Cooking with Cannabis

Edibles are just one of many ways to enjoy the benefits of cannabis. A quick look at a dispensary menu might show a variety of baked goods, candies, and more. Did you know that you can make edibles at home, too? Here’s what you need to know about cooking with cannabis.

Making an Infused Butter or Oil

Choose Your Strain

The first step when you're cooking with cannabis is choosing your strain. You need to know what you want out of your experience. Regardless if you’re looking to relax or get energized, be sure to select a strain with a rich terpene profile.

Decarboxylation

You can’t just add dried flowers to butter or oil. Nor can you throw some into your recipe. For your edibles to be effective, you first need to decarboxylate your cannabis.

Decarboxylation is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of your edibles. To activate the cannabinoids, you must bake your cannabis flowers at 240 to 245 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. If the plant material is moist, it may need to bake longer.

Make Your Infusion

After the cannabis is cool enough to handle, the next step is grinding. It should be coarse. Then, you need to simmer the material in your chosen oil. You can use butter, canola oil, coconut oil, or olive oil.

Mix the cannabis with your chosen oil and heat it slowly on the stove or slow cooker. You can add water periodically to keep the buds from burning. If you use a slow cooker, your mixture should cook for six to eight hours. If you’re using the stove, three hours should be sufficient. The longer you cook, though, the more the cannabis infuses.

After cooking, strain your oil and store it in the fridge. Any residual water will rise to the top of the mixture. Remove it before using your infusion.

How to Use Your Infusion

Once you have your infusion, you can use it for just about anything. You can make:

• Brownies or blondies
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Icings
• Sauces
• Dressings
• Smoothies
• Sauteeing vegetables
• Marinades

When it comes to cooking with cannabis, the possibilities are virtually limitless.

Mistakes to Avoid When You're Cooking With Cannabis

Cooking with cannabis involves trial and error. Experimenting and getting creative are parts of the process. Here are a few mistakes to avoid that can help you craft edibles you’re sure to enjoy.

Grinding to a Fine Powder

Grinding your cannabis too fine can introduce chlorophyll and a grassy flavor to your oil. It also makes your mixture more difficult to strain. Grind your decarboxylated flowers coarsely. The oil will pull out valuable cannabinoids and leave unwanted plant material behind.

Skipping the Decarboxylation Process

Don’t just add unactivated cannabis into your recipe. Otherwise, your final product will taste off. The cannabinoids also won’t be able to activate fully. You must decarboxylate your flowers first.

Decarboxylating at Too High a Temperature

When it comes to decarboxylating your cannabis, low and slow is best. The buds must be heated long enough to activate the cannabinoids. You can use a higher temperature if you’re short on time, but be sure to watch the oven. Either way, be sure to mix your buds every so often to ensure an even process.

Straining Incorrectly

Don’t use force to strain your infusion. Otherwise, unwanted plant material can sneak through. Instead, let gravity do the work for you.

Using the Wrong Amount of Oil in Your Recipe

Before adding your infusion to any recipe, test its potency. This will help you determine how much to use for the best results and an optimal experience.

While you can purchase cannabis edibles at your local dispensary, you can also make your own at home. This gives you the opportunity to be creative and add your favorite strain to some of your favorite recipes.