Anybody use a food dehydrator for mmj?

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
You do realize a food dehydrator is a low heat alternative, without having to wait weeks?

I just sampled a small test. Job done, though I need to further lower the temperature.
 

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
I know what a food dehydrator is. I use one to dry food (apricots, jerky, etc). I know that it'll dry your herb faster, probably in less than 12 hours. I also know that quick dried herb is never going to be as smooth and tasty as herb that has dried slowly over a period of AT LEAST one week before going into jars to cure.

Do what you want, man. I'll stick with using my food dehydrator for food, and hanging my buds to dry.
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
So, look again at my thread title. Stating that you have one, you might at least have supplied some insight, but noooooooooooo

So not in any way helpful. Meaning since you have nothing to contribute, why did you bother?
 

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
Using a food dehydrator seems like a quick dry method for drying weed, and I always thought that a slow dry was preferred. Doesn't seem like it would be the best option for smell, taste, and smoothness, but I bet the buds still get you high if you're dying for some smoke right now.
 

DonPepe

Active Member
not a food dehydrator, but i have used an xbox (pretty much the same concept) when i needed a quick smoke and didn't have any dried yet.

in the words of Mic DunDee - Tastes like shit but you can live off it.
 

k0ijn

Scientia Cannabis
So, look again at my thread title. Stating that you have one, you might at least have supplied some insight, but noooooooooooo

So not in any way helpful. Meaning since you have nothing to contribute, why did you bother?
Honestly he just gave his opinion, and tbf I think he's correct.

A proper dry is a slow dry (of around 7-14 days depending on the variables).

Use a food dehydrator if you must but it's not a proper way of drying weed nor will it deliver the full potential of the weed.
 

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
So, look again at my thread title. Stating that you have one, you might at least have supplied some insight, but noooooooooooo

So not in any way helpful. Meaning since you have nothing to contribute, why did you bother?
PetFlora - Sorry you didn't like my response. Just trying to help, bro. By all means, try it out for yourself. Try it both ways and see what works for YOU. If you like the results, all the better. I'm just sharing what I've learned through reading AND personal experience.

I do have a food dehydrator. The reason I have no experience using it to dry herb is because (FOR ME) the key to a quality product is drying and curing SLOWLY.
 

rocpilefsj

Misguided Angel
I have never understood why people spend so long on a grow only to ruin the final product with methods such as these. Google would be your best bet, I highly doubt you will get much positive info here... Good luck and post any results you do find.
 

Mattemil

Active Member
I tried it once with a small amount, it took about 6 days and wasnt bad.I still prefer hanging though in the end, by far.Was simply a test.
 

stumpjumper

Well-Known Member
I've had buds hang for 3 days and be ready to jar. There was no issue with taste after a cure (or even after that 3 days for that matter) These were airy buds not big dense ones.. I usually have big colas ready to jar within 5 days..

NO WAY I want my buds hanging wet for more than 7 days max.. Whoever said up to 2 weeks is just asking for a nice moldy harvest.. IMO...
 

PetFlora

Well-Known Member
The problem with hanging 'naturally' is the environmental conditions at the time of harvest. If you have a controlled environment great, but I usually don't.
 

stumpjumper

Well-Known Member
I keep my RH at 45% and temp around 65-70 and they dry witin the 3-5 day period. I don't hang until they are totally dry though, I then paper bag them for a day or 2 then jar..
 

SpicySativa

Well-Known Member
The problem with hanging 'naturally' is the environmental conditions at the time of harvest. If you have a controlled environment great, but I usually don't.
PetFlora - You've clearly got your mind set on using the dehydrator, so give it a try. All the rest of us can do is offer you advice based on our knowledge and experience. Whether you follow it is your decision.

What's the issue with your environment? Too humid? Hang in a closet with some Damp Rid and a fan. Too dry? First off, it ain't gonna be drier than in a food dehydrator, that's for sure. Raise the humidity by draping a damp towel in the room with a fan blowing on it. Environmental conditions for drying a small harvest (assuming small based on fitting in a food dehydrator, not trying to be rude) can be tweaked for less than $20. Then you can KNOW you are doing everything you can to assure a high quality end product...

My $0.02...
 

k0ijn

Scientia Cannabis
I've had buds hang for 3 days and be ready to jar. There was no issue with taste after a cure (or even after that 3 days for that matter) These were airy buds not big dense ones.. I usually have big colas ready to jar within 5 days..

NO WAY I want my buds hanging wet for more than 7 days max.. Whoever said up to 2 weeks is just asking for a nice moldy harvest.. IMO...
You're trying to convince us that after a 3 day dry the weed was perfect and had no issues with taste or anything else, even before curing.

I'm not sure how that is possible, either your weed is very airy or you haven't tasted properly cured weed before.
People who dry the whole plant usually leave it hanging for up to two weeks, if you control the variables there's no risk of mold, as a moderator I would have assumed you knew this already, but the fact that you resort to fear mongering to make your point proves my assumption wrong.

On properly grown weed, a 7 day dry is usually the standard to let all the Chlorophyll evaporate and get the weed to around 60-65% RH ready for curing.
That's if you hang the bud individually to dry.
If you dry the whole plant at once, it can easily take up to two weeks.
 

MaineWeed

Active Member
You can not rush the drying process with consequences. Dehydrators have been around for ever and if they were that good everyone would be using them but it is what it is and food dehydrators are for food use...they only use they have for weed is to ruin it, and thats not just IMO but just about everyone who grows any kind of DECENT kind bud.
 

delvite

Well-Known Member
I saw this in a mmj grow book, but no technique.

Can anyone point me?

Thanks
found this and thought of you :) ........................


Drying marijuana quickly.
Fast and quick ways to dry your cannabis buds.


I'd like to share a few different ways to quick-dry your marijuana and cannabis buds for sampling or more immediate pleasure.


Please remember though... that properly dried and cured marijuana only gets better with time. It smokes smoother without harshness or the green taste. However, these tips to drying your weed quickly work very well.


You do retain THC levels, they may get crispy (the buds silly), but these function just fine. These processes will help you dry your pot quickly and be able to enjoy it in minutes or a few hours. And then you should be 'crispy' too.






Place your trimmed buds on a cookie sheet spread out evenly. Set your oven to 125-140 degrees Fahrenheit (no hotter!). Leave for 10 minutes, remove for 5 minutes and turn buds. Repeat once more.






Rig a flat piece of 10" foil to be held under a 100 watt light bulb (no hotter) within 2-4 inches. Turn your buds every 1-2 minutes. Should be smoke-able within about 10-15 minutes time.






Take your buds and flatly wrap them in paper or use a paper envelope and place them over your water heater, radiator, or the back of your TV. Pot should be dry in a few hours or overnight.






Place buds flat on a plate. Use your microwave on 50% power or less (important not to burn). Set for only 10-12 seconds at a time, remove and turn, repeat as necessary. Done quickly, be careful.


I've heard you can use a food dehydrator, it takes a little longer (hours) but should work as well if you have one one of these.


Also, if your buds get too dry (crispy), you can put them in a ziploc bag or glass sealable jar with a piece of orange peel... yep, it will smoke much nicer by morning.





NEVER have your heat source be more than 150 degrees Fahrenheit! Any hotter will actually burn or vaporize the THC or resin glands...this IS what gets you high, so be careful of this.




These tips should help you enjoy a little of your smoke a little faster... however - I still recommend proper drying and curing - you WILL notice the difference.

hope this helps :) Delvite
 

stumpjumper

Well-Known Member
You're trying to convince us that after a 3 day dry the weed was perfect and had no issues with taste or anything else, even before curing.

I'm not sure how that is possible, either your weed is very airy or you haven't tasted properly cured weed before.
People who dry the whole plant usually leave it hanging for up to two weeks, if you control the variables there's no risk of mold, as a moderator I would have assumed you knew this already, but the fact that you resort to fear mongering to make your point proves my assumption wrong.

On properly grown weed, a 7 day dry is usually the standard to let all the Chlorophyll evaporate and get the weed to around 60-65% RH ready for curing.
That's if you hang the bud individually to dry.
If you dry the whole plant at once, it can easily take up to two weeks.
Read much? I think I stated it was airy.. I don't hang over 5-7 days before I paper bag thick compact buds either. I've probably been smoking since you were in diapers and I know the difference between shit and dank.

I guess there wasn't any taste or cure issues when the picky as a motherfucker 55 year old stoner friend of mine pre-paid me for a bag after trying the 3 day dried buds.

Hang your shit for a month for all I care.. Fear mongering? Nahh. I don't see many posts on here by people with "properly controlled" environments.. Hanging for 2 weeks is just an invitation for mold.. It doesn't need to take that long for shit to be ready to bag and jar and be properly dried and cured afterwards.
 

Schmarmpit

Well-Known Member
I cut and hang the whole plant to dry. They normally take at least 2 weeks to dry enough for jarring. Never had mold issues, but then again, I make sure I don't.

I also have quick-dried bud in a dehydrator on the "herbs" setting (teehee). That's the lowest setting. A couple sticks of bud took about 24 hours to dry to a smokeable level. It's harsh, but it got me high.

Do what works best for you, and try not to get so angry at others' opinions. Life is too short and inconsequential for all that!
 
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