Old-school cannabutter is a throwback to simpler times, using traditional methods to infuse butter with cannabis.
This easy-to-follow guide will take you through each step of creating your own at home, from grinding the herb to slow cooking for that perfect blend.
Along the way, we’ll sprinkle in some handy tips to ensure your cannabutter sings with flavor and potency.
Get ready to start on a culinary journey that marries the old with the new, culminating in a finished product that’s sure to impress!
What is old-school cannabutter?
Cannabutter is the heart of many cannabis-infused recipes, and creating it the old-school way brings a sense of authenticity to your culinary exploits.
At its core, old-school cannabutter involves a simple infusion of cannabis into butter, leveraging heat and time to extract the cannabinoids.
What’s so unique about the old-school version, though?
Well, this method often uses whole cannabis flowers, ground and decarboxylated, to ensure maximum potency.
Ingredients for your DIY cannabutter
To make old-school cannabutter, you will need a few essential items. These include:
- 1 ounce of cannabis
- 1 pound of butter
- 4 cups of water
- A slow cooker or a double boiler
- A grinder or hand to break down the cannabis
- A strainer or cheesecloth
The magic of old-school cannabutter lies in the simplicity of its creation.
Step-by-step guide to creating old-school cannabutter
Here’s a straightforward guide to making your own at home.
1. Begin by grinding your cannabis – remember, not too finely; you want to avoid a gritty texture in your finished product.
2. Next, decarboxylate your ground cannabis.
This involves baking it in the oven, usually around 220-240 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30-40 minutes. This process heats the cannabis enough to activate the THC, transforming it from its raw, non-psychoactive form (THCA) into the THC we know and love.
3. Now, it’s time for the slow-cooking process.
Combine your decarboxylated cannabis with butter in a slow cooker or a saucepan on very low heat. This should be done for at least 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
4. After slow-cooking, strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer to remove the plant material.
Be sure to squeeze out as much of the butter as possible from the leftover plant material.
5. Finally, allow your cannabutter to cool before using it in your recipes or storing it in an airtight container in the fridge.
The beauty of this process?
You’re controlling what goes into your cannabutter and can adjust potency and flavor according to personal preference. Now that’s the essence of DIY!
After the quick overview, let’s break down the process and provide more detailed instructions:
Decarboxylation: The key to potency
Decarboxylation is the process that activates the THC in cannabis, making it psychoactive.
It’s a crucial step in the cannabutter preparation and shouldn’t be skipped.
You start by preheating your oven to 240°F (115°C). Then, grind your cannabis until it’s coarse but not too fine. Spread it out evenly on a baking tray and bake for about 30-40 minutes.
During this time, the heat triggers a chemical reaction that converts the THCA in cannabis into THC, unlocking its psychoactive potential.
This step might sound a bit scientific, but trust us, it’s simpler than it sounds.
And the results?
They’re worth it, making your cannabutter effectively potent.
Infusing the butter with cannabis
Once your cannabis is decarboxylated, it’s time to infuse it into the butter.
Start by melting your butter in a pot on low heat.
When it’s fully melted, add your decarboxylated cannabis. Stir thoroughly to ensure all the cannabis is coated with butter.
Now, here’s where patience comes in.
Let the mixture simmer on low heat for about 2-3 hours. This slow, gentle heat allows the THC to infuse into the butter without burning the cannabis or degrading its potency.
As an example, imagine steeping a tea bag in hot water – given enough time, the water takes on the flavor and color of the tea.
Similarly, your butter will gradually take on the THC from the cannabis.
Once infused, you’re ready for the final step – straining and storing your cannabutter.
Straining and storing your cannabutter
After the simmering process, your butter is now infused with the goodness of cannabis.
But before you can use it, you need to strain out the plant material.
For this, you’ll need a strainer or cheesecloth and a container to catch the liquid butter.
Firstly, carefully pour the mixture through your strainer or cheesecloth into the container. The goal here is to separate the liquid butter from the cannabis plant material.
But remember, don’t squeeze or press down too hard on the plant material. Doing so could push unwanted plant particles into your butter.
When all the liquid is strained, you’ll be left with greenish-brown cannabutter. Let it cool down, then place it in the refrigerator to solidify.
Once solid, your cannabutter is ready to be used in any recipe calling for butter.
And there you have it: traditional cannabutter made right at home!
Top tips and tricks for making old-school cannabutter
Cooking with cannabutter can be a joyous culinary adventure. It’s where the magic of cannabis meets the art of cooking.
But, like any new endeavor, it’s always helpful to have a few tips up your sleeve.
I’ve learned along the way that less is often more when it comes to adding cannabutter to recipes.
It’s potent stuff, so start with small amounts and adjust as needed.
Another tip we’ve picked up is to ensure even distribution of cannabutter in your dishes. This helps to distribute the THC evenly throughout your dish, making for a more consistent experience.
Finally, it’s crucial to note that the effects of edibles kick in slower compared to smoking. So, give it some time before you reach for that second brownie!
- Keep your cannabutter in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It can last for up to two months.
- If you want to keep it longer, you can freeze it. Just make sure it’s properly sealed to prevent freezer burn.
- When using cannabutter in a recipe, always start with a small amount and adjust according to your preference and tolerance.
Remember, cooking with cannabutter should be an enjoyable journey. So, let’s embrace it with excitement, patience, and a touch of culinary creativity!
Storing and using your homemade cannabutter
Now that you’ve crafted your homemade, old-school cannabutter, it’s essential to store it correctly to maintain its potency and flavor.
So, how do you go about this?
Cannabutter should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
This keeps it fresh and preserves the THC content.
If properly stored, your cannabutter can last several weeks in the fridge or be frozen for even longer storage. Just note that repeated freezing and thawing can degrade the quality.
Now, onto using your cannabutter. It can be used in any recipe that calls for butter.
However, keep in mind that cooking at high temperatures can degrade the THC, reducing the potency. For this reason, it’s often best used in baked goods or sauces that don’t require high heat.
Here are a few tips for using your cannabutter:
- Substitute it directly for regular butter in any recipe.
- Start with a small amount and gradually increase until you reach your desired potency.
- Be patient: the effects of edibles can take 1-2 hours to kick in.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with different recipes and amounts. Remember, part of the fun is discovering new ways to enjoy your homemade cannabutter!