At any time I have around 30 pounds of various hops in the freezer, most in 1 lb bags. I really never noticed any degradation, even ones that are 4-5 years old.
If you have that many hops, you need to get a vacuum sealer. I have about that many hops too.
While I can't say if the calculator is correct, using the hop age calculator in BeerSmith, on cascade hops (which is not the best for storing):
- 2 years at 0 F (vacuum packed) = 21% loss of AAs
- 2 years at 0 F (Barrier package/jar) = 30% loss of AAs
- 2 years at 0 F (plastic bag) = 38% loss of AAs
Every little bit I can do to help preserve my hops is a +. Vacuum packaging can almost reduce the AA loss by half. And if you are keeping them for a long time, that can be significant.
Like most here I just use my suck-n-seal and throw them in the fridge.
I not sure most here do that; if I exclude people with less than a pound of hops that is. I think most with any significant amount of hops store them in the freezer.
Same calculator as above (Cascade hop: 50% HSI):
Freezer Temp
- 1 year at 0 F (vacuum sealed) =11.5% loss of AAs
- 1 year at 0 F (Barrier package/jar) = 16.5% loss of AAs
- 1 year at 0 F (plastic bag) = 21.5% loss of AAs
Fridge Temp
- 1 year at 38 F (vacuum sealed) =27.5% loss of AAs
- 1 year at 38 F (Barrier package/jar) = 38% loss of AAs
- 1 year at 38 F (plastic bag) = 47.5% loss of AAs
Looks like the losses are more than 2X you would get in the freezer. I think you should start using the freezer and not the fridge. And seriously think about getting a vacuum sealer.