Cannabutter Guide

Feeling overwhelmed by all the complexity and methods floating online around cannabutter? Don’t worry, I’ve been there too! This quick cannabutter guide will get you prepped to make your own batch at home, easy-peasy!

Are you new to edibles?

BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO CANNABIS EDIBLES

What is Cannabutter and How is it Used?

Let’s start with the basics. Cannabutter is simply butter that’s been infused with cannabis, creating a potent base for all sorts of delicious edibles. It unlocks a world of possibilities, transforming everything into delightful and mind-bending treats.

Its origin is rich and complex as a perfectly seasoned stew. While the exact date is fuzzy (like that forgotten brownie in the back of the fridge), evidence suggests it’s been around for centuries Ancient civilizations used cannabis-infused ghee (a type of clarified butter) in religious rituals, to treat medicinal concoctions and perhaps to enhance their food too.

But enough with the history lesson, let’s get back to the kitchen! The beauty of cannabutter is that can be incorporated into a wide range of sweet and savory dishes, brownies, mashed potatoes… you name it!

Science of Infused Butters

Cannabutter it’s not just about the butter, but the hidden treasures it carries: fat-soluble compounds. These cool guys are like keys that unlock a flavor explosion in your kitchen, opening up a whole new world of delicious possibilities.

Cannabinoids are also fat-soluble. This means they love to hitch a ride on fat molecules, when you infuse butter with cannabis, you’re essentially pre-loading your baked goods with these tasty hitchhikers, ensuring they’re evenly distributed throughout your creation.

This isn’t just about getting high, cannabutter allows you to explore a whole new dimension of taste in your baking and cooking. The best part is that It doesn’t alter (much) the taste of your favorite recipes, it simply enhances them by ensuring a consistent and enjoyable journey for your taste buds and… well, other senses.

Decarboxylation Explained

This is the crucial step that unlocks the psychoactive potential lurking within your flower, transforming THCA (tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) into THC, the cannabinoid responsible for the euphoric effects we associate with edibles.I know all this “Decarboxylation” stuff sounds complicated but the process is really simple and won’t turn your kitchen into a science lab. I have a decarboxylation guide with step-by-step instructions so after you read this, make sure to give it a look!

Choosing Your Base

When it comes to crafting the perfect batch of cannabutter, the first step, like building any awesome dish, is all about the base. You wouldn’t use soggy cookies for a cheesecake, right? (Though, gotta admit, a super-powered graham cracker crust sounds pretty wild…)

Here’s a breakdown of the butter brigade and some non-dairy alternatives to help you pick the perfect starting point for your infused adventure:

Salted vs. Unsalted Butter

Both will technically work for cannabutter, but listen up: unsalted butter is your best friend here. Why? Because you’re basically creating your own flavor profile. Salt can be a great addition to some dishes, but for cannabutter, you want a blank canvas to work on. That way, you can control the taste completely!

Clarified Butter

Clarified butter, also called ghee. It’s basically pure butterfat, like the fancy part of regular butter. This means it can handle higher heat without burning, and it has a milder flavor that won’t overpower your tasty edibles. So, yes this is definitely a good option!

Vegan Butter

Listen, being vegan doesn’t mean you have to skip out on making cannabutter. There are tons of vegan butter choices out there that work great for infusing. Just remember, you want one with a lot of fat, because that fat traps all those good cannabinoids we want.

So, there you have it! Choose the base that best suits your baking style and dietary needs. Just remember to check the fat content and use something with a fat percentage around 80% and get ready to bake (or cook!) some magic!

Infusion Methods

We have a bunch of cool cooking methods to choose from, each with its own thing going on. Picking the perfect one depends on your kitchen stuff, how long you can wait, and how much you wanna be in charge of everything.

While in the next section I will explain to you how to infuse your butter using a specific method, I’m not going into details about the other methods. If you have interest to learn other infusion methods I strongly recommend to visit my cannabis infusion guide where you will find detailed instructions, troubleshooting and much more.

Ready to get your hands dirty?

How to Make Infused Butter (Cannabutter)

Making cannabutter is a straightforward process, but there’s a bit of kitchen alchemy involved. Here’s a breakdown of the steps to transform your bud into a potent baking buddy using the stovetop infusion method:

Tools:

• 1½ cups water.
• 8 oz. clarified butter, unsalted butter, or vegan butter.
• ½ oz. of decarboxylated cannabis (finely ground).
• Medium saucepan.
• Wooden spoon.
• Thermometer (optional).
• Cheesecloth or mesh strainer.

Instructions:

1. Melt the Butter: Combine water and your chosen butter in a saucepan over very low heat.

2. Incorporate the Cannabis: Once melted, add your ground decarboxylated cannabis and stir well with a wooden spoon. Cover the pot.

3. Simmer and Stir: Gently simmer the mixture for 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes to prevent burning. If you have a thermometer, keep an eye on the temperature.

4. Strain and Chill: After 4 hours, strain the mixture through cheesecloth or a mesh strainer into a container. Let it cool completely at room temperature and watch out for any sign of cannabutter separation.

5. Finish Up: Now you can use your infused butter, or properly store it to use later.

Tips and Tricks for Perfect Infused Butters

By now, you’ve got the cannabutter basics down. But like any good chef, it’s the secret tips and tricks that elevate your dish from “dorm room brownie” to “artisanal delight.” Let’s dive into some hacks to ensure your infused butter is potent, flavorful, has the right cannabutter color, and is far from that dreaded burnt-grass taste.

• Quality Ingredients Matter: This might seem like a no-brainer, but using top-notch cannabis strains and quality unsalted butter makes a world of difference. Also gives you more control over the final flavor.
  
  
• Decarboxylation Is Key:  Don’t skip this crucial step! Decarbing your bud activates the before infusion, ensuring your butter packs a punch.
  
  
• The Golden Ratio: Finding the right butter-to-cannabis ratio is key, especially if you’re new to edibles. So don’t play around, read my guide about cannabis dosage to avoid any issue.
  
  
• Strain with Care: Resist the urge to squeeze the cheesecloth like it owes you money. A slow, gentle strain will leave you with a cleaner, more aesthetically pleasing butter.

Storage is Crucial: So you made some amazing cannabutter, congrats! But before you get too excited, make sure to stash it in an airtight container, somewhere cool and dark. That way, our cannabutter will stay fresh and potent for longer!

Want to extend the shelf life of your edibles? Check out my edible preservation guide to keeping your edibles fresh and effective!

Recipe Inspirations

We’re not limited to just basic dishes with cannabutter! It’s a versatile ingredient that unlocks a ton of culinary options. To spark your inspiration, here are some recipe ideas:

Safety and Dosage: Let’s Not Get Baked (Accidentally)

Alright, canna chefs, we’ve covered the history, science, how to make cannabutter, and even some fancy gadgets for making this magical ingredient. But we still need to talk about the most important ingredient in your infused adventures: safety.

Dosage is Key

Unlike your grandma’s sugar cookies, where a “dash of love” is a perfectly acceptable measurement, cannabutter requires a bit more precision. With that in mind, make sure you check my dosing 101 guide for detailed and precise info about the nitty-gritty of dosage calculations!

For now, remember this golden rule: start low and slow. Take a small serving, wait at least two hours, and see how you feel before indulging further. Trust me, patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to cannabis edible creations.

Know Your Limits

We all have different tolerances, just like some folks can handle a bowl of chili with ease while others need a gallon of milk on standby. Pay attention to your body and don’t be afraid to say “no” to that second brownie (even if it looks heavenly).

IMPORTANT: Avoid driving or operating machinery after consumption. Just don’t be stupid, it’s not safe for anyone!

Be Mindful of Allergies

Just like any food, there’s a chance it could trigger allergies. If you have any worries about cannabis or the other stuff in Cannabutter, it’s always best to check with a doctor before you dig in. They can give you the green light (or not) so you can enjoy it safely.

Cannabutter Potential Side Effects

Cannabutter, while delightful, can come with some unwanted guests at the party. These are the most common ones:

Side Effect	Description
Dry Mouth.	Cannabutter can sometimes lead to a reduction in saliva production.
Sleepiness.	Increase the feeling of tiredness and a desire to sleep.
Anxiety.	It can lead to a racing heart and a general sense of unease.
Changes in Appetite.	It can stimulate or suppress appetite depending on the specific cannabinoid profile.

Troubleshooting Common Cannabutter Issues

Even experienced canna-chefs (like me) can encounter a few snags along the way. The good thing is that almost all of them are pretty easy to fix, here you have a free cheat sheet to troubleshoot common cannabutter woes and get your batches back on track:

Uneven Potency

Did your brownies leave some guests feeling on top of the world while others just had a case of the munchies? Uneven distribution of cannabinoids can be the culprit.

Here’s the fix: Ensure you grind your herb as finely as possible to maximize surface area for infusion. Stirring religiously throughout the simmering process is also key for even distribution of the good stuff.

Burnt Cannabis

Did your brownies leave some guests feeling on top of the world while others just had a case of the munchies? Uneven distribution of cannabinoids can be the culprit.

Here’s the fix: Ensure you grind your herb as finely as possible to maximize surface area for infusion. Stirring religiously throughout the simmering process is also key for even distribution of the good stuff.

Weak Potency

Feeling a little underwhelmed by your infused treats? There are a few possibilities. Did you use enough cannabis? Double-check your recipe and ensure you used the recommended amount. Maybe your simmering session wasn’t long enough.

Grassy Taste

So you made some cannabutter and it tastes… grassy? Don’t worry, that happens sometimes, It’s often chlorophyll from cannabis causing it.

Here’s the fix: Simmer butter and herb mix, strain through cheesecloth into cool water. Chlorophyll will sink to the bottom, leaving you with cleaner-tasting cannabutter.

Mold Growth

If you see any fuzzy stuff, toss it. Mold is a total buzzkill, so listen close: everything, and I mean everything, needs to be bone-dry. We’re talking your bud and the butter, both gotta be super crispy before they become best buds. Once you’ve whipped up your masterpiece, put it in a sealed container and store it right.

Excessive Moisture

Nobody wants soggy cookies. Excess moisture in your cannabutter can lead to baked goods that are more like hockey pucks than delightful treats. To avoid this, ensure you simmer your butter-herb mixture long enough to allow any water to evaporate. You can also use a clarified butter base, which has less water content than regular butter.

Now, go forth and infuse! With these tips and tricks in your culinary arsenal, you’re well on your way to crafting delicious and potent cannabutter that will elevate your baked goods (and maybe even surprise your taste buds) to a whole new level.