With the growing popularity worldwide due to its wide array of marijuana benefits, more and more people are discovering creative ways to consume their cannabis. Baking is quickly becoming one of the most popular methods for marijuana connoisseurs and enthusiast everywhere. If you’re thinking of baking with marijuana, here are some useful tips and information that will help you bake some pot greatness!
Baking, Smoking or Vaping?
Something important to know about edibles is that they are much different from smoking or vaping. The real difference is in how the weed is metabolized – and how quickly. When you smoke or vape, you’ll feel the effects within minutes, and they’ll usually peak within 30 to 60 minutes and taper off between two and four hours. However, with edibles the effects take longer to kick in as they metabolize in your body (usually in 45 minutes to an hour) – but their effects usually last much longer, often four to six hours.
Many people also say that the feeling they get from edibles is more of a relaxing “body high” as opposed to the trippy and fun “head high” they get from smoking or vaping. But, again, it varies from person to person.
How do I bake with marijuana?
Baking with marijuana is actually very easy – and it all starts with the cannabis you choose for your bake. While indicas are usually known for relaxation, sativas are typically more stimulating. If you want to treat anxiety and pain, you might want to go with an indica.
On the other hand, if you want to address fatigue, a sativa may work better for you. Both strains work equally well with baking, so it’s just a matter of preference. Once you get marijuana (an ounce of weed is recommended for our purposes here), the next step is making your cannabis butter, also known as cannabutter.
Cannabutter is the essential ingredient for any weed bake and it’s extremely easy to make.
All you’ll need is:
- Your ounce of lightly grounded weed bud or trim.
- 1 lb (0.45 kg). Of unsalted butter.
- ¾ to a cup of water.
To cook the cannabutter, follow these steps:
- Put your butter in a pot with the water and bring to a low simmer.
- Once the butter is melted, add your weed, then stir.
- Continue simmering (uncovered) on low for about three to six hours. The longer you heat it, the more cannabinoids are absorbed into the butter. Also, be sure to frequently check that the butter is not evaporating too fast. If it is, add another stick of butter and/or another ¼ cup of water.
- After the three to six hour period, let the butter cool, then strain it into a bowl using a strainer and cheesecloth. You can then discard the residual weed; all of the THC and CBD components are now inside the butter.
- Place the bowl in your refrigerator overnight for it to harden.
In the morning, remove the hardened butter from the residual water – and voila: you now have the equivalent of four sticks of butter to use in baking cookies, brownies, muffins, or anything else you like. The only difference is that these baked goods will get you baked!
A final and important note: As previously mentioned, the effects of edibles do take longer to kick in that smoking or vaping. Also, the potency of every batch of home baked goods can vary depending on how well the batter is mixed, how much weed was absorbed, the strength of the strain, etc.
With that in mind, it’s always best to eat a small piece of your baked goods first, then wait an hour or so and see how it affects you. If you don’t get the desired effect after an hour, consider eating just a bit more – until you learn the strength of your baked goods and exactly how much to eat in one sitting. Also, be sure to keep your edibles in a safe place (ideally in your freezer or refrigerator), hidden and out of reach of children and pets.
Stay tuned to this blog more tips, information and education on all things marijuana!
Thank You for this.