3 weeks in there and it seemed fairly moist, I might have put them in the freezer a little early. I dried it out and it tastes great, nice and smooth, really fruity, minty fresh taste, like my weed was when first dried but deeper and smoother, the bud I'm curing normally is still nice and fruity and getting smoother but it doesn't have the mint taste.

I've always read that the chlorophyll is what makes weed harsh, however I've read that you get the same minty taste from weed in a food dehydrator because it retains the cholorophyll and certainly most weed with that taste is fairly harsh. Whatever happens in the freezer though, this weed has that taste, stays as green as when it was put into the freezer (the jarred bud is getting darker) but is a nice smooth smoke.

I'm going to leave the rest in there and sample a bud every week until it's at smoking consistency, then seal the jars for storage and see what happens to the boxes.

So far I'm a fan, but it's a personal taste thing here. I know people who like the taste of fresh weed and if you do, this gives you that but as smooth as jar cured and while I can't confirm it yet, if you seal the weed up once it's right for you and leave it in the freezer, it should stay that way for a very long time. (I have read an actual scientific study on the storage of cannabis, 9 months sealed in a freezer in the dark had less THC loss than 3 months jarred at room temp).

I do have a friend who won't smoke anything that hasn't been cured though (unless he doesn't have any) as he doesn't like that taste, so it probably wouldn't suit him. I'll know next week when I take him some round to test :P
 

brentay

New Member
Freezing isn't going to remove moisture, it'll freeze it...

The local pond scum use to sell ditch weed that had been put in a fridge/freezer to stop the bud losing weight....so you'd buy an eighth, but you'd end up with like 1.5-1.7 once it dried out for a few hours.
wrong thats why they say to use a frost free freezer because they evaporate themselves
 

chillok

Well-Known Member
A couple years ago I decided to experiment with storing bud in freezer and am glad I did. Buds don't dry out, fall apart, trics don't break off, all invalid when done properly.

Dry and cure in jars as normal. After a month or so 80% filled quart jars get a fresh 8gm Boveda pack. Jars wrapped in a towel then placed in cardboard box, then put in freezer. Confirmed with Boveda, packs are effective to -5F, thus humidity is controlled in jar. Properly cured and dried buds mind you. The towels and box act as insulation. Freezer burn is the loss of moisture but we're covered there (sealed, humidity controlled jars), and humidity changes when freezer door is opened are much less a factor as jars are well insulated. Best to avoid excessive door opening though. Buy a mini freezer if ya have kids or a lot of freezer activity.

I take a jar out, let it sit for at least an hour at room temp before opening, then take buds out for a 30 minute airing. Pop em back in jar with Boveda and you're set. Have tried this with buds in freezer for a year.. they come out fresh and fragrant. And yes I think they do cure a bit as they come out sweeter smelling in most cases. Freezer storage with Boveda is nice.

about to enjoy a nug or two of this one year freezer bud
IMG_20170928_200122.jpg
shooting for two years we'll see
 
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Lank47

Member
Ok everyone, I seriously just signed up for this site to drop some knowledge on you.

YES, curing in the freezer not only works, it's the best and easiest way to cure! If you have ANY doubts, you owe it to yourself to try just a small amount from your next grow and see the results for yourself. Make sure you test enough to save some for a a few months and see just how it holds up.

You are removing moisture through the process of sublimation: solid (ice) turns into gas (water vapor). A frost free freezer removes moisture via this process; its why you get freezer burn. Straight up science yo!

You MUST ensure your freezer is a FROST FREE model. This is absolutely non-negotiable. This is the only way to achieve sublimation. Most deep freezers are not frost free so do your research if buying second hand or free from Craigslist.

My first harvest was a traditional jar cure and was such a pain I had to find a better way. I came across the same ICMag forum referenced here and said f-it on my second harvest. I haven't looked back since. I just harvested my 6th grow and after drying, I will put everything, approx 8oz, in one cardboard box with the lid cut off. I will not open the door for a minimum of 21 days. No burping or turning or checking RH. At that time I'll fill a .5 gram joint and see if she smokes all the way through without going out. Once that happens it goes into jars until needed.

I still have the top colas from two grows last year that smell and taste just as good as they did after curing.

I found it helps to have a dedicated freezer for this process but not necessary if you don't open your freezer all the time.

I'll say it again, you don't need to believe me, you just need to try it once and you'll see!

Happy growing everyone!

Attached is my latest grow, harvested just today: Ghost Train Haze. It's all going in the freezer!!!
 

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