Air Fryer Edibles: A Quick, Easy Guide

Air fryers can be used to make edibles, but it's not as simple as throwing your ingredients into the machine and letting it do its thing. There are a few important steps to follow, and some lessons to be learned from other people's mistakes. One person attempted to make edibles in an air fryer, only to have their weed blown around the machine, ruining it and leaving their air fryer smelling like cannabis. To avoid this, it's important to decarboxylate your weed first. This involves heating it in the oven before combining it with other ingredients. You can then mix it with butter or oil and return it to the air fryer, or spread it on a graham cracker with peanut butter or Nutella and return the whole thing to the air fryer.

Decarboxylate the weed

Decarboxylation is the process of heating up marijuana to a specific temperature to "activate" the compounds in it. The marijuana flower contains THCA, which in its natural state, is not psychoactive. The psychoactive THC is only created through the process known as decarboxylation. By heating the THCA, that THC is activated and can then be absorbed when consumed.

Using an Air Fryer

Break up the cannabis into small pieces and place them in an oven-safe container. Cover the container with tin foil and poke holes in the foil to allow airflow. Place the container in the air fryer and set the temperature to 240-250°F. Heat for 20-30 minutes, checking the browness of the weed. If it doesn't look brown enough, you can put it back in for an additional 10 minutes.

Using an Oven

Preheat your oven to 220-240°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Spread the ground cannabis onto the sheet, but not too fine to avoid burning. Heat for 30-40 minutes, stirring at least once. Allow it to cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. The cannabis should look lightly toasted and golden brown.

Using a Microwave

Grind the cannabis and place it in a microwave-safe bowl. Cook on high for 90 seconds. It should smell pungent but not burnt. If it doesn't smell pungent enough, stir and return to the microwave for another 60-90 seconds. Stay close to the microwave and stop it immediately if you smell burning.

Using a Mason Jar

Preheat your oven to 220-240°F. Place a baking tray in the middle of the oven and cover it with a sheet of baking paper and a lightly wet kitchen towel. Put the ground cannabis flower in the jar and lightly screw on the lid. Place the jar on top of the towel and bake for approximately 60 minutes. Remove the jar from the oven and shake it every 15-20 minutes to ensure even distribution of heat. Allow it to cool for 20-30 minutes before handling.

Using a Boiling Water Bath

Place ground cannabis in an oven bag and tie a tight knot. Place the bag in a pot of boiling water and boil for 90 minutes.

Prepare the air fryer

Preparing your air fryer is a crucial step in making edibles. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to ensure your air fryer is ready for making delicious and potent treats:

Firstly, it is important to decarboxylate your cannabis. This process activates the THC and other cannabinoids, enhancing the effects of your edibles. To decarb your weed, start by finely grinding your desired amount of cannabis. Then, spread the ground cannabis thinly on a piece of parchment paper placed on a baking sheet. Set your air fryer oven to around 235-250 degrees Fahrenheit, and place the baking sheet inside. Allow the weed to bake for approximately 30 minutes. This process can be done directly in the air fryer, but be cautious, as one user reported their weed blowing around inside the fryer, creating a mess and wasting product. To avoid this, you can wrap the weed in tinfoil with a few holes poked in it to allow airflow. Alternatively, you can use an oven and then transfer the decarbed weed to the air fryer for the next steps.

Once your weed is decarbed, it's time to prepare your air fryer for cooking. Preheat your air fryer to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature will ensure your edibles are cooked thoroughly without burning. It is important to ensure your air fryer is clean and free of any grease or residue from previous uses, as this can affect the taste and quality of your edibles.

Now, you are ready to begin creating your edibles! The following steps will depend on the specific edible recipe you choose to make. Remember always to follow the instructions carefully and adjust temperatures and timings as needed for your air fryer model.

Melt the butter

To melt the butter for your edibles in an air fryer, you will need to set your air fryer to the correct temperature. The ideal temperature for melting butter is around 270 degrees Fahrenheit.

First, place the butter in an oven-safe container and put it in the air fryer. You will need to melt the butter separately from the weed/cannabis, so don't add any other ingredients to the container. Set the air fryer to 270 degrees Fahrenheit. The amount of time needed to melt the butter will depend on the quantity of butter you are using. For a few tablespoons of butter, 2 minutes should be enough.

After 2 minutes, take the container out of the air fryer and stir the butter. Return the container to the air fryer and let it cook for another 2 minutes at the same temperature.

Now you have melted butter, which you can use in your edible recipe. You can add this to your ground cannabis or other ingredients to bind everything together.

It is important to note that when working with butter and an air fryer, you should be careful as the butter can easily burn. Keep an eye on the butter as it melts, and adjust the temperature or time as needed.

Combine weed and butter

To combine weed and butter, you must first decarboxylate the weed. This process, also known as "decarbing", involves heating the cannabis flower to transform the inactive cannabinoids (THCA and CBDA) into their active counterparts (THC and CBD). This step unlocks their psychoactive effects and allows the lipids in butter and oil to bind more easily to your weed.

To decarb your weed, preheat your air fryer to 220-250°F (104-121°C). Place the weed in an oven-safe container and cover it with tin foil, poking holes in the foil to allow air to get in. Put the container in the air fryer and heat for 20-45 minutes, depending on the quality of your weed. Older or lower-quality weed will take less time, while more recently harvested or higher-grade weed will take longer. Check on the weed frequently and gently mix it every 10 minutes to ensure even heating and prevent burning. The weed is decarbed once it turns from bright green to a deep brownish-green.

Once the weed is decarbed, it's time to infuse it with butter. You can use unsalted butter, coconut oil, olive oil, or any other fatty substance. For every gram of weed, you will need three ounces of butter. Melt the butter in a separate container in the air fryer at 270°F (132°C) for two minutes. Take it out, stir it, and return it to the air fryer for another two minutes.

Now, combine the decarbed weed and melted butter. Cook this mixture in the air fryer at 250°F (121°C) for 45 minutes, using the same tin foil cover with holes. This step infuses the butter with the active cannabinoids from the weed.

Once done, strain the oil into a cup to separate the butter from the plant material. You now have your weed-infused butter, also known as "cannabutter," ready to be used in your favourite edible recipes!

Bake

To bake edibles in an air fryer, you will need to first decarboxylate the weed. This is an important step as it activates the THC and other cannabinoids in the weed before consumption. To do this, you can use an oven set to 235 degrees Fahrenheit or an air fryer.

If using an oven, firstsection=take a baking pan and line it with parchment paper. Finely grind your cannabis and spread it thinly on the parchment paper. Allow it to bake for at least 30 minutes.

If using an air fryer, grind your weed and wrap it in foil with a few holes poked in it. Place it in the air fryer and set the temperature to 240-250 degrees Fahrenheit for 20-30 minutes.

Once your weed is decarboxylated, you can then proceed to make your edibles. One option is to make firecrackers. To do this, spread peanut butter and Nutella on two graham crackers and sprinkle the ground marijuana on top, combining it with the peanut butter. Join the two crackers together and wrap them in tin foil. Place them in the air fryer and bake at 300-325 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes.

Another option is to make cannabutter. For this, you will need butter and an additional oven-safe container. First, place the butter in the oven-safe container and cook it in the air fryer for 2 minutes at 270 degrees Fahrenheit. Take the butter out, stir it, and return it to the air fryer for another 2 minutes at the same temperature.

Next, pour half of the butter into the decarbed weed and cook at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, with a tin foil cover. Once done, strain the oil into a cup. Repeat this process with the remaining butter and weed for a second batch. Refrigerate the oil until it solidifies into butter, and your cannabutter is ready!

Frequently asked questions