Cannabis is one of the most versatile ingredients in the world. It can be used as a breath mint, an eye cream, and even a tasty pasta sauce. So you might wonder: Can I use cannabis in my cooking? The answer is yes! You can add some THC or CBD to your dishes without any problems at all—if you know how to do it right. Here are some basic tips on how to cook with cannabis.
Cooking with cannabis is a great way to get the benefits of marijuana while still being able to control your dosage!
Cooking with cannabis is a great way to get the benefits of marijuana while still being able to control your dosage!
If you want to use cannabis as an ingredient in your food, here are some tips:
Cannabis can be used in many different ways. You can cook it into foods like pancakes, cookies, or brownies. You can also add it to drinks such as tea or coffee if you want a stronger effect.
If you're using cannabis for medical purposes and want something more concentrated than edibles alone can provide, try making some tincture (an extract made by soaking cannabis flowers in alcohol) at home—it's super easy!
Decarboxylation
Before you can begin cooking with your cannabis, it must first be decarboxylated. Decarboxylation is the process of converting THCA (3-hydroxy-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid) into THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This conversion is necessary because THCA does not have any psychoactive effects on its own — only THC can do that.
There are many ways to decarboxylate at home, but the easiest method involves placing your cannabis in a crock pot on low heat for about two hours. Once they’re done cooking, remove them from the crock pot and allow them to cool down before putting them away or using them in a recipe.
High THC vs. High CBD
The difference between THC and CBD is a bit like the difference between alcohol and hops. In both cases, you're talking about two different ingredients that go into making a beverage. Alcohol is what gets you drunk; hops are responsible for adding flavor to beer.
THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, which means it's responsible for the "high" people experience after smoking or otherwise ingesting cannabis products containing THC. It's also known as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-tetrahydro means that there are nine carbon atoms attached to it).
CBD (short for cannabidiol) isn't psychoactive—it won't get you high—but it has been shown to have many medicinal benefits ranging from relieving pain, reducing seizures associated with epilepsy, lowering blood sugar levels in type 1 diabetes patients, treating childhood leukemia and more!
Cannabis oil vs. Dry flower
When it comes to cooking with cannabis, oil is king. It’s the most potent form of cannabis, and can be used in a variety of ways—from making edibles to adding flavor to any dish you desire.
Cannabis oil is made by extracting cannabinoids from dried flower using liquid solvents such as butane, CO2 or ethanol. These extracts are then filtered and refined into an edible product that can be enjoyed on its own or infused into another food item like butter or coconut oil for cooking purposes (just make sure your recipe calls for 1 gram of THC per serving).
With this method you get all the beneficial effects of weed without having to smoke it!
Cannabutter vs. Cannaoil
When you think of cooking with cannabis, you probably imagine making a batch of brownies or cookies. But there are actually two ways to make cannabutter: one is a butter substitute called cannaoil. The other uses actual butter but only requires the addition of ground-up buds—no need for straining!
Cannaoil is made by heating coconut or olive oil until the cannabinoids (the active compounds in cannabis) are extracted into it. When you cook with cannaoil, use ½ teaspoon per cup of liquid and follow all other recipe instructions as normal. Cannabutter is made by heating ½ ounce chopped bud (or 2 cups of ground leaves) with 1 lb unsalted butter over low heat until browned and liquefied (about 2 hours). Cool before adding it to any recipe that calls for melted butter, such as baked goods or sauteed vegetables!
Dosing your cannabis-infused foods correctly
To use this guide, you'll need to know how much cannabis to use per serving. The rule of thumb is to add one gram (1g) of ground cannabis for every 1/4 cup of oil, butter or other fat.
To calculate the amount of oil or butter you'll need:
If using a single pan with a single burner, follow the ratio above so that each serving has 1g of cannabis.
If cooking several dishes at once and using multiple pans on multiple burners (or if making an entire meal), follow this ratio: For every 4 servings, there should be 2g in each dish—so if you're making three servings worth at once (12 total), then each plate should have about 6g total.
Grinding your dry herb correctly
Grinding your dry herb correctly is important for two reasons. The first is that it helps the cannabinoids in your marijuana flower dissolve into the oil. If you use whole or chunky buds, they can create a thick paste that will be difficult to stir and may cause an unpleasant flavor in your final product. The second reason grinding is important is that it makes sure there are no plant hairs or other debris left behind, which could make you sick if they're not removed before consumption.
Temperature and timing are key
In order to get the most out of your cannabis, you need to be sure that it's cooked at a temperature high enough for THC to come out but not so high that you burn the product. The temperature depends on what kind of food you're cooking and the amount of time it takes for certain foods to cook.
For example, if you are cooking something like steak or chicken breast, which can be prepared in minutes with very little attention or effort required from the chef, then it would probably be better to use a lower temperature setting (approximately 350 degrees). This way, only minimal amounts of THC will end up getting released into your meal as it cooks.
On the other hand if you are making baked goods like cookies or cakes because they require more time than meat does (typically 10-20 minutes per batch), then using higher temperatures can help ensure that every bit gets extracted without burning off any precious elements along with them!
Conclusion
When it comes to cooking with cannabis, there are some things that you need to keep in mind. The most important thing is to make sure that you’re using high-quality flower or oil that has been decarboxylated (decarb) properly. This step insures that your dish will be effective when ingested and taste delicious!
If you don’t know how long it takes for your food or drink to be ready, use a reliable recipe or ask someone who has experience with cooking with marijuana before attempting anything complicated. We hope this guide helps demystify the process of making something delicious while also being mindful of dosage!