How to make Cannabutter – Cooking with Cannabis for Beginners

How to make Cannabutter

Cannabis-infused butter, also known as cannabutter is one of the simplest and most common ways to make your own cannabis-infused edibles.  Whether you would call yourself a “Master Chef ” or are just looking to experiment in the kitchen while using some of your favourite herb, you’ve come to the right place. Farmer Jane is here to guide you through the step-by-step process of how to make your own weed butter.

 Ingredient:

• 8-10 grams of THC rich cannabis
• 1 cup of butter
• 1 cup of water
• Parchment paper
• Grinder
• Cheesecloth
• Mason jar with a lid

Step 1: Decarbing the Weed

Making infused butter can be a little bit tricky. In order to activate its psychoactive potential, the flower must be heated slowly at a low temperature. This process is called decarboxylation and is an integral step in making cannabis-infused butter. Decarboxylation is what allows your nuggets to produce their effects when eaten. Without this step, the compounds in cannabis, such as THC and CBD, will not be activated. When you smoke weed, this absorption of cannabinoids happens from the flame of your lighter. To heat the cannabis to decarboxylate it to make edibles, you do it at a much lower temperature so that the plant stays intact while you infuse your butter.

To decarb your cannabis, preheat your oven to 120 degrees Celsius (250 degrees Fahrenheit) and line some parchment paper on a baking tray. Sporadically, place your buds on the baking tray and place your tray in the heated oven. Bake your weed in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

Step 2: Mixing the Weed

Step two is all about making your weed to ensure all surfaces of the bud are exposed to heat equally. While baking your weed, remove the tray from the oven and give the tray a light shake. This can be done every 10 minutes while baking the weed.

Step 3: Grinding the Weed

Once you’ve finished decarboxylation, you can prepare the weed to be combined with the butter. This preparation involves taking your grinder and finely chopping up your weed into small pieces.

Step 4: Melting the Butter

Next, you’re going to melt the butter in a saucepan. Remember, butter burns easily so it is important that you keep your stovetop on low heat and stir your butter frequently. Add in your cup of water and mix the two ingredients together.

 

Step 5: Combine the Weed and Butter

Once your butter/water mixture begins melting, add in your ground-up cannabis and start stirring.

Step 6: Let it Simmer

Now, this step requires some patients. Following combining the butter and weed, let the weed butter simmer on the stovetop on low heat. You’re going to be occasionally stirring the mixture for 2-3 hours.

 

Step 7: Strain the Butter

This is where you get to use that handy dandy cheesecloth. Stain the butter and cannabis mixture into your mason jar. Use the cheesecloth as a filter out and prevent the plant materials from entering the mason jar. This will keep your butter smooth and consistent.

Step 8: Leave the Butter to Set

It’s like watching paint dry. This is the time to get up and go do something while waiting for butter to cool in your fridge. Jane would suggest gathering your ingredients so you can come back into the kitchen later to make your famous THC Chocolate Chip Cookies or Pot Brownies.

How to Store the Butter

As you may know, cannabis is always better when it is fresh. The best way to keep your cannabutter fresh is to keep it tightly wrapped and stored in the fridge. You can use parchment paper to wrap it and it will stay fresh for 1-2 weeks.

Determining Potency of the Butter

In order to test the potency of your cannabis, spread 1/2 teaspoon on a snack, and wait about 1-2 hours for the effects to kick in. This will help you to determine how much cannabutter you should use when making edibles.

Let us know how your cannabutter turned out by emailing us at [email protected] or reaching out on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn

BONG APPETIT! 

This blog post was made in partnership with Choom.