How to Make CannaButter
Edibles are definitely one of the best ways to consume cannabis. Unlike smoking, eating cannabis-infused edibles doesn’t involve any smoke, and they are also free from any harmful compounds that accompany smoking. Cannabis edibles are also a great way to prolong your high, as their effects are considerably longer when compared to either smoking or vaping.
People with limited experience with cooking and baking are generally under the wrong impression that making your own cannabis-infused edibles is a complicated process, which isn’t really true. Making your own edibles from scratch also allows you to completely control your recipe, and avoid any ingredients that you’re not comfortable with. Of course it’s very important to be careful when dosing edibles, since too much can produce undesirable effects and a high that’s way too intense. It’s also essential to give them sufficient time to start working, somewhere between one and two hours.
As for the actual process of making edibles, one step can be considered much more important than others. We are talking about infusing your cannabis with the butter, which is the cornerstone of most cannabis edible recipes. Once you master making your own cannabutter, you can use it for a wide variety of cannabis edibles, including brownies, cupcakes and cookies.
The first step is to decarb your cannabis, and this process is otherwise known as decarboxylation. Decarbing involves using heat to “activate” the cannabinoids in the cannabis, which allows them to produce effects when edibles are ingested orally. Decarbing is achieved by baking the buds in the oven for 40~45 minutes. For best results make sure to preheat your oven to 250F, line it with parchment paper, and cut the buds into small (but not tiny) pieces.
While the buds are baking in the oven, it’s essential to remove the tray every ten minutes or so, and give the buds a light shake. Repositioning your cannabis allows it to get baked evenly, which results in a more efficient decarbing. At the end of the decarbing, you will notice that the cannabis will change its color, and it should appear medium brown once the decarbing is completed.
The next step is to grind your cannabis. This can be accomplished either with a grinder, or you can use scissors. Just make sure not to grind it too much, as this will make the straining process less efficient. Once you’re finished grinding, it’s time to melt the butter on low heat. You can also add a bit of water into the mix, which helps the butter from scorching in the saucepan.
When the butter begins melting, you should add the cannabis. The butter/cannabis mixture should then be left to simmer for 2~3 hours, and occasionally stirred. It’s important to avoid letting the mixture come to a full boil, and the temperature should be somewhere between 160F and 175F.
The final part of the process is to strain the butter/cannabis mixture, which removes any tiny pieces of the bud. Straining can be accomplished with a cheesecloth, or a fine mesh screen. All this information (and how to store and test the potency of your cannabutter) can be found in this easy-to-follow informative infographic, which can definitely make your first cannabutter-making experience be a simple and extremely pleasant one.
Infographic by Choom
