RavenMochi
Well-Known Member
Has anyone tried this? Will it just ruin the product, or is it just as good as any other? if so, how long did it take? By concept it seems like it would work great...
Ronco Food Dehydrator, anyone actually tried it?
- Thread starter RavenMochi
- Start date
RavenMochi
Well-Known Member
ohhh...so it made it taste like shit? 
Mel O'Cheddar
Active Member
I was thinking and hoping for a positive answer to your same question. Everything I've read/ seen/ heard says DON'T use a dehydrator. It's just too fast. It would seem that drying is one of those things you just can't rush. Like Tom Petty says, "The waiting is the hardest part", and wouldn't you rather wait instaed of having to pitch all your dope 'cos you rushed it?
sonar
Well-Known Member
I dunno, I have one that's been sitting in my basement for years and I'm thinking about trying it. Not really long or anything, maybe just a few hours to get a little head start. Mine actually doesn't get that hot, it's pretty much just a fan. I'm expecting a pretty big harvest so a little bit won't hurt.
part of drying is allowing enzymes to continue to be active in the plant. This continues into curing (though other things like fermentation begin in curing), and speeding this up would certainly change some of those chemical reactions that continue even while the plant is drying. Whether it will make a significant impact on the end product, I don't know, I haven't seen compelling evidence either way, but at least in theory it could result in less potent herb.
On the other hand I have read a few reports from people using dry ice to dry, and they have nothing but good to say about it. I keep meaning to try it myself with a small amount, but haven't gotten around to it. They have dry bud in as long as it takes the dry ice to melt at room temps. they still cure though.
On the other hand I have read a few reports from people using dry ice to dry, and they have nothing but good to say about it. I keep meaning to try it myself with a small amount, but haven't gotten around to it. They have dry bud in as long as it takes the dry ice to melt at room temps. they still cure though.
Mel O'Cheddar
Active Member
Dry ice? Weird.
RavenMochi
Well-Known Member
I've read a long post on a 4-5 day dryer consisting of a rubbermaid container, some shelves made out of screen and an inline fan, and according to the user, none of his people could tell the difference between the quick dried and traditional, but of course I'm not exactly sure to tell you the truth on how the thing works in the first place, I only ask because my wife will be getting one for her herb and I thought it might be worth a try. I'll probably throw in just a couple of nugs to see how it all works out....
That dry ice one sounds interesting...gonna have to check that out...
That dry ice one sounds interesting...gonna have to check that out...
Mel O'Cheddar
Active Member
Yeah, one or two nuggets won't break the bank. Worse comes to worse, throw it in some brownies or something.
Sounds like what your friend made was a drying box. That is drying. 4-5 days is faster than it would have been without a fan, but it's how most people dry
The methods we are talking about will dry in a few hours to at most a day or so.Since people seem interested in the dry ice, I'll tell you what I know about it (limited since I haven't tried it yet). You take the same amount of dry ice as you have bud (go by size, not weight). Put a paper towel or wash cloth on top of the dry ice, then place the bud on top of that. The ice will release gas that will pass up through the bud and suck water out. According to what I have read they should be perfectly dry by the time the dry ice is all melted at room temp. Dunno if there's any subtleties to it, but I would probably suggest starting with a small amount and do a test run or two. And again, the reports I have seen of people doing this, they have still cured (jars with a burping schedule), this simply saved them the 4-7 days of drying time. No one mentioned having smoked anything after just the dry ice treatment.
stonedmetalhead1
Well-Known Member
If plants are dried to quickly all of the chemicals are trapped inside and will not break down properly. Even with a "cure" improperly dried herb will be shit.
RavenMochi
Well-Known Member
most of the people here that I've read were using the hang it upside down method... I'll try the dry ice method and see how it works...Sounds like what your friend made was a drying box. That is drying. 4-5 days is faster than it would have been without a fan, but it's how most people dry
Since people seem interested in the dry ice, I'll tell you what I know about it (limited since I haven't tried it yet). You take the same amount of dry ice as you have bud (go by size, not weight). Put a paper towel or wash cloth on top of the dry ice, then place the bud on top of that. The ice will release gas that will pass up through the bud and suck water out. According to what I have read they should be perfectly dry by the time the dry ice is all melted at room temp. Dunno if there's any subtleties to it, but I would probably suggest starting with a small amount and do a test run or two. And again, the reports I have seen of people doing this, they have still cured (jars with a burping schedule), this simply saved them the 4-7 days of drying time. No one mentioned having smoked anything after just the dry ice treatment.
I misspoke when I said most do it this way, but a lot do. Most people I know who dry large quantities do it on screens that slide into racks on wheels. With the smaller crops hanging is more common (I hang dry), but there are certainly plenty of hobbyists who screen dry.