Cooking with cannabis can help enhance your food in both flavor and effect. Cannabis is a herb that goes well with most foods, but does require a bit of basic knowledge before you can get started!
There are a variety of reasons why you might be interested in learning how to cook with cannabis. Maybe smoking cannabis irritates your throat and lungs too much. Perhaps vaping doesn’t give you the medicated effects you’re looking for. That’s where cooking with cannabis comes in — it offers the best of both worlds!
Furthermore, you might want to make your own cannabis dish because store-bought edibles are often processed, filled with sugar, and in general, unhealthy. Making your own cannabis-infused meal means you can make it as healthy as you desire and have complete control over the ingredients.
In this article, we’ll cover all the basics you need to know to get started. Keep reading to learn more about how to make your own cannabis-infused food!
Decarboxylation Is the First Step
If you want to get the best out of your cannabis, you must have it undergo a process known as decarboxylation.
When you decarb your cannabis, you are able to get a higher medicinal value from it. Cannabis flowers have a cannabinoid that is known as THCA. This particular cannabinoid is non-intoxicating. However, when you heat THCA at the proper temperature, it converts into THC.
THC is the cannabinoid that is known for its euphoric effects.
The same is true for any flower that is CBD-dominant. When you cook it, you are decarboxylating the buds. This causes carboxylic acids like CBDa to turn into their final form, known as CBD.
The primary benefit to cooking food that is infused with CBD is that it offers soothing medicinal properties that can help with things like pain management or anxiety.
Select Your Strain Carefully
Before you start the decarboxylation process, you’ll first want to settle on what strain of cannabis flower to use in your meals. Some of the primary concerns you should keep in mind about cannabis include:
Cannabinoid Profile: You’ll want to decide whether you want your cannabis to be THC- or CBD-dominant. Maybe you want a strain that is well-balanced with both cannabinoids. With THC, you will receive the classic euphoric effect, whereas CBD is more useful for pain management or other ailments.
Potency: You need to look into the percentage of THC and CBD. If you’re making a small snack like delicious chocolate chip cookies, then you might want a higher-potency strain. If you’re doing a multi-course meal, then a lower content percentage will be better.
Terpene: Every cannabis flower tastes slightly different. The smell and taste come from the strain’s terpene profile. Before you choose a strain, don’t be afraid to smell the flower so that you have an idea of how it will affect flavor.
Watch the video below to learn why Terpenes might promote relaxation and provide stress relief.
How to Decarb at Home
There are a few different ways to do the decarboxylation process. However, for beginners, we recommend cooking at low heat in your oven.
To get started, you will need a baking tray and aluminum foil. While you are cooking your cannabis in the oven, be sure to keep a close eye on it to prevent it from browning too fast or burning.
Here are the directions to follow to decarb your cannabis:
- First, preheat the oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the rack in the middle position so that your cannabis will decarb evenly.
- Line your baking tray with aluminum foil, then spread your cannabis out evenly on the foil. Once all of your cannabis is spread out, cover it with another sheet of aluminum foil.
- Bake your cannabis for around 45 minutes. However, keep a close eye on your cannabis while it decarbs. It should slowly turn golden brown by the end of the cooking time.
- Last, let your decarbed cannabis cool for around 30 minutes.
Create an Infusion
After you’ve successfully completed the decarboxylation process, the next step you’ll want to do is create an infusion. Using oil to extract CBD and THC is one of the best and easiest options.
After all, most of the dishes you cook with are likely to include oil! Feel free to check out our guide on how to create cannabis-infused oil to learn more.
Enjoy Cooking With Cannabis
When it comes to cooking with cannabis, there is a myriad of options at your disposal. By preparing your cannabis-infused treat at home, you have complete control over the ingredients and effects.
Be sure to know your needed dosages and measurements and you’ll be fast on your way to having a delicious meal infused with cannabis.
Be sure to check out our shop before you go and have fun cooking!
Here are some cannabis-recipes for you to try:
