A Guide to Fresh Frozen Weed

Key Points

• Freezing weed helps to preserve its aroma, flavour, and potency.
• Freezing cannabis immediately after harvest produces high-quality live resin and rosin.
• You can also freeze cured buds to preserve them for longer periods.
• Dive into the world of freezing weed below to keep your buds fresher for longer.

How would you react if somebody told you to put your weed in the freezer? It sounds bizarre at first, but packing your buds into bags and freezing them comes with several benefits. 

First, it removes the lengthy task of drying and curing. Moreover, by preserving the terpene and cannabinoid profiles of freshly harvested buds, freezing weed also allows you to create some of the best cannabis extracts around.

Can You Freeze Weed?

Yes. Freezing weed has become a popular and effective way of preserving cannabis and its chemical constituents. The process maintains the flavour and potency of cannabis flowers, resulting in superior edibles and extracts.

The conventional process of drying and curing makes cannabis smokable and smooth, but cannabinoids and terpenes are lost along the way. If you’re planning to use your buds for another purpose, fresh freezing works a charm for maintaining quality.

Despite its proven effectiveness, some users are worried that such cold temperatures will damage trichomes and terpenes. However, proper handling and storage prevent freezer burn and keep buds in tip-top shape.

Fresh Frozen Weed: A US Market Trend

You’re not alone; we also raised our eyebrows when we first heard of fresh frozen weed. However, once you understand why manufacturers do this, it’ll all become clear. 

Fresh frozen weed benefits growers and consumers alike. On the industrial side of things, freezing buds massively reduces labour costs and turnover time. Instead of drying and curing buds—and exposing them to the risk of mould and other pathogens in the process—growers simply place their flowers into industrial freezers and send them off to labs for extraction.

Not only does freezing weed create a better product, but many companies are employing this method simply to stay relevant in an ever-changing market. As customers continue to experience the benefits of products made from fresh frozen weed, businesses are under pressure to adhere to this rising trend.

Why Freeze Weed?

Rampant curiosity and innovation within the cannabis industry led some pioneers to ask: is it good to freeze weed? After trial and error, it turned out the answer to this question was a resounding yes.

Freezing weed shields buds from light, oxygen, and heat—three variables that break down cannabinoids and terpenes over time. Cannabinoids such as THC and CBD are central to the effects of each strain, and terpenes are key to flavour and aroma. The latter also synergises with cannabinoids to steer the unique effect each variety has to offer.

You can freeze any strain of cannabis. Just make sure the buds are fresh and free of mould, pesticide residue, and other contaminants.

• Does Freezing Weed Keep It Fresh?

Just like those peas in your freezer that haven’t seen the light of day in months, freezing weed keeps it fresh, resinous, and aromatic. You can rest easy knowing your buds will maintain their quality for a year or longer. However, even in freezing conditions, certain factors can affect the quality of your flowers, including:

• Poor timing: To benefit from the freezing process, you’ll need to pack up and store your cannabis immediately after harvest when the buds are freshest. Waiting any longer than this defeats the purpose of this technique.
• Incorrect packaging: Using the wrong type of packaging can expose buds to freezer burn and oxidation, reducing their quality.
• Wrong temperature: You’ll need to store your buds at -18°C or lower. Temperatures higher than this will cause buds to slowly lose their quality.

• What Does Frost Do to Trichomes?

Trichomes are the small crystal-like structures on cannabis buds that produce cannabinoids and terpenes. Although freezing temperatures help to preserve them, they also cause them to become brittle and hard. While not a problem in itself, rough handling of frozen weed can dislodge trichomes, resulting in a loss of flavour and potency in severe cases.

• An Introduction to Live Resin and Rosin

Fresh frozen weed has become the go-to storage method for live resin and rosin manufacturers. Here, the term “live” refers to immediate freezing post-harvest. Check out the properties of each of these extracts before we discuss the benefits of using frozen weed in their processing:

• Live resin: Created via solvent extraction using butane or propane, this extract boasts a high terpene content and plenty of THC, and is available in forms such as shatter and sauce. It’s often more affordable than rosin.
• Live rosin: Made without solvents using heat and pressure, this extract also possesses heaps of terpenes and cannabinoids. It’s typically available in more waxy and buttery textures.

Benefits of Freezing Fresh Cannabis

Placing weed directly into the freezer post-harvest offers distinct benefits compared to the conventional pathway of drying and curing. Explore the perks of this method below:

• Retains potency and flavour: Freezing weed shelters cannabinoids and terpenes from degradation factors, such as heat and light, preserving key compounds responsible for the tastes and effects of each strain.
• Makes superior extracts: Fresh frozen weed makes higher-quality extracts that are higher in flavourful terpenes and THC.
• Prevents mould: Incorrectly dried and cured buds are vulnerable to mould. Directly freezing weed removes this post-harvest threat.
• Extends shelf life: Whether you’re making fresh frozen extractions or simply want to store already cured buds for a later date, freezing buds will help to maintain quality for longer.

• When to Freeze Dried Cannabis

While fresh frozen weed involves freezing freshly harvested buds, it’s also possible to store already dried and cured cannabis flowers in the freezer. The top reasons for freezing dried buds include:

1. Long-term storage: Buds will last months in curing jars and maintain quality. However, if you want to keep them in tip-top shape, freezing cured flowers minimises exposure to oxygen, light, and heat, maintaining flavour and potency for longer.
2. Creating infused products: Freezing dried buds also gives you some breathing room when deciding what to do with them. It’ll lock in those valuable compounds while you research and think up options, such as crafting edibles and tinctures.
3. Overproduction: If you find yourself with an abundance of cured buds after a particularly big harvest, placing a portion of your stash into the freezer will help to maintain the quality of your buds as you work on chipping away at your oversupply. 

Compared to fresh frozen weed, dried frozen weed is easier to handle during processing. While slightly lower in cannabinoids and terpenes, they’re far less sticky and wet and don’t require further trimming.

• What’s Required to Create Fresh Frozen Weed?

Opting for fresh frozen weed doesn’t take a whole load of work or equipment. Most households will have all the gear required to run the most basic setup. 

However, you have the choice of investing in some additional pieces of kit for the best possible results. Check out what you’ll need below:

• Freshly harvested bud: Aim to use the freshest buds possible. Ideally, you’ll freeze your flowers on the same day that you harvest them, leaving no time for their constituents to break down.
• Gloves: Latex or nitrile gloves will keep your hands clean while handling sticky, resinous buds.
• Scissors: You’ll need a pair of scissors to remove buds from the plants and trim away the sugar leaves. You can use a pair from your kitchen drawer, or grab a pair of curved trimming scissors for an ergonomic advantage.
• Trimming tray or table: You’ll need a clean, flat surface to trim away fan leaves, stems, and large sugar leaves.
• Freezer: You might need to throw away those peas you’ve been meaning to eat for the last three years to make some room for your weed. You don’t need anything special here unless you plan on freezing boatloads of bud.
• Plastics bags: Before packing your buds into the freezer, you’ll need to place them in food-grade plastic bags—turkey bags are a good option.
• Vacuum sealer (optional): You don’t need to vacuum seal your flowers before freezing, but it can certainly help. These machines will suck the air out of the bags, allowing you to fit more weed into a smaller space while also excluding oxygen—another variable that causes terpene degradation.

How to Freeze Weed

Now that you’re aware of the benefits of fresh frozen weed, we’re going to show you how to fresh-freeze cannabis, from harvest all the way to labelling. Grab your supplies and follow the steps below to keep your terps fresh.

• Step 1: Harvest Carefully

Harvest day has arrived! Clear your schedule for the next few hours. Use a pair of scissors to remove buds from branches and load them into a collection tray. 

Remember to handle your flowers gently to keep the trichomes intact. Aim to handle them by the stems to avoid getting sticky hands and removing valuable resin. A pair of disposable gloves comes in handy here too.

• Step 2: Get Trimming

Once you’ve stripped your plants down, trim off the sugar leaves over another empty container to collect them for future use. Consider making kief, or even some sugar leaf tea. 

• Step 3: Bag Your Buds

Once trimmed, you’ll need to pack your buds away into bags. If you’re opting for food-grade bags, pack each one around 75% full. 

Gently squeeze as much air out as possible without squashing your flowers. Then, close each bag using a clip or tie. Alternatively, use a vacuum sealer to package your weed.

• Step 4: Label Your Bags

To make the best extracts possible, you need to stay on top of organisation. Use freezer labels to tag your bags of bud, making sure to document the strain and date of freezing.

• Step 5: Place in the Freezer & Organise

You’re almost there. Now that your buds are neatly packed, simply place them into the freezer at around -18°C. Organise your bags into groups of the same strain, rotating the older bags closer to the front.

How To Use Fresh Frozen Weed

You have two primary choices when it comes to processing your fresh frozen weed at home: making live resin or live rosin. Because live resin necessitates a commercial-grade, closed-loop hydrocarbon extraction process, most home growers opt for live rosin. 

You can make this extract using nothing more than a hair straightener and a piece of parchment paper. Explore the simple steps involved below.

• Equipment

• Fresh frozen weed
• 25–160 micron mesh bag
• Heat-resistant and unbleached parchment paper
• Hair straightener
• Dab tool
• Small silicone or glass jar

• Instructions

1. Spread your frozen weed over a single layer of parchment paper and defrost at room temperature for around one hour.
2. Pack your micron bag loosely with the desired amount of frozen buds.
3. Preheat your hair straightener to 80–100°C.
4. Place the micron bag between two sheets of parchment paper, leaving enough space around the edges to collect the rosin.
5. Apply firm pressure with the hair straightener for 30–60 seconds.
6. Carefully peel back the parchment paper and use a dabbing tool to scrape it off into your silicone or glass jar.
7. Use your rosin right away, or store your jar in a cool and dark place.

Things to Avoid When Creating Fresh Frozen Weed

Preparing and using fresh frozen weed seems simple, right? While true, things can go wrong during this process if you’re not careful. Avoid the following mistakes to ensure success:

• Don’t shake frozen buds: Try not to shake or drop your bags of frozen weed when taking them out of the freezer—trichomes are delicate structures!
• Avoid poor packaging: You must use air-tight containers to protect your buds against freezer burn. Caused by sublimation, freezer burn causes cellular damage and results in terpene and cannabinoid degradation, discolouration, and texture changes. While vacuum sealing is ideal, Tupperware and zip-seal bags are a good alternative.
• Don’t let your buds sit out: Only remove your buds from the freezer when you plan on using them right away. Letting them thaw out for too long at room temperature will expose them to the variables you’re trying to protect them from.
• Don’t press fresh frozen weed: You need to make bubble hash with your frozen weed before pressing anything. They’re full of water, after all.
• Look out for holes in vacuum bags: Small holes in vacuum bags defeat the point of using them and expose buds to oxygen. Vet your bags before putting them to use.
• Don’t smoke it: Remember, you’re not going to want to smoke fresh frozen weed. All of that chlorophyll will make it taste harsh, regardless of the amount of terpenes within.

Alternatives to Freezing Weed

Freezing weed has its advantages, but it’s not always suitable. Next up, we’re going to explore some great alternatives, and also point out when it’s not necessary to freeze your buds.

• Explore Different Options

If freezing weed sounds like overkill for your circumstances, check out these time-tested alternatives:

• Glass jars: As the most popular way to store cured buds, glass jars are capable of preserving weed for up to a year or more. Place them in a cool, dark place for the best results.
• CVaults: Made specifically with curing in mind, CVault steel storage containers are airtight, robust, and shield buds from light.
• Cannadors: Expensive but expertly designed, this piece of kit is only popular among true connoisseurs. Cannadors are the cigar humidors of the weed world. With a maximum capacity of eight jars, they’re a great way to both store your buds and present them in style.

• When Freezing Weed Is Unnecessary

Keep in mind that fresh frozen weed is only a worthwhile pursuit if you plan on making edibles and extracts. If you prefer to smoke your cannabis, there are very few situations where you’ll need to freeze it.

However, if you’ve got a big enough stash, freezing cured flowers is a reliable way to preserve their quality until you get around to blazing them up.

Stay Frosty To Get Blazed

Now that you’re aware of the benefits of fresh frozen weed, and how to put it to use, only one question remains: will you be placing your fresh flowers next to your frozen pizzas and peas? It’s not for everyone, but frozen weed makes for some of the best cannabis extracts available. Why not give it a go?