Cannabutter is an absolute essential for making weed edibles. Once you cook up a large batch, you can keep it in the fridge and add it to any dish that calls for normal butter. Cannabutter will keep its original potency over time! Whip up weed brownies after work, drizzle over pancakes for the ultimate wake and bake, or add it to your favorite pasta dish to give it a kick. For more edible recipe ideas, page through a cannabis cookbook.
If you were wondering how to make cannabutter at home, it is much easier than it sounds and requires just a few ingredients and materials. If you want to do the least amount of work possible, have less to clean up, and reduce the weed smell in your house, opt for cooking your cannabutter in an Instant Pot or slow cooker. Instant Pots are famous for being able to cook essentially anything and that includes making edibles! If you have even just a little bit of cooking knowledge (beyond warming up ramen in the microwave), then you will have no problem making DIY cannabutter at home.
How do you make cannabutter with an Instant Pot?
There are many ways to make cannabis infused butter or oil. After decarbing your dry herb, the only step left is to slowly infuse the two ingredients together. The most common method is cooking it on the stovetop, but it is also possible to use an Instant Pot or an easy butter maker that is designed specifically for cooking cannabutter.
Easy Instant Pot cannabutter recipe
Ingredients and materials:
- ½ ounce cannabis flower
- 1 lb. butter
- Water
- Instant Pot or crock pot
- Strainer or tea bag/coffee filter
- Mason jar
Decarboxylation:
There are two ways you can do this. If you decarb the traditional way using the oven, remember that your home will smell strongly of marijuana until it is aired out completely. If you choose the Instant Pot decarb method, use a brand new mason jar to reduce the chance of the glass shattering (this happens from time to time and you will not be able to save your bud).
- Oven decarboxylation - Break up the cannabis into small pieces and spread out evenly on a cookie sheet. Bake at 225 degrees Fahrenheit on the middle rack for 30 to 40 minutes and shake the tray to mix every 10 minutes. Ovens fluctuate in temperature so watch that it does not burn. The flower should turn from green to a toasted brown color.
- Instant Pot decarboxylation - This method is easier, however there is always the chance that the mason jar will crack and ruin your bud. Add the dry herb to a mason jar and finger tighten the lid. Do not put the lid on too tightly. Place inside the Instant Pot and fill half way up the jars with water. If the jars are floating, you’ve added too much water. Set the Instant Pot to seal and manual, high pressure for 40 minutes. Let sit for 10 minutes before releasing the pressure from the seal. That’s it!
Cannabutter recipe:
- Add your coarsely ground decarbed cannabis and butter to the mason jar. Don’t fill over ¾ full. If the mixture fills the entire jar, you’ll need to split your batch in half.
- Put the cover on finger tight (not loose or super tight). Place the jars inside the Instant Pot and fill up to half the height of the jar with water. Just like during decarboxylation, if the jars float, you added too much water.
- The quick method is to set the machine to pressure cook for 30 minutes and seal the lid, however low and slow helps preserve the cannabinoids. If you have the time, set the Instant Pot to between 170ºF for three hours. Don’t forget to set the seal.
- Cool for 10 minutes and release the lid. Remove the jars and let cool.
- Strain the mixture into another jar with an airtight lid. Your butter is ready to use or refrigerate for later! As long as you store the butter in an airtight container, you can keep it in the fridge for three to four weeks, or in the freezer for up to six months.
How long do you have to infuse cannabutter?
It doesn’t matter if you’re cooking on the stovetop or using our Instant Pot cannabutter recipe, proper infusing takes a long time (though there are shortcuts if you don’t have the time). Just like when using a smoker, cooking a Thanksgiving turkey, or simmering a stew, you’ll want to set it at a low temperature and cook it for as long as possible to get the most out of your bud. This is usually around three hours. When making Instant Pot Cannabutter, you can just set it and forget it, which makes it an easy process.
If you prefer to smoke your marijuana, pick up a dab rig, mini bong, glass pipe, herb grinder, or rolling papers at our online headshop.
