Freeze dry/cure?

NorthernHuntingMom · Aug 10, 2021

My first post and first time attempting to grow. I haven't even had time to lurk. Imagine my surprise that, if I manage to be successful, I have to wait months for it to cure. Then I read about freeze drying and I like kitchen gadgets.... not $3k worth though.

Anyone ever freeze dried and cured? Anyone ever heard of a business that does it for you for a fee?

Dank Bongula · Aug 10, 2021

You don't have to wait months for it to cure to smoke it. Sure it will get better and smoother with age, but if you harvested and dried properly, you can smoke it as soon as it is dry enough to do so. Not to mention while you are smoking some of it, you can leave the rest to cure in a separate jar. I am still smoking some that has been curing for the past 8 weeks now but I have been smoking it since it was dry on June 10.

Zephyrs · Aug 10, 2021

NorthernHuntingMom said:
My first post and first time attempting to grow. I haven't even had time to lurk. Imagine my surprise that, if I manage to be successful, I have to wait months for it to cure. Then I read about freeze drying and I like kitchen gadgets.... not $3k worth though.

Anyone ever freeze dried and cured? Anyone ever heard of a business that does it for you for a fee?

I've been wanting to try this in my chest freezer wi a few buds from my next harvest. But really reliable anecdotal examples about that are hard to come by. A $3000 dry freezer just dont fit a backyard growers budget.

NorthernHuntingMom · Aug 10, 2021

Zephyrs said:
I've been wanting to try this in my chest freezer wi a few buds from my next harvest. But really reliable anecdotal examples about that are hard to come by. A $3000 dry freezer just dont fit a backyard growers budget.

I can't afford it. And I hoped my -30 freezer would be able to do it but it can't according to anecdotal evidence but we should try with a few buds. Use a temp/humidity meter in the freezer and see what happens.

We aren't lookong for good. We are looking for data.

Autodoctor · Aug 10, 2021

Freezer won’t work but can try this way if wanting to freeze dry

PopAndSonGrows · Aug 10, 2021

Dank Bongula said:
You don't have to wait months for it to cure to smoke it. Sure it will get better and smoother with age, but if you harvested and dried properly, you can smoke it as soon as it is dry enough to do so. Not to mention while you are smoking some of it, you can leave the rest to cure in a separate jar. I am still smoking some that has been curing for the past 8 weeks now but I have been smoking it since it was dry on June 10.

100% this right here. Depending on your drying conditions you could be smoking decently dried bud in as little as 5 to 7 days. You don't have to wait for it to cure, technically, but, it's basically curing as it sits there waiting for you to smoke it, lol. If you're smoking your whole harvest before ANYTHING is cured, consider more or bigger plants.

NorthernHuntingMom · Aug 10, 2021

Autodoctor said:
Freezer won’t work but can try this way if wanting to freeze dry
View attachment 4962565

Have you tried it? It won't reduce moisture so it has to dry first correct?

Autodoctor · Aug 10, 2021

Never tried before

Dank Bongula · Aug 10, 2021

PopAndSonGrows said:
100% this right here. Depending on your drying conditions you could be smoking decently dried bud in as little as 5 to 7 days. You don't have to wait for it to cure, technically, but, it's basically curing as it sits there waiting for you to smoke it, lol. If you're smoking your whole harvest before ANYTHING is cured, consider more or bigger plants.

I wonder if OP is meaning the curing process takes months and is looking for a gadget to decrease that time?

Isn't there machine that does like dry and cure in that little fridge-like thing...something like dried and cured in a week...maybe $1500 ??

Found it...I want one.

Cannatrol – Dry-Cure-Store

www.cannatrols.com

NorthernHuntingMom · Aug 10, 2021

PopAndSonGrows said:
100% this right here. Depending on your drying conditions you could be smoking decently dried bud in as little as 5 to 7 days. You don't have to wait for it to cure, technically, but, it's basically curing as it sits there waiting for you to smoke it, lol. If you're smoking your whole harvest before ANYTHING is cured, consider more or bigger plants.

I like this answer and I don't like my growing conditions compared to my needs which is the the problem.
I have next to zero growing room and I'm stressing over light periods. My daughter and I have medical (and a bit of recreational, I'm not a saint) issues that have pushed weed costs up to 300/month.
Waiting for space to grow the next crop while the first one dries and cures means I hope to partake asap. I'm talking about 5 plants indoors max that I can fit into my home. People with very limited space can add a crop a year with a freeze dryer but people with limited space usually can't afford a freeze dryer.

I talked with my wonderful local weed accessory dealer about freeze dryers and I was amazed he didn't know about them. He has a friend starting a freeze dried food business so he is going to research how well it works and likely buy one. I told him to charge a fee for others to use it but I want a couple free dry runs for letting him know. He has a large amount with limited space. He could get an extra crop a year using a freeze dryer.

PopAndSonGrows · Aug 10, 2021

Yeah I'm not stoked about my drying conditions either, we're having a heatwave & i had to rig up a spot outside the grow tent. I just laid down plastic, pinned up towels over the blimds, have two fans indirectly blowing air around the room & a humidifier. Been averaging about 78 degrees at 50% RH, not optimal, shit's gona dry too quick, BUT i can make up for that during cure as long as I don't let stuff get over-dried.

Ideally, i like to dry in the grow tent because it's easier to control the conditions and also contain the smell better.

Dank Bongula · Aug 10, 2021

PopAndSonGrows said:
View attachment 4962578
Yeah I'm not stoked about my drying conditions either, we're having a heatwave & i had to rig up a spot outside the grow tent. I just laid down plastic, pinned up towels over the blimds, have two fans indirectly blowing air around the room & a humidifier. Been averaging about 78 degrees at 50% RH, not optimal, shit's gona dry too quick, BUT i can make up for that during cure as long as I don't let stuff get over-dried.

Ideally, i like to dry in the grow tent because it's easier to control the conditions and also contain the smell better.

Cardboard box method, man. Will really bring that temp down about 10 degrees. I just had a 10 day dry doing this method.

PopAndSonGrows · Aug 10, 2021

Dank Bongula said:
Cardboard box method, man. Will really bring that temp down about 10 degrees. I just had a 10 day dry doing this method.

Does the cardboard wick the RH or nah?? I might employ that, but RH and airflow become concerns, i know holes n such . ... I'm sure i can figure it out.

Dank Bongula · Aug 10, 2021

PopAndSonGrows said:
Does the cardboard wick the RH or nah?? I might employ that, but RH and airflow become concerns, i know holes n such . ... I'm sure i can figure it out.

It's just an insulated box. I put a few frozen water bottles/jugs inside on a plastic tray...cut a few c flaps and point a fan in the general direction or oscilallate in front of. Don't gotta tape it shut, just close the flaps kinda and you'll see that it is easy to make adjustments depending on your hygrometer readings. I put the bottles just inside the flap where the air from the fan is coming in. Initially humidity was holding around 65% and gradually stabilized around 55% with the condensation on the water bottles contributing. Temps were consistently 66-70..I think it hit 70 once or twice.

Lockedin · Aug 11, 2021

NorthernHuntingMom said:
My first post and first time attempting to grow. I haven't even had time to lurk. Imagine my surprise that, if I manage to be successful, I have to wait months for it to cure. Then I read about freeze drying and I like kitchen gadgets.... not $3k worth though.

Anyone ever freeze dried and cured? Anyone ever heard of a business that does it for you for a fee?

Welcome to RIU! :bigjoint:

Yeah, seeing 8 week curing times seem daunting - imagine your surprise when you discover that "6 weeks flowering" actually goes closer to 9 - or that just flipping the lights to 12/12 doesn't mean you're in week 1 of flowering! :bigjoint:

- My current crop has been jarred a few weeks now, and I've just opened my second mason jar of Strawberry Kush - it will taste / smell / smoke better in a week or two, but it still beats dispo weed in every way - right now.
Smell that? --- You will soon. bongsmilie

Dank Bongula said:
You don't have to wait months for it to cure to smoke it. Sure it will get better and smoother with age, but if you harvested and dried properly, you can smoke it as soon as it is dry enough to do so. Not to mention while you are smoking some of it, you can leave the rest to cure in a separate jar. I am still smoking some that has been curing for the past 8 weeks now but I have been smoking it since it was dry on June 10.

The bold part.
People will berate you for harvesting early, or not curing long enough - and they're (kinda) right.
Ignore them.
This is your first grow - do this:
READ other journals that grow like you do and look like you want to --- do what they do.
**START A JOURNAL**
I keep my first in my sig - I did some things right, I jacked some things up, and shit just happened. I learned A LOT!
Do a smoke report when you harvest - everything - bag appeal, sparkle, scent, etc. <-- Read it while smoking your second harvest.

EhCndGrower · Aug 14, 2021

Dank Bongula said:
I wonder if OP is meaning the curing process takes months and is looking for a gadget to decrease that time?

Isn't there machine that does like dry and cure in that little fridge-like thing...something like dried and cured in a week...maybe $1500 ??

Found it...I want one.

Cannatrol – Dry-Cure-Store

www.cannatrols.com

I believe @Tht_Blk_Guy27 actually has this device. I do have the harvest right freeze dryer in the medium size. Personally love it and does roughly 900-950g of wet buds per load, place in a paper bag for a few hours to regain some moisture and jar it up. The sublimation process of the freeze dryer will dry/cures the weed in less then 24hrs.pics from my first try with my Barney’s Farm LSD (which I should o let go just a bit longer)

0ld Hippie · Oct 25, 2021

NorthernHuntingMom said:
My first post and first time attempting to grow. I haven't even had time to lurk. Imagine my surprise that, if I manage to be successful, I have to wait months for it to cure. Then I read about freeze drying and I like kitchen gadgets.... not $3k worth though.

Anyone ever freeze dried and cured? Anyone ever heard of a business that does it for you for a fee?

I freeze dry with a HarvestRight freeze dryer and will not go back to traditional drying and curing.

-Stalk to smoke in 20 hours
-No burping/rolling jars
-No mold
-As smooth as a 8 week cure
-Taste is amazing

Only con is that the unit is pricey.

EhCndGrower · Oct 25, 2021

I have gone from the default tray settings of 125 and have brought them down to 70 for the trays. My plants now dry for close to 28hrs now but the flavour profile has increased greatly. Careful on bigger nuggs as they might still be a bit cool/moist inside. Other then that, my weed has never been better

Vonkins · May 3, 2022

EhCndGrower said:
I have gone from the default tray settings of 125 and have brought them down to 70 for the trays. My plants now dry for close to 28hrs now but the flavour profile has increased greatly. Careful on bigger nuggs as they might still be a bit cool/moist inside. Other then that, my weed has never been better

Does your freeze dried flower seem stronger than your traditionally cured flower?

EhCndGrower · May 4, 2022

Vonkins said:
Does your freeze dried flower seem stronger than your traditionally cured flower?

Hard to tell from strain to strain. Every grow was pretty much different with only a few repeat strains, but even they have differences. I find my terps more prominent in the freeze dried stuff, and even friends who try like the flavour better. I think overall I prefer the F.D. Over traditional dry/cure I did in paper bags (no room for plant hanging) This coming grow, if I don’t screw it up, will be the real test as I think I now have a nice tray setting at the 65f instead of the default setting of the 125f. Last ones I tried were outside gals that never got to the finish state I wanted them at for harvest. It was a pretty terrible outdoor grow season last year but hopefully a new harvest late July

Freeze dry/cure?

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