Although many people think of smoking and vaping when it comes to cannabis, it's also possible to eat it in quite a wide range of ways. There are classic edible options like brownies and cookies, but making key ingredients, such as cannabis honey and cannabutter, it's also possible to make all kinds of cannabis infused recipes. This guide will show you the basics of how to make some of your own cannabis delicacies and look forward to the future of cannabis’ culinary evolution.
Before you start cooking up any of your own cannabis edibles, it's important to have a good understanding of how cooking with cannabis actually works. You need to think about the types and strains of cannabis you use, the method of cooking, and other aspects like dosage and temperatures to get the right results without any unnecessary risks or dangers.
First, it’s essential to understand that there are many different cannabis strains out there. They can vary not only in terms of their flavor and aroma but also in their effects on the human body due to the levels of cannabinoids and terpenes they contain. Some strains can have high levels of THC and produce high-like feelings of euphoria, while others might be more CBD-heavy and therefore less intoxicating. Terpenes, the chemicals responsible for how cannabis smells, also play a role in determining the overall effect.
Aspiring cannabis cooks should familiarize themselves with the types and benefits of different cannabinoids to help them choose which strains to work with. If there is a particular strain that you like to smoke, there is a good chance you will also enjoy it in your food. It’s also worth noting that the strain you choose may also have an impact on the dosage you require, as high-THC strains usually only need small doses to produce effects. Because of this, we recommend “start low, go slow”. You can always eat more, but you can’t eat less.
While it's certainly convenient to purchase ready-to-use cannabis products and infuse them into your food, there's a certain pleasure in preparing these products yourself. By doing so, you can ensure that you're using the proper dosage and recipe for your needs.
There are quite a few different ways that you can infuse cannabis into your favorite foods, and once you master the basics of making things like cannabutter and cannabis oils, you’ll be able to experiment with all kinds of interesting recipes and culinary ideas to mix cannabis’ flavors and benefits into your dishes.
The first step to making any of the below items is to decarboxylate your cannabis. This is the process of heating dried cannabis flower so that the acid form of THC or CBD (THCA or CBDA) is transformed into THC or CBD (the active ingredient). To do this, heat the cannabis in the oven at 250°F for 25 to 30 minutes. High CBD cannabis may take a little longer (30-40 minutes).
You can find some simple cannabutter and cannabis oil recipes below that will make your cooking experience easy and pleasant one.
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Note that the potency of your cannabutter or canna oil will depend on the quality and quantity of cannabis you use, as well as the length of time you let the mixture simmer. Always start with a small amount and wait at least an hour before consuming more to gauge its effects.
When cooking with cannabis, you have to think carefully about amounts and dosages. It's crucial to not use too much cannabis, as this could cause an overpowering effect, but you also won't want to use too little, otherwise, the effects might not be felt at all.
You'll need to work out the percentage of THC in the plant you're using and then calculate that together with the amount of oil, butter, or other ingredients you’re working with. It can be tricky, but there are online calculators and other resources, like this dosing guide for making edibles. , to help you. However, a lot of making homemade cannabis products is trial and error. Keep track of how much flower you are putting into your oil or butter and the THC% if known, and then start with a very small piece of the finished product.
Once you’ve made your base ingredients, like cannabutter or cannabis honey, it’s really easy to whip up some of your favorite edibles, like brownies or gummies. Here are some sample recipes:
For weed brownies, the easiest option is to prepare some cannabutter before you begin. Once that's done, you can go ahead and follow any brownie recipe you like, replacing the regular butter with cannabutter and mixing it up with flour, chocolate, and other ingredients.
The best option for cannabis gummies is to prepare some cannabis-infused coconut oil by decarbing your cannabis and letting it infuse with the oil on the stove. You can then combine the oil with water and lecithin, mixing in gelatin and letting it dissolve. You'll then be able to pour the mixture into gummy molds and leave them to set. Check out this recipe for watermelon gummies from Penny Barthel!
If you're interested in making some cannabis-infused pasta, you'll need to make either some cannabutter or cannabis oil before you begin. You can then simply mix the butter or oil with some flour, eggs, and salt and work the dough for a while. Leave it refrigerated to set and then roll it out and cut into the desired shapes.
Visit the Make section of Personal Plants for more recipes like infused pumpkin muffins and cannabis mocktails!
The future is looking bright for marijuana’s culinary prospects. Laws are being relaxed in many parts of the world, allowing chefs to finally get creative and use marijuana as an ingredient for their dishes. This could lead to the creation of some very intriguing recipes and even the possibility of cannabis cafes and eateries.
There’s a lot of potential for growth in the world of cannabis edibles, thanks to widespread legalization in many parts of the US and other places around the world. As laws are relaxed, cannabis edible creators have greater freedom to create new products and put their ideas into action.
Of course, there still remain some legal and regulatory challenges in regard to cannabis food products. These products will need to be labeled and marked clearly to show that they contain cannabis, and their manufacture will require strict quality control. In addition, such products are still illegal in many areas, but this could change in the future as legislation evolves.
Overall, it’s a great time for cannabis enthusiasts to have fun in the kitchen with cannabis-based ingredients and recipes. Making your own products at home is economical and a great way to develop a relationship with the cannabis plant! It’s never been easier to make marijuana butter, oils, and more, and we can expect future growth and development of the cannabis culinary scene in the years to come.
Bertha Garrett is deeply involved in the cannabis industry. She worked as a budtender for 2 years. Now she handles content at the Canna Clinic.
