Cannabis Freeze Drying 101
If you are a grower, then there's no doubt that the process of freeze-drying has crossed your mind at least once.
Perhaps it was mentioned to you by someone else who has used the process, or maybe it even piqued your interest because you were curious about all the benefits it offers.
No matter how you came across the information, there's no denying that it has the potential to be an incredibly useful tool in your grow process.
This article will cover everything necessary for understanding what freeze-drying is and why people use it in their cannabis processing techniques.
Types of Drying and Curing Methods
Before discussing how freeze-drying cannabis can benefit a grower, it is crucial to establish some background knowledge on the various drying and curing methodologies.
This may not be necessary for someone who already has a preferred method of harvesting but will be beneficial for those looking to compare techniques or anyone new to processing hobby-style cannabis.
When harvested cannabis is dried (or cured), this water (along with some alcohols) evaporates, leaving behind cellulose material that can be used for medicinal and recreational purposes.
Cannabis plants are primarily composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, pectin, lignin, water, and sugars/starches. Trichomes are also present in the cannabis plant. Still, they contain only a small amount of cannabinoid compounds compared to other parts of the plant, so they don't contribute much to the weight of dry cannabis.
When freshly cut plant matter is exposed to heat, the water inside the cannabis cells quickly evaporates, and existing fire- or drying-related damage can occur to both physical and chemical structures within the plant material itself.
The slower a source of heat conducts through the product being dried when compared with ambient temperature in the room, the more minor damage to the plant.
This is why curing cannabis using glass jars and a humidipak can be an ideal method for drying and storing cannabis.
In some cases, it takes days, even weeks, for this type of environment to dry fresh cannabis properly through evaporation without causing cellular damage due to temperature over-extremes.
Some cultivators choose to hot-box their plants with high-pressure air filters by forcing humid air through the plant material for an extended amount of time.
This method can damage the plant tissue cells quickly, cause resin glands to fall off due to excessive heat, and cause unnecessary cellular damage.
This method is not recommended and can lead to waste due to excessive damage caused by the hot air resulting in loss of trichomes and small resin glands that fall off with handling or trimming.
The most ideal drying and curing methodology for freshly harvested cannabis will be an environment with controlled humidity and temperature.
In the end, each cultivator will have to experiment with their environment to ensure that optimal drying conditions are met without causing unnecessary damage during the process.
What is Freeze Drying?
Before we can get into all the benefits of freeze-drying and why it's beneficial for growers like us, we need to know precisely what it is and how it works.
Freeze-drying is a process that removes all of the moisture from something without heat or pressure, as those two things can be damaging to many materials.
By removing the water but not the solids, we essentially maintain most of the original form and integrity of whatever we are working with.
This is especially important for organic materials, as solids have a much higher success rate for being restored to their initial condition.
Why Do Growers Use Freeze Drying?
As stated earlier, freeze-drying is one of the most beneficial processes for growers who are looking to improve the quality of their cannabis products.
From topicals like salves and oils to tokers' favorites like flowers and edibles, the benefits of freeze-drying will be felt in every product you make.
The process has been used for years by scientists studying the effects of cannabinoids on various tissues because it preserves sample integrity and can increase cannabinoid stability.
Scientists have used this technique because it doesn't use heat or solvents, so it is an excellent way to research cannabis without the guesswork of using fresh material.
In addition, this is a popular technique for anyone who wants to lengthen the shelf life of their products by preserving cannabinoids and terpenes in a more stable form.
How Does Freeze Drying Cannabis Work?
Freeze-drying cannabis is an easy and effective way to preserve the benefits of your product.
All you have to do is place your desired starting material in a vacuum chamber before freezing it and turning off the air supply, which causes water molecules to evaporate from the plant instead of passing through ice crystals.
This ensures that the plant material retains its cannabinoids and terpenes without losing any potency over time.
Once frozen, the plant can be stored for months or even years before it degrades at all (unlike other drying techniques).
Due to this, cannabis is a great thing to freeze-dry if you need a product that is easy to carry but still offers all of the beneficial cannabinoids and terpenes.
This is what people mean when they say that freeze-dried cannabis has a longer shelf life than most other types of cannabis-based products.
Why Should You Freeze Dry Cannabis?
Freeze drying cannabis preserves the active ingredients in your product so it can be stored for extended periods without losing any potency.
This means that you can store your product for later use when convenient, which makes it great to have on hand in case of future medical emergencies or if you need cannabis-based relief while traveling.
Freeze-dried cannabis also offers a unique experience because it can be rehydrated into any form that the original plant was in, so you can choose powder, oil, or have it as it was before being dehydrated.
It also maintains a high potency of THC, which is excellent for patients who need a specific dosage to relieve their symptoms.
You may even be able to make products like edibles or topical applications using freeze-dried cannabis as an ingredient.
Choosing a Freeze Dryer
Companies like Harvest Right freeze dryers freeze-dry cannabis without adding any heat, which is essential to preserve the cannabinoids that cause the effects of cannabis.
You can also choose between a small or large capacity unit if you'll be using it in a personal or professional setting, and they're easy to use- just add your product in an airtight chamber and press a button.
Harvest Right also offers a variety of accessories, such as capsules and storage pouches that can be used with your unit.
Their stainless steel units are medical-grade and pharmaceutical-grade, and they're UL and CSA approved.
Get Started Freeze-Drying Today!
If you are ready to add freeze-drying cannabis to your process, Harvest Right has various options to choose from.
They offer medical and food-grade units, as well as many accessories that can be paired with the machine you purchase.
Click here to look at our variety of freeze dryers, capsules, and accessories.
If you have any questions about how to best use your freeze dryer or capsule fill machine, contact one of our representatives today!