Here you can find the basics of infusing with cannabis! Decarboxylation, infusion techniques, what foods cannabinoids bind with best and more!
Want to try your hand at cannabis (cannabinoid) infusion!? Here you can learn the basics to home cannabis infusion to give yourself the foundation you need to explore cooking with cannabinoids!
Keep In Mind:
Just as with smoking cannabis; the better quality material you have- the better taste, smell, and also cannabinoid, terpene preservation and overall experience; ultimately giving you a better end product! Using sugar leaf and trim is great for cannabinoid infusion; but if you want an even higher quality infused product, using flower or extracts is your best bet! Avoid using old, improperly stored, deteriorated, overly dried, "powdery" shake material or your infusion will take on more chlorophyll (gives plants their green color), causing your butter to taste more "grassy" and have a deeper green tinge. The finer your material, the harder it will be to filter out and refine after infusing; this can result in a, somewhat, grainy end product. This is all personal preference; some people prefer grainy and/or grassy because they know the cannabis is in there. I am personally partial to a lighter cannabis taste, myself. I don't want my food to be overpowered with a cannabis taste because I find it more enjoyable to the pallet when it is not- and I still achieve the desired effects of course! Once you have grasped the foundation of cooking with cannabis, you can experiment and make pretty much anything!
"Decarboxylation starts to happen at about 220 degrees F and within 30 to 45 minutes has become mostly, if not fully decarboxylated."
Decarboxylation
What is decarboxylation (decarb) anyway?
Decarboxylation is a chemical reaction of carboxyl acids, in which a carbon atom is removed from a carbon chain. It is a naturally occurring process that speeds up when heat is applied, although, light and time can play a factor also.
In its raw form, cannabis contains THCa, which is known as, non-psychoactive until converted to THC with applied heat. This can be from a lighter when smoking flower or the heat used during a cannabinoid fat/oil infusion. Decarboxylation starts to happen at 220 degrees F and within 30 to 45 minutes has become mostly, if not fully decarboxylated. After about 30 minutes, the THCa has mostly converted to THC and the conversion to CBN has begun; along with the overall degradation of the cannabinoids, plant matter and the fats/oils being infused. It is most likely, due to residual heat or when more heat is applied during baking or preparing of edibles, that any remaining THCa will fully convert to THC. Avoiding “over processing” will result in less chlorophyll uptake in your fats/oils, less degradation/oxidation of your fats/oils and an overall preservation of more cannabinoids and terpenes- so, a better end product!
I, personally prefer to decarboxylate while I infuse my oil, relying on the applied heat during infusion to convert THCa to THC. Some, suggest using an oven and baking your cannabis to decarb, and then infusing your fat or oil. I prefer decarboxylating in the oil, this allows for the natural lipids, cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis to have a better chance of preservation, for optimal taste and flavor. It will produce a much softer cannabis flavor, rather than a harsh one; as using overly dried cannabis would. Remember- cannabinoids and terpenes are volatile and sensitive to temperatures and even light! These factors will effect how your cannabis infusion tastes, smells and effects you!
There are so many different fats and oils you can infuse in your own home with cannabinoids- the possibilities are near limitless!
Infusing Fats and Oils
As stated above, decarboxylating your cannabis while you infuse your fats and oils is the suggested and preferred method here! The next question is: what fats or oils can you infuse? Any! You can infused butter, olive oil, coconut oil (any oil!). Even milk, cream or nut butters like peanut butter or almond butter. Honey is another great ingredient for infusing with cannabis. Anything that has a high fat or oil content, the cannabinoids will homogenize, or bind well with.
Infusing using a double boiler or bain marie can fool proof any scolding or burning for things such as milk. You can also use a heatproof mason jar in a pot of water deep enough to cover your jarred fat or oil (this makes it a more difficult to monitor the temperature of your infusion). Some people suggest a crock pot, but again nailing the right temperature is difficult. I do, absolutely suggest, you get a thermometer for temping! Rather it be a traditional probe or candy thermometer or a laser one (just remember to stir while temping with the laser as to it is only temping the surface). Cheese cloth, a wide mouth jar funnel, heatproof bowl and oven mitts are also important for an easier and safer process. Also, you are working with hot oils, so be careful!
Typically, you want to use about 14 grams of high quality cannabis flower per half pound of butter or solid fats or about 1 cup of liquid fats/oils, such as cream or olive oil. The percentage of THC that will be present in your infusion depends on the percentage of THC present in your flower and the flower to fat ratios you choose. You can opt for 7 grams per half pound (or 1 cup, whichever suits you) for a less potent infusion. If you are using a low grade cannabis product (i.e. old, over dried/cured, poorly cultivated), expect your butter to be weaker in its cannabinoid and terpene content and effects. Both, cannabinoid fat/oil infusion and decarboxylation takes about 30 to 45 minutes at 220 degrees F. This means, whatever fat or oil you use needs to be able to withstand at least 220 degrees F for the best product also. Most cooking oils can withstand well above 220 degrees F; some fats (like cream, has a boiling point closer to 212 degrees F) will need to be stirred often and/or made using a double boiler to ensure no scolding and sticking. These are the basics of infusing- meant to give you a foundation to grow on!
Find recipes, more information and sources through out this site to help make cannabis and cannabis cooking part of your everyday life!
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