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Cold curing is
the process of enabling freshly-made rosin to transform its consistency via interactions of terpenes and cannabinoids in a self-contained environment. Cold curing starts in the low 60-degree range and lasts anywhere from one to three days, to even a week or more.
Cold curing
helps the rosin transform into a more buddery consistency. Cold curing minimizes the degradation and evaporation of terpenes during the curing process, which is an advantage over the exposure to heat with a warm cure.
What is a cold cure rosin?
Cold curing rosin means
the curing took place at somewhere around 40 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. That's not exactly cold, but it is relative to the 100-plus degrees used in hot curing. Cold-cured rosin generally has a creamy color.
The extract can also be refrigerated at around 40°F for a faster cure and maximum terpene preservation.
What does Heat curing rosin do?
Warm curing can work wonders to
transform your rosin into a jam or diamonds and sauce. It's really phenomenal to watch terpenes pool together and cannabinoids crash out during the cure. And all this occurs thanks to the ratio of lipids, terpenes, and cannabinoids present in solventless rosin.
How to Decarb Rosin
If you want to make edibles out of your solventless extracts, you’ll need to understand how to decarboxylate your rosin. The process is very similar to decarboxylating cannabis flower and hash, but with some minor yet important distinctions.
What Does It Mean To Decarb Rosin?
Decarboxylation is the first step of cannabis cooking. It’s a simple process that involves heating your extract just enough to activate the cannabinoids and unlock the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
In their raw form, compounds like THC, CBD, and other minor cannabinoids aren’t usable to the body’s internal cannabinoid receptors. In order for the cannabinoids to bind and interact with these receptors, their acidic molecule needs to be removed. For example, decarboxylation results in a chemical reaction that converts THCA (the acid form of THC) into psychoactive THC.
Do You Need To Decarboxylate Rosin?
If you want to incorporate rosin into edibles, you absolutely need to decarboxylate it first. There’s a common misconception that you don’t need to decarb rosin because the active ingredients are already heated by the plates on the
rosin press. Sadly, this isn’t the case.
Decarboxylation requires two important variables: temperature and time. And while a rosin press does generate a high enough temperature for decarboxylation (many popular models like the
Helix Pro and
Longs Peak will reach temps up to 300°F), it doesn’t heat the cannabis nearly long enough for decarboxylation to occur at that temperature. Rosin extraction happens quickly in order to prevent terpene degradation, but decarboxylation occurs slowly.
Decarboxylation is not required for rosin that is dabbed or vaped. The dab rig alters the cannabinoids in real time via vaporization or combustion.
The Best Temperature To Decarboxylate Rosin
Decarbing rosin—or any form of cannabis plant matter—is a delicate process because different terpenes have varying boiling points and cannabinoids are activated at different temperatures. For instance, THC can decarb at temperatures as low as 200°F, but other cannabinoids like CBD typically require higher temperatures. Decarboxylation happens more quickly at higher temperatures, but if you go too high, you risk degrading your cannabinoids and terpenes.
Most experts recommend
decarboxylating cannabis at 220° to 250° for 30-40 minutes. But rosin has some unique considerations that must be taken into account. For example:
- Rosin has very limited moisture compared to raw flower, meaning that it can decarb more quickly—especially at high temperatures. This means a higher risk of cannabinoid and terpene degradation.
- Rosin has already been slightly decarbed as part of the extraction process.
If your rosin is still bubbling at the 30-minute mark, let it go a little longer.
How To Prepare Rosin For Decarboxylation
Before you even think about incorporating your rosin into edibles, you have to be mindful of the rosin extraction itself. That means pressing it at the right temperature. There are two generally accepted temperature ranges for pressing rosin:
- Cold Pressing. This occurs when rosin is pressed at a temperature between 160°F and 190°F, usually for 1 to 5 minutes. Though cold pressing can result in a lower yield, it promotes maximum terpene preservation. The consistency generally resembles budder or batter.
- Hot Pressing: This occurs when rosin is pressed at a temperature above 190°F for 45 seconds to 3 minutes. Higher temperatures are how you achieve the solid form of rosin commonly referred to as solventless shatter.
Hash rosin on parchment paper pressed by Eric Simpson (Instagram: @simpsonsolventless) at 180°F
The higher the temperature, the more you risk burning terpenes and compromising both your potency and flavor profile. High temps also leave you with a drier, less malleable product that requires more precision to decarboxylate properly. For this reason, it’s best to start with a cold-pressed extraction if you plan to turn your rosin into edibles. And if you do prefer a more solid cannabinoid extract that requires higher temperatures, try to keep your plates below 220°F.
Tip: Stay on the lower end of the temperature range if you’re pressing bubble hash or high-quality sift. Aim a bit higher if you’re pressing flower or lower-quality sift.
How To Decarb Rosin
There are several methods for decarboxylating rosin, such as with boiling water or crock pots, but the easiest method is to use an oven. Not only does this allow for optimal temperature control, but it also accommodates small as well as large batches. It’s suitable for both home and commercial operations.
- Preheat your oven to 220°F.
- Place your rosin in a heat-safe glass container (like a safe bowl or mason jar) and cover or seal it if possible.
- Place your container onto a baking sheet and place it into your pre-heated oven for about 25 to 30 minutes, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove your rosin from the oven, and let it cool.
Depending on the consistency of the rosin, you may need to let it decarb for longer than the 25-to-30-minute recommendation. Your rosin should bubble during the decarboxylation process. You’ll know that the decarbing process is complete when it stops bubbling.
How To Decarb Rosin Chips
Rosin chips are the flattened hash or cannabis patties that are left behind after the rosin is pressed. While they aren’t useful for making dabs, they are great for making edibles, as they still contain plenty of cannabinoids and terpenes. Turning your chips into edibles is a great way to ensure that no part of your plant is wasted.
Flower rosin chip on parchment paper post-press
The decarb process for rosin chips is similar to the method described above but needs to be done using an oil or fat such as MCT, coconut oil, or olive oil.
- Preheat your oven to 220°F or use a crockpot set on high.
- Break up your rosin chips with your hands and crumble them in the crockpot or in a glass jar.
- Cover the chips with oil to allow the cannabinoids from the rosin chips to escape and infuse into the oil.
- Heat covered for about 25-30 minutes.
- Remove your rosin chips from the oven, and let them cool.
Rosin chips are less potent than pure rosin, but they can still provide a powerful buzz when incorporated into edibles. That’s because edibles are processed in the liver and metabolized into 11-Hydroxy-THC, which is
two to three times stronger than THC.
What To Do With Decarboxylated Rosin
Once your rosin has had a chance to cool, it can be incorporated into a wide range of cannabis recipes. You can use an infuser like the Magical Butter Machine to make cannabutter or an oil infusion, and then add your infusion to a variety of conventional recipes. You can also add decarbed rosin directly to any food with a high fat or oil content.
Cannabinoids and terpenes are extremely fat soluble, so a good MCT oil, coconut oil, olive oil, canola oil, or avocado oil can make an excellent base for your infusion.
The process of making rosin edibles is virtually the same as making edibles with flower, but with a couple of distinctions:
- Typically, when making cannabutter or another infusion, you would need to strain your infusion through cheesecloth to remove any residual plant material. This is often unnecessary with rosin edibles because the resin has already been separated from the plant. You’ll still need to strain if you’re using rosin chips, though. And if your source material is flower or dry sift (as opposed to full-melt hash), you might still strain your infusion to achieve a purer product.
- Because you’re working with a highly potent concentrate, you must be especially careful about dosing. You don’t need several grams of rosin for a single cannabis edible recipe. Ideally, you want to start with no more than 5mg to 10mg per serving. This can be difficult to achieve when you consider that a gram of rosin contains 1,000 mg. So if you use an eighth of a gram to make cannabutter for a batch of 12 brownies, you’ll be right around 10 mg per serving. You’ll also need to be mindful of the THC content in the source material.
Whether you’re looking to make solventless rosin edibles at home or expand your extraction business into new areas, mastering the fine art of rosin extraction and infusion can open a whole new world of psychoactive opportunities. And the great thing about cooking with rosin is that you never have to worry about residual solvents ruining your magic brownies.
CRASH COURSE ON CURING AND CONSISTENCIES
Apr 16, 2019
Crash Course on Consistencies and Curing
“But my rosin doesn’t look like that..”
Sound familiar?
When it comes to pressing rosin, sourcing TOP NOTCH material is of the UPMOST importance. But there could be a little more magic behind the scenes, that you may not know about.
Whether you’ve been pressing for years, or just starting your trip down Solventless Lane, you may have noticed by now that not all strains squash equal, with the major differences being the ratio of Terpenes to Cannabinoids in a particular strain. Typically, its fair to say cannabis strains with a higher terpene profile tend not to “budder” up as quickly or easily as some other strains, and in some instances wont budder up at all!
The process of introducing oxygen, varying temps, and light to your rosin is known as the process of “Curing”
Based on how you “agitate” and store your freshly pressed rosin, will determine the finished result. By experimenting with varying levels of heat and agitation, you will quickly get a grasp on how to create YOUR ideal texture.
Some Flower rosin freshly collected before its been whipped and cured – photo credit: @darthtolker
For some like “Darth” (IG - @darthtolker) He provides a simple, at-home curing tech, that may be what your looking for. To start, he recommends paying close attention to genetics of the strain you choose, as we’ve stated before, not all strains will press the same.
He has also found, that when sourcing your flower, be mindful of how fresh the material is… Remember, the more heat and light your material has been exposed to, the darker the Trichome heads become, ultimately resulting in a *
darker result. One recommendation Darth gives is beginning your press at a lower temperature of about 195 F to help remove any unwanted moisture that may be left behind, remember, never press wet material.
Once collected into a container of his choosing, he will then begin to “whip” it up, creating different “zig-zag” motions all while a steady stirring motion is in play. Once the Rosin takes on a desirable color, he suggests storing it in a refrigerator for about 1 hour with the lid open a bit, before fully tightening the cap for 24 hours. If after that time, the rosin has not “buddered” up, It could be one of those strains that just wont do so. Documenting and/logging what strains you work with could be of great value in beginning to learn which strains will budder up and which ones just flat out wont.
NOTE:
The amount of THC-a in a particular strain is mainly responsible for whether it will budder up at all
Some flower rosin AFTER whipping and curing – photo credit: @darthtolker
* SIDE NOTE *
A darker color does not always mean “bad” rosin, It simply could mean that the Trichomes have turned or matured to an amber color, resulting in amber/darker colored oil –
For others, like Joe, from
@Rhodyrosin. Simply curing your rosin to a gassy “budder” isn’t quite enough, Here he shares with us on how he achieves a desirable, highly sought after, Rosin Coin.
He first classifies his rosin into 3 separate categories:
Fast Curing – usually cures within an hour or two, making this type of rosin a challenge to shape and handle since it is likely to have the immediate texture of “budder” on the press while being squashed. This type requires a faster handling method to obtain different shapes such as coins, round dots, etc. This can be challenging as there is a narrow window to handle and shape FCR.
Medium Curing – is where most strains fall. Unless the rosin gets excessively heated while being handled, this rosin is malleable and can be handled without any residual rosin sticking to gloves/parchment.
Slow Curing – is typically derived from strains that are low in terpenes or have terpenes with a sappy consistency. Slower curing rosin makes it difficult to handle and maintain any shape. Cannabis flowers with a low terpene profile and most CBD strains fall into this category, as the cannabinoid to terpene ratio isn’t sufficient. CBD strains with a high ratio of terpenes to cannabinoids tends to be sappy while low-terpene rosin tends to be shatter-like.
Once he determines how what kind of rosin he is working with, he then will collect his rosin into a circular shaped ball, and gently apply bottom heat, then watches as the ball takes on a more “coin like” shape as it sets and cures.
“It can be a fun, and crafty endeavor that can be therapeutic and similar to playdough and fun for adults” he shares.
Rosin Coin – Photo Credit -
@rhodyrosin
Whip it…Whip it good!
These are just a few of the ways to cure that don’t require much more than a little elbow grease and a bit of know how. In our next section, we will explain another Technique of curing, popularly called “JAR TECH” that requires a bit more of a formula to achieve, with a Fellow Hash artist known by @north.best.connect_ , and he’ll further explain why he likes it that way. Be sure to check out his IG page to get a glimpse of his style and technique.
Without a doubt, whipping and pulling is the simplest way to cure your rosin into a nice budder, crumble or Coin.
But if you care to dive in a little deeper, the use of some household kitchen appliances could open up a whole new world of texture.
I had the opportunity to pick the brain of a long time hash artist named Raithon Clay, from
@North.Best.Connect_, he has been perfecting the art of making bubble hash for over a decade. Born in the 70’s, Raithon has had the opportunity to get very familiar with hash and the process of extracting it as well as the different techniques of curing Rosin.- which according to his expertise “enhances and brings out the terpenes and flower profiles” even more.
He has most recently been working his magic on “Jar Tech” – This is when rosin is collected and cured in a glass jar with mild heat applied.
Rosin being collected into a jar - Photo credit: IG @themapdestroyer
He was even nice enough to touch upon one of his recipes with us
:
During this process, the rosin is immediately collected into a jar, he likes to work with jars small enough to fit between the plates of his Sasquash V2 Rosin Press. Once he has his jars filled, he proceeds to turn the power to his press off, and place some parchment paper over the top of his jars. Once that step is complete, he then lowers the plates down, with just enough pressure to create a “lid”.
He shares “as the temperature of the plates naturally cooled, probably to a nice
165 F, I noticed the rosin in the jars start to become the consistency I was looking for”. At a larger scale, he uses a commercial grade dehydrator with multi-heat Temperature settings.
“When using this, I will collect the rosin immediately into a jar, and with the lid on I will
set the temperature between 145 F and 165 F. Then much like baking, Ill need to keep an eye on how it looks. It
usually takes just under 45 minutes for the rosin in the jar to “muffin up” at which rate I will
then drop the temperature down between 108 F and 98 F and leave in for anywhere from 6 – 15 hrs.”
Tip: Be sure to keep the lid tightened securely as this will assist in the needed pressure to build up in the jar, and not to be opened until the end of the process.
He continues:
“The pressure from the lid remaining closed throughout this curing process creates a unique terpene separation that leads to the final product being more relative of a sugar-like crumble. You can even open the lid right as it starts to “muffin up” and stir it up a bit, this will break down any solid formations, giving you more of a sugary “sauce”
*NOTE*
The Quality of material
used does and always will determine the result)
Rosin after being cured with some heat applied in a jar – Photo Credit: IG @themapdestroyer
By adding the step of stirring it up in the jar, before it has the opportunity to cake up, will break down the formations, and will allow the terpenes to find their way to the surface. The lack of oxygen keeps your rosin nice and “wet” and some would argue it even has a longer shelf life, since there is less oxidation in the curing process.
Whether you whip it, pull it, or jar it up…There ULTIMATELY is no WRONG way to preserve your rosin. Finding what texture and consistency works for you can take some time, but by following this advice, you should become a master rosin handler in no time
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