Making Cannabutter With An Air Fryer: A Step-By-Step Guide

Making cannabutter in an air fryer is a great way to infuse butter with cannabis. The process is not fast, but the slow 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 and bake at 250°F for two 30-minute cycles, stirring in between. Then, add butter and soy lecithin to the dish, re-wrap, and heat for another 40 minutes. Repeat this process two more times, stirring the ingredients in between. Finally, remove the dish and let it cool before straining the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any plant material. Your cannabutter is now ready to be stored in the refrigerator or freezer and used in your desired recipes.

Decarboxylate the cannabis

Decarboxylation is a critical step in activating the psychoactive properties of cannabinoids like THC and CBD. Raw cannabis plants contain THCA and CBDA, which are the non-psychoactive precursors of THC and CBD. By applying heat, you can remove the carboxyl group (COOH) from the THCA and CBDA molecules, converting them into their activated chemical forms, THC and CBD.

Step 1: Preheat your air fryer

Set your air fryer to 250°F (121°C). This temperature is crucial for proper decarboxylation without destroying the cannabinoids and terpenes.

Step 2: Prepare your cannabis

Use your hands or a grinder to break up the buds into small, pea-sized pieces. Avoid grinding it too finely, as this can lead to uneven decarboxylation and make it harder to strain later.

Step 3: Use an oven-safe container

Place the ground cannabis in an oven-safe container, such as a glass baking dish or a small oven-safe dish that fits in the air fryer basket.

Step 4: Cover with aluminium foil

Tightly wrap the container with aluminium foil. This will help contain the heat and prevent the cannabis from flying out during the air frying process.

Step 5: Poke holes in the foil

Use a toothpick or similar tool to poke several small holes in the top of the aluminium foil. This allows air to circulate and heat the cannabis evenly.

Step 6: Place in the air fryer

Put the covered container with the ground cannabis into the air fryer.

Step 7: Heat for 30-minute cycles

Heat the cannabis at 250°F for two 30-minute cycles, stirring the contents once between cycles. This slow and low heating process is essential for activating the cannabinoids without burning the terpenes.

Step 8: Check the colour

After the first cycle, carefully unwrap the container and check the colour of the cannabis. It should be turning from bright green to a golden or deep brownish-green hue. If it doesn't look very brown, you can put it back in for an additional 10 minutes.

Step 9: Stir and replace foil

Stir the contents of the container to ensure even heating. If the foil has lost its integrity, replace it with a fresh layer, wrapped in the same way, before proceeding to the next step.

Step 10: Reheat for another cycle

Place the container back into the air fryer for another cycle at 250°F for 30 minutes.

Step 11: Remove foil and continue heating

Remove the foil and continue heating the decarboxylated cannabis for two more cycles at 250°F for 40 minutes each.

Step 12: Monitor temperature

Monitor the temperature during the heating process, and lower the temperature if it gets too hot or if the cannabis starts to burn.

Step 13: Cool and strain

After the heating cycles are complete, remove the container from the air fryer and let it cool. When it's manageable, strain the decarboxylated cannabis through a fine-mesh filter to remove any plant material.

Step 14: Store in an airtight container

Once strained, store your decarboxylated cannabis in an airtight container away from direct sunlight and heat until you're ready to use it for making cannabutter or other infusions.

Add butter and soy lecithin

Now it's time to add the butter and soy lecithin. First, unwrap the oven-safe dish carefully, ensuring that you don't spill the decarboxylated cannabis. Next, add the butter and soy lecithin to the dish, stirring them into the decarbed weed.

Now, re-cover the dish with aluminium foil and place it back into the air fryer. Set the air fryer to 250°F and let the mixture heat for 40 minutes. After this, remove the foil and discard it, as it will have lost its integrity by this point. Replace the old foil with a fresh layer, wrapping it in the same way as before.

Return the dish to the air fryer and heat for another 40 minutes at 250°F. After this, stir the mixture and re-cover the dish with foil. Place it back into the air fryer for a final 40 minutes at the same temperature.

Re-wrap and heat

Once you have mixed the decarbed weed with the melted butter, it's time to re-wrap the dish and heat it in the air fryer.

Re-wrap the dish with a fresh layer of aluminium foil, ensuring it is wrapped tightly. Place the dish back into the air fryer and heat at 250°F for 40 minutes.

After 40 minutes, remove the dish from the air fryer and unwrap the foil. The foil will have lost its integrity at this point, so throw it away and replace it with a new sheet of foil, wrapped in the same way. Place the dish back into the air fryer for another 40-minute cycle at 250°F.

After the second 40-minute cycle, stir the ingredients in the dish and re-wrap the dish with a fresh layer of foil. Place the dish back into the air fryer for a final 40-minute cycle at 250°F.

After the final cycle, your cannabutter is ready to be strained and stored.

Remove foil, replace with a fresh layer

Once the first hour of cooking is up, carefully unwrap the oven-safe dish, ensuring that you don't spill the decarboxylated cannabis. Add the butter and soy lecithin to the dish and mix well. It is important to note that the tin foil will have lost its structural integrity at this stage, so remove and discard it. Replace the tin foil with a fresh layer, wrapping it in the same way as before.

The fresh layer of tin foil is necessary to ensure that the ingredients remain covered and protected during the next stage of cooking. It helps to maintain an even temperature and prevent spillage. This step is crucial for food safety and maintaining the integrity of your cannabutter.

When replacing the tin foil, ensure that it is securely wrapped around the dish. You can use multiple layers of foil if needed to ensure a tight seal. This will help prevent any leakage or exposure of the ingredients to external contaminants.

After replacing the tin foil, return the dish to the air fryer for another cooking cycle. This step is crucial for infusing the butter with the activated cannabis, so it is important to maintain the appropriate temperature and timing.

The fresh layer of tin foil will help contain the heat and moisture, creating an optimal environment for infusing the butter with the desired potency. This step demonstrates the importance of precision and attention to detail in the cannabutter-making process.

Stir and re-wrap for final cycle

Once you've stirred the ingredients in the dish, it's time for the final cycle of the air fryer cannabutter recipe. Re-wrap the dish tightly with aluminium foil, ensuring that it is sealed correctly. If the foil has become damaged or 'extra crispy' during the previous cycles, replace it with a fresh sheet. Poke a few holes in the foil with a toothpick before baking. Place the dish back into the air fryer and set the temperature to 250°F for another 40 minutes.

This final cycle completes the extraction process, allowing for a swift and efficient extraction of all the cannabinoids. The slow precision heat steeping results in a much more potent cannabutter than other methods. After this final cycle, remove the dish from the air fryer and leave it to cool down.

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