Decarboxylation is a process of heating cannabis at high temperatures of 250°F to convert non-psychoactive THCA into THC. The chemical process involved makes cannabis more effective when used in cooking.
Five facts you should know about decarboxylation:
1. Why Decarb the Weed
When vaporizing cannabis, the heat stimulates decarboxylation, hence, THCA converts into THC and the user feels the psychoactive effects upon inhalation. When you decarb weed, the same procedure takes place, except the results are left on the bud so it can be eaten or transformed into oil or butter. Don’t vape infused cooking oil.
The decarbing process can also take place gradually at average temperatures (more on that later).
2. How to Decarb Your Weed
If you want to get the most out of your cannabis recipes, it is vital to carry out the decarboxylation process before cooking.
After activation of the cannabis material, it can be used to infuse oils, alcohols, butter, or as a psychoactive spice in making pasta. You can infuse any strain after decarboxylation into the butter to and use it to make your favorite dishes, from entrees to brownies.
One of the critical aspects to take into consideration during decarboxylation includes checking the temperatures. If the temperature is too low, the process will take much longer. And if you try to decarb your weed at too high a temperature, you could end up burning off the psychoactive compounds you’re trying to preserve.
Decarboxylation methods include:
Baking Sheet Method
The baking sheet method is known to produce a weedy, pungent smell that you cannot ignore.
Materials Needed:
- Large chunks of ground cannabis
- Wooden spatula
- Oven mitt
- Parchment paper
- Baking tray
- Oven thermometer
How to Decarb Using a Baking Sheet:
- Preheat the oven to 240°F
- Use an oven thermometer for accurate reading of the oven temperature
- Line the baking sheet with parchment paper
- Distribute the ground cannabis evenly on the pan
- Leave in the oven for 40 minutes to toast the cannabis
Oven Bags Method
This method works just like the oven method only that it requires less work. In this method, no lining of the baking sheet is, and it is easy to collect the finished material. Less smell occurs when using this method, but it requires materials that might not be readily available at home.
Materials Needed:
- Baking sheet
- Oven bags
- Weed
- Oven
How to Decarb Using Oven Bags:
- Preheat oven to 250°F
- Place the weed in the oven bag and tie the bag closed with a tight knot
- Place the bag on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven
- Bake 30 minutes or until the cannabis turns a brownish color
Mason Jars Method
The most useful thing about using mason jars to decarb your weed is how well they retain the aroma of the weed. Not only are the jars readily available at home, but they are also more effective than oven bags.
Materials Needed:
- Weed
- Oven
- Glass mason jars
How to Decarb Using Mason Jars:
- Preheat the oven to 250°F
- Place the cannabis in the mason jar
- Close the top real tight so that no smell will escape
- Place the jars on the oven rack (the glass should not touch the sides of the oven)
- Bake the cannabis for 30 minutes or until it turns a brownish color
Time Method
Decarboxylation can happen on its own when weed is left to stay for a long time. The marijuana turns into a golden brown color when left to decarb on its own. However, this method is not consistent and takes a lot of time, thus it is not a reliable method to make edibles.
Materials Needed:
- Weed
How to Decarb Over Time:
- Store the cannabis in a cool, dry area for about 12 months.
3. Tips During Decarboxylation
Decarbing weed doesn’t have to be difficult, and the following tips can help preserve as many cannabinoids as possible.
- Arrange the cannabis evenly so that there is even distribution of heat.
- Use low, steady heat. Too much heat might lead to the evaporation of flavors, THC, and oils in the herb.
- Take the herb out when it starts to get a toasted coloration.
4. Importance of Decarbing
You can decarboxylate both concentrates and cannabis flower to obtain edibles that are high in quality. When you follow the correct procedure, the potency of the herb does not decrease.
If the herb is eaten before decarboxylation, the user will not experience the psychoactive effects of cannabis.
5. Types of Marijuana Seeds
While you can typically get higher quality bud from your local dispensary, many serious DIY cannabis chefs prefer to grow their own weed as a way to increase supply without breaking the bank. Here are three types of marijuana seeds, and which we recommend for cooking:
- Regular Marijuana Seeds
Regular marijuana seeds have equal chances of growing to be female or male. As a result, farmers must remove them from the garden or they could pollinate the females and destroy the grow. Farmers can buy regular marijuana seeds online at a fairly low price, reducing the cost of a failed grow. But regular seeds can be a little riskier: up to 40 percent grow up to be undesirable male plants that you won’t be able to use when decarbing and cooking with weed.
- Autoflowering Marijuana Seeds
Autoflowering seeds usually bloom without any stimulation from external forces and buds within 7-9 weeks. One of the advantages of autoflowering seeds is that they are easy to grow and take less time to mature. As a result, they’re a popular option for beginner DIY cannabis chefs with limited time or experience to spend on a home grow.
- Feminized Marijuana Seeds
The feminized marijuana seeds are an industry favorite since they remove the risk of male plants that must be discarded. They still require the same level of care and maintenance as regular marijuana seeds, but they ensure a higher percentage of your home grow will be usable. And if your female plant isn’t fertilized, it will produce flower without seeds.
Get More from Your Weed When You Decarb
Decarboxylation enables weed to provide the therapeutic and psychoactive effects to users. It is an important step when cooking with cannabis, and the chemical alteration from decarbing helps the body process marijuana more efficiently. Buy seeds online (or pre-order your favorite strain) and enjoy yourself.