To store your concentrates and herbal extracts, you need a solution that preserves the integrity of your product:something that won’t expose it to excessive light and heat, something that won’t let air or water get in, and of course won’t stick to it.
Parchment paper is excellent for this purpose because it’s durable, non-stick, won’t let air in, won’t let water seep into the bag, and doesn’t alter the taste of your concentrate. Also, parchment paper dries to an almost writing-pad-like quality.
Learn all about non-stick parchment paper and the tips for choosing the best paper product for your concentrates.
What Is Parchment Paper?
Parchment paper has been around since the 19th century. Its name comes from its resemblance to the parchment that’s made from animal skins. Parchment paper consists of plant fibers such as cotton or flax, mixed with chemicals like sodium sulfate (salt) and sodium carbonate (baking soda).
This mixture undergoes hydrogenation, which turns it into solid parchment paper sheets.
Since it is oven-safe, parchment paper is used by commercial and home cooks as baking paper liners to line baking sheets, cookie sheets, trays, and cake pans. It’s also used to line an air-fryer or baking pan for cooking baked goods and as a cooking tool in other types of food preparation.
When choosing parchment paper, it’s essential to get baking parchment with a smooth and opaque finish, so light doesn’t seep through to the surface and interfere with your vaporizer. You find parchment paper in most grocery stores, but if you’re looking for a more environmentally friendly option, biodegradable versions are made from rice husks and bamboo fibers.
Are There Different Kinds of Parchment Paper?
There are plenty of different brands of parchment paper out there but beware of cheaper ones. The better quality parchment paper provides a better vaporization experience and is a thicker and sturdier material. Here are the different types available:
Bleached Parchment Paper
Bleached parchment paper undergoes treatment with chlorine bleach. This treatment makes it more resistant to mold growth and reduces its ability to absorb moisture.
However, this makes it less effective at preventing spills and leaks in the kitchen. Therefore, it’s best to use bleached parchment paper when storing foods that don’t come into contact with chlorophyll (green pigments).
Unbleached Parchment Paper
Unbleached parchment paper comes from unbleached natural fibers like cotton and linen, so it doesn’t contain any chemicals that could contaminate your food or herbs. Unbleached parchment paper is also biodegradable and compostable, making it an environmentally friendly option for storing dry goods in your kitchen pantry or herb garden shed.
Should I Use Parchment Paper To Store Concentrates?
Use parchment paper to store your concentrates. This method is suitable for people who want to keep their concentrates fresh and free from dust, dirt, and debris. It’s also a great way to preserve the flavor and aroma of your concentrate and enjoy it for more extended periods.
The parchment papers are silicone, which provides a non-stick surface that doesn’t leave residue on your containers or glassware. The silicone coating makes them very flexible and easy to fold into any shape without breaking.
They also prevent any damage to the interior surface of the container and allow for easy cleanup for shiny and new containers for years to come.
How Do I Use Parchment Paper for Proper Storage?
Parchment paper is a handy tool for storing waxes and concentrates. Use it to keep your product from sticking to the container since it has wax paper and helps prevent the product from leaking into any other containers.
The best way to use parchment paper is by placing the parchment paper on top of your concentrate container, then pouring or scraping your concentrates onto the parchment paper.
Once your container is empty, remove the parchment paper and place it in a new container. This keeps your concentrates clean and free from any unwanted residue present in your original container.
If you want to make sure that you don’t spill any of your concentrates while transferring them into another container, consider using a syringe or dedicated oil dispenser. It ensures that no matter how much concentration remains in your original jar, you will get all of it transferred onto the parchment paper without any messes or spills.
If you are going to store your concentrates on parchment paper, you must follow these steps:
- Always use new parchment paper every time you keep your concentrate.
- Never reuse an old piece of parchment paper that has stored your concentrate for any time.
- Do not store concentrates directly on top of each other when using this method because they stick together and become impossible to separate later. Instead, allow space between each one so that they are not touching each other when you are storing them in this manner.
Use parchment paper for both short and long-term storage.
Short-Term Storage
To store food to minimize the risk of contamination, keep your concentrates refrigerated or stored at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
Medium-Term Storage
If you’re looking for a medium-term storage solution, putting parchment paper wrapped concentrates in a heat sealed flexible pouch is your best bet. The pouch creates an airtight seal around the concentrates while preventing any moisture from getting in or out of the container.
This process keeps your concentrates or extracts fresh and ready to go without worrying about any contamination or potency degradation for several weeks..
An excellent example is the black recyclable child-resistant pouch from Dymapak.
Long-Term Storage
Parchment paper is also excellent for long-term storage because it helps prevent oxidation in your product. Oxidation occurs when oxygen reacts with other chemicals in your concentrate and changes its chemical composition and flavor, which leads to degradation over time.
Using parchment paper with a flexible pouch helps prevent this oxidation by creating an airtight seal around all sides of the container so that no outside air can interact with your concentrate inside of it.
How Do I Dispose of Bleached Parchment Paper?
The bleached parchment paper should not get composted because it contains chlorine bleach, which kills beneficial bacteria in your compost pile. If you have bleached parchment paper that is no longer needed, place it into your trash bin rather than recycling it with regular household recyclables.
If you have bleached parchment paper that you have not yet used but no longer need (for example, if you’re out of cooking spray), you may want to keep it for another use. Or throw it away in your garbage bin immediately.
How Do You Dispose of Unbleached Parchment Paper?
To dispose of unbleached parchment paper, you can recycle it. Most recycling programs accept food-grade paper products, including parchment paper. If your municipality offers curbside recycling collection, wait until your next pickup, and place the parchment in a separate bin.
If your city does not provide curbside collection, you may need to take the parchment to a transfer station or facility that accepts recyclables.
The Bottom Line
Parchment paper has many more uses than baking cookies, lining sheet pans or other bakeware, and preparing foods en papillote.
There are many other options for storing concentrates, but parchment paper is still one of the best and most versatile options. It is durable, air resistant, water-resistant, heat-resistant, light-resistant, and can be placed in a child-resistant container to ensures products stored maintain their integrity and safety.
Parchment paper makes storing sensitive products like cannabis concentrates almost hassle-free. If you’re searching for a simple container to store your cannabis flower, you should go with this one.
Remember to get a good quality one to preserve your products and ensure the paper lasts longer.
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