The sales of cannabis-infused edibles have skyrocketed in recent years, offering a discreet and delicious way to enjoy cannabis.
While there are a variety of edible treats available on the market (in locations where they’re legal, of course), you can also create your own at home.
Cooking with cannabis can give you control and creativity in the kitchen. If you’re a beginner, here are a few basic pointers to help you cook with cannabis.
Prepare Your Weed
Cannabis must first be prepared before cooking and creating edibles. And the way to do this is through decarboxylation.
Decarboxylation is the process of heating the plant to the point where the cannabinoids can be infused into foods.
This is done by baking the weed. You should first grind or break apart the flower. The amount you choose depends on your desired potency, though it may be better to use less in the beginning.
Lay the weed on a baking tray and bake at 245 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, mixing every 10 minutes.
Make a Weed-Infused Butter or Oil
Creating a cannabis butter or oil isn’t the only option when cooking with cannabis, but it’s arguably the best way to start for beginners. Plus, a cannabis-infused butter or oil often has a much better taste than directly adding bud to your dinner dish.
To make cannabutter, add your baked weed to butter and water on the stovetop, and cook to infuse. You can also use coconut oil for a non-dairy option.
After cooking, strain the flower from the butter or oil and discard.
How to Cook With Cannabis
Now that you have your cannabutter or oil ready, you can start cooking with cannabis.
Sweets such as cookies and brownies are a common choice when making edibles. Any sweets recipe that calls for butter or oil can use cannabis butter or oil instead.
If you don’t want to waste any more time baking, you can also go for a non-bake chocolate bar or fudge recipe instead.
If you made a cannabis oil, you can use it as the base of a salad dressing. Either oil or butter can also be drizzled over potatoes, meats, or vegetables.
For those feeling thirsty, wake-and-bake with butter coffee in the morning. Or try adding a little infused coconut oil into a healthy smoothie for a vitamin-rich drink.
Finding the Right Dose
Cooking with cannabis butter and oil is easy and versatile. But there’s a limit to how much infused oil or butter you should use in your recipes.
Unlike the edibles sold in dispensaries, DIY edibles can sometimes be over-spiked with cannabinoids. THC edibles in particular can cause confusion, hallucinations, impaired motor control, and vomiting.
For this reason, some people may choose to use hemp flower containing only CBD, not THC.
When using THC-infused ingredients for the first time, avoid driving or operating a vehicle. Give the edible at least a couple hours before you start seeing effects, and limit how much you consume until you become more familiar with the right dose for you.
Start Creating Your Own Edibles
With these beginner-friendly tips, you can start creating your own cannabis sweets, savory dishes, drinks, and more.
When you cook with cannabis, you can make your own creative infused dishes, just the way you like!
Looking for inspiration for your next recipe with cannabutter? Visit our food articles for fresh ideas!
