Air-Frying Cannabis Butter: A Step-By-Step Guide

Making cannabis butter, or cannabutter, in an air fryer is an efficient way to infuse butter with cannabis. The process is slow, but the precision heat steeping allows for a swift and efficient extraction of cannabinoids, resulting in a potent product. The first step is to decarboxylate the cannabis by grinding it and placing it in an oven-safe dish covered with foil. Poke holes in the foil for air and place the dish in the air fryer at 250°F for two 30-minute cycles, stirring in between. Then, add the butter to the dish and re-cover with foil. Heat for another cycle at 250°F for 40 minutes. Finally, remove the foil and return the dish to the air fryer for two more cycles at 250°F for 40 minutes each. Allow the mixture to cool, then strain it through a fine-mesh filter and chill until ready to use.

Decarboxylate the cannabis

Decarboxylation is the first and most important step in making cannabis butter. This process activates the THC in the cannabis, which creates the psychoactive and physical sensations associated with marijuana use. Without decarboxylation, consuming cannabis won't have any effect.

To decarboxylate cannabis in an air fryer, start by grinding the cannabis or breaking it up by hand into small pieces to ensure even heating. Place the ground cannabis in an oven-safe dish and cover it tightly with aluminium foil. Poke several small holes in the foil with a toothpick to allow air to circulate.

Set your air fryer to 245-250°F and place the dish inside. The decarboxylation process will take around 60 minutes, but it's important to stir the cannabis occasionally to ensure even heating. Check the colour of the weed after 30 minutes; if it doesn't look very brown, you can put it back in for an additional 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you can decarboxylate cannabis in an air fryer by creating a foil pouch and sealing it before heating. Poke a few holes in the foil with a toothpick before baking. This method is similar to using an oven-safe mason jar, but instead of a glass jar, you use foil.

Once the cannabis is decarboxylated, it's ready to be used in your cannabutter recipe. Simply add it to melted butter in a saucepan and let the mixture simmer for a couple of hours, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Melt the butter

To melt the butter, you will need to use a small saucepan. Place the saucepan on your stovetop and turn the heat to low. Add the butter to the pan and let it melt slowly. Do not rush this process by turning up the heat as you do not want to burn the butter.

Once the butter has melted, you will need to add the decarboxylated cannabis to the saucepan. Stir the mixture well to combine the two ingredients. It is important to ensure that the cannabis is evenly distributed throughout the butter.

Now, you will need to let the mixture simmer on low heat for two hours. This step is crucial as it allows the cannabinoids in the cannabis to infuse into the butter. Be sure to stir the mixture occasionally to prevent it from burning.

After two hours, remove the saucepan from the heat and let it cool slightly. You do not want it to cool completely, just enough so that you can safely handle it.

The next step is to strain the mixture. Place a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a clean jar or container. Carefully pour the mixture through the strainer, pressing the cannabis to extract as much liquid as possible. This step will help to ensure that your cannabutter is smooth and free of any plant material.

Now your cannabutter is ready to be stored in the refrigerator. Allow it to cool completely before sealing the container and placing it in the fridge. Your homemade cannabutter is now ready to be used in your favourite recipes!

Combine the two

Making cannabutter in an air fryer is a simple process, but it does take time. The slow precision heat allows for a swift and efficient extraction of cannabinoids, resulting in a more potent product than other methods. Here is a step-by-step guide to making cannabutter in an air fryer:

Preparation:

First, gather your ingredients and materials. You will need:

• 2 sticks (8 oz) of unsalted butter
• 1 oz of cannabis flower (or 3 grams of kief, rosin, or hash)
• 1 teaspoon of soy lecithin (optional)
• An oven-safe dish that fits inside your air fryer
• A container to store your butter
• Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth
• Air fryer

Decarboxylation:

Decarboxylation is a crucial step in activating the THC in cannabis. To do this, grind or break apart your cannabis into small pieces to ensure even heating. Place the ground cannabis in the oven-safe dish and cover it tightly with aluminium foil. Poke several small holes in the foil with a toothpick to allow air circulation.

Set your air fryer to 250°F and place the covered dish inside. Bake for two 30-minute cycles, stirring the contents after the first cycle. This process decarboxylates the cannabis, activating the THC.

Infusion:

After decarboxylation, carefully unwrap the dish and add the butter and soy lecithin (if using) to the decarboxylated cannabis. Re-cover the dish with fresh foil and return it to the air fryer. Set the temperature to 250°F and heat for 40 minutes.

Remove the foil, as it will have lost its integrity by this point, and replace it with a new layer of foil. Return the dish to the air fryer and heat for another 40-minute cycle at 250°F.

Cooling and Straining:

After the second 40-minute cycle, remove the dish from the air fryer and allow it to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, pour the contents through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into your storage container to remove any plant material. You may need to strain it more than once to ensure all plant matter is removed.

Storage:

Once strained, transfer your cannabutter to the refrigerator to solidify and store. It will last for a few weeks in the fridge but can also be frozen for several months. Always label your cannabutter and store it safely to avoid accidental consumption.

Tips:

• The quality of your cannabis will impact the flavour and potency of your cannabutter.
• Start with a small amount of cannabutter in your recipes and adjust the dosage as needed.
• When baking with cannabutter, try to keep the temperature below 250°F to avoid burning off the THC.

Simmer the mixture

Now that you've decarboxylated your cannabis, it's time to infuse the butter. Place the sticks of butter and soy lecithin in with the decarboxylated cannabis. Re-wrap the dish and heat in the air fryer at 250°F for 40 minutes.

Remove the tin foil and replace it with a fresh layer, wrapped in the same way. Put the dish back into the air fryer and heat for another 40-minute cycle at 250° F. Stir the ingredients in the dish, then re-wrap it and place it back into the air fryer for a final 40 minutes at the same temperature.

After all of that waiting, the extraction is finally complete. Remove the dish from the air fryer and leave it to cool down. Pour the cannabutter liquid through a fine-mesh strainer into a container to remove any remaining plant material. If the first round of straining doesn't remove all the green particles, you can strain it again.

Strain the mixture

Once your cannabutter mixture has cooled down, it's time to strain it. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a clean jar or container and carefully pour the mixture through the strainer. Press the cannabis to extract as much liquid as possible. This process will remove any remaining plant material and ensure a smooth, even texture to your cannabutter.

If you find that your cannabutter still contains visible green particles after straining, don't worry. Simply repeat the straining process until all the plant material has been removed. You can also use a cheesecloth instead of a strainer for a finer filtration.

After straining, allow your cannabutter to cool completely before sealing and storing it in the refrigerator. Proper storage will ensure that your cannabutter stays fresh and potent for future use.

It's important to note that the straining process is crucial in ensuring the quality and smoothness of your final product. By removing the plant material, you improve the texture and appearance of your cannabutter, making it more appealing and easier to work with.

Additionally, the straining process allows you to control the potency of your cannabutter. If you prefer a lighter THC potency, you can dilute your cannabutter by mixing it with plain butter. This way, you can customize the strength of your cannabutter to suit your desired effects.

Frequently asked questions