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When you think of consuming marijuana, smoking it is probably the most common method. However, there are some alternatives like cannabis-infused meals or edibles. Practice has shown that, in this regard, cannabutter is the most versatile product – you can use it to create all sorts of edibles. In this article, we’ll be sharing a classic and foolproof weed butter recipe, so get your utensils ready and let’s start cooking!
What Exactly Is Cannabutter?
The word “cannabutter” is not some fancy Latin derivative – you can see it’s a combination of the words “cannabis” and “butter”. Making it isn’t rocket science either – just as the name implies, cannabutter is simply a mix of weed and butter. The ingredients are cooked together on low heat for an extended period of time, during which the THC, CBD and other fat-soluble cannabis compounds are infused into a creamy base. The final product can be used just as regular butter, the only difference being that it will also get you high!
Psychoactive Effects Of Weed Butter
As THC and CBD in marijuana butter are metabolized differently from when these compounds are smoked, their effects also vary. With edibles, it may take up to 90 minutes to notice any effects, so it’s extremely important to be patient and not overindulge – doing so may result in a stronger experience than expected. Users even report that the effects from edibles are more psychedelic in comparison to those induced by smoking. Another factor that makes the effect of cannabutter and edibles different from smoking is the extended period of action – after just a portion of weed-infused butter, you can stay high for 6-12 hours straight.
The Proven And Easy Cannabutter Recipe
The recipe for THC butter itself is quite simple. The tricky part is when it comes to calculating the dosage – the amount of THC in the final product. Keep in mind that a medium-strong portion of cannabutter will contain 15-30mg THC, and going over this level is only recommended for highly experienced users. The following recipe will result in around fifty 21mg THC portions of cannabutter that you can use either as is or in cooking.
What You'll Need
To make your own cannabutter and enjoy a variety of home-made edibles, here’s what you’re going to need.
Ingredients:
- 7g (1/4 ounce) weed (an average bud with 15% THC. If you use a stronger bud, you’ll end up with stronger cannabutter, so be responsible!)
- 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter (weed to butter ratio can be tweaked depending on the potency you’re trying to achieve)
- 1 cup water
Equipment:
- Baking sheet
- Medium-sized saucepan with a lid
- Wooden spoon
- Cheesecloth
- 2 containers (1 for draining the butter mixture in, 1 for storing the butter)
Once you have everything ready, make sure you did your calculations right. We can’t stress enough how important it is to have the best possible experience with edibles. Don’t stress yourself out, though – there’s plenty of cannabutter potency calculators online to make your life easier! Just insert the amount of weed you have, its potency, and the desired number of portions into your preferred calculator. Next thing you know, you’ll have all of the numbers laid out for you!
Step 1 – Decarb Your Weed
This step is extremely important if you want your cannabutter to produce the desired psychoactive effects and not just be a sad green slob of fat. Decarboxylation is the process during which non-psychoactive THC in the bud is transformed into the sought-after THC under the influence of heat. To release THC and activate your weed, simply spread it evenly over a cookie sheet and bake it at 240°F (115°C) for 30-40 minutes. It’s important to keep an eye on the temperature, as higher heat will destroy the THC and CBD instead of activating it. After the process is done, your weed is ready to gift its potency to the butter.
Step 2 – Cook The Ingredients On The Stovetop
For the next step, you’ll need to pour a cup of water into the saucepan and bring it to a boil. After you see that the water has started bubbling, add your butter to the pot and stir it gently until it melts completely. After that, bring the heat to low and add your weed to the mixture. Stir it once again, close the lid and simmer for 3-4 hours. You’ll need to check on the butter from time to time to see if there’s still water left. You don’t want all of the water to evaporate, as its role is to prevent the butter from burning. If you feel like there’s not enough water left in the mixture, just add half a cup more.
Step 3 – Strain The Butter
After 3 to 4 hours on the stovetop, turn off the heat and strain the butter through a cheesecloth over one of the containers. It will catch the green that you don’t need anymore – all of the THC and CBD is now in the butter. Keep the butter mixture in the container or saucepan until it cools down to room temperature. Then, put it in the fridge for the butter to separate from the remaining water. Soon, you’ll see a nice greenish layer of solid butter that’s formed on the top of the mixture. Take all of it out and pat it gently with a clean tablecloth or paper towel.
Step 4 – Store The Weed Butter Properly
Now your cannabutter is ready to be stored in the fridge until you need it! Because of the water that we used in this recipe, the final product has slightly increased moisture content. Even though such a method makes the process of making cannabutter easier, it also means that your weed-infused butter needs to be used immediately or in the following 3-4 days. However, the good news is that this cannabutter can be stored for up to 6 months in the freezer!
Helpful Tips
Even though the process seems quite simple – which, honestly, it is – there are some helpful tips and tricks to make things even better. Take these into consideration when planning to make your first batch of cannabutter.
Decarb Your Weed Properly
The initial step of the above-described recipe, as you know already, is crucial to ensure the efficiency of the final product. If you want to make your cannabutter as potent as possible, make sure to bake your weed for at least 30-40 mins to activate every single molecule of THC and CBD it contains. In case you’re using garden-fresh buds, this process will take up to an hour. Either way, you’ll know it’s ready after the color of the buds changes to brownish-green. For a 100% even decarboxylation, gently stir and rotate your material every 10 minutes.
Don’t Use Small Pots
When making cannabutter at home, you want to use at least a medium-sized saucepan. If you go for a smaller size, there’s a higher risk of the mixture boiling and spilling over the top – definitely not something you want considering how valuable the ingredients are!
With Cannabutter, You Can Actually Replace… Butter!
THC and CBD are fat-soluble, which means they can, in theory, infuse any fat. While butter is considered the all-time classic, you can also elect to use coconut oil if that’s something you prefer. Nowadays, many users turn to coconut oil for the pleasant coconut taste and 0% cholesterol. However, keep in mind that many canna-cooks claim butter to be more effective at capturing THC and CBD.
Cannabutter And Its Limitless Possibilities
There are infinite options when it comes to the use of cannabutter. Just think of all the recipes that contain regular butter – by replacing a portion of it with cannabutter, you can immediately turn any meal into a masterpiece of high cuisine.
Everyone’s heard of weed brownies, cupcakes and space cakes. While these are delicious edibles, their fame shouldn’t stop you from exploring the horizons of cooking with cannabutter. With such a versatile ingredient, you can make anything from pasta and roasted veggies to bulletproof coffee or a simple buttered toast! Experiment however you like – just always be sure to measure the THC content of every portion beforehand.
Let’s Get Cooking
As we’ve learned, cannabutter, when made and used correctly, creates a whole new level of enjoying cannabis! Making this versatile base for countless meals that are not only delicious but will also get you high is easy. With just a couple of hours of mostly passive participation, easily-acquired ingredients and some very basic equipment, you’re ready to go!
Herbies Head Shop expressly refuses to support the use, production, or supply of illegal substances. For more details read our Legal Disclaimer.
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