Let me start by saying that steaming wet dope smells DISGUSTING! My family had to leave the house it smelled so bad. Like boiled brussels sprouts but worse. I do not recommend it unless absolutely necessary!
So to review, the plan was to waste none of the plant, including the buds with botrytis. The way I read to kill botrytis was with steam for at least 30 minutes. Of course, I went with 60 minutes. As this was not being used for ingestion or inhalation, I was less concerned about the efficacy of the method but feel convinced it will work. To test the results, I will keep one bud out at the end of the process (before oil extraction) and seal it in a jar to see if it grows any mold.
First, I found a double boiler with a steam top (flat bottom with holes) rather than a standard top pot. I happened to have one up in a cabinet that was my mother's and had no idea was there until I mentioned the process to my wife. I dumped the contents of the freezer bag into the top. If you don't have one of these you can always hang a strainer on the top of a large pot of boiling water and seal it with tin foil. The water should not touch the weed.
I then placed it on top of the pot of boiling water and set the timer for 60 minutes.
After 60 minutes and a whole lotta stink, it was done.
At that point it went into a pyrex pan to dry in the oven at 200°.
I don't want to decarb at this temp, just evaporate the water so grind it and then decarb with a cover on it. However, at 200° it takes a long time to dry out, so leave it in the oven on convection for air circulation.
Given that this has already been at 212° for an hour and at 200° for a few more hours, you will need to decide how much decarb you will still need to do when this is dry. Some decarb must have already taken place and I don't want to get rid of the THC, so I may go easy on the final covered decarb. Decisions, decisions.
So to review, the plan was to waste none of the plant, including the buds with botrytis. The way I read to kill botrytis was with steam for at least 30 minutes. Of course, I went with 60 minutes. As this was not being used for ingestion or inhalation, I was less concerned about the efficacy of the method but feel convinced it will work. To test the results, I will keep one bud out at the end of the process (before oil extraction) and seal it in a jar to see if it grows any mold.
First, I found a double boiler with a steam top (flat bottom with holes) rather than a standard top pot. I happened to have one up in a cabinet that was my mother's and had no idea was there until I mentioned the process to my wife. I dumped the contents of the freezer bag into the top. If you don't have one of these you can always hang a strainer on the top of a large pot of boiling water and seal it with tin foil. The water should not touch the weed.
I then placed it on top of the pot of boiling water and set the timer for 60 minutes.
After 60 minutes and a whole lotta stink, it was done.
At that point it went into a pyrex pan to dry in the oven at 200°.
I don't want to decarb at this temp, just evaporate the water so grind it and then decarb with a cover on it. However, at 200° it takes a long time to dry out, so leave it in the oven on convection for air circulation.
Given that this has already been at 212° for an hour and at 200° for a few more hours, you will need to decide how much decarb you will still need to do when this is dry. Some decarb must have already taken place and I don't want to get rid of the THC, so I may go easy on the final covered decarb. Decisions, decisions.
