How to Grind Weed: With and Without a Grinder

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Hand Grinding, Using a Grinder, and Keeping it Clean

When done right, using a grinder to break up your cannabis can help you achieve a nice consistency that can result in an improved experience.

Grinding your cannabis flower before smoking it can promote better air flow – which can help your cannabis burn evenly. This is especially important if your preferred method of consumption involves rolling a joint.

But that’s not it. What if we told you that using a grinder to break your weed could help boost the potency of your cannabis?

Does Grinding Your Weed Make It More Potent?

When you break up your weed by hand, the tiny little crystal hair-like structures you see on your flower, known as trichomes, can stick to your fingers. Not only are trichomes rich in cannabinoids – like THC – but they also contain terpenes. 

By using a grinder, you can avoid losing those trichomes. Instead of ending up on your fingers, a grinder can catch those trichomes – so you can collect and enjoy them later.

Why is this so important?

Because consuming the right mix of cannabinoids and terpenes for you and your endocannabinoid system, could help you enjoy an enhanced cannabis experience known as the entourage effect. 

This is how using a grinder can help to enhance the potency of your weed.

Learn more about: The Entourage Effect In CBD, THC, and Weed

It is important to note that using a grinder does not always guarantee that your ground up flower will always come out with the right consistency. That’s why we wanted to provide you with the basics of what you need to know so you achieve an even consistency that’s right for your needs. 

First, let’s address a concern many have.

Does Grinding Your Weed Destroy Trichomes?

Although using a grinder can cause some of the trichomes in your weed to fall off your bud, grinders will collect those trichomes in the chamber.

This collection of loose cannabis trichomes is known as kief. After a couple of months of using your grinder, you can clean your grinder and collect the kief. Then you can sprinkle it on top of your flower when rolling a joint or packing a bowl to elevate your cannabis experience.

The bottom line is that using a grinder does not destroy trichomes. Yes, a grinder can knock them loose from your weed but those trichomes will not go to waste. By harvesting the kief from your grinder every so often, you can still enjoy the benefits of that trichome-rich kief.

How to Use a Weed Grinder

First, get your cannabis and grinder out. Next, you will want to place your cannabis flower into your grinder. It is important to be careful not to overstuff your grinder. If your buds are huge, you will want to break them up a bit before placing them in your grinder.

Next, place your cannabis buds in between the serrated edges, or grooves, of your grinder. If your nugs do not fit in between the grooves, you can place them on top of the grooves and gently push down on them to secure them in place. Next, you can twist the top of your grinder which will grind your weed.

The ideal consistency will be different for all. Many people try to avoid overgrinding since this can result in too fine of a consistency and a harsher smoking experience. On the other hand, if you are vaping your bud, then a finer consistency might be fine.

When Grinding Your Weed – Don’t Overstuff

A common mistake when it comes to grinding weed is to stuff large buds into the grinder without breaking them up first. This will most likely lead to an uneven consistency of your ground flower.

So, take your time and make sure not to overstuff your grinder. It is better to grind up smaller amounts and have to repeat the process, than trying to do it all in one go. 

Using your hands to grind or break up your weed is an option, but we would advise against it. Doing so can cause those valuable trichomes found on your weed to stick to your fingers or scissors. As a result, the weed you consume can be robbed of some of its potency and potential benefits.  

How Much Is a Weed Grinder?

Grinders are not expensive and can go a long way in helping you get the most from your weed over the long term. If you are interested in saving as much kief as possible, we suggest a multi-chamber grinder made from aluminum.

Grinders made out of aluminum can be better than plastic ones for a few reasons.

First, with plastic grinders, small pieces of plastic could eventually make their way into your weed. Second, plastic grinders are not that durable.

Third, the teeth of plastic grinders can get dull, and your weed can end up being mashed and torn apart instead of finely cut. Aluminum grinders with sharp teeth will make clean cuts that can result in fluffier weed with better airflow. 

Prices for aluminum weed grinders with multiple chambers can range anywhere from $30 to more than $100.

How to Grind Weed Without a Grinder

Sometimes life happens and you may not have access to a grinder. If that’s the case, there are a few ways you can hand grind your cannabis.

How to Grind Weed by Hand

The most obvious is to use your hand to separate and break up your nugs into smaller pieces. Simply place the bud you want to break up on your rolling tray or plate and break up your bud by hand. Do your best to break up the flower into small uniform-sized pieces. 

A major drawback of this method is that it can cause some of the trichomes to fall off your bud and stick to your fingers. 

Another method that is a little less “hands on” involves using a pair of scissors to cut your bud into smaller pieces. Once again, you’ll want to use a rolling tray, a clean plate, or even a glass, to catch your cut up bud.

Simply hold your bud with one hand and use a pair of sharp scissors to trim your bud into the desired consistency. 

Some people say that using a coffee grinder can be a suitable way to grind your weed. Sure, this could be helpful if you have large amounts of weed you need to grind at once. However, using a coffee grinder could leave you with too fine of a consistency. It can also cause the trichomes in your bud to fall off and get lost in your coffee grinder.

If you decide to use a coffee grinder, just make sure to give your grinder a good cleaning ahead of time so you can avoid mixing coffee with your cannabis. With that said, if the idea of mixing coffee and cannabis intrigues you, make sure to check out our past blog post on just that topic.

Learn more: What Happens When You Smoke Weed and Drink Coffee?

How To Clean My Weed Grinder

After some use, your grinder can accumulate a buildup of plant residue that can get sticky. When this happens, the lid of your grinder can become difficult to turn. To avoid this, you should get in the habit of cleaning your grinder from time to time.

Here are the supplies you’ll need to clean your grinder:  

  • A few toothpicks
  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • A freezer
  • A stiff bristled brush like a toothbrush
  • A soft brush
  • Zip-lock bag or glass jar
  • Towel 
  • Bowl or plate to catch your kief

How to Clean Your Grinder Quickly:

First, start by taking your grinder apart. Place the separate pieces of your grinder on your plate or bowl as you disassemble it.

Some multi-chamber grinders come with a small tool to help you scrape the kief off your grinder. If so, you can use that. If not, you can use a toothpick or brush to knock loose the kief that’s built up in your grinder.

Do your best to collect the kief in the bowl or plate. You can enjoy whatever you collect by adding it to a joint or on top of your bowl.

If your grinder is not too dirty, this may be enough to bring your grinder back to its original state. But, if you haven’t cleaned your grinder in a while, you may still have some residue stuck on it. If so, you may need to soak your grinder in alcohol.  

Soaking Your Grinder

Place the individual parts of your grinder in a resealable plastic bag or a glass jar. Pour some Isopropyl alcohol into your bag or jar. Pour enough so that all parts of your grinder are submerged in the alcohol.

You’ll want to soak the grinder for about half an hour and should give your bag or jar a gentle shake in between to help shake things loose. If you are using a glass jar, we suggest a gentle swirl instead of a shake so that your grinder won’t break the glass.

Next, you’ll want to remove your grinder from the bag or jar. Place the pieces on a towel and use your stiff bristled brush to scrub each part of your grinder. Feel free to use a little water as you scrub. 

Once you’re happy with the results, make sure to rinse each part with water. Then use your towel or paper towel to dry each piece of the grinder. Now that your grinder has been restored to its original glory – there is something you can do to help keep it that way.

Weed Grinder Maintenance Tip

You can put just a little bit of the oil you use for cooking – like coconut oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil – on your index finger and then rub it on the little groves where you place the lid to each chamber of your grinder. The oil will help keep those groves free of residue. 

The nice thing about using the oil you use for cooking – is that you know it’s something that is safe for you. Just to clarify, place a tiny amount of oil just on the groves – not on the inside of your grinder. 

How to Find the Best Grinder 

Hopefully by now, you’ve come to the conclusion that purchasing a grinder is a worthy investment. If so, here are a few tips to help you find the grinder that’s best for you.

First and foremost, you should look for an aluminum grinder. Plastic grinders are much less durable and can result in paint or plastic making its way into your ground bud.

Next, you’ll want to make sure that the teeth of the grinder are sharp so it can cut through your bud cleanly – instead of smashing and tearing.

Why Multi-Chamber Grinder Might Be Best

Regardless of which method of grinding you choose, it will result in the trichomes in your bud getting knocked off a bit. By using a multi-chamber grinder you can reduce the loss of those trichomes.

One popular option for those looking to preserve the trichomes on their weed are grinders with three chambers:  

  1. Where you place your flower to grind it up
  2. Where your ground up bud will be collected
  3. Where your kief will be collected

Finally, make sure you choose a grinder with a sturdy lid. That way if you accidentally drop it, or knock it off your coffee table, you won’t end up spilling your bud all over the place.

Where to Buy a Grinder for Weed

Blooms Dispensaries are fully stocked with premium cannabis flower and products – including the accessories you need, like grinders, vape batteries, and rolling papers. So, if you live in Missouri, Maryland, or Ohio make sure to stop into your local Bloom dispensary and ask about the supplies you need. 

While you are there make sure to ask about our full spectrum flower and vape carts. 

Shop Bloom – Missouri’s One-Stop Canna Shop:

If you live close to a Bloom dispensary in Missouri, you’re in for a treat. Our sister company, Wondergrove Cannabis, recently launched its premium line of Professor Cron X cannabis oil vape cartridges. 

Professor Cron X cartridges are made from borosilicate glass and zirconia ceramic and are filled with some of the finest, Missouri-sourced full spectrum THC Oil. 

Not only that but Wondergrove’s premium flower brand, Field Trip provides premium quality flower and pre-rolls sourced from whole buds, that are always hand-trimmed to perfection.

So, if you live near Bloom’s Cameron, Cape Girardeau, O’Fallon, or Springfield dispensary locations, ask your Bloom budtender about Field Trip Flower and Professor Cron X vape carts.

Missouri Bloom Dispensaries:

If you live in Ohio or Maryland, Bloom has a complete inventory of premium cannabis oils and concentrates.

Starting July 1, 2023,  Bloom’s dispensary in Germantown, Maryland will open its doors to adults over the age of 21 as a result of the legalization of adult-use recreational cannabis in Maryland.

Maryland Bloom Dispensary:

Ohio Bloom Dispensaries: