Everything You Need to Know About Cooking With Cannabis

Are you curious about cooking with cannabis? This can be a great way to enjoy the benefits of this plant. However, it is important to understand how to do it effectively. In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about cooking with cannabis. 

We will cover the basics of this process, as well as some tips for getting the most out of your experience.

You can’t cook with raw cannabis

Many people are surprised to learn that you can’t cook with raw cannabis. The plant contains a compound called THCA, which is not psychoactive. However, when the plant is heated, THCA is converted into THC, the compound that produces the “high” associated with marijuana use. 

As a result, raw cannabis will not give you the desired effect if you try to cook with it. In addition, raw cannabis is quite tough and fibrous, making it difficult to digest. So, if you want to enjoy the benefits of THC, you’ll need to decarboxylate your cannabis before cooking with it. 

This process involves heating the plant material in order to convert THCA into THC. Only then will you be able to enjoy the psychoactive effects of marijuana in your favorite recipes.

Decarboxylation results in an oil or other substance you use to cook

So, how do you decarboxylate cannabis? The most common method is to bake it in the oven. Simply preheat your oven to 245 degrees Fahrenheit and spread your ground cannabis on a baking sheet. 

Bake for about 30-40 minutes, stirring every ten minutes or so. This will ensure that your cannabis is heated evenly. Then you soak your raw cannabis in a fat or alcohol solution for a certain length of time for infusion. The resulting infusion is what you use to cook or bake with. 

The other, perhaps more reliable method is to use a machine that does all of the hard calculations for you. Just add your cannabis and your solution, and the end result is a cannabutter you can use for cooking. 

You need to be careful with dosages

When cooking with cannabis, it is important to be careful with dosages. Start with a small amount and increase as needed. It is also important to remember that the effects of edibles can take up to two hours to kick in. 

So, don’t be tempted to eat more if you don’t feel anything right away. For a more complete guide to cannabis measurements and weights, check out this article on Veriheal. 

It takes a lot longer to feel the effects compared to smoking

As we mentioned, the effects of edibles can take up to two hours to kick in. This is a big contrast to smoking cannabis, where the effects are almost instantaneous. So, if you’re used to smoking marijuana, be patient when waiting for the effects of your edible. It might take a little longer than you’re used to, but it will be worth the wait.

There are many recipes available for cooking with cannabis

If you’re interested in trying your hand at cooking with cannabis, there are plenty of recipes out there to choose from. You can infuse just about any recipe with cannabis, so get creative and have fun with it. Not all recipes are desserts either —you can go savory just as easily! 

The effects last much longer too

Another thing to keep in mind when cooking with cannabis is that the effects will last much longer than if you had smoked it. This is due to the fact that edibles are absorbed differently by the body. 

Edibles are metabolized by the liver, which takes much longer to process. As a result, the effects of an edible can last for several hours, and even up to twelve hours. 

Learn how how to calculate dosages

One gram of 25% THC cannabis will contain 250mg of THC. So 20 grams of that same cannabis contains a total of 5000mg of THC. When infused into 2 cups of butter, you would have 2500mg of THC per cup of butter.

If a recipe calls for 1/5 cup of butter, you know that the finished product will contain at least 500mg of THC in total (assuming you don’t add anymore). So make sure you divide the finished product into at least 50 portions so that each contains no more than 10mg of THC per serving —or use less butter. 

Conclusion

Cooking with cannabis is a great way to enjoy the psychoactive effects of marijuana without having to smoke it. However, it is important to be careful with dosages and understand how edibles are metabolized by the body. Start with small amounts and increase as needed.