If you are a fan of cannabis, and want a new way to ingest it other than by smoking, then this is certainly where you want to be. Cooking with cannabis is about more than just some sugary gummies that get you high, it is about creating delicious meals that get you high. Whether that be as simple as your morning tea and breakfast, or as complicated as a five course meal.
Of course, the most important part of cooking with cannabis, is picking the right strain for the meal. The effects and feelings associated with ingesting, instead of inhaling, mean you want to be sure you are picking out the right flower. Do you want something that makes you feel giggly and happy? Maybe something that feels uplifting, or makes you feel creative. Whatever the feeling, checking the cannabinoids listed for the product is a great way to check for dosing and vibe.
If you need a few recommendations, Potmates has flowers ranging from lifting (Lemon Betty, Gary Payton), to calming (Rainbow Belts, Kush Mints), to everything in between.
After you have carefully selected your flower of choice, you are ready to start the cooking process. This step involves turning that flower into a weed butter, or oil, to use in place of the normal ingredient in the recipe you pick. It is important to note that dosage is very important, and more is not always better. If you are new to cannabis, or even a veteran, it is recommended
that you start with a lower dose; as edibles are less likely to give a consistent high. A good rule of thumb is to infuse 10 grams of flower for every 1 cup of butter.
Before it can be added to butter, the flower has to go through a process called Decarboxylation. Simply take a baking sheet and place parchment paper on it. Then, break up the flower into smaller pieces using your fingers. Finally, once the oven is preheated to 225ºF, and cook for 45 minutes. Once the flower is cool you are ready to move on to the second part, and any excess flower can be stored in a sealed container.
Over low heat, add your butter in a saucepan; adding in the water and cannabis once it has melted. Keep at a low simmer for two to three hours, making sure the temp doesn’t exceed 190ºF, if possible. Next, set butter aside and wait until it is cool, but not solid, and then strain it through a cheesecloth. Put in a sealable container and stick it in the fridge, if any water separated after it solidifies just dump it and the butter will be ready.
The final important note for making the best cannabis infused meals is to wait until the end to add the infused butter/oil as you don’t want to cook the THC out. So, with all of these notes in mind, go grab your favorite flower strain and a good recipe that you love, and make a delicious cannabis infused meal.
Sourced Websites:
https://www.theherbsomm.com/single-post/a-beginners-guide-to-cooking-with-cannabis https://www.nuggmd.com/blog/cooking-with-cannabis-a-beginners-guide-to-making-marijuana edibles
https://austinfoodmagazine.com/cooking-with-cannabis-tips/
