Complete Guide to Fresh Frozen Weed and Strains

Welcome to the ultimate guide on fresh frozen weed, an innovative method that preserves the plant’s most coveted compounds. Whether you’re a cannabis connoisseur or a curious newcomer, understanding how to freeze marijuana and the best strains for live resin or rosin is essential. Let’s dive into the world of frozen cannabis, exploring the best practices for freezing, the differences between live rosin and resin, and much more.

Can you freeze fresh marijuana?

Yes, you can freeze fresh marijuana to preserve its quality. This method is popular both commercially and in DIY settings, as it helps maintain the plant’s cannabinoid and terpene profiles, which are crucial for flavor and potency. Freezing cannabis immediately after harvesting stops the aging process, locking in the plant’s natural moisture, terpenes and cannabinoids.

Secondary metabolites like terpenes, esters, and flavonoids are responsible for cannabis’s unique aromas and flavors. Cannabinoids vary from CBD, THC, CBN, and THC-V, to other lesser-known varieties. These compounds will degrade when exposed to oxygen and heat and by freezing our cannabis we can stop this degradation from happening. This is especially useful when making solventless extractions that are gentle enough to maintain the essence of the plant when it is harvested.

Commercial vs. DIY Freezing

Commercially, cannabis is frozen using sophisticated equipment, like a freeze dryer, to ensure even cooling and moisture control. DIY enthusiasts can also freeze their buds, using airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags to protect against freezer burn and moisture.

Both methods achieve similar results on different scales and will result in both “live” rosin and resin products. Ideally, your flower would be at room temperature for a minimal amount of time before freezing. Both commercial and DIY freezing should occur quickly.

Live rosin vs live resin

Live rosin and live resin are two popular forms of cannabis concentrates derived from fresh frozen cannabis plant material. Live resin is made using solvents like butane to extract the compounds, while live rosin is solventless, pressed from the plant using heat and pressure. The key difference lies in their extraction methods and the purity of the final product. Both cannabis products skip the drying and curing process.

Ice water and bubble hash

Ice water hash, or bubble hash, is made by agitating the frozen flowers in ice water and then filtering them through micron bags. This process separates the trichome heads from the plant matter, resulting in a potent concentrate.

This is a tedious process that requires a cold and clean environment and results in a high-end product that most closely resembles the flavor profile of the freshly harvested ripe cannabis buds. The resulting product can be smoked or pressed into rosin.

best fresh frozen strains for Ice Water Hash

Not all cannabis strains are equally suited for ice water extraction, and this is due to the size and shape of the trichome head, the resinous glands covering your cannabis plant. By using a magnifying glass, microscope, or jeweler’s loupe you can notice the varying size and shapes of your trichomes.  

Because ice water hash is made from the separated trichome heads you want to use strains that have sessile capitated trichomes with weak necks. This means the stalk is long the head is round and there is a clear separation where the stalk attaches to the head, which is very narrow where it meets.

Another sign that a strain is good for washing is the feeling of the trichomes and resin on your hands. Does it feel sticky or sandy? If it feels sandy that is also a good sign that it will wash well. A good return on fresh frozen material is a 3-6% return on yield of the starting weight of the biomass. That means if you start with 1000 grams of fresh frozen you should end up with anywhere between 30 and 60 grams of bubble hash.

These buds below zero are some of our most well-known strains for ice water hash:

Golden Sands – an Indica-dominant hybrid, perfect for live rosin and fresh frozen hash production, featuring sturdy plants with dense, resinous, purple-flaked buds. Carefully selected for its dry, sandy trichomes, ideal for ice water extraction, it offers fresh frozen yields above 3%. This strain is a top choice for both traditional and modern hash makers, known for its potent effects and exceptional quality.

Slightly Stoopid Fruits – this sativa dominant hybrid is fruity and uplifting, named after the band “Slightly Stoopid” known for their island vibes, this strain tastes like papaya, strawberry, and mango reminiscent of the tropical melodies this band is well known for. The shape of its trichome heads makes it a great choice for ice-water hash extraction.

Garlic Budder – this Indica-dominant hybrid, with GMO genetics, is famed for superb ice water hash extraction. This potent strain features dense, trichome-rich buds with spicy garlic, buttery, and nutty aromas. Expect tall, bushy, high-yielding plants. It delivers a powerful, laughter-filled experience but is best enjoyed away from work responsibilities.

Donutz Triploid – renowned for its unique doughnut-inspired aroma, blending sweet, dessert-like notes with a hint of fuel, reminiscent of fresh doughnuts at a gas station. Its buds, a mix of vibrant green and purple, boast a frosty resin coating. With subtle vanilla and cinnamon undertones, this strain offers a complex scent profile. The effects start with an uplifting euphoria, sparking joy and creativity, before easing into a calming physical relaxation, ideal for melting away stress. An easy grow, “Donutz” shines in any garden, promising both mental invigoration and physical ease.

Triploid Cannabis

Triploid Cannabis is bred using natural techniques and selective pressures; it is not GMO. One of the characteristics of triploid cannabis plants is multiple heads per trichome stalks. This feature creates plants with more cannabinoids and resin, increasing its return on ice water hash production. Besides having more resin, these plants consistently produce 10-20% more yield, are 99% sterile, and finish flowering 5-10 days faster than their diploid counterpart.

How to freeze marijuana

Freezing marijuana is straightforward but requires attention to detail. Here’s how:

1. Materials Needed: Airtight containers or vacuum-seal bags and a freezer.
2. Preparation: Trim your cannabis, removing excess leaves*.
3. Packing: Place your buds inside your chosen container, ensuring they’re not overly compressed.
4. Freezing: Set your freezer to the lowest setting and place your packed buds inside.
5. What to Avoid: Don’t pack your buds while they’re wet, and avoid opening the container frequently, as this can introduce moisture.

*It is important to remove as much of the fan leaves as possible, these leaves are not covered in trichomes and will degrade the quality and yield.

FAQs

What is frozen hash?

Frozen hash is a type of cannabis concentrate made from fresh frozen flowers, offering a potent and terpene-rich product. If a product has the word live in front of it, like “live resin” or “live rosin” it is made from frozen plant material.

Can you put weed in the freezer?

Yes, freezing weed is a viable method to preserve its cannabinoid and terpene content, preventing degradation over time.

Is rosin stronger than hash?

Rosin is a type of hash that is made from ice water hash and a rosin press. It is the result of high-pressure plates pressing granular bubble hash into a sticky product. This process can further concentrate the material resulting in more potency. Bubble hash ranges from 50-70% while rosin ranges from 60-80% THC concentration.

Is rosin better than ice water hash

The preference between rosin and ice water hash varies. Rosin is prized for its purity and potency, while ice water hash is favored for its traditional extraction method and flavor profile. Rosin is more expensive due to its reduction in yield while undergoing the pressing process.