Drying and curing has long been a time-consuming process that naturally leads to the degradation of some terpenes and cannabinoids. Enter Cryo Cure, a patented process which skips the hanging phase of drying and reduces time spent from weeks to less than a day. The results are flavorful, potent, and beautiful.
From craft growers to large scale operations, we have Cryo Cure machines for growers of every scale. This guide will introduce you to each Cryo Cure machine, explaining each one’s capabilities and the kind of operator it’s best for when drying and curing premium cannabis flower.
Which Cryo Cure machine is right for you?
Whatever the scale of your cannabis grow, there’s a Cryo Cure machine for you. From the various high capacity models to the small scale CC260, Cryo Cure is dedicated to serving every type of grower and providing the necessary tools to produce exceptional flower.
Here’s a closer look at the Cryo Cure machines that are available today and the features each offers.
High capacity machines
Cryo Cure offers three high capacity machines. Each one offers the same set of features at different sizes. These machines include:
- HC4: The HC4 holds four roll-in racks and accommodates approximately 400 pounds of wet cannabis biomass. This machine features a Leybold model SP630 vacuum system and a chamber footprint is 8’ x 9’, making it the most compact high capacity machine Cryo Cure offers.
- HC7: The HC7 holds seven roll-in racks and accommodates approximately 700 pounds of wet cannabis biomass. This machine features a Leybold model SP630/1001 vacuum system and a slightly smaller chamber footprint than the HC4 at 8’ x 15’.
- HC10: The HC10 holds 10 roll-in racks and accommodates approximately 1,050 pounds of wet cannabis biomass. This machine features a Leybold model SP630/1001 vacuum system and a chamber footprint of 8’ x 21’.
Each high capacity machine features an easy load-in, load-out system that incorporates trays and rolling racks to make it easy to load and remove your cannabis from the machine. Each rolling rack includes 35 shelves and can be easily rolled from the walk-in freezer essential to prepping flower for the process directly into your Cryo Cure machine.
Each rack is designed to evenly dry and cure your cannabis flower and includes embedded temperature sensors and multiple independent control zones, giving you granular control over the entire drying and curing process. They are also designed to allow the removal of product while the machine is processing another batch, allowing for maximum efficiency.
Each high capacity machine has features designed to expedite processing time of each batch while still producing perfectly preserved top shelf flower. Programming the machine is as simple as using your smartphone or tablet to tailor each stage of the process to your exact specifications. Additionally, every high capacity machine is capable of reaching -40°F.
High Capacity Pilot
For those who want to give Cryo Cure a try, we offer a High Capacity Pilot machine, the perfect introduction to our advanced capabilities.
The High Capacity Pilot can process up to 30 wet pounds of cannabis in a 12 to 16 hour cycle at temperatures ranging from -40°F to 20°F. The machine includes one temperature control zone and two temperature sensors for monitoring conditions during a cycle. It’s also more compact than the other high capacity machines, with a chamber footprint of 3’ x 3’.
The High Capacity Pilot includes open-source programming accessible via wireless devices like smartphones or tablets, as well as 96 user programmable recipes to tailor your cycle to the precise specifications needed to maximize the preservation of terpenes and cannabinoids in your flower. Additionally, the High Capacity Pilot offers password-level protection for operator access and a native VPN and web-based Groov View interface.
CC260
The CC260 brings Cryo Cure power to small scale cultivators. This machine fits up to 20 wet pounds of cannabis and can complete the drying and curing process in as few as 11 hours. You won’t need a ton of floor space for the CC260 either: this machine has a super compact chamber footprint of 4’ x 3’. Despite this small size, the CC260 still includes six built-in drawers and comes equipped with three Cryo Cure “recipes” for perfect flower. And, like all other Cryo Cure machines, the CC260 offers customizable settings so you can tailor your machine to suit your process and workflow.
How do Cryo Cure machines work?
Whichever Cryo Cure machine you choose, the process of drying and curing your cannabis with Cryo Cure remains the same. By following this simple, five step process, you can reduce your drying and curing time from weeks to less than 24 hours. Here’s how it works.
1. Freezing
Before you can cure your cannabis, you need to freeze it. We recommend freezing your biomass at temperatures between -20°F and -30°F for at least 10 hours to be absolutely sure your cannabis is totally frozen.
Some Cryo Cure machines offer a built-in freezer, but you can also use a separate freezer so long as it can reach temperatures of -10°F or lower. It’s critical that all the moisture in your cannabis biomass is completely frozen before beginning a cycle in order to achieve the best results.
2. Vacuum pressure
Once frozen, load your cannabis into your Cryo Cure machine and confirm the settings are to your liking. Begin the cycle and confirm that vacuum pressure is achieved. Once the cannabis is under vacuum pressure, it will create the conditions necessary for stage three: sublimation.
3. Sublimation
Sublimation occurs when a solid is turned directly into a gas, skipping the liquid phase. In this case, Cryo Cure machines are converting ice into water vapor. Cryo Cure uses controlled radiant heat during this process, removing the optimal amount of moisture from the flower without damaging terpene or cannabinoid content.
4. Condensation
The water vapor that is removed from the flower is condensed back into a solid and collected in the machine’s ice bank. This keeps it away from the flower to avoid reabsorption or the risk of microbial contamination by molds and mildews.
5. Defrost
After the moisture is removed from your cannabis during the sublimation process, the final step is to defrost the ice in the ice bank. It’s then drained and collected as a hydrosol liquid. Any terpenes extracted from the flower can be separated from the hydrosol liquid and used in manufactured products like vape pens and oils, so literally none of your valuable compounds are wasted.
Once this process is completed, your cannabis flower should be perfectly preserved. Cryo Cured flower has a shelf life of up to two years when properly preserved in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry area. Cryo Cured flower retains the maximum amount of terpenes and cannabinoids for a flavorful and potent consumption experience, and offers the perfect consistency to break it apart in your hands — no grinder necessary!
How does Cryo Cure differ from freeze dryers?
A common misconception is that freeze dryers can attain the same results as Cryo Cure, but our machines are specially designed to achieve optimal preservation without degrading the quality of the flower. Freeze dryers cannot do the same.
Freeze dryers are designed to nearly eliminate all moisture, leaving cannabis flower with just 0% to 1% moisture content. That’s great for apple chips, but terrible for cannabis, which needs some moisture. Cannabis run through traditional freeze dryers turns out brittle, difficult to handle, and harsh to consume. It’s also a sub-optimal way to preserve terpenes and cannabinoids, potentially damaging some of these valuable compounds in the process.
Cryo Cure’s vacuum-driven process, on the other hand, leaves cannabis flower with between 8% and 12% moisture content and a water activity (aW) level below 0.7 aW. This prevents microbial contamination while keeping the consistency of the cannabis in the perfect range — you can break it apart without a grinder but it won’t crumble to dust at the slightest touch. Unlike traditional drying and curing methods, Cryo Cure maintains the just-harvested aesthetic of your buds for top notch shelf appeal. In every way, Cryo Cure beats freeze dryers.
See the Cryo Cure difference for yourself
With a range of machines for every type of grower, Cryo Cure makes top shelf flower an attainable reality for everyone. If you’re ready to see the difference Cryo Cure makes for yourself, contact us today about which machine is best for your needs. Or, if you prefer to sample Cryo Cured flower before committing to purchasing a machine, check out these testimonials from Cryo Cure customers. With Cryo Cure on your side, you’ll be producing bud that wows everyone who tries it in no time.
