A whole lot of inaccurate information is floating around the internet concerning freezing edibles and cannabis infusions. Likewise, we thought we would do some myth-busting and set the record straight in this post.
We frequently get asked variations of these questions
- Can you freeze cannabutter?
- Can you freeze cannaoil?
- What about freezing edibles?
The short answer to these questions is yes.
You can freeze all of these things in order to extend shelf life. But how you do it can definitely affect the quality of the products when thawed.
Does freezing edibles effect potency?
A lot of so-called “internet experts” have misguided notions about freezing cannabis and potency.
We have seen reports claiming that freezing kills THC, along with other contradictory claims that freezing increases potency. Neither of these statements is true.
Generally speaking, freezing temperatures slow chemical degradation and cannabis is no different from any other plant in this regard. When it comes to infusions and edibles, freezing and refrigeration won't harm the cannabinoids, but keeping them cold can help you avoid your precious treats and therapies spoiling or becoming moldy.
As for the notion that we have seen circulating around on internet message boards that freezing cannabis increases its potency, if only it were true. It’s not. If it was you would see every cannabis company selling frozen cannabis.
How to freeze cannabis infusions
Keeping various infusions in your freezer simplifies making edibles as you don’t have to take time to make an infusion first, because you have already done this important step in advance. All you need to do is have fun in the kitchen creating delicious cannabis infused dishes!
You can freeze infused cannabutter or cannaoil for longer storage and it makes sense to do so. Sometimes when left at room temperature mold growth can happen, especially if any water is in the mix. Refrigerating and freezing helps prevent this.
Fats go rancid and the warmer the temperature, the faster this happens. While fats can still go rancid in the freezer, it happens at a far slower rate. You are good freezing infused fats for 3-6 months or more, depending on the type of oil.
Coconut oil, which has one of the longest shelf lives even at room temperature, can last for a year or more in the freezer.
When freezing cannabutter or cannaoil, it’s handy to use molds like Ardent’s silicone Infusion Molds before freezing. Using the molds gives you specific portions you can pull out of the freezer whenever you are ready to cook with cannabis.
Freeze infusions in the molds until solid. Remove from the mold, wrap in foil or plastic wrap, place in a freezer storage bag, label and date, and return to the freezer. Double wrapping the infusions this way gives them extra protection against freezer burn, more on this below.
How to freeze edibles
Let's face it you probably don't want to, nor should you, eat an entire batch of edibles at once. Freezing allows you more flexibility with portion control and the luxury of saving your medicated foods for when you really need and/or want them.
To be sure, some foods freeze better than others. But MANY different foods can be successfully frozen without compromising their quality and texture when re-thawed. Generally speaking, the heartier the food, the better it will freeze.
These are all broad categories of edibles that can be successfully portioned out and stored in the freezer until you are ready to consume them:
- Most baked goods: breads, brownies, cakes (frosted or unfrosted), cookies (baked or unbaked), muffins, many pies (especially fruit pies, baked or unbaked), scones.
- Most soups or stews
- Most casseroles
- Hearty sauces such as marinara or Italian meat sauce or cooked salsas
How to Prevent Freezer Burn
Freezer burn happens when ice crystals form in the food during the freezing process or during its time in the freezer. While not harmful freezer burn negatively affects the flavors and textures of food. It might look like a dry white patch on the food or it might look like large ice crystals. Here’s how to prevent it:
- Allow food to cool completely in the refrigerator BEFORE wrapping and storing in the freezer. Putting hot or even warm foods in the freezer creates too drastic a temperature change and likewise the formation of large ice crystals.
- Keep the freezer temperature consistent. Dips and raises in freezer temps are another common cause of freezer burn.
- Wrap food well for the freezer. Double wrapping, like we suggested in the infusions section of this post, is also a good idea when it comes to edibles. Plus, if you wrap each portion individually, it makes it easy to thaw and only consume the number of edibles you need at any one time.
Freeze and Bake Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe
Buttery toffee adds an extra dimension to an already great cannabis chocolate chip cookie recipe. It’s amazing that the addition of such an ingredient can improve even a classic recipe like Chocolate Chip cookies.
For hot medicated cookies anytime, freeze individual unbaked cookies on a waxed or parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Once frozen, transfer cookies to a plastic freezer container or bag. Whenever you want a medicated treat, remove however many cookies you want at a time and bake according to recipe instructions.
Each cookie in this recipe will have about 10 mg THC per cookie IF you made your marijuana butter from average cannabis (10% THC) and used 1/2 ounce (14 grams) of cannabis to make 1 cup of cannabutter. Be sure to adjust the THC percentage or amount of infused butter for your needs. If you need a lower dose, make up the difference with uninfused butter.
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons cannabis-infused butter made in the Ardent FX, Mini or Nova
- 3/4 cup dark brown sugar preferable dark
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar granulated
- 1 large egg large
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup toffee chips
- 1/2 cup walnuts or pecans chopped, optional
Line a large baking sheet with waxed or parchment paper.
In a small bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt until well combined. Set aside.
With an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment cream together the canna-butter and brown and granulated sugars until well incorporated. Add the egg, and vanilla, and mix until just combined. Slowly mix in the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Stir in the chocolate and toffee chips, and nuts, if using.
Scoop out about 2 tablespoons dough and press gently to form a flattened cookie. Repeat with remaining dough, placing cookies on the prepared baking sheet. Place in freezer and freeze until cookies are completely frozen. Remove cookies to a plastic freezer bag or container and return to freezer.
When ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with vegetable shortening, or alternately line with parchment paper. Place frozen cookies on the sheet about 3 inches apart.
Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Let set for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or at room temperature. Baked cookies will stay fresh for about 4 days in an airtight container.
Get to the fun and accessibility of creating your own custom cannabis and hemp products for less with Ardent technology. Check out the FX and Mini lab-grade precision decarboxylators and open a new world of possibilities when it comes to infusions, edibles, topicals, suppositories, beauty products and more!
