StuartGrows
New Member
I don't smoke very often...how should I store my stash? I don't want it to go bad.
I agree with most of this except for the idea that cold would speed up mold growth. Under nearly all circumstances, cold slows the growth of mold, not accelerates it, because cold temperatures slow metabolic processes. That's why food stays good longer in the fridge than it does in the cupboard, and stays good even longer in the freezer than in the fridge. If you want to store weed for a long time after it has already cured, you absolutely should keep it cold, otherwise when you get around to smoking it all the THC will have degraded into CBN (a process that is sped up by exposure to air and warmth, and which can be slowed by keeping it cold). Although if you store it cold, you want to avoid opening and closing the jars as much as possible because every time you do the difference in air temperature will cause a little bit of condensation on the inside of the jar and that's not something you want, so store it in a way that allows you to open it as few times as possible (Maybe put a couple weeks worth in a smaller jar and refill it from the bigger one when it runs out rather than going into the big jar every time you want to smoke).Mold is the biggest problem for long-term product storage. And mold is a factor of the product having too much moisture in it before storage. So check your stash every week or so to make sure you have removed enough moisture. I keep mine in glass jars where I don't even have to open the jars. By rocking the jar I can hear the scraping sound that tells me my product is dry.
A large Mexican grower told me he keeps his product refridgerated at 40 degrees. I don't do that as I'm afraid the cold will speed up mold growth in bud less than properly cured. Remember, drying is a 2 part process. We dry for a few days than cure. Curing is making sure the remaining moisture is evenly distributed throughout the product. Without the curing process we would end up with soggy large buds and crispy small ones. Cure in a sealable container. I use Mason jars. After air-drying a few days put into the jar and seal it air-tight. Check after 24 hours. You may need to air-dry another 12-24 hours after the first sealing so don't be surprised to have to use the jar 2 or 3 times before getting it right. After a while you will be able to judge moisture content by gently shaking the jar and listening for the sound. Cured product will sound distinct as you progress.
Good luck, BigSteve.
you'll have buds that turn to dust as soon as you try to chop one up if u dehydrate them, I dry & cure using high quality zip lock bags,then 4 long term I allow the cured buds to air out where my moisture meter registers 5-7%,rebag the buds & using a vacume pump take most the air out of the bag & shelve it .Very interesting to hear.
What do you all think about using a food dehydrator set to a low setting to remove moisture? Then put into mason jars?
Does light exposure matter much? I'm still very new to all of this and I am learning a lot. So thank you all for the information.
I have a few ideas now, actually.
Dust? Yeah I definitely don't want that! Thank you for saving me on that mistake lol I suppose I should get a moisture meter! Any suggestions on which to get?you'll have buds that turn to dust as soon as you try to chop one up if u dehydrate them, I dry & cure using high quality zip lock bags,then 4 long term I allow the cured buds to air out where my moisture meter registers 5-7%,rebag the buds & using a vacume pump take most the air out of the bag & shelve it .
I ordered mine from " Grainger supply" online for under 100$,its a minikota brand but they have cheaper & more expensive models tooDust? Yeah I definitely don't want that! Thank you for saving me on that mistake lol I suppose I should get a moisture meter! Any suggestions on which to get?
It sounds like a vacuum sealer would be a wise investment too.
Boveda? Just googled it. It's humidor stuff huh? that IS an excellent suggestion. Thank you!!Boveda in a mason jar has worked great so far. I got weed that's over a year old and the shit is still nice and fresh. I got jars of roach weed that is nice after sitting with boveda for a few months. Shit is worth every penny
Bacala, this sounds promising. I am going to do some research and then report back with what I find. Be warned though, I tend to go crazy with finding out the details of things. I'll probably slap what I find into a blog post so I can share it with everyone easily.I put mine in mason jars after curing and vacuum seal for long-term storage in a central closet protected from light. Have had some stored this way over two years with very little loss of quality, if any. If you buy a sealer, try to get one with a jar attachment. Mine is a FoodSaver and it came standard with it.
I haven't looked at them, but there are manual jar vacuum sealers too. You wouldn't have to buy the machine if you have no other use for it.Bacala, this sounds promising. I am going to do some research and then report back with what I find. Be warned though, I tend to go crazy with finding out the details of things. I'll probably slap what I find into a blog post so I can share it with everyone easily.