Cody Casey
Cooking cannabutter in a crock pot is an easy and effective method for preparing this culinary delight. It is a versatile ingredient that can be used in baked goods, savory dishes, and even drinks. The process involves decarbing the cannabis first, which activates the THC, followed by slow cooking the butter and cannabis mixture for several hours. The duration of cooking depends on the desired potency, with longer cook times resulting in stronger cannabutter. The crock pot's consistent and low heat source ensures even heating without burning the ingredients. After cooking, the mixture is strained, chilled, and stored, ready to be used in various recipes.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Minimum cooking time | 2-4 hours |
| Maximum cooking time | 8-24 hours |
| Decarbing temperature | 225-240°F |
| Cooking temperature | 160-190°F |
| Cooking temperature range | 200-250°F |
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What You'll Learn
Decarbing cannabis before cooking
Decarbing, or decarboxylation, is a crucial step when cooking with cannabis to activate the plant's psychoactive compounds. The cannabis plant contains THCA, which does not produce a high, and this needs to be converted into THC for the user to experience the psychoactive effects. This conversion is achieved by removing the carboxyl ring from the compound through heat and time.
Decarbing cannabis can be done in an oven, microwave, or on a stovetop. When using an oven, it is recommended to grind the weed first to increase the surface area and ensure even decarbing. The ground weed is then spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. The oven temperature should be set to 220ºF, and the weed should be cooked for 20-30 minutes, stirring halfway through. It is important to monitor the weed as it cooks, as ovens can fluctuate by 20 degrees, and the weed may burn. It should emerge from the oven slightly brown or golden in colour.
Microwave decarbing involves placing the weed in a microwave-safe bowl and cooking on high for 1.5 minutes. The weed should then be checked to ensure it has not burnt and stirred before another minute of cooking. This process may need to be repeated until the desired result is achieved. Stovetop decarbing takes around 90 minutes, and the weed should be manually broken into smaller pieces before cooking.
Once the weed has been decarbed, it can be added to butter to create cannabutter, which can be used in a variety of dishes, from brownies and cookies to savoury pasta sauces and salad dressings.
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Crock pot temperature settings
When making cannabutter in a crock pot, the first step is to decarboxylate the cannabis. This can be done in an oven, separate from the crock pot, at temperatures ranging from 225°F to 240°F for 40 minutes to an hour.
After decarbing, opinions vary on how long to cook cannabutter in a crock pot. Some sources recommend cooking for at least eight hours on a low setting, while others suggest that one to two hours is sufficient. One source mentions that the crock pot should be set to high, but it is unclear whether this is for the entire duration of the cook or just at the beginning.
The "low" and "high" settings on a crock pot correspond to different temperature ranges and cooking speeds. On a conventional crock pot, "low" is about 250°F, while "high" is about 350°F. On a Crock-Pot® slow cooker, the "Low" setting reaches temperatures between 164°F and 182°F, peaking at around 205°F after four hours. The "High" setting on this model tops off at around 205°F after cooking for four hours.
It is important to note that newer models of crock pots may cook at higher temperatures than older ones. Additionally, the "Warm" setting on a crock pot is not meant for cooking and should not be used for more than four hours.
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Simmering and stirring
Once you've decarbed your cannabis, it's time to add the butter, ghee, clarified butter, or oil to your jar. If you're using a mason jar, place a dish towel at the bottom of the crock pot to create a stable base. It's important to keep the crock pot on low heat—don't increase the temperature to rush the process, as this will only result in waste. The longer you let it cook, the more potent your cannabutter will be, but it will also have a stronger herbal flavor, so keep that in mind. Aim for at least four hours, but you can leave it for up to eight hours or even 24 hours if you want a real kick. Stir the mixture occasionally as the butter melts, and keep an eye on the water level, adding more as needed.
If you're using a slow cooker, you can simply add your butter and cannabis directly to the pot and set it to low heat. Stir the mixture occasionally and let it simmer for three to four hours. If you're using a mason jar, you can make little cheesecloth satchels filled with ground weed and drop them into the butter-filled jar. This way, you can just remove the satchels after infusion and you're left with a jar of infused cannabutter.
After your mixture is done cooking, it's time to strain it. Use a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer to separate the flower from the butter. Gently pour the butter through the strainer, being careful not to waste any of it. You can wring out the cheesecloth to get every last drop, but this may result in a more herbal-tasting butter.
Finally, it's time to chill and store your cannabutter. Allow the mixture to cool completely, then refrigerate it for at least three hours or overnight. Once solidified, scrape out your cannabutter, pat it dry with a paper towel, and wrap it in plastic wrap. Cut it into individual portions and store them in an airtight container in the freezer. Your cannabutter is now ready to use!
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Straining and storing
Once your cannabutter is done cooking, it's time to strain and store it.
Straining
First, turn off the heat and let the mixture cool slightly. Then, strain it through a cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer into a bowl or jar. If you're using a cheesecloth, squeeze it to get all of the buttery goodness out of the cannabis. You can also use a coffee filter in a pinch. If you don't want to deal with straining later, you can make two little cheesecloth satchels filled with ground weed and drop them into the butter-filled jar. After infusion, simply remove the little weed baggies, and you'll have a jar of infused cannabutter ready to go!
Storing
Let the strained cannabutter cool completely before refrigerating for at least 3 to 4 hours, or preferably overnight. Once cooled and solidified, your cannabutter is ready to use! You can spread it on toast, add it to recipes like brownies or cookies, or use it in savoury dishes like pasta sauce or salad dressing. Just be sure to use less than you would regular butter, as cannabutter is much more potent.
For longer-term storage, you can store your cannabutter in an airtight container in the freezer. Before freezing, cut it into individual portions for easy access. You can also add a little honey while the cannabutter is cooling for some extra taste.
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Potency and flavour
The longer you cook your cannabutter, the higher the potency will be. If you're a cannabis beginner or looking for lower potency cannabutter, cook the cannabutter for 2 to 3 hours. For maximum potency, cook it for 8 hours or leave it cooking overnight. If you want an even stronger cannabutter, you can leave it on the slow cooker for up to 24 hours. However, it is important to note that too much heat can destroy the THC and reduce potency, so make sure to keep an eye on it as it cooks.
The quality of your weed will directly impact the quality of your cannabutter. Striking a balance between potency and taste is crucial when baking with cannabis. While cheap weed may provide a pungent flavour, it may lack potency. It is recommended to use fresh, high-quality flower to make your cannabutter taste divine.
Crock pots are ideal for infusing butter with all the cannabinoids and terpenes found in cannabis. The slow-cooked flavour imparted by crock pots results in a delicious end product, as all the natural flavours of the cannabis are extracted into the butter.
Crock pots are also excellent for regulating temperature over a long period, making them a popular choice for cooking cannabutter. This helps to avoid burning the butter and ensures that all the vital compounds are retained in the final product.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the potency you want to achieve. Cooking it for at least four hours will yield a batch with mild potency. For a stronger batch, you can cook it for anywhere from eight to 24 hours.
The ideal temperature for cooking cannabutter is low heat. Do not increase the heat to make the process faster, as this will only result in waste.
You can add as much water as possible, as this will make the butter more potent and improve its taste.
It is recommended to let the cannabutter cool completely before refrigerating for at least three hours or overnight.
Yes, decarboxylation is essential before adding the cannabis to the crock pot. This process activates the THC in the cannabis, making it potent.
