does drying weed in microwave effect potency?
- Thread starter pinoy
- Start date
2Supra4U
Well-Known Member
I would not reccomend trying to nuke your buds to dry it.
Don't ever rush it if its too moist, try to set it out for a day or overnight if you find its too moist.
if your really hurting, you could put it somewhere with cirulation (window, air vent, fan on low, etc)
or you could place it on something warm like the back of your tv or pc monitor.
but doing that can dry it too fast and make it harsh (if smoking)
Don't ever rush it if its too moist, try to set it out for a day or overnight if you find its too moist.
if your really hurting, you could put it somewhere with cirulation (window, air vent, fan on low, etc)
or you could place it on something warm like the back of your tv or pc monitor.
but doing that can dry it too fast and make it harsh (if smoking)
Put it in the oven on a piece of foil at 200 f for about 5-10 minutes.. As has been mentioned previously when this topic has come up, some of us live in areas of high humidity, where leaving your herb out overnight will not dry it out, but will actually rehydrate your herb. 
biojuggernaut
Snob
this reminds me of a friend of mine used to stick her blunts in the microwave for 2-3 seconds and then in the freezer for about 15-20 seconds. Always pulled like pearls. 
Rudy Rudiger
Well-Known Member
I don't really support the whole microwave idea. I generally let the bud sit in a brown paper bag until it gets to where I want it.
http://cannabisculture.com/articles/3037.html
http://cannabisculture.com/articles/3037.html
Blackthoven
Shaolin Master
I don't think we shouldn't use microwaves to begin with, let alone for your precious herbs 
. As others have suggested I think it would be better to wait it out.
By the way, how does damp herb fair in the average vaporizer, I've never really tried :S
. As others have suggested I think it would be better to wait it out.By the way, how does damp herb fair in the average vaporizer, I've never really tried :S
Rudy Rudiger
Well-Known Member
Blackthoven said:I don't think we shouldn't use microwaves to begin with, let alone for your precious herbs
By the way, how does damp herb fair in the average vaporizer, I've never really tried :S
Damp herb has more water, and as such produces some steam from vaping. It also tends to have more of a grassy taste to it.
In my opinion, herb should be dried to the point where the stem snaps cleanly, and then cured for at least 2 weeks. Properly cured buds taste amazing when compared to something just picked. Its all personal preference though.
http://www.fuckcombustion.com/viewtopic.php?id=828
I would say...definitely not. Potency is gained by a loooooooong curing process.
max
Out to lunch
Microwave ovens are very safe appliances-multiple safety switches, wave diameter too large for leakage, just RF energy, etc., but there's a lot of evidence that the heating method-super fast vibration of molecules (intermolecular friction)-actually changes and damages the molecules of what you're heating. If microwaves can indeed destroy the structure of nutrients in food, they can also adversely affect the structure of molecules in cannabis. IMO, why take a chance? Use a simplier method instead.
max
Out to lunch
Two researchers, Blanc and Hertel, confirmed that microwave cooking significantly changes food nutrients. Hertel previously worked as a food scientist for several years with one of the major Swiss food companies. He was fired from his job for questioning procedures in processing food because they denatured it. He got together with Blanc of the Swiss Federal Institute of Biochemistry and the University Institute for Biochemistry.
What scientists in Russia found:
1. Heating prepared meats in a microwave sufficiently for human consumption created:
* d-Nitrosodiethanolamine (a well-known cancer-causing agent)
* Destabilization of active protein biomolecular compounds
* Creation of a binding effect to radioactivity in the atmosphere
* Creation of cancer-causing agents within protein-hydrosylate compounds in milk and cereal grains;
2. Microwave emissions also caused alteration in the catabolic (breakdown) behavior of glucoside - and galactoside - elements within frozen fruits when thawed in this way;
3. Microwaves altered catabolic behavior of plant-alkaloids when raw, cooked or frozen vegetables were exposed for even very short periods;
4. Cancer-causing free radicals were formed within certain trace-mineral molecular formations in plant substances, especially in raw root vegetables;
5. Ingestion of micro-waved foods caused a higher percentage of cancerous cells in blood;
6. Due to chemical alterations within food substances, malfunctions occurred in the lymphatic system, causing degeneration of the immune system=s capacity to protect itself against cancerous growth;
7. The unstable catabolism of micro-waved foods altered their elemental food substances, leading to disorders in the digestive system;
8. Those ingesting micro-waved foods showed a statistically higher incidence of stomach and intestinal cancers, plus a general degeneration of peripheral cellular tissues with a gradual breakdown of digestive and excretory system function;
9. Microwave exposure caused significant decreases in the nutritional value of all foods studied, particularly:
* A decrease in the bioavailability of B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotrophics
* Destruction of the nutritional value of nucleoproteins in meats
* Lowering of the metabolic activity of alkaloids, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides (all basic plant substances in fruits and vegetables)
* Marked acceleration of structural disintegration in all foods.
As a result microwave ovens were banned in Russia in 1976; the ban was lifted after Perestroika.
http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html
If you google 'Russians ban microwave ovens', you get the article above and others. I recommend the Mercola article as well.
http://www.google.com/search?source...L_enUS391US391&q=RUSSIANS+BAN+MICROWAVE+OVENS
I used a microwave for years. Used to repair them many years ago too, so I wasn't afraid of them. But these days I'm more comfortable with the slower but more natural methods of cooking. I've found that humans have a way of fucking things up when they try to shortcut Mother Nature.
What scientists in Russia found:
1. Heating prepared meats in a microwave sufficiently for human consumption created:
* d-Nitrosodiethanolamine (a well-known cancer-causing agent)
* Destabilization of active protein biomolecular compounds
* Creation of a binding effect to radioactivity in the atmosphere
* Creation of cancer-causing agents within protein-hydrosylate compounds in milk and cereal grains;
2. Microwave emissions also caused alteration in the catabolic (breakdown) behavior of glucoside - and galactoside - elements within frozen fruits when thawed in this way;
3. Microwaves altered catabolic behavior of plant-alkaloids when raw, cooked or frozen vegetables were exposed for even very short periods;
4. Cancer-causing free radicals were formed within certain trace-mineral molecular formations in plant substances, especially in raw root vegetables;
5. Ingestion of micro-waved foods caused a higher percentage of cancerous cells in blood;
6. Due to chemical alterations within food substances, malfunctions occurred in the lymphatic system, causing degeneration of the immune system=s capacity to protect itself against cancerous growth;
7. The unstable catabolism of micro-waved foods altered their elemental food substances, leading to disorders in the digestive system;
8. Those ingesting micro-waved foods showed a statistically higher incidence of stomach and intestinal cancers, plus a general degeneration of peripheral cellular tissues with a gradual breakdown of digestive and excretory system function;
9. Microwave exposure caused significant decreases in the nutritional value of all foods studied, particularly:
* A decrease in the bioavailability of B-complex vitamins, vitamin C, vitamin E, essential minerals and lipotrophics
* Destruction of the nutritional value of nucleoproteins in meats
* Lowering of the metabolic activity of alkaloids, glucosides, galactosides and nitrilosides (all basic plant substances in fruits and vegetables)
* Marked acceleration of structural disintegration in all foods.
As a result microwave ovens were banned in Russia in 1976; the ban was lifted after Perestroika.
http://www.relfe.com/microwave.html
If you google 'Russians ban microwave ovens', you get the article above and others. I recommend the Mercola article as well.
http://www.google.com/search?source...L_enUS391US391&q=RUSSIANS+BAN+MICROWAVE+OVENS
I used a microwave for years. Used to repair them many years ago too, so I wasn't afraid of them. But these days I'm more comfortable with the slower but more natural methods of cooking. I've found that humans have a way of fucking things up when they try to shortcut Mother Nature.
OO
Technical Skeptical
max said:
by what mechanism does this happen?
I personally don't place any faith in the mercola or relfe sources, they both come from the loosest areas in science, and i found little if any substantiatable facts stated by either source.
what would really convince me is a peer reviewed article published in a scientific journal that not only describes the consequences of microwaving food, but the mechanism by which the waves modify the food.
"Lower-energy radiation such as visible light, microwaves, and radio waves are not."
this is a quote in reference to the ionizing abilities of different types of radiation.
the reason that high energy waves like x-rays can cause cancer is that they are small enough, and possess enough energy to remove electrons.
microwaves do not, so there must be another mechanism by which they mutate food, assuming they do.
BTW, microwaves are as natural as visible light, or heat.
max
Out to lunch
I'm not a scientist-don't claim to be, but I think I've made it clear that I've read enough to satisfy me. Why do you expect me to supply you with more info than I want for my own purposes? As for the sites I linked, they reference other research. Take it, leave it, or look for more. It's up to you.