Cody Casey
Yes, pot butter, or cannabutter, must be cooked to activate the cannabinoids in the cannabis. The process of cooking cannabis is called decarboxylation, which converts THCA in the plant into THC, activating the plant's psychoactive potential. This process can be done in an oven or on a stovetop. Once the cannabis is decarboxylated, it can be added to melted butter or oil and simmered on low heat for 2-4 hours. The longer the cannabis and butter simmer together, the more potent the cannabutter will be. After cooking, the cannabutter can be used in any recipe that calls for butter, such as brownies, cookies, or cakes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Transforms brownie batter, cookie dough, or any recipe into a batch of homemade edibles |
| Ingredients | Butter, water, and cannabis |
| Equipment | Saucepan, stock pot, double-boiler, slow cooker, oven, sachet, cheesecloth, rubber spatula, paper towel, plastic wrap, airtight container, crock pot, instant pot, digital thermometer, potato ricer, sieve, strainer, mesh strainer, fine-mesh strainer, mason jar, baking sheet, aluminum foil, food processor, grinder, turkey bag, glass jar, kitchen thermometer |
| Temperature | Between 160°F and 250°F |
| Time | 2-8 hours |
| Storage | Can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months |
| Dosage | 10 mg is standard |
| Potency | The longer the cooking time, the more potent it will be |
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What You'll Learn
Decarbing cannabis before cooking
Decarbing, or decarboxylation, is a crucial step when cooking with cannabis. It is the process of heating cannabis at a high temperature of around 250°F to activate its psychoactive compounds. This process converts the non-psychoactive THCA found in the cannabis plant into THC, which is what gets you high.
To decarb your cannabis before cooking, you can use an oven, a stovetop, or a microwave. Here are the steps for each method:
Oven method:
- Preheat your oven to 220ºF.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Break up or grind the cannabis onto the baking sheet. Be careful not to grind it too finely to avoid burning.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven for 20-30 minutes.
- Halfway through, gently stir the cannabis with a wooden spoon.
- Once the time is up, remove it from the oven and let it cool. It should look slightly brown or golden in color.
- Store the decarbed cannabis in an airtight container in a cool, dry, and dark place until you're ready to cook with it.
Stovetop method:
- Place the cannabis in a saucepan or pot.
- Cook over low heat for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Keep an eye on the cannabis to ensure it doesn't burn.
- The cannabis should be decarbed once it turns slightly brown or golden.
- Let it cool and store it in an airtight container until ready to use.
Microwave method:
- Place the cannabis in a microwave-safe bowl or dish.
- Cook on high power for 1.5 minutes.
- Remove and check the cannabis. Ensure it hasn't burned and that it's exuding a strong smell.
- Stir well and microwave for another minute.
- Repeat the previous step until the cannabis is decarbed. It may not change color, so it might be harder to tell when it's ready.
- Let it cool and store it in an airtight container until ready to use.
Once your cannabis is decarbed, you can infuse it with butter or oil to make cannabutter or cannaoil, respectively. This process typically involves simmering the decarbed cannabis in butter or oil over low heat for 2-4 hours. You can then use your cannabutter or cannaoil in various recipes to create delicious and potent edibles!
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Choosing the right cooking fat
When it comes to choosing the right cooking fat for your cannabutter, you have a few options. While infusing weed in butter or ghee is a popular technique, you can also infuse decarbed cannabis into other fats, such as olive oil, sesame oil, or coconut oil. The infusion process remains the same regardless of the type of fat you choose.
If you decide to go with butter, it is recommended to use unsalted butter so that you can control the salt level in your final product. High-fat, European-style unsalted butter is a good option. You can also use ghee, which is a type of clarified butter that has a higher smoke point than regular butter, making it less likely to burn during the infusion process.
If you're looking for a dairy-free option, oils such as olive oil, sesame oil, or coconut oil are good choices. These oils have neutral flavours that won't overpower the taste of the cannabis. Coconut oil also has a high smoke point, making it a good choice for infusing cannabis.
When choosing your cooking fat, it's important to consider the flavour profile you want to achieve. For example, if you want the full weed flavour in your cannabutter, you might choose a fat that complements that taste. On the other hand, if you prefer a milder flavour, you might choose a fat that will mask the taste of the cannabis, such as peanut butter.
Additionally, the intended use of your cannabutter may influence your choice of cooking fat. For example, if you plan to use it in baked goods, butter or ghee might be the best option due to their baking properties. On the other hand, if you want to make a dressing or sauce, infused oil might be a better choice.
In conclusion, when choosing the right cooking fat for your cannabutter, consider your preferred flavour profile, the intended use, and the smoking point of the fat. With the right combination of ingredients and techniques, you can create delicious and effective edibles that suit your taste and desired effects.
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Simmering time and temperature
When making pot butter, the simmering time and temperature are crucial to ensure that the cannabinoids are not burnt out. Most sources recommend simmering over low heat for 2 to 4 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. The recommended temperature range is between 160°F to 250°F, with many sources agreeing on a sweet spot of 200°F to 220°F.
It is important to note that the temperature should not exceed 250°F, as this may affect the quality and potency of the final product. To regulate the temperature, one can use a thermometer and add water to the mixture. Water ensures that the temperature does not rise above 212°F, the boiling point of water.
The simmering time can vary depending on individual preferences and the desired potency of the pot butter. Some sources suggest a minimum of 2 hours, while others recommend simmering for up to 8 hours for a stronger infusion. However, it is important to note that the potency of the pot butter is influenced by various factors, including the THC content of the cannabis and individual metabolism, so the ideal simmering time may vary.
Additionally, the cooking method can impact the simmering time. Some people prefer using a slow cooker or crockpot, which can be left overnight on low heat. Others use a double boiler method or heat the mixture in a sealed glass jar placed in boiling water, which helps regulate the temperature.
Overall, the key to successful pot butter is maintaining low heat and simmering for a sufficient duration to allow the cannabinoids to infuse into the butter without burning or losing potency.
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Straining and storing the butter
Once your cannabutter has simmered for 2-4 hours, it's time to strain and store it. Place a mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a jar and pour the butter/cannabis mixture through it. You can also use a potato ricer lined with cheesecloth to squeeze out all the infusion. If you're using a Crock-Pot, you can place a sachet made of cheesecloth filled with your decarbed weed directly into the pot of melted butter.
After straining, cover the bowl of strained butter tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight. The next day, the butter will have hardened, and you can lift it out and put it in a new dish. The texture of the butter will be grainy, so you can mash it with a fork and then whisk it until it's smooth. If you want an even smoother texture, you can use an electric beater.
Proper storage is important to maintain the quality and potency of your cannabutter. Wrap the butter in two layers of plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. You can also store it in the freezer for up to 6 months without losing any potency. Cannabutter can be used as a straight substitution for regular butter in any recipe, or you can simply spread it on bread or toast.
It's important to note that dosing homemade edibles can be challenging, as it's difficult to guarantee potency and homogeneity. Start with a small amount, such as 1/4 teaspoon, and wait about an hour to gauge the effects before consuming more.
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Dosage and potency
The potency of pot butter, or cannabutter, depends on several factors, including the strength of the cannabis, the desired potency of the cannabutter, the cooking time and temperature, and the amount of butter used.
To increase the potency of cannabutter, one can consider the following:
- Using a higher potency of cannabis: The THC and CBD levels in the cannabis will directly impact the potency of the cannabutter. Using cannabis with higher levels of these compounds will result in more potent cannabutter.
- Increasing cooking time: Allowing the cannabutter to simmer at a low temperature for a longer period, such as 4 to 8 hours, can increase the potency by giving the cannabinoids more time to infuse into the butter. Some recipes even recommend simmering for up to 24 hours for extreme potency.
- Adjusting the ratio of cannabis to butter: Increasing the amount of cannabis relative to the amount of butter will also increase the potency of the final product. However, it is important to note that simply adding more cannabis may not always result in a linear increase in potency due to the complex interactions between the various compounds.
It is important to note that the potency of cannabutter cannot be increased once it is made. Therefore, it is crucial to test the potency before consuming it. This can be done by spreading a small amount, such as 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon, on a snack and waiting about 1 to 2 hours to gauge the effects. This starting dose helps to ensure that one does not consume too much THC too quickly. Based on this test, the dose can be adjusted accordingly for future use.
Additionally, when creating cannabutter, it is important to consider the desired potency and tolerance levels of the intended consumer. For those seeking a milder effect, lower-potency weed or hemp flower can be used, resulting in a maximum of 350 milligrams of THC per cup of butter or roughly 7 milligrams per teaspoon. For those with higher tolerances seeking a stronger effect, higher-potency cannabis can be used, and the ratio of cannabutter to regular butter in recipes can be adjusted to increase the overall potency of the dish.
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Frequently asked questions
Pot butter, also known as cannabutter, is butter infused with cannabis. It can be used in baking or spread on bread.
To make pot butter, you need to decarboxylate the cannabis by heating it in an oven before adding it to melted butter. The mixture then needs to be simmered on low heat for 2-4 hours.
Pot butter can be stored in the freezer for up to 6 months without losing potency.
Pot butter can be used in any recipe that calls for butter or can be cooked in butter. It is commonly used to make brownies, cookies, and cakes.
