By Luke Sumpter


Key Points

  • Freezing weed helps to preserve its aroma, flavor, and potency.
  • Freezing marijuana 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 marijuana and its chemical constituents. The process maintains the flavor and potency of cannabis flowers, resulting in superior edibles and extracts.

The conventional process of drying and curing makes buds 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.

Stacked clear bags filled with dried herbs in a freezer compartment.

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 labor costs and turnover time. Instead of drying and curing buds—and exposing them to the risk of mold 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 marijuana 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 flavor and aroma. The latter also synergizes with cannabinoids to steer the unique effect each variety has to offer.

You can freeze any strain of marijuana. Just make sure the buds are fresh and free of mold, 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 0°F 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 marijuana 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 flavor 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.
Comparison of live rosin and live resin, featuring two images side by side. On the left, golden live rosin is spread on paper. On the right, live resin is lifted with a tool, showcasing its glossy texture.

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 flavor: 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 flavorful terpenes and THC.
  • Prevents mold: Incorrectly dried and cured buds are vulnerable to mold. 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 minimizes exposure to oxygen, light, and heat, maintaining flavor 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 freshly 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.
Two images showcasing cannabis storage. On the left, a clear bag labeled

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 marijuana, from harvest all the way to labeling. 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: Tag Your Bags

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

  • Step 5: Place in the Freezer & Organize

You’re almost there. Now that your buds are neatly packed, simply place them into the freezer at around 0°F. Organize your bags into groups of the same strain, rotating the older bags closer to the front.

Two images depicting cannabis processing. On the left, a hand examines drying cannabis buds hanging from stems. On the right, gloved hands use scissors to trim a cannabis bud.

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 176–212°F.
  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.
Illustrated guide showing how to use fresh frozen weed for rosin extraction. Steps include defrosting on parchment paper, placing in a micron bag, using a hair straightener at 80-100°C for 30-60 seconds, and collecting rosin with a dab tool.

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 airtight containers to protect your buds against freezer burn. Caused by sublimation, freezer burn causes cellular damage and results in terpene and cannabinoid degradation, discoloration, 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 marijuana, 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?

Fresh Frozen Weed: FAQ

Can you freeze weed that’s already cured?
Yes. You can freeze weed that’s already cured to better preserve it until you smoke it.
Does freezing marijuana affect potency?
Freezing marijuana helps to keep compounds such as THC from degrading, maintaining its quality over time.
How long can you freeze weed before quality declines?
Fresh frozen weed will store for around one year before its quality slowly begins to decline.
Is freezing edibles a good idea?
Freezing edibles is a great way to extend their shelf life and potency. Remember to accurately tag the date of storage and their strength before storage.
What happens when you freeze weed?
Freezing weed causes trichomes to become brittle. Exposure to cold temperatures and darkness preserves terpenes and cannabinoids from degradation.

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Privacy Policy - Royal Queen Seeds

To ensure a safe online environment and guarantee adequate data protection, we strictly comply with all legal requirements. In this privacy statement, we provide information about how and for what purpose data is collected, safety measures, storage periods and contact details.


COMPANY NAME: SNORKEL SPAIN, SL (hereinafter ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS)

C/ Vilar d'Abdelà, 5 (nave 1) CP: 08170 de Montornès del Vallès

+34 937 379 846

support@royalqueenseeds.com


The present Privacy Policy sets out the terms on which we will treat personal data at ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS; this includes any personal data collected through our website https://www.royalqueenseeds.com/ as well as any other data we process in the course of our business activities.

ROYAL QUEEN SEEDS collects the following personal data for the purposes listed below:

SECTION 1 – PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT

1.1 Account purchases

Account purchases can only be made if you are in possession of a personal account. When you create an account or purchase something from our shop, as part of the buying and selling process we collect the following personal information that you provide to us:

This information is required for delivery. In addition, when you browse our shop, we automatically receive the Internet Protocol (IP) address of your computer. Based on this information, we can optimise your online experience and at the same time protect our online environment.

Purpose of data collection

We collect and store account-related data for the following purposes:

(a) to carry out obligations arising from any contracts between you and us, and to provide you with information, products and services that you may request from us;

(b) to set up, manage and communicate with you about your account and your orders;

(c) to conduct market research and analysis;

(d) to confirm your age and identity, and to detect and prevent fraud.

1.2 Newsletters

With your explicit permission, we may send you newsletters about our shop, new products and other updates. We send newsletters based on your explicit consent. In the event that you purchase a product, and in accordance with current regulations, we may send you commercial communications in accordance with the legitimate interest of our company, always about products or services similar to those you have purchased or contracted. In any case, you may exercise your right of opposition through the channels announced in this Privacy Policy. The following information is collected in relation to the newsletter:

We do not need to know the sex of the person in order to send the newsletter (data minimisation: by law we must ask for data that is strictly necessary to provide the service, and in this case knowing the sex is not necessary to send the newsletter).

Purpose of data collection

The data collected is used to:

(a) personalise our emails, including your name and gender;

(b) provide gender-specific content.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by using the link provided in the newsletter or the contact information provided in section 2.

1.3 Customer service and contact form

In order to provide appropriate support, our customer service employees have access to information related to the account. Consequently, their support will be highly effective and friendly. The data provided in our contact form is used by our CRM provider, SuperOffice. We will only use your details to respond to your message.

SECTION 2 – LEGITIMATE INTEREST

If you have purchased any of our products, please note that we may process your personal data for promotional purposes, based on Royal Queen Seeds' legitimate interest only to offer you products or services from our company and about products or services similar to those you have purchased. You may exercise your right to opt out of future messages by the means set out in this Privacy Policy or through any notification you receive.

2.1 How do you withdraw consent?

If you change your mind, you can withdraw your consent for us to contact you for the purpose of collecting, using, or disclosing your data at any time by reaching out to us at: support@royalqueenseeds.com.

SECTION 3 – DISCLOSURE

We may disclose your personal information if we are required to do so by law or if you breach our Terms of Service.

SECTION 4 – HOW LONG DO WE KEEP YOUR DATA?

At Royal Queen Seeds, we will not retain your data for longer than is necessary for the purposes described in this Policy. Different retention periods apply for different types of data; however, the longest period we will normally hold any personal data is 10 years.

4.1 Account information

Data relating to the account remains relevant for as long as the consumer is in possession of an account. Therefore, the data remains documented for as long as the account exists. When our customers delete an account, the associated data will be deleted within a reasonable period of time. Requests regarding the inspection or correction of stored personal data or the deletion of an account can be sent to support@royalqueenseeds.com.

4.2 Newsletters

In the event that you give us your consent to inform you about our products or services, we will keep your data until you express your wish not to receive any further communications from us. However, we regularly (every month) carry out a relevance check. Registered customers (and their personal information) will be deleted whenever customers do not reply to our request. In addition, our newsletter mailing has an opt-out feature. Consumers can withdraw their consent by using this opt-out feature.

SECTION 5 – COOKIES

Cookies are small information files that notify your computer of previous interactions with our website. These cookies are stored on your hard drive, not on our website. Essentially, when you use our website, your computer displays its cookies to us, informing our site that you have visited before. This allows our website to function more quickly and remember aspects related to your previous visits (such as your username), making your experience more convenient. At Royal Queen Seeds, we use two types of cookies: functional and analytical.

5.1 Functional Cookies

Functional cookies are used to enhance your online experience. Among other things, these cookies track what is added to your shopping cart. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

5.2 Analytical Cookies

Analytical cookies are used for research and market analysis. The data collected with these analytical cookies is anonymous, making it unusable for third parties. The use of these cookies does not require prior authorization.

SECTION 5 – THIRD-PARTY SERVICES

Third-party services are required to conduct transactions and provide our services. In general, the third-party providers we use will only collect, use and disclose your information to the extent necessary to enable them to perform the services they provide to us.

However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies regarding the information we must provide to them for your transactions.

We encourage you to read the privacy policies of these providers so that you can understand how these providers will handle your personal information.

In particular, certain suppliers may be located or have facilities located in a different jurisdiction than yours or ours. Therefore, if you choose to proceed with a transaction involving the services of a third party, your information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which that service provider or its facilities are located.

Once you leave our website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or the Terms of Service of our website.

Web analytics service (anonymous data)

On this website we have integrated an element of a web analytics service (with anonymisation functionality). Web analytics can be defined as the gathering, processing and analysis of data about the behaviour of visitors to websites. An analytics service collects, among other things, data about which website a person came from (the so-called referrer), which sub-pages they visited or how often and for how long they visited a sub-page. Web analytics is mainly used for website optimisation and for a cost–benefit analysis of internet advertising.

Courier service

To complete deliveries we use a courier service. This courier service carries out the delivery between our company and the consumer's home. To complete these logistics, the company requires access to the consumer's name and address information.

Mailing service

Royal Queen Seeds uses a third-party mail service provider to send its newsletter. This provider has access to limited account information related to opt-in consent (e.g. email address).

Marketing services

Royal Queen Seeds has the support of a company that specialises in marketing and communication activities. Their access to personal information is very limited and mostly anonymous.

Payment services

At Royal Queen Seeds we use external payment services to handle our transactions (e.g. credit card payments).

SECTION 6 – SECURITY

To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry standard best practices to ensure that it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.

If you provide us with your credit card information, the information is encrypted using secure socket layer technology (SSL) and stored using AES-256 encryption. Although no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, we follow all PCI-DSS requirements and implement additional industry standards that are commonly accepted. Information related to the account is protected with a hashing method. This method transforms the information into a generated hash. As a result, confidential information is protected and invisible, even to us. In addition, our databases are exceptionally protected against unauthorised access. For example, access to the database is only possible and permitted via approved IP addresses (e.g. from Royal Queen Seeds headquarters). Other attempts and addresses are rejected at all times.

Furthermore, data is anonymised as much as possible, so it cannot be directly linked to a specific consumer. With this data, however, we may be able to carry out market research and analysis. In addition, the third parties concerned (e.g. mailing service) are examined prior to our collaboration, comply with the GDPR from the EU and receive a processing agreement. Within Royal Queen Seeds, employees are assigned different access permissions. Specific permission provides access only to information that is strictly required to perform a task. Digital security measures are subject to change and must meet high requirements to ensure the safety of online customers. That is why, at Royal Queen Seeds, we appoint a security officer. Regular verification and improvement of security measures (where necessary) are part of the role.

SECTION 7 – CHANGES TO THIS PRIVACY POLICY

We reserve the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time, so please check back regularly. Changes and clarifications will be effective immediately upon being published on the Website. If we make substantial changes to this policy, we will notify you here that it has been updated so you will know what information we collect, how we use it and under what circumstances, if any, we use and/or disclose it.

SECTION 8 – YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO: