Whipping rosin is the process of rapidly stirring rosin using quick, circular movements similar to whisking eggs. Whipping can change both the appearance and the consistency of rosin following a cold cure, making it a popular post-production process and the final step before the rosin is ready for consumers. While whipping isn’t necessary to prepare rosin for consumption, it does offer conspicuous benefits. But not without some potential downsides.

During the cold curing process, extractors seal freshly-pressed rosin into glass jars at cool temperatures, allowing the terpenes and cannabinoids in the rosin to interact chemically in ways that often enhance the overall quality of the extract. Both flavor and nose can really explode to a whole new level after a few days of cold curing. 

As rosin cures inside the pressurized environment of the sealed glass jar, it’s normal for terpenes to actually separate out and puddle together in little liquid pools within the rosin. In this condition, the concentrate is essentially two separate extracts in one jar: buddery rosin and liquid terpenes. 

Benefits of Whipping Rosin

Whipping rosin reintegrates these liquid terpenes back into the creamy majority of the concentrate, creating a homogenized product that’s consistent throughout. This buddery, oily, wet-looking and silky consistency is highly appealing for consumers, and extractors love it too. One reason is that it provides better shelf-stability for the rosin. The rosin will maintain the same visual qualities for longer once the concentrate is whipped together and the terpenes are mixed back into the rest of the extract. After whipping, the terpenes are less likely to separate back out of the rosin, at least in the short to mid-term. 

However, whipping also incorporates more air into the rosin. Just like beating eggs, the action of whipping rosin introduces oxygen into the substance, accelerating the natural process of oxidation. Oxidation is the enemy of high quality cannabis extracts, as it leads to degradation of both terpenes and cannabinoids, and also darkens the color of the concentrate. While whipping rosin can actually create an immediate lightening in the appearance, over the coming weeks it may continue to darken at a more rapid pace than it would have without whipping. 

That said, the consensus among consumers and extractors alike is clear: the benefits of whipping rosin far outweigh the downsides. 

How To Whip Rosin by Hand

Regular dabbing tools work well for hand-whipping. Borosilicate glass dabbers, such as these from The Press Club, offer a good shape and size for whipping rosin inside glass jars. 

Stainless steel is another material that’s safe to use for whipping rosin. Certain tools that have more of a paddle-like end are ideal for stirring and whipping rosin by hand. Check out these custom-made Easy Whip tools from The Press Club, designed specifically for hand-whipping rosin. 

Advantages and Disadvantages of Whipping Rosin by Hand

Advantages: Superior control, easy to adjust the rate of stirring and mixing, low risk of generating excessive heat, low risk of chipping the glass jar while whipping, minimizes undue whipping or overly-aggressive agitation, easy to clean off rosin from the hand-held tool after whipping. 

Disadvantages: Labor-intensive, difficult and time-consuming to whip large amounts of rosin by hand. 

How To Whip Rosin with a Drill

Be sure that the drill bit is made of material that won’t flake off or leach chemicals into the rosin. Stainless steel should be fine. 

With the right drill bit, extractors can easily rotate the spinning mixer throughout the batch of rosin, quickly and efficiently whipping an entire batch of rosin. This automated approach is ideal when working with massive amounts of rosin that would be unrealistic to whip by hand.  

Advantages and Disadvantages of Whipping Rosin with a Drill

Advantages: Provides an efficient way to whip large, commercial batches of rosin that would be unrealistic to whip by hand.

Disadvantages: Risk of chipping the glass jar holding the rosin and contaminating the product, generating too much heat and thereby degrading the rosin, potentially overly-agitating the rosin, not as much control as hand-whipping, takes longer to collect the rosin off of the mixing blades after whipping. 

What Is Better, Whipping by Hand or with a Drill?

All things considered, we recommend whipping rosin by hand when possible. There’s a level of control that hand-whipping offers, ensuring that extractors can achieve just the right amount of agitation and stirring. Hand-whipping also avoids major downsides of the drill-whipping method, such as potentially chipping glass jars, generating too much heat, and overly-beating the product. 

Unless you’re working with a substantially large amount of rosin that would take too much time and energy to whip manually, it’s best to go with the hand method of whipping rosin. 

Our hand-whipping tool makes the job easy and efficient. 

Conclusion

Extractors love whipping rosin for the creamy, buddery, and oily-gleaming look it gives to rosin, plus its ability to tease out the most obnoxious flavor and nose possible. Whipping also helps with shelf-stability, meaning that consumers can expect to get the same experience from rosin that’s been in storage for one week or one month. 

Hand whipping rosin gives extractors excellent control using a tool designed to either dab or mix rosin. With hand whipping, there’s less risk of over-agitating the concentrate, chipping the glass jar, or generating excessive heat. 

Using a drill and drill bit such as a mixer is best only when there’s so much rosin that it’s not feasible to whip by hand. 

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What does it mean to whip rosin?
Whipping rosin is the process of rapidly stirring rosin using quick, circular movements similar to whisking eggs. Whipping can change both the appearance and the consistency of rosin following a cold cure, making it a popular post-production process and the final step before the rosin is ready for consumers.

What does it mean to whip rosin by hand?
Like beating cake batter or whisking eggs, whipping rosin by hand is a manual process that involves rapid, circular movements with the wrist. In rapid sequence, extractors stir the rosin around and around inside a glass jar, folding the rosin into itself.

What tools work best to whip rosin?
Dab tools work great for whipping rosin by hand. Specialized whipping tools are even better, such as the Easy Whip from The Press Club.

How can you use a drill to whip rosin?
Extractors insert a mixing drill bit or blade, similar to what you’d use to mix paint or drywall mud, into a drill to automatically whip rosin. Using a drill can potentially chip glass, create excessive heat, and overly-agitate rosin so use caution.

Do you have to whip rosin?
Whipping rosin isn’t necessary, but it does help with shelf stability and consistency. It can also bring out flavor and nose.