Croptober is upon us and many of us hobbyist growers have an abundance of trimmings and mini nugs that aren’t really worth saving… wrong… they are the perfect ingredients for delicious Cannabutter! No need to dry or grind your herb with this easy slow cooker recipe; Just take your fresh clippings and toss directly into a crock pot with the below additional ingredients.
Since THC and CBD begin to degrade at temperatures above 275 F, the lower temperature setting on your Crock Pot is best as it generally stays around 190-200 F. The high setting reaches 300 F which would certainly degrade your precious cannabinoids. The heat of the slow cooker will decarboxylate (or activate) your buds so there is no need for an additional drying/heating step prior to slow cooking.
Because cannabinoids are fats, they blend with the butter. The water serves as a wash “solvent” to remove impurities that we don’t want in our cannabutter such as chlorophyll. These plant chemical impurities give the cannabutter its cool green tinge, but they also lend it a “green” flavour which can be undesirable, depending on your palate. There is an optional added Wash step which reintroduces boiling water to your cannabutter a number of times. With each Wash repetition, more of these plant impurities are removed and the resulting cannabutter is less “green” in both appearance and flavour as well as less crumbly and more solid.
RECIPE
- 6 cups of butter
- 3 cups of water
- 500+ grams of fresh cannabis
- 6 Qt Crock Pot
- Fine strainer OR cheesecloth & elastic band
- Flat bottom container
1. Add water and butter first.
2. Heap to the top with fresh cannabis trimmings and any unwanted flower.
3. Set slow cooker to low heat for 8 hours or more.
4. Allow to cool until no longer bubbling.
5. Pass Crock Pot contents through a fine strainer and into a large flat bottom container.
OR
a. If using cheesecloth, secure over a bowl with elastic band and leave slack (a dip) for Crock Pot contents to sit in during straining.
b. Transfer strained liquid into a flat bottom container.
6. Place container with water/butter liquid in fridge overnight to solidify.
7. Drain water away from solidified cannabutter.
a. This may require stabbing a small escape hole on an edge of the cannabutter to pour water out as the water will be trapped under the cannabutter layer.
8. Pat dry and cut into blocks.
9. Store in freezer for long term use.
OPTIONAL BUTTER WASH
1. Bring 2 cups of water to boil in a pot over stove top.
2. Once boiling, add solid cannabutter.
3. Whisk as it melts.
4. Allow to boil gently for 15-20 minutes, whisking occasionally.
5. Allow to cool until no longer bubbling.
6. Pour into flat bottom container.
7. Place in fridge for several hours to solidify cannabutter.
8. Pour off water as was done before.
9. This Washing step may be repeated more than once. When the water pours off fairly clear, the cannabutter has been sufficiently washed.
10. Pat dry and cut into blocks.
11. Store in freezer for long term use.
12. Your cannabutter is ready for cooking or baking!
Without having tested your flower for THC and/or CBD content, it is not possible to calculate dosages. For this reason, start with a small batch of dosed butter in your desired recipe. Once you see how the effect feels you’ll have an idea of whether or not it needs to be stronger or weaker. To strengthen, use more cannabutter than regular butter in your next batch of baking or cooking. In truth, this part of the process is always a good time. Enough talk, roll up them sleeves, it’s time to get baked!
This infographic was created by our friends at Choom
Comments
What is difference in product between 5,8, and 20 hours cook times?
Ian S |
The butter will extract more plant metabolites over time (until saturated/max extraction). This will result in a stronger (higher cannabinoid content) butter which also means a stronger chlorophyll/green taste. The 20 hour cook time is probably unnecessary as most cannabinoids will be extracted well before then. I would stick to 4 hours for a less green taste and 8 hours if you want it good and strong tasting haha.
Cannabis Cottage |
Can I use only 50g and not burn it?
J |
It won't burn as long as you have at least a half inch depth of water in the crockpot. For 50 grams I'd use just over half cup of butter (or 150 ml), around there.
Cannabis Cottage |
This article mentions a decarboxylation temperature of 120° for 40 minutes, when every other site mentions 230 to 250° for the same amount of time to decarb your flower or your trimmings. 240 being the magic ideal number. Was this a typo? Or is there a reason for that 120° temperature?
Jim |
120 Celsius is equal to roughly 250 Fahrenheit. Different units, same temperature. Hope that helps :)
mgalata |
Thoughts? Share them!