While it’s easier than ever to get ahold of potent and delicious cannabis edibles, for some of us, nothing will ever beat homemade. (Imagine a whiff of fresh and gooey chocolate chip cookies coming out of the oven and you’ll probably agree.) But if making your own cannabis-infused baked goods and savory foods feel like a heavy lift, allow us to help: Cooking with homemade cannaoil (or cannabutter) couldn’t be easier!
In today’s post, we’ll tell you how to make cannabis oil with a simple and easy-to-follow recipe. By the end, you’ll be ready to try it out on your favorite edibles recipe!
How to Make Cannabis Oil: A Step-by-Step Guide
When you’re learning how to make THC oil, it’s important to understand a few things first. For one, THC doesn’t readily bind to water, which is why it’s necessary that you use some sort of fat. For another, heat is required to decarboxylate—or convert—the THCA in cannabis to active THC. But don’t fret: It’s as simple as turning on the oven!
Are you ready? Let’s get cooking!
- Measure out a cup of fresh cannabis flower and one cup of your favorite cooking oil or butter. Pro tip: If you use a flower vape, you’re a step ahead. “Recycle” that already-vaped flower. There’s typically enough THC to produce a potent cannaoil, and you’ll be able to skip the decarboxylating step (#3) entirely.
Is one fat better than another? We love butter for its rich taste, but you could use a fruity olive oil, neutral-tasting coconut oil, or any other edible fat. Note that the finished cannaoil will have a fairly pronounced “weed taste,” so save your very best extra-virgin olive oil for finishing salads and other delicate foods.
- Grind the cannabis. Because you’ll be straining it at the end, you’ll want to end up with small chunks as opposed to a fine powder.
- Preheat your oven to 220°F – 235°F degrees. If you have a separate oven thermometer, use it. Most ovens’ internal thermostats are notoriously inaccurate. Now place the cannabis on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Once the oven is at the preset temperature, set the tray inside to bake for 45 minutes. When done, take it out, let it cool, and proceed.
- Combine your butter or oil with the ground flower and place them both in either a double-boiler or a slow cooker. You’re going to be heating them on “low” or “warm” for several hours, so the lower the better. Can you do it on the stovetop? Sure, but this will require regular checking to ensure the cannaoil isn’t burning.
Regardless of the method, have a kitchen thermometer close by. You want to ensure that the temperature doesn’t exceed 245°F so as not to waste those precious cannabinoids! Let the cannabis infusion cook for as long as you can. We recommend 4 – 6 hours in a slow cooker, 6 – 8 hours in a double-boiler, and at least 3 hours in a saucepan.
- Once the time’s elapsed, let the cannaoil cool so that it’s safe to handle. Then carefully pour it through a kitchen strainer, ideally lined with cheesecloth. If you’re tempted to give it a squeeze, don’t. Why? This will add more chlorophyll (and “weed flavor”), not more THC.
That’s it! Stored your infusions in a cool dark place. If you’ve made an oil it can sit at room temperature for at least two months (and roughly twice as long if it’s stored in an airtight jar in the refrigerator). If you’ve made an infused butter, store it in the fridge.
And in either case, always clearly label THC-infused foods. Be sure to store them safely and out of reach from any children or pets. And, if you’re up for some cannabis math, you can add to your label details on the THC content per ¼ cup, tablespoon, teaspoon or any other measures you think would be handy.
How to Make THC Oil: Wrapping Up
What should you make with your cannaoil? Nearly anything! Swap it for the fat in your favorite recipes, dab it onto steamed vegetables, stir it into cocoa or whisk it into salad dressings. Note: We recommend limiting the cannaoil to no more than half the total fat. Otherwise, the “weed flavor” will tend to dominate. And of course, be sure to keep any cannabis-infused foods out of the reach of minors (or anyone else who shouldn’t have access to cannabis).
Have any other questions about how to make edibles at home? Just ask. We’re always here to help. We’d love to see you in person at our Seattle or Des Moines dispensaries, so stop by today with any questions you may have. Of course, you can check out our online menus at any time to browse an extensive selection of cannabis flower that would be perfect for your next batch of cannaoil. Either way, we look forward to seeing you!
