Freeze pollen immediately after collection

Place freshly collected pollen in airtight containers or vacuum-sealed bags and freeze at -18°C (0°F) or below for at least 48 hours. This kills all life stages of moths, beetles, and their eggs. Pollen can remain frozen indefinitely for long-term storage without significant nutrient loss.

Why It Works

Insect eggs and larvae cannot survive sustained freezing temperatures. Research shows 48 hours at -18°C achieves complete kill of all pest life stages. Freezing also preserves the protein, vitamin, and enzyme content of pollen far better than room-temperature storage.

Tips

• Dry pollen to below 10% moisture content before freezing to prevent ice crystal damage and clumping
• Vacuum-sealing before freezing provides the best protection against moisture and freezer burn
• Label containers with harvest date; frozen pollen maintains quality for 1-2 years
• If you need to thaw pollen for use, take out only what you need and keep the rest frozen to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles