You probably have marijuana that has to be stored, whether you purchase it in small or large quantities. It makes sense to suppose that storing your cannabis in the refrigerator or freezer would be a good option since this is how you can extend the shelf life of most fresh products. Though is it? Check out the information below.
There’s no denying that keeping your stash fresh is important. This is especially true if you enjoy a good high regularly. The best way to keep weed fresh is by keeping it cool and dry. Using a vacuum pump to minimize oxygen exposure is also a good idea. In addition, you should store it in an airtight container.
What is Weed?
A plant that is “in the wrong place” or growing where it is not wanted is referred to as a weed. This presents the idea of people and their objectives in a specific environment. The idea of weeds is particularly important in agriculture, where the goal is to develop crops or pastures of a single species or a mixture of a few chosen species. Other plant species are regarded as undesirable and consequently as weeds in such situations. Additionally, certain weeds have unfavorable traits that make them plant pests in most human environments.
Plants that are undesirable in human-controlled environments, such as farmland, orchards, gardens, lawns, parks, and residential and industrial areas, are examples of weeds.
How to Keep Weed Fresh in your Freezer?
Proper preservation should be a priority if potency and flavor are important to you. It should go without saying that you should keep cannabis in any form out of the reach of children and animals. Beyond safety, the storage conditions greatly influence the best and most enjoyable smoking experience possible.
When the door is opened, the temperature and humidity levels drastically change because refrigerators maintain a temperature that is too low for safe storage. You exacerbate the problem by exposing your stockpile to additional moisture through condensation each time you take it out of the refrigerator to grab what you need and put it back.
How to Freeze Dry Weed?
Growers who want to keep their weed quality can freeze-dry their cannabis, which is a mild dehydration method. More cannabinoids are preserved in marijuana through this procedure than with any other.
Three things support the procedure:
- During the phases after the freeze-dryer is finished, the weed.
- At each stage, the temperature was adjusted.
- Throughout, maintain constant vacuum pressure. The terpene composition of the buds is delicate during the deep vacuum stage.
There are three steps to freeze-drying cannabis:
Deep Freezing
Rapidly freezing the marijuana at a temperature of -40°F is an essential step in preventing the formation of ice crystals. You can lower the temperature below 40 degrees; greater cold equals fresher produce.
Sublimation Drying
Solid ice is instantly converted by sublimation into vapor by a vacuum pump.
Desorption Drying
It can take up to two days to complete the final drying stage, also known as that. The buds are brought back to room temperature, and about 95% of the water in freeze-dried cannabis is removed.
What are the Reasons Why you shouldn’t Freeze Marijuana?
Extreme cold temperatures do not protect the cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis buds. As a result, there are fewer tastes and fragrances and reduced THC levels. When marijuana is placed in the freezer, the following issues might easily develop:
Freezer Burn
Some freezers have fluctuating temperatures. The buds become freezer-burned if your packing isn’t sealed because of the extreme oxygen exposure. Your marijuana will rot if the air is too warm and creates humidity within the bag or container.
Variable temperatures provide a favorable environment for the growth of infections, mold, and mildew on cannabis.
Trichomes are Lost
Your cannabis nugs’ trichomes are the barrier between you and the effects you get from smoking weed. The crystal coatings on your marijuana buds are harmed by freezing, making the smoke weaker and tasteless.
Inhibits Decarboxylation
To activate psychotropic components like THC, marijuana buds are dried and then decarboxylated. This process is slowed down when marijuana is kept in the freezer, lowering the amount of THC in the nugs.
What are the Different Methods of Storing Weed?
Whether you’re a new or seasoned smoker, you are aware that it is not recommended to leave your marijuana out in the open. Your dried marijuana needs to be kept in the dark, cold environment with minimal humidity, but you’re not sure if you want to freeze it.
Four factors influence your storage option:
- Friction
- Humidity
- light intensity
Given the preceding, the optimum storage choice is an airtight glass container. In this way, your environment’s humidity and oxygen levels are optimal, and the temperature stays consistently below 77°F.
The preservation of your stash’s quality and potency should be your top priority when storing it.
Cured marijuana can be kept for up to a year under ideal storage circumstances before starting to lose its desirable properties. According to studies, it loses up to 16% THC after a year of storage, and this process continues over time:
- Over two years, 26% THC
- Over three years, 34% of THC
- Over four years, 41% of THC
Although you can’t stop this loss, employing the proper storage will help you keep your best attributes.
Other than placing your marijuana in the freezer, the best way to store your stash is as follows:
In an Airtight Container
The best thing you can do for your pot is to stop using plastic bags, including zip-lock bags. Have you ever noticed how your marijuana sometimes sticks to the bag? Static from plastic fibers damages the trichomes on your buds. Additionally, it alters the nugs’ potency.
In metal tins, too much oxygen gets inside the container.
Your greatest option for keeping powerful cannabis for days will be to use glass jars with airtight covers.
Once your jar is full of stash, store it somewhere cool and dark.
You shouldn’t freeze marijuana because the storage area shouldn’t be too chilly. Ensure temperatures never get above 77°F and store your marijuana in a cupboard.
As important as choosing the appropriate container is avoiding direct sunlight exposure for your cured marijuana. Any light emits heat that traps moisture and encourages the growth of mold.
How can you Tell if your Weed is Old?
Old cannabis loses its scent and has a pungent odor that is difficult to breathe.
Fresh pot won’t crumble when touched; its look. Its texture will be sponge-like if it is aged.
Check for Mold
Not always obvious. It is important to check for mold regularly. You can try your hardest to prevent it from happening, but it still might. On the weed, it’s typically a white powdery material. Mold has a terrible taste, and consuming it could have negative repercussions.
The Eye Exam
Giving your cannabis a close look is the best approach to checking its freshness. Fresh cannabis has fine hairs that turn orange or amber-colored and a vivid green tint, occasionally with purple streaks. Hopefully, the small cloudy trichomes that cover these colors are the reason they appear washed out in the slightest. However, if that vibrant green has faded or, worse yet, changed to a murky brown or yellow, you’re dealing with outdated marijuana. It’s best to ignore it.
Odor and Taste
Terpenes and flavonoids that form during the curing process give a particular cannabis strain its distinct flavor and aroma. However, not even the most persistent treatment can protect marijuana from the effects of
Cannabis with little to no fragrance also likely has little to no flavor. In addition to being bland to smoke, terpene degradation could distort the entourage effect and lessen the high you get.
Consider the Moisture
Fresh cannabis buds seem moist yet not dry. Cannabis will probably lose moisture as it ages, giving it an abrasive, scraping sensation. Old cannabis feels brittle, with buds that easily fall off the stem, unlike healthy buds that may be delicately peeled free from their pliable stems.
What are the Side Effects of Consuming Weed on Health?
Sativa strains typically increase users’ energy levels, whereas Indica strains make individuals feel sleepy. Through crossbreeding and a better examination of terpene profiles, such boundaries have become increasingly hazy in recent years. One thing is for certain: any strain of ancient pot will put you on the sofa and possibly put you to sleep.
The fact that THC, the principal psychoactive component of marijuana, is only one stage in the formation of cannabinoids within the plant is one theory for this phenomenon.
The THC content of cannabis plants is harvested when it is at its highest, but if left “on the vine,” THC will transform into CBN. This cannabinoid is less psychotropic but is excellent for promoting sleep.
Because of this, CBN has been the focus of research in the field of sleep science and is now commercially available in some regions.
Your stash of marijuana is left with high levels of THC thanks to a patient-curing process that significantly limits the growth of CBN. Although cured cannabis can remain fresh for around a year, this process is not completely stopped by curing, and the cannabinoids will continue to evolve and deteriorate over time. As a result, older cannabis frequently has more CBN.
On whether CBN contributes to our fatigue, the jury is still out. Early studies and anecdotal data suggested that elevated CBN levels were equivalent to sleepy cannabis, but a more recent study on the cannabinoid’s precise function has been contradictory.
Reference: Should You Smoke Weed every day? Benefits & Side Effects of Using Marijuana Daily
Not everyone has a positive marijuana experience. You may experience frequent anxiety, fear, panic, or paranoia. The use of marijuana may increase your risk of developing clinical depression or exacerbate the signs of any existing mental problems. Yet, scientists are unsure about the precise cause. In excess, it might cause paranoia or a loss of reality, causing you to hear or see things that aren’t there.
Conclusion
If you’re going to store your weed in the freezer, you’ll want to be careful. The cold can hurt the potency of your herb. You’ll also want to avoid storing your weed in the vicinity of a hot oven, as it can cause condensation. The best bet is to buy a glass mason jar for the job and store your bud inside. The top should be free of direct exposure to sunlight or heat, and a seal should be in place to prevent leaks.
The right storage method can save your herb from damage and improve the flavor of your bud. Putting your bud in a mason jar with a vacuum-sealed lid is one way to go. It can also keep mold and mildew at bay. Ideally, you’ll want to store your cannabis in a cool room or cellar. You can use a temperature gauge to help you choose a temperature range.
