How to Make Cannabis Butter

Cannabis butter is a versatile and enjoyable addition to your cooking. The best part of consuming cannabis butter is that you get to enjoy the cannabis effects discreetly. It is usually used as a substitute for regular butter in different recipes, including cakes, cookies, brownies, etc. However, you have to learn how to make cannabis butter the right way to enjoy your favorite recipes.

In this article, we aim to explain what equipment and ingredients you need to prepare cannabutter. Plus, we will provide a step-by-step guide on the process of making the butter.

Let’s dive in!

How to Make Cannabis Butter

As experts in the cannabis industry, we aim to share everything related to the benefits and endless possibilities of cannabis. 

Cannabis butter, simply called cannabutter, can be used in any recipe for homemade sweets. The best is that you do not need long cooking experience or cannabis use. All you need to make butter with cannabis is to dose correctly, be patient and organized, and find a good recipe. 

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Moha El-Jaw

Gathering ingredients and essential kitchen tools

First, we will explain what ingredients and basic kitchen tools you require for making cannabis-infused butter. You will need the following:

• 1 cup of butter (unsalted is preferred)

• 1 ounce (28 grams) of ground cannabis

• Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer

• Double boiler or a saucepan and heatproof bowl

• A rubber spatula or wooden spoon

• Airtight container for storage

Choosing the right strain

Cannabutter is a multi-purpose edible. Although cannabutter is a standard butter infused with cannabis, its strength depends on the type of cannabis you use. 

In our experience, choosing the right strain for anything related to cannabis is essential. We recommend you choose a strain of cannabis that suits your preference and desired effects. For example, indica strains might provide a more relaxing and sedating experience. On the other hand, sativa strains tend to be more energizing.

So, the best cannabis strains for cannabis butter may be Train Wreck and OG Kush. Train Wreck is suitable for making butter due to its potency, citrus, and peppery flavors. If you like cannabis butter with a strong flavor, this one is right for you. Besides providing a euphoric feeling, it might also reduce pain.

Moreover, OG Kush contains more indica strain, which may calm and relax. Yet, it is strong. OG Kush flavor is a mix of citrus, pine, and fruits.

Preparing the cannabis 

What you need:

• ½ cannabis flower

• Glass baking dish or sheet pan

• Parchment paper

• Hand grinder or scissors

What to do:

1. Preheat the oven to 220 ℉.

2. Break the buds into large pieces and spread them onto a parchment baking sheet. 

3. Bake on the center rack of the oven and bake for 20 minutes if you use lower-quality or old cannabis. 45 minutes for high-quality cannabis, or more than 1 hour for any cannabis that has been recently harvested and is still wet. 

4. Check the cannabis and mix it every 10 minutes to avoid burning it. You will notice that the cannabis color will change from bright green to deep brownish green.

5. Once you remove the cannabis from the oven, let it cool down.

6. When the cannabis is cool, you should break the weed with your hands or with a hand grinder or scissors. The cannabis consistency should be moderately fine.

Decarboxylation

You should decarboxylate or activate cannabis before using it in a recipe to maximize its benefits. Decarboxylation is the process that transforms the inactive cannabinoidsTHCA and CBDA into their active correspondents, THC and CBD. 

Thanks to this process, the psychoactive effects are released. Plus, the butter lipids easily attach to the cannabis. Also, there are several different decarboxylation methods. Remember that the best is to find the right temperature to decarb because a lower temperature may lead to incomplete conversion, and a higher temperature may lead to a soothing effect. 

Regardless of whether you want sativa or indica, we recommend you use whole cannabis flowers, not ground cannabis. So, you will break up the flower with a hand grinder after baking.

Another modern method is the Sous-Vide method. This is how you use it:

1. Place your dried flower in a vacuum plastic bag and then cut or trim the flower.

2. Set your cooker or immersion circulator to 200 ℉.

3. Place the sealed bag in hot water and allow it to simmer for five to six hours.

Butter-infusion process

You should choose a base for your infusion. Butter is a common choice because it is easy to work with and has a high-fat content that helps extract the cannabinoids from the cannabis. You can also use olive or coconut oil. Here are the detailed instructions for this process:

1. Put butter and water in a saucepan, mix it, and leave it on low heat.

2. Once it is melted, add the decarboxylated cannabis flower and mix them. For example, if you are looking for a strong concentration, the ratio is 1:1. If you make one cup of butter, you should add one cup of cannabis flower to the saucepan. 

3. Now, let the mixture simmer for two to three hours, stirring occasionally. 

4. After two to three hours, remove the mixture from the heat and strain it through cheesecloth to remove the plant material.

5. Allow the cannabis butter to cool, then transfer it to an airtight container for storage in the refrigerator or freezer. 

6. When infusing the butter, it is best to leave a similar temperature range as with the decarboxylation process. You can use a candy thermometer to check the butter temperature every few minutes. It is important to maintain a constant temperature throughout the infusion process.

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Alexander_Volkov

Temperature and time control

In our working experience, we heard people debating about the best temperature range for making cannabis-infused food. While some say lower temperature is used to preserve the cannabinoids, others say higher temperature activates them. So, let’s clear this doubt. 

First, you need to consider which cannabinoids you want to preserve. Bear in mind that cannabinoids may be thermally stable or labile. This means that thermally stable cannabinoids will degrade at higher temperatures, while the labile ones require a lower temperature. For example, CBD is stable, and it requires higher temperatures.

However, temperatures that are too high or too low can lead to a poor-quality product and destroy the active ingredients in marijuana. Therefore, while infusing butter, the ideal temperature range is between 160-190 ℉. It is essential to monitor the temperature during the entire infusion process.

Additionally, maintaining the optimal temperature and adequate infusion time is highly important in achieving the desired potency and consistency of cannabis butter. We advise you to monitor the time; otherwise, you might not make the butter properly.

Storing your cannabis butter

Our long experience taught us that cannabis storage is equally important as cannabis preparation. So, after making cannabis butter, it is essential to store it correctly to maintain its freshness and potency. Here are some tips for keeping cannabis butter:

Refrigeration

We advise you to keep the cannabis butter in the fridge to maintain freshness. Store the butter in an airtight container or a sealed plastic bag labeled with the date of preparation. Usually, cannabutter can last in the fridge for two to three weeks. 

Freezing

Cannabis butter can also be stored in the freezer for an extended period. If properly stored, cannabutter can last in the freezer for about six months, sometimes longer. Remember to cut the butter into small pieces and store them in airtight containers or plastic bags to prevent mold development.

Label

Proper labeling is important to avoid confusion. Label the container or plastic bag with the date of preparation and the cannabis strain used.

Keep away from light

Light degrades THC, and it affects your butter’s potency. Therefore, the fridge or freezer is best since it is a cool and dry place.

Keep away from heat

Heat also degrades THC. So, it is best to keep your butter away from ovens or stovetops.

Cooking tips

Using cannabis-infused butter in cooking and baking can be a great way to enjoy the effects of cannabis while creating delicious edibles. There are many recipes with cannabutter. As an example, we share the Healthy Cannabutter Banana Bread. The ingredients you will need are:

• 3 ripe bananas

• 1 cup of sugar

• 2 cups of flour

• ½ cup of cannabis butter

• 2 eggs

• 1 teaspoon of baking soda 

• A pinch of salt

• Optional: ½ cup of chopped nuts or chocolate chips for added flavor

Check the recipe here

Dosage recommendations for safe consumption can vary depending on the potency of your cannabis butter and individual tolerance levels. We always advise beginners to start with a low dosage and wait for at least an hour to assess the effects before consuming more. Keep track of your dosage and how your body reacts to find your sweet spot.

Remember that the effects of cannabis-infused edibles might last longer than those of smoking and vaping. That is why start low and slow to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. 

Source: shutterstock.com / Photo Contributor: Visualistka

Conclusion

Now when you know how to make cannabis butter, you can enjoy different cannabis-infused edibles. Before starting to prepare your cannabis butter, remember that it is very important to choose the right strain.

When making cannabutter, the first step is decarboxylation, which transforms the inactive ingredients into their active counterparts. Then, the butter-infusion process starts.

Keep in mind that temperature and time control are crucial if you want to prevent losing the potency and consistency of the cannabis butter. You should store your cannabis butter in the refrigerator or freezer because it needs to be kept away from heat and light. Once prepared, you can use the cannabis butter in different recipes.