✅ Updated 3/9/21

Whether purchasing rosin at the dispensary or pressing your own at home, proper rosin storage is critical to preserving the quality and freshness of your favorite solventless product. 

Top variables to consider when selecting a storage method include:

• Material of Storage Container
• Heat
• Light
• Air transfer
  

The goal is to minimize chemical reactions between rosin and the material of the storage container, to reduce heat and light exposure, and to achieve an air-tight seal. In doing so, we prevent dissolving/leeching, oxidation, terpene evaporation, and light degradation, which are all things to avoid when storing rosin. 

So how do you go about choosing the best way to store your rosin?

The first consideration is the amount of time you’re planning to store your rosin. Short-term storage solutions are not necessarily optimal for long-term. Certain materials interact with the high levels of acidic terpenes found in premium rosin, creating chemical reactions that negatively impact on your rosin. 

When storing in FEP sheets, consider placing the sheet inside a sealed glass jar in a cool, dark space. These extra measures are important since the FEP sheet itself won’t block light, heat, or air transfer. 

The rosin will cure differently depending on whether or not it's kept inside of a sealed container or not. 

Parchment Paper

Parchment paper can be used for short-term storage as well, offering similar benefits as FEP sheets. Look for parchment that’s food grade and coated with silicone on at least one side, which reduces the interaction between the rosin and the paper itself, and also makes for easy rosin collection when it’s time to dab. 

You could also keep some rosin stored in FEP and keep that wrapped inside a piece of folded parchment paper. 

With both FEP and parchment paper, it’s a good idea to keep everything inside an airtight container that blocks out light in a cool, dry place. 

However, the downside with silicone is that it reacts chemically with terpenes over time. The acidic terpenes in rosin will actually dissolve silicone and negatively impact quality. If you leave high quality rosin in silicone for a week or more, you may notice some flaking along the inside of the container where the terpenes are actually breaking down the components of the silicone. 

For long-term storage, this is definitely something you want to avoid.

Glass

Glass is the way to go when looking to store your rosin for more than a week or so. Store your rosin directly inside a glass jar that has a lid with an air-tight seal. Although the rosin will stick to the glass more than it does to silicone, with glass there is no chemical reaction to take place between the compounds in your rosin and the material of the container. 

In terms of reducing chemical transformations of rosin over time and preventing evaporation and oxidation, glass is the way to go. Be sure the glass is kept in a dark, cool, and dry environment and you will have fresh, high-quality rosin to look forward to for many weeks to come. 

Heat Induction Sealers

Heat induction sealers are created for the purpose of hermetic sealing, which is any type of sealing that makes a container airtight.  Heat induction sealers secure a foil laminate seal to the inside of a closure, creating an airtight environment for everything inside the container. This is the ideal environment for the long term storage of rosin, bubble hash, and even cannabis flowers. 

Induction sealing requires additional equipment you likely don't have at the house, but it's relatively straightforward and doesn't have to blow out your budget. Portable, handheld heat induction sealers are available on Amazon for under $200. 

To use the induction sealer, secure the laminate seal and the plastic lid onto the container holing your cannabis. Place the device over the lid, press the button, and an airtight environment inside the container is created. It will remain airtight until the protective seal is broken. 

Conclusion

There are several ways to store your rosin, and each has its appropriate use case. Whether you’re gifting a gram to a friend and want to showcase the beautiful color of your rosin in a clear sheet of FEP, or you have an ounce to preserve over the span of several months in a glass jar, knowing your options and the benefits of various storage methods enhances the enjoyment of your favorite cannabis concentrate.   

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is FEP?
FEP stands for fluorinated ethylene propylene, which is a transparent, non-stick, terpene proof material that can be used to store rosin. 

Why is vacuum sealing a good way to store cannabis for the long-term?
Vacuum sealing removes oxygen from within a container, which minimizes the amount of oxidation that will occur within the cannabis material. 

What is oxidation?
Oxidation is a natural chemical reaction that takes place when an oxygen atom is introduced to a compound. Oxidation degrades cannabis. 

Why is silicone bad for storing rosin and other cannabis products?
The terpenes in cannabis react with and can actually break down the silicone material, which can diminish the quality of the cannabis and lead to possible contamination in rosin. 

Why is it best to store cannabis in glass jars?
Glass is inert and won't react chemically with cannabis, and mason jars come with an air-tight seal.