So you want to make your own edibles but are unsure just how to turn those lovely buds into tasty treats? We’re here to help.
An important step that is overlooked by many people on their first cooking-with-cannabis adventure is to DECARB THAT WEED.
I can already hear you saying, “what does that mean and why is it important to decarb your weed before you make edibles/infuse with it”?
What is Decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation is the process that activates compounds in cannabis, such as THC, using heat. Doing this maximizes the activation of THC and CBD compounds for infusing with food.
Why is this important?
If you don’t decarb before infusing, your end product will only be 10-25% activated so you will not enjoy the full effects of your hard work.
Alright! Now, that you know what it is and why it’s important to Decarb, we’ll get to the best part – HOW?
When decarboxylating your cannabis in an oven the process is really simple, however, it is important to note that the temperature dial on an oven is more of an average temperature than an exact one.
Ovens can fluctuate in temperature by 20 or more degrees, so keep an eye on your cannabis. If it turns brown too quickly or smells like it is burning, turn the oven down. An oven thermometer is a good investment if you’re going to be using your oven regularly for cannabis cooking.
WHAT YOU NEED:
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- Baking tray (preferably Pyrex)
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- Aluminum foil or parchment paper
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- Cannabis
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- An Oven
Directions
1. Set your oven temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and place the oven rack in the middle position. Ovens are hotter at the top and cooler at the bottom, placing it in the middle will ensure that you are decarboxylating at the ideal temperature.
2. Cut a piece of aluminum foil to the size of your baking sheet and lightly crumple it, then lay it across the baking sheet. This will minimize the direct contact of the cannabis to the baking sheet, which conducts heat better than aluminum foil and will get hotter than the air in the oven.
3. Lightly break up the cannabis until it is about the size of a grain of rice, too fine of a grind increases the risk of burning. Spread the cannabis across the aluminum foil, then lightly lay another piece of aluminum foil on top. Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 45 minutes.
4. After 45 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool for 30 minutes at room temperature. The cannabis should look lightly toasted and golden brown.
5. When it is cool enough to handle, carefully put your decarboxylated cannabis into a storage container to use for future cooking.
Now your cannabis is ready to be infused into butter or coconut oil for all your “baking” adventures. Bon Appetit!
