Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or completely new to cooking with cannabis, there is only one crucial concept you should properly understand—decarboxylation. While it may be daunting for the newcomer, ability to decarboxylate (or “decarb”) your cannabis is the magic behind bringing this culinary consumption method to life.
If you’ve ever tried eating whole cannabis flower, only to disappointingly discover the lack of any “high,” you have already stumbled upon the importance of decarbing!
The cannabinoids contained in the trichomes of a cannabis plant are not able to be metabolized into the bloodstream until they undergo decarbing, where the THC and CBD (and various other cannabinoids) are chemically converted into an edible state. However, once your cannabis has been decarbed, you are well on your way to creating delicious infused meals.
So, how do you go about decarboxylate your cannabis? There are various methods to decarboxylate your cannabis, but they all contain the same premise: heat and time. Check out four different decarboxylation methods to get yourself confidently cooking with cannabis.
Magical Butter decarb box
An all-in-one setup to get yourself decarbing with confidence, the Magical Butter Decarb Box method will stop you from second-guessing your temperature accuracy. To begin, simply tear your cannabis into popcorn-sized nugs and place them in the provided heat-regulating silicone box.
Place the thermometer probe into the hole on top of the silicone box, assuring you that your buds are baking at the correct temperature. Pop that into your oven at 240°F for 45-60 minutes and voila, your cannabis has been decarbed.
NOTE: Make sure to keep an eye on the thermometer, as ovens fluctuate in temperature. The inside of the Butter Decarb Box may be greater or less than 240°F. Adjust the oven’s temperature (+/- 10°F) after around 10 minutes of decarbing if your thermometer reading is off.
Mason jar method to decarboxylate your cannabis
As decarbing involves baking your cannabis in the oven, it can be a pungent process. For the scent-weary, the mason jar method is the one for you. Using 4oz mason jars (as to not overcrowd), load up your popcorn-sized nugs directly into the glass, making sure to leave some free space in the top 1/4 of your jar.
Seal it up tight, and place it directly in your oven at 240°F for 45-60 minutes. Once your bud is decarbed into a nice brown colour, take your jar out of the oven and allow it to completely cool at room temperature. As soon as you hear the pop of the lid, you’re on your way to making a delicious cannabis-infused meal.
Sheet pan method
The Sheet Pan Method is an incredibly accessible method for beginners to experts, using only two common pieces of kitchen equipment: an oven pan and tin foil. Add your broken-up cannabis nugs to your pan, wrap it up tight with tinfoil, and place it in your oven.
Similar to the other methods, baking temperature and time follow the industry standard of 240°F for 45-60 minutes. The simplicity and consistency of the sheet pan method will allow you to gain confidence in decarbing, while not requiring a hefty investment.
Sous vide method
If you already have a passion for the culinary arts there’s a good chance you’ve used or heard of a sous vide machine before. However, instead of a perfectly cooked fillet, you can actually use your favourite kitchen gadget to ready your cannabis for cooking. Begin by placing your cannabis into a heat-safe vacuum seal bag, preheat your sous vide setup to 195°F, and submerge your sealed bag of cannabis for an hour to an hour and a half.
Since this method involves vacuum sealing the cannabis and decarbing it at a lower temperature, it actually protects the terpene content of your bud and keeps the smell down, making it a sought-after investment for those looking to step up their cannabis cooking game.
That’s four popular decarboxylation methods to get you into the realm of cannabis cooking. Do you have a different method you’d like to share? Let us know in the comments what methods work best for you. Click here for more recipes.