Cannabutter is the foundation of most cannabis cooking. Get this one recipe right and you can make almost any infused edible, since butter goes into so much of what we bake and cook. The process is simple, but temperature control is everything. Here’s how to do it.
Step 1: Decarboxylate your cannabis
Before infusing anything, you have to activate the THC through decarboxylation, which just means heating the cannabis properly. Preheat your oven to 245°F (120°C), grind your cannabis, and spread it on a baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so it heats evenly.
Step 2: Choose your butter
Any butter works, but a lot of people prefer unsalted, since it gives you more control over the final flavor of whatever you’re making.
Step 3: Melt the butter
Put the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. As it melts, it’ll start to bubble and froth.
Step 4: Add the cannabis
Once the butter is melted, add your decarboxylated cannabis. Stir occasionally so it distributes evenly through the butter.
Step 5: Simmer
Let the mixture simmer on low heat for 2 to 3 hours. This gives the THC time to infuse into the butter. This is the step that rewards patience.
Step 6: Strain
When the infusion is done, strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the plant matter.
Step 7: Store
Let the butter cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to cook with it.
The most important tip: keep it low
Temperature is where cannabutter succeeds or fails. If the mixture gets too hot, the THC evaporates, and you’ll end up with weak butter after all that work. Aim to keep it below 200°F (93°C). A thermometer makes this easy, but if you don’t have one, use your stovetop’s simmer setting. The mixture should be hot enough to melt the butter but never boiling.
A note on dosing
The strength of your butter depends on the potency of your cannabis and how much you use. Start with a small amount in whatever you make, and increase from there to find your dose. THC affects everyone differently and edibles sneak up on people, so go slow the first time.