Through trial and error, I finally found a cannabis oil making technique that is mess-free, smell-free and stress-free using the mason jar method. This canna-oil is perfect to make a large variety of cannabis-infused vegan edibles.
Note: This post has been updated in February 2020.
Making Canna-oil with the Masson Jar Method
Living in an apartment building, I try to keep the smell down when I make tasty vegan treats with a little extra magic. So here’s how I make potent cannabis oil that can be incorporated in any treats.
The Steps in Making Cannabis Oil
There are 2 important steps to making weed oil:
1.Decarbing your cannabis
2. Infusing your oil with weed
What is decarbing?
In simple words, decarbing is the process in which we heat the marijuana bud to activate the psychoactive components in the flower. The THC-A present in your flower transforms into THC. It is scientifically named decarboxylation, but decarbing is way easier to remember and say.
Why should I decarb my weed?
Unfortunately, decarbing is also the smelly step in making edibles. You are basically baking your weed.
Think back into the last time you baked a cake. Now replace that delicious golden brown smell with that powerful weed smell in your whole apartment or even your apartment building. Hell no!
You might be tempted to skip this step but DON’T!
I repeat
DO . NOT . SKIP . DECARBING .
Heating your flower is the easiest way to decarb your cannabis. While some people like to skip the oven decarbing and decarb their cannabis at the same time as the infusion, there is no proof that the infusion will reach a high enough temperature to activate all THC-A .
This means that if you decide to not decarboxylate your cannabis beforehand, you could end up with week weed oil, and no one wants that! This is why I like to decarb my weed before infusing it with my oil so that I can get the most potent oil I can.
How to decarboxylate cannabis without the smell?
The mason jar method for decarbing cannabis is great because the cooking is done straight in a closed mason jar which I found reduces the smell by about 80 %.
But let’s be honest here, mason jars are not made to be used in an oven. While I have never had a jar crack on me, there is some precaution that you need to keep in mind.
- Be careful while handling the hot jar so that you don’t burn yourself.
- Never put a hot mason jar on top of a cold surface. The thermic choc caused by the difference in temperature might crack the jar.
Now let’s talk about how to close your mason jar. Most mason jars come with a 2-piece lid that is meant to seal up when canning jams and while making pickles. Obviously, we don’t want the jar to completely seal-up on us, but we also don’t want the potent cannabis smell to escape the jar.
There are 2 ways to close your mason jar in preparation for decarbing your weed in the oven.
1. The aluminum paper
This is my favorite method for closing a mason jar. First, fold a piece of aluminum paper in 2 and use that instead of the flat round piece of the lid. Second, screw on the metal ring that came with the original lid so that the aluminum paper has nowhere to go. I use the same method when I’m infusing my canna-oil in the crockpot.
2.The upside-down piece
The second method for closing up your mason jar is to flip the flat circular-shaped metal piece that comes with your lid upside-down. This will stop the jar from sealing up since the thin rubber piece is not in contact with jar.
If your jar looks like this you are doing it wrong.
It might seal up in the oven!
How to infuse canna-oil?
Infusing is the step where you take your decarbed bud and then infuse it in oil. Indirect heat is best for infusing weed oil since THA can degrade if it is heated at a too high temperature. It is also better because it is easier to keep a stable temperature throughout the infusion process. This recipe uses a Bain-Marie, or water bath, method.
Since having to supervise a stove for a long period of time is bothersome, I use my trusty crockpot to infuse my oil. It keeps a constant temperature and I can just start it up at night and close it in the morning.
Start by putting an old dishtowel in the bottom of your crockpot and then place your mason jar over it. This will stop your jar from rattling round and shattering. Fill your crockpot with water until the waterline is over the oil line in your jar.
Which oil to use?
You can use any light-tasting oil for this recipe. My favorite oil to use is grapeseed oil or any kind of vegetable oil. Coconut oil is also often used.
You don’t want to infuse olive oil or sesame oil because theses strong-tasting oil can become bitter once infused with cannabis.
Crockpot temperature
Now here is the tricky part, not all crock pots are the same. My crockpot is an old hand-me-down that barely simmers at high so this is the temperature I set it up at. ( At least it was free!)
If your crockpot is new and can boil water, set it up so that the water in your water bath is barely simmering.
Now its time to infuse. I often infuse my cannabis-infused oil for up to 6 hours, but 4 hours of infusion should do the job. Don’t forget to check on your crockpot from time to time to fill it back up with water, as needed.
If you forget it for a longer period of time, it’s not a problem. I have left my cannabis oil to infuse for 12 hours before and it was as potent as my other batches.
You can use this weed oil to make tahini chocolate-chip vegan cookies!
Tips & tricks to strain your canna-oil.
I like to use a tea strainer/infuser to separate my oil and plant matter. I simply pour the oil into the strainer into another mason jar. No need for cheesecloths or ending up with oily hands. Press the plant matter with a spoon and you can even reuse your cannabis to infuse plant-based milk afterward or incorporate it in a strong-flavored edible.
THC potency and easy portioning
You can use a THC potency calculator to estimate the amount of THC in your cannabis oil.
I recommend adjusting the quantity of cannabis in this recipe, depending on the strength of your flower, to end up with an oil that has about 20mg of THC per teaspoon.
This will make it easier for you to dose your edibles. For example, if your muffin recipe makes 12 muffins, then you only need to use 6 tsp of canna-oil for all your muffins to have an estimated potency of 10mg of THC, which is a good beginner dose. It also means that there is less potency guessing between each new batch of vegan edibles.
RELATED: Edibles 101: The ultimate beginner’s guide to everything edible
Canna-oil: The Mason Jar Method
Ingredients
- 7 grams of cannabis
- 1 cup of oil
- 2 tsp granulated lecithin or 1 tsp liquid lecithin , soy or sunflower
Instructions
Decarboxylating
- Preheat your oven at 240 F
- Grind your herb with a grinder and put in a mason jar, cover with aluminum foil and closes with the metal ring only.
- Put in the oven and cook for 40 minutes. Shake the jar every 15 minutes or so. Your cannabis should be toasty and slightly brown. If your cannabis starts to turn dark brown or black, remove it from the oven even if your timers is not finished.
- Remove the jar from the even and let it cool down at room temperature before opening.
Infusion
- Add the oil and lecithin into the mason jar with the previously decarboxylated cannabis. Stir and close it again with aluminum foil and the metal ring.
- Put the mason jar in a crockpot lined with an old kitchen towel. Fill with water until the water is higher than the oil level. If you can, put a lid on the crockpot to reduce water evaporation.
- Turn on your crockpot and set it up so that the water is barely simmering. Infuse the oil in the mason jar for 4 to 6 hours. Refill the water as needed.
- Strain the cannabis oil while still hot with a tea strainer
- Let the oil cool down at room temperature and label the jar with a warning and the oil potency.
- Use according to your recipe and enjoy!
Notes
- Keep the canna-oil jar away from light.
- Adjust the quantity of cannabis to your potency preferance. I like to aim for 20mg of THC per teaspoon.
Identify clearly your containers of oil
Make sure all containers have a warning that the oil inside contains cannabis and what potency it has, even if it’s an approximation. Also, keep it out and away, far from noisy friends, family members, hungry pets or children.
DID YOU TRY THIS RECIPE?
Don’t be shy and let me know how it went! You can even leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #loudbowlblog.
Rhonda
Can I make this without the soy lecithin?
Elyse VeeBee
Yes you can. The soy lecithin is added to help with absorption into the body, but I sometimes forget to put it in and the oil still work.
Todd Lashley
If you are making candy you need the lecithin to bind and not melt as easily.
Jas
I usually do butter but want to try oil. After decarb, I usually add alcohol a d let sit for a bit before cooking the butter over a double broiler. Can I do the alcohol step or does the lecithin replace that?
Elyse VeeBee
The lecithin is said to help bioabailability. I haven’t heard about adding alcohol into the preparation or what it does but I have made this recipe with only cannabis and oil multiple time and it still works perfectly for baked goods.
Adonna
Love this step by step process thank you!
Tyler
Can the flower be substituted for concentrates?
Elyse VeeBee
I have not worked much with concentrates since only flower is available legally where I live.
I have heard that some people have successfully made edible with concentrates, but this recipe is specifically for bud. It is not appropriate for concentrates since they require a different temperature/time combo to decarboxylate.
But concentrate-based edible recipes are definitely in the Loud Bowl’s future, once I can get my hands on some. 😉
donna hughes
i use concentrates to infuse my coconut oil. i microdose so i only make very small amounts. your going to have to adjust the measureents for larger amounts of concentrate. preheat oven to 250. when preheated set timer for 30 minutes. put concentrate on parchment paper, you can use a gram glass container or a silicone jar. i prefer parchment paper because it;s easier to scrape up after decarboxylation. heat for 30 minutes. some people put the lid on the jar or cover it with aluminum foil to keep terpenes from escaping. not much will boil off at 250 degrees however. when the 30 minutes are up turn oven off but leave door closed for another 10 minutes. take out and put in freezer for 5 minutes. i use a dab tool to scrape up the decarbed concentrate. take VERY HOT coconut oil and mix it with the concentrate to thin it, i use 200 grams of coconu oil to .2 g rams of concentrate. i use it sublingually. NEVER MICROWAVE YOUR CONCENTRATE this will evaporate all of the cannabinoids and terpenes. also stick to 250 degrees or you will burnoff the good stuff. dont worry about it bubbling like most people will tell you. also if using shatter double to oven time to 60 minutes. for some reason shatter takes longer to decarb than other concentrates
Reginald Clark
Leaving my oil out the light does what for my batches?
Raspbelyse
Light can degrade cannabinoids and THC so this is why it is better to keep your oil in a dark place or in a dark-colored container.
Eric ODonnell
This is LITERALLY exactly how I make my Cannaoil & its been great but do edibles(Brownies)lose some of their potency over time? I always think the initial hot ? batch of brownies hit harder and faster than the same brownies work the next day…#JustCurious
Raspbelyse
Could it be possible that they might feel stronger on the first day because you are sneaking bites of the batter while you are making it? ( I know I do!) While I do not think that you brownies lose potency in just 1 day, the recommended way to store edibles is away from the light, so wrapping them in aluminum foil might be a good idea.
Rhiannon
This sounds amazing, can I use coconut oil or what type of oil do you suggest?
P.s The step by step instructions are great, would love some pictures to go with!
Elyse VeeBee
So I use this recipe to infuse coconut and light-tasting vegetable oil like canola. I mostly use vegetable oil in my recipes, but each individual recipies will tell you which type of oil to use.
I also do not recommend using flavorful oils like olive oils since the flavor can/will deteriorate with the long cooking process.
Pictures are coming! 🙂
Chef AJ
The oil I have found works best for infused cooking oil is Grape Seed Oil. Nearly zero taste with a higher flash point. Ive used a 2:1 ratio of GS oil and Olive oil and its ok. 100% HS oil I feel works best.
david stanley stanley
Hiya
would it be the same with cbd flowers/buds?Would the need decarbing to? They are legal in the UK and only have 0.2%thc. could I use this method to make cbd oil? If I used less oil would that up the strength because I tend to enjoy just taking drops from an eye bottle dispenser ? Woiuld you recommend MCT oil?
Thank you sorry to ask so many thingsDavid
Elyse VeeBee
No problem at all!
So yes CBD flower would need decarboxylating and you can use this method to make some CBD oil. To decarb CBD, you will need to cook it longer. There is a lot of debate on how to properly decarb CBD stains since they take longer or a higher temperature. I recommend aiming for 240F for 60 to 90 minutes to decarb CBD flower.
And yes you can reduce the amount of oil to have a more potent oil. If you want, you can also use the Loud Bowl’s potency calculator, found in the menu, to estimate the amount of oil required for the potency you want.
Finally, I do recommend MCT oil as it is tasteless, well absorbed by the body and it has a longer shelf life ( if well stored). I personally don’t use it simply because of the higher cost compared to traditional vegetable or canola oil.
Hope this help 😉
Tom
Thanks for the recipe and information! I’m decarbing some high CBD (AC/DC) flower, and tried using tin foil and the ring on the mason jar, but still ended up with a smelly house. The last time I decarbed in the house with a pan enclosed in an oven bag with no smell. I was wondering if there is a reason why you don’t use the normal mason jar top and lid when decarbing, and infusing in the crock pot?
Elyse VeeBee
I’m sorry this technique didn’t work for you.
I don’t use the normal mason jar top and lids to not end up with a jar that I can’t open later because of the vacuum that can be created.
Susan
i have seen mason-jar recipes that use the mason jar top and ring but suggest putting the ring on upside-down to avoid the accidental-vacuum-seal problem or at worst bursting of the jar. Since I don’t have a mason jar yet, I can’t quite picture this, but just FYI. Other people “burp” the mason jar occasionally for the same reason.
I’ve heard great things about the oven bag method for decarb being virtually odor-free.
Ryan
How did you come by your decarbing times/temperatures?
They vary widely from site to site
Elyse VeeBee
Decarbing temperature will often range from 220F to 250F, and time will range for 30 to 60 minutes. There are charts that exist that shows the best combinations of time to temperature ration for optimal THCA to THC conversion, but most are too broad ( make no distinction between kief and flower per example) or outdated.
I based my decarbing temperature from Marijuana Growers HQ’s research, which recommends 240F for 60 minutes, but reduced the time to take into account the fact that the mason jar will retain heat after being removed from the oven. I also found through experimentation that a decarbing at 240F for 60 minutes gave me a decarbed cannabis that was too dark and dry, and edibles that were less potent. I then experimented and reduced that time and found the perfect sweet spot for me and my oven.
I hope this helps 🙂
Best!
Jeff
Start it out at 220 degrees for a half hour. You will know when it is done by the color change. It will still be green but it will change to a light brown hue. That is just a Baseline when they tell you to go 240 degrees for 40 minutes! That is for fresh flower. Since the flower will decarboxylate overtime it is hard to have a say all end all time reference. Simply because nobody knows how old their weed is unless it’s homegrown. Not to mention how it was stored which also affects the decarboxylation process. Again I would just go 220 for a half hour and see where you’re at
Ja
Thanks for sharing! This is great! What is the alternative if I don’t have a crock pot? Will a normal metal pot do and do I have to line with a towel? I’m also worried the glass will burst while boiling? Sorry I am very new to this and have never done before. Thanks again!
Raspbelyse
You can do it in a saucepan if you want. I do recommend adding the towel on the bottom of the pot so that the jar doesn’t rattle around, but you don’t have to.
As mentioned in the post, the water should NOT be boiling, so the jars should be fine.
If the smell is not one of your preoccupations, you could also use a double boiler method. Put the oil in a bowl and place it over your pot of simmering water. The double boiler will gently heat your oil while keeping a constant temperature. The smell will be greater but there is no risk of a jar breaking in this scenario. Just make sure that there is enough water at all times.
Lee H
I make shatter with grain alcohol. I freeze the flower and everclear to get as cold as possible. Then i soaked the buds for about an hour to 1.5 hours. I strain through bleach free coffee filters then i put the strained infused grain alcohol solution into a long pyrex dish. I use at 14 gs of flower in a jar and fill the jar up just over the top of the flower and break up the flower a bit after the first and second wash. I do 3 washes and use 3 different pyrex dishes to get 3 batches. To evaporate and decarboxilate the cannabis/grain alcohol solution i turn my toaster oven to 245 to 265 degrees on broil and instead of putting the pyrex dishes inside i put them on top one at a time and use a lid and screen to keep dust out. And i use a fan to blow over the top of it to help with evaporation. The reason the temp is higher is because its outside the toaster oven and the fan reduces the heat as well. I let the solution evaporate until the alcohol is mostly evaporated or around 60 minutes and by this time it has the consistancy of syrup.i remove and roll the syrup around the pyrex pan until it dries and place back on the toaster oven for 10 minutes or so when it becomes hard. Ive been able to make some awesome crystals that are equivalent to rock candy in hardness and consistency. And its really good. I dab just a small amount 3 times a day and i can make an oz of flower last 4 to 6 weeks. The shatter is normally a yellow to dirty yellow color smell awesome and is easy to store with no mess. My question is am i doing anything wrong. And what does good shatter look like and is it supposed to look like yellow or dirty yellow rock candy.also what kind of oil can i use to make vape oil outta the shatter for vaping. And whats the best process for making vape oil this way.
Raspbelyse
Unfortunately, I’ve never made shatter or oil for vaping so I can’t help you with that.
Dan
I am a bit concerned that you’ll start a fire evaporating alcohol using a toaster oven.
Maybe that’s why it’s outside?
Sunflower
This is a great recipe. I used it to make coconut oil.
3 hours to decarboxylate the marijuana in the crockpot on high and then add the oil to the jar and cook in the crockpot for 5 hours on high. There was no odor, super easy and simple cleanup. I would recommend trying a small amount to see the effects. The oil I made was incredibly strong and had I used my regular dosage information, I would have been baked into the couch.
Krissy
If I am doing the decarb process in crock pot how long should it stay in crock pot?
Elyse VeeBee
I only decarb in the oven, because it gives me a better opportunity to monitor the temperature, so I don’t know.
Albert
Thanks for the recipe.
What temperature/level do you set the crockpot to?
Elyse VeeBee
My crockpot is very old so I put it on high. You want to put is the highest you can without it simmering or boiling.
Susan
Oh, and this may sound like a retarded question, but if I wanted to use just an eighth of cannabis and enough oil to cover it plus a little (something other recipes recommend), what size mason jar would be big enough to hold them but still fit in my 2-quart crockpot?
Elyse VeeBee
All questions are welcome.
When I do a small batch of oil with an eighth of cannabis, I often use a 250mL jar. It is just about perfect for this quantity.
Per example, if you use 3.5 g of cannabis and half a cup of oil, it will be enough to cover your cannabis and more. And using an average THC content of 15 %, it will give you an approximate potency of about 20 mg per teaspoon.
Kayla
This may be a very silly question as I am just starting out making things, even grinding up the bud, should I also add the kief in the decarb and then oil process? Would this make any difference?
Raspbelyse
No silly question on here! So usually I do not add extra kief to my oil because it will be basically impossible to strain out of the oil and I prefer to smoke it but you could add kief to your oil with no problem. Some people also make oil with only kief but personally, I find it harder to estimate the potency of the oil that way but if you do add kief, your oil might be a bit stronger since it is more potent.
Kristy Welch
I did this with coconut oil and it tasted so nasty, like it was burnt. I decarbed it exactly as I said and cooked on low in crockpot for 12 hours, covered with water and with the lid on. What did I do wrong??? ??♀️??♀️
Elyse VeeBee
Cannabis oil does taste a bit nutty and toasty, but if it tastes burnt, there is a problem.
I’m curious about what color your cannabis was after you finished decarbing. It should be toasty and brown but not too dark or black. If the color was dark, maybe your oven runs too high? Or maybe you live at a high altitude, which means that things cook quicker.
Coconut oil should not get a burnt taste from the water bath, so it should not be the culprit.
Another thing is that if you make you oil super potent, that taste of toastiness and cannabis car overwhelmed everything. Maybe try a less concentrated oil? I try to aim between 10 and 20 mg of THC per teaspoon when I make my own oil.
I hope this helps and let me know if you find the culprit.
bobp
Good instructions. I will copy this down for reference as I venture into making my own oil. I’m a medical-cannabis patient (anxiety related) and want an alternative way to ingest. Smoking a bowl or joint is like inhaling smoke from a marsh fire, even though I did reefers back in the day, and vaping oil is a major improvement but still somewhat undesirable.
Medical cannabis isn’t just fun and recreation, it’s serious relief from a debilitating condition. Your training as a chef adds to the reliability of the method. I’m thankful for this post.
Nia
Can I substitute the soy lecitin for guar gum?
Elyse VeeBee
I would not recommend using guar gum to replace the lecithin. You could replace it with another kind of lecithin like sunflower, or simply remove the lecithin altogether.
Anne
I’m just getting my medical marijuana card and am interested in trying edibles. My Dr. suggested that I use flowers instead of sublingual oil.
I came of age in the late sixties, so smoking a joint wouldnt be a new experience. However, now almost 70 and not interested in getting highs; just want the medical benefits.
Should I skip the decarboxylation step?
Bren
i Anna, you’d probably want to do the decarb still as it activated the medicinal qualities as well as the THC. If you find a low or no THC strain then use that and you wont get high
Helen Owen
I tried making the infused coconut all but it has congelled any ideas how I can sort
Many Thanks
Elyse VeeBee
Unfortunately, this has never happened to me before.
Do you mean that it has congealed while still hot or, simply firmed up once cooled?
Because cold coconut oil becomes firm naturally. If this is not the case, maybe check if your coconut oil is pure and not mixed with other ingredients that could be the cause of the problem.
Susan
Coconut oil changes from liquid to solid easily and vice-versa, depending on how warm (or cool) it gets. That is totally normal. It’s like butter in that sense–solid when cool, semi-solid if left at room temp., & liquid if warmed. When it is above about 72-75 F, virgin coconut oil becomes liquid and transparent, when it is below about 70 degrees F, the coconut oil will assume a solid state. To un-“congeal” it, just warm it a little.
Scott
Do you have to line crock pot with kitchen towel?
Elyse VeeBee
Yes. It’s so that the jar doesn’t rattle around and break by accident during the infusion process.
Kyle Kapalka
Does this set of instructions make an oil that will make strong brownies?
Elyse VeeBee
The strength of you edibles will depend on the strength of your cannabis, the ratio of cannabis/oil in your infusion, the amount of oil in your recipe and the number of portion in your edible recipe.
I find this oil recipe to give me a good strength for most edibles, but I highly recommend adjusting the ratio by using my THC potency calculator. Ande remembers, with edibles, a little goes a long way.
Unless you have a very high tolerance for edibles ( because there is a difference between tolerance for edibles and smoking), I always recommend aiming for 10 mg of THC per portion of edibles.
W
Can you put decarbed flower in MCT oil without hearing the oil and just let it sit and infuse over a couple days? Is the heating of oil and decarbed flower together a critical step or just a way to infuse the oil faster?
Raspbelyse
While I have never cold-infused cannabis-oil, some people have had some success with it, but they often infuse for more a month or more, so a couple of days would not do it.
Unfortunatly, no one has (yet) tested both methods to compares the potency for cold-infused VS hot-infused cannabis oil. Personally I would be too afraid of losing too much potency in my oil, so I stick to the method I know.
Jomo
I’ve been making oil the smelly messy way for a couple of years now and can’t wait to try this. I make my oil very potent for sublingual or direst usage (my dose ends ups being about 1/8tsp. I don’t want to cook with it- I just want pain relief :). I cannot find the calculator so I’m curious how much flower to oil I should use for strong oil. I’ve always used destemmed trim (1lb:1lb oil) I was gifted a large amount (several ounces) of lovely low thc high cbd flower so I want to get this right! Also I’ve experimented with with decarbing or just skipping it and letting the heat of the crockpot do the job (12hrs). I didn’t notice a difference. I’m still on the fence about it- but I will say that I’ve always used very dried aged trim so it may have naturally decarbed (I read that the longer it dries the better). This gift of flower is fairly fresh so I’m going to err on the side of caution and decarb it. I just can’t have any smell lest my offspring become privy to my activities 🙂 thanks for posting this method!
Raspbelyse
The THC calculator is right here 🙂
THC calculator
Scarlet
Do you warm the milk when infusing the leftovers?
Raspbelyse
I will often simmer the milk and leftover cannabis for 1h, and then I let everything cool down in the saucepan before straining.
Clarissa Guardiola
Thank you for the recipe. Can you use this same recipe to use in balms, lotions or salves? Can I use an MCT oil for infusion?
Raspbelyse
Yes to both!
MCT oil is often used for cannabis infusion with no problem.
I have also used this oil in a body butter recipe so yes, this oil can be used in balms, lotions, and salves. Cannabis-infused coconut oil with an essential oil like mint is also great used topically if in solid form.
Ash
I am attempting this recipe for the first time. Does the crock-pot have to be on high? I have mine on low.
Raspbelyse
This really depends on your crock-pot. As long as the water is not boiling, you are good to go. If the water is not warm enough on low, you can always infuse it for longer.
Steve
I’m not sure I understand the Tea towel part?
Raspbelyse
You put the tea towel on the bottom of your crockpot before placing your mason in it so that the jar doesn’t rattle around and break. It makes the process also less noisy since it also stops the jar from moving around too much.
Jonathan Gifford
When decarbing, you say grind up flowers, or should they just be broken up into smaller buds and get rid of sticks
Raspbelyse
I like to roughly grind my flower so that every piece is the same size but you could separate them by hand or even chop the flower with a knife, it’s really up to you.
You just don’t want a too fine grind or to have different sized pieces because then they will either burn (over-decarboxilate) or they won’t decarboxylate at the same rate while will mean you will end up with some burnt pieces and other that are still green.
Paul Gregor
What is MTC oil and how do you put the cannabis in the oil can you put the cannabis in cheese cloth and put in oil or how do you just put oil and strain it when done
Raspbelyse
MCT oil is a light-tasting oil made of medium-chain triglycerides.
For the infusion, both options (cheese cloth and no cheese cloth) are doable.
I personally put the cannabis directly in the oil and then strain it after in a tea strainer, since I would hate loosing oil that would soak into the cheese cloth.
Julia T.
This will be my first time infusing oil using a crockpot! For clarification, will I need to heat the water up before placing the mason jar in the slow cooker, or is it supposed to gradually heat up along with the water? Thanks! 🙂
Raspbelyse
It’s preferable to heat the water before hand.
Michael
Legit works. Made a nice oil had me high as a kite. People you should double sheet the foil and make it big enough where it’s completely over the top. I know the person said to just use the metal ring but I used the circle piece too. Anyways still a great method. I also put a damp dish towel and out it in a small baking sheet with the jar on top of the towel while decarbing to keep the jar moist where it won’t crack. This will in turn increase decarbing time since it’s not absorbing as much heat but just keep watch until it gets to a golden brown color. Thanks for the method real easy. No smell. Used a candle and sage to mask smell if any arised.
Luluu
Hi i made this recipe using coconut oil and now my cannaoil has tiny green spots.. it didn’t completely set just yet but is this ok or should I worry?
Raspbelyse
This is perfectly ok.
You might end up with light brown or green specks in your oil. It’s simply plant residue that passed through the filtration process
Dee
How many times can you infuse with the decarbed weed? I just did butter but the flower is still fragrant. Seems like there’s more stuff in it
Raspbelyse
I often reinfuse my cannabis in plant-based milk like coconut or soy. I would only reinfuse once more
Dee
So, I infused with some more butter. There’s no more use for the decarbed flower?
Rosalie
I have a bunch of dry cannabis, I don’t know how old it is but it’s not very potent. Do you think decarbing it would help or do I just have junk?
Raspbelyse
Decarbing will just activate de THC in your cannabis, not boost or increase it. You could make a higher concentrated cannabis oil by adding more cannabis for your infusion or reducing the amount of oil.
Kado
Hi wondering how to get a more neutral taste out of my infused mct oil
Raspbelyse
Some people will “wash” their weed in water before decarbing.
While it does work for some people, it didn’t work for me, so I prefer camouflaging the taste of cannabis by incorporating it in recipes with other strong flavors like chocolate or peanut butter.
Desiree
Hi….can i line a big soup pot with towel and water bath and simmer with lid on that way?
Raspbelyse
Yes you can! Just keep a closer eye to make sure the water doesn’t boil and that you don’t run out of water
Rebekah
Hi, your recipe is great! I was wondering whether I could use lecithin granules instead of liquid?
Raspbelyse
Yes you can!
Zack
So I read through the comments and see that you are not 100% sure about doing this with concentrates directly, but I figured I’d ask:
I have about 2g or so of decarbed extract.
I was wondering if I just did a double boil method to essentially melt the already decarbed wax down to simply blend it with oil, would that work?
I’m assuming I would need to do a 1/4 extract and 3/4 cooking oil blend in order to keep the oil liquid still, but if you have any ideas, I would love to hear them.
Raspbelyse
I think it would work, but as you said, I don’t have much experience with extracts since I can’t get them where I live.
Let us know if it works if you try it!
Leem
Bro how did u guys leave the lid on the mason jar doesnt it get pressurized?? I tried decarbing it and realized after 10 mins in the madon jar just vacuum sealed itself.
Raspbelyse
Hey Leem,
The recipe indicates that you need to close the jar with some aluminum paper and only the “ring” part of the mason jar top so that the jar doesn’t end up sealed up.
Shaqueena Watkins
I saw a video of a guy just putting his ground up weed in a cheese cloth. Putting that and his oil in a mason jar and just putting that jar in a pot of water for it to decarb and infuse at same for 2 hours and was done. Another guy put weed in oil on stove keeping temp between 220 and 240 for an hour and was done….. are these methods wrong compared to yours or can both work. Yours takes alittle too long but ive never done this so i dont know what methods are right and wrong when everyone says theirs is right
Raspbelyse
This recipe is specifically for people looking for a smell-free cannabis oil making experience.
The techniques used in the other method described are used by a lot of people and should work.
In the end, there are as many canna-oil recipes as there are stoners making edibles.No method is wrong per se, and unfortunate, since testing homemade oil for potency is not common, we will probably never get an answer onto which method is best, we can only guestimate. But yes, I believe that you could get high with these other recipes. If you are happy with the final result, it is all that matters.
However, in this blog post, I do talk about how decarbing straight in the oil might not activate all the THC-A in your plant matter. Personally, the idea of leaving THC behind and “wasting” it is a risk I do not like to take due to the high cost of cannabis.So I would recomend you decarb your plant matter first then use the infusion method you prefer.
J
This is the most straight forward recipe I have found, thank you! My house still smelled a bit so next time I might try an oven bag.
I’m completely new to this, if I grow my own, can I decarb it right away or do I need to dry it out first?
Raspbelyse
If you grow your own, you will still need to cure ( or dry) your cannabis first. 🙂
Joey
Hey there! I just wanted to let you know there’s a few spelling errors like “out of the even”.
Raspbelyse
Thank you for letting me know!
English is my second language, so this blog is bound to have a couple of mistakes here and there.
Don’t hesitate to let me know if you spot more. 🙂
Josh M.
Can you use soybean or vegetable oil instead of coconut?
Raspbelyse
Yes you can.
Most of the time I infuse vegetable oil. You want to use a light tasting oil for this recipe.
Don’t use already infused oils or olive oil.
Robert in Austin
I am doing some research as I am a beginner and bought a Levo II oil/butter maker. My first run was really good and the second not so much due to the variation in strength. There is a three step process this machine has setting for and all are adjustable as far as the time and temperature are concerned; DRY, ACTIVATE, and INFUSE. What I am in need of assistance with is to help figure out how long to DRY and at what temperature, how long to ACTIVATE and at what temperature please? Any reference or information would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
Raspbelyse
Unfortunately, I don’t have a Levo so I can’t help you with that.
I would recommend contacting the maker of the machine. They will be the best resource to help you with set up since they know better what temperature/settings work best for your infuser.
I can recommend that you use a THC calculator to adjust the ratio of oil to herb to get a potent infusion. It will help you adjust your oil recipe to have a similar potency every time, even if the strength of your cannabis flower changes.
Hairy idealist
Hi, I followed these directions (thanks for the super helpful step by step instructions)
Final product went into the fridge for a few hours.
Pulled it out and I see it has separated, thiC’s green waxy on surface , brown liquid underneath.
Since this was sealed jar method I don’t think the liquid could be water, more likely clarified coconut oil (it looks like the cannaoil in your post.)
Question is, do both the wax and oil underneath contain THC?
Thanks!
Raspbelyse
Hi,
Unfortunately, I’ve never had an oil “split” like your before, but I also don’t often infuse coconut oil since I prefer vegetable oil for my infusions.
I personally would simply reheat the coconut oil until its liquid again and mix everything together before using it in a recipe.
Best,
Raspbelyse 🙂
Donna
This is so easy! First time I made this and it turned out perfect! I used Harmonia which has THC/CBD. I used half of the oil to make brownies and they are wonderful.
I used the leftover pulp to make chocolates using a bakers chocolate that you microwave. I heated the chocolate and then added the pulp. Mixed well and placed spoonfuls on wax paper and then placed in the fridge! Yummy!
Crahman
What happens if the water boils? This was my first time trying this with my crockpot. The first few hours the water wasn’t even close to simmering. But when I went to take it out it was boiling. What effect will that have on the potency of the oil?
Raspbelyse
We don’t want the water to boil because THC degrades at high temperatures. It’s ok if the water ends up boiling by accident as long as it’s not for too long. The oil might be slightly less potent, but I don’t think it would be enough for you to feel the difference :).
Debbie Mulder
This recipe looks fairly easy. I was wondering if I could use hemp oil? Also would like to know if I should decarb my trim?
Thanks
Raspbelyse
I don’t know for hemp oil. And yes you should decarb your trim 🙂
Timelord
Can you use the bud that was soaking in the oil to maybe mix in with brownies or something else?
Raspbelyse
Yes you can! You can also reinfuse your bud in a fatty milk like coconut milk.
GypsyAnnabis
So lovin that I found this site and recipes and all the additional posts. Thank you everyone. I will enjoy reading all thru the rest of the posts today. Cheers!!
mark
is 1 cup of oil not way too much oil for 7 grams of cannabis? Would halving that work and give you a more concentrated oil?
Raspbelyse
Yes, you could always reduce the amount of oil to end up with a more concentrated THC oil. You can also use a THC calculator to estimate your oil potency, like the one we have in our menu.
mark
Is there a reason you dont want the water boiling in the crock pot?
AW
When making oils do you notice a difference in stains or is it all the same?
Raspbelyse
I do notice a difference in strains. Personally I get very sleepy with Indica strains, so I often opt for Sativa or Sativa-dominant hybrid strains, but it really is a personal preferance. The THC potency of the strain and the ratio of THC to CBD can also make a difference in a batch of canna-oil.
AW
Have you ever added distilled terpenes to your oils after?
Lynx
I’ve been using a mason jar for a while but use the oven to infuse the oil in the oven also (after decarboxylation). I get great results already, but I see you use larger amounts which are made possible, as you say, by shaking it every 15 mins. Thanx for your post!
Dawn
Hi! Thanks for this recipe it’s my current go to and I couldn’t be happier with how easy it is! Question; I usually infuse two eighths with about 10-12 oz of olive oil. The decarbed weed sits at the bottom of the jar with a majority of the oil on top. I do not add any lecithin. I’m worried that the majority of oil above the weed doesn’t get as infused as the oil the weed is sitting in. Is this true? Should I be stirring periodically or is this exactly why using lecithin is important? I saw you said you infuse without it many times and still get a strong product but sometimes I feel like the absorption at the bottom of my oil is stronger than that at the top? Could you help me out with this? Thanks!!
Raspbelyse
Hi Dawn,
So sediment will settle on the bottom of your oil if it sits for a long period of time, so if you haven’t used your canna-oil in a while, give it a small shake or stir before using it and that should do the trick.If you infuse coconut oil, you will actually see that there are sediments at the bottom that accumulates of small plant matter particles and trichomes, so a shake should do the job to make every dose similar in potency.
Stirring during the infusion process is not necessary, but I still do it from time to time when I check on my water level.
Mitzi
Hello! Thanks for this wonderful easy to follow recipe. This is my first time attempting to make edibles. I tried to do a smaller version before committing to using so much cannabis. I decarbed 1g of cannabis for 40 minutes at about 245 degrees (I have an oven thermometer) until it was a beautiful toasty color. I let it cool for 30 minutes then put it in my slow cooker with 1 ounce of vegetable oil and a squirt of sunflower lecithin. I left it in my slow cooker on high for 6 hours (it didn’t boil at all). I used it to cook the worlds smallest brownie. Me and my roommate ate it and felt no effects . I was wondering if you had any advice? Thank you!
Raspbelyse
Well if you and your roommate already consume cannabis regularly, you might have a high tolerance, so you could try a bit more. For example, I have a friend that rarely does edibles but they smoke a lot so they feel nothing at edibles with 100mg of THC. It really depends on your body. You could also try to use a cannabis flower with a higher ratio of THC.
Best of luck 🙂
Lea
Like the person above, I’m a first timer, too. Like an idiot, I didn’t read all the way through and pretty much have a 1:1 ratio going on using the mason jar method …. um, will it be possible to wring the butter through cheesecloth if the cannabis is absorbed?! Yikes.
Raspbelyse
yes, it should be fine. You might just end up with a bit less oil than planned.
lori
if u grow ur own there’s alot of seeds can I leave them in
Raspbelyse
IT is better to take out seeds as it can give a bitter taste to your oil, but you can use shake or stems to make your oil.
James
Hello! So I followed your recipe and made some potent oil. However, I was wondering if there are any cons to leaving the weed inside the oil instead of straining it immediately? Will the weed rot inside the oil and how long does the oil keep unrefrigerated?
Raspbelyse
I have kept the weed in the oil in the past when I was in a hurry, so it does work but yes there is a chance the cannabis will rot or mold. It is easier to strain while hot to express the most oil from the plant, especialy when using coconut oil. The oil will also taste more like cannabis , which is something I try not to have while making edibles. However, like I said, I’ve done it before while keeping the oil in the fridge and it was fine for a short period of time (1 week).
I have kept some canna oil in a dark place at room temperature for up to 8 months before with no problem. 🙂
Best,
Raspbelyse
Asa
Hey is this vapeable if you use MCT oil?
Raspbelyse
Sorry, I don’t know because I only vape flower.
Tony
So if I wanted more potent oil should I just use a little less oil than the recipe calls for? or should I just add more flower to the recipe ?. Can too much of either one mess it up ?
Raspbelyse
Both are good options! Add as much of power or less oil to bump up the potency (you can estimate it with a THC calculator).However, remember that more concentration of flower means more cannabis taste, so go with your judgment for how mus canna flavor you can palate.
Tony
Liquid coconut oil ?or the pasty coconut oil ?
Raspbelyse
It is really up to you and what you preferto cook with. To be honest, 3 times out of 4 I simply use cheap canola oil.
Frenchy
I’m trying out this method, great explanations by the way! I don’t have a crockpot but will it work just as well on the stove of I put it on low and make sure the water isn’t boiling?
Raspbelyse
Yes, exactly. Try to keep a closer watch on it though!
Lou
I’m interested in how you use the leftover decarbed weed. How much milk would you infuse it in or how much chocolate would you stir it in to?
Raspbelyse
When I do canna milk with already infused weed, it’s a bit of eyeballing it. I can’t really say what the potency is, but I overestimate so that I don’t end up with a wayyy too strong edible. I use the THC calculator but input 50% of the original THC for my weed. I also dose them so that 1/4 cup of canna milk is equal to 1 portion. I then adjust with regular milk. For the chocolate I either use my hot chocolate sticks but unifused or some store bought hot chocolate powder.
daniel figueroa
Will this work to make butter?
Raspbelyse
yes it should, but I haven’t tried it myself since I’m vegan
Dave
My wife asked me this question and I wasn’t able to answer her. Why is decarboxylation needed prior to the infusion process? In other words, wouldn’t the heat used while infusing do the decarbing? Thanks for your help, and I have found your information very helpful.
Raspbelyse
So decarboxylation removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide which transforms our THC-A into THC. To decarboxylate you need two things, some heat and some time and both are dependant on each other. While some people decide to decarboxylate during the infusion process, there is no guarantee that the plant matter will reach high enough temperatures and will stay at that temperature for as long as is needed in a water bath. It’s why we pre-decarb to make sure all the THC-A is converted before infusing. Usually, people who decarboxylate in their infusion simply heat their oil directly on the stovetop, but there is also a higher chance that the THC might breakdown since it is harder to regulate the temperature compared to an oven.
Patrick
May I suggest a sous vide? I put my oil and herb in a mason jar. I break up the large particles and add oil. I set my sous vide for 4 hrs at 200. That’s enough, but then I do it again for at least another 2 hrs. Usually it’s the next day. No decarbing necessary. The oil is more than infused without the smell. I used to decarb it in a food bag and sous vide, but now I do it just as described. Try it.
Raspbelyse
I’m so jealous. Sous vide is a great way to infuse canna oil and I’ve wanted one for sooo long! Thank you for sharing.
Patrick
Just finished another batch! I have a question for ya, I’m using a 1/4 per 1/3 cup oil. Since I’m infusing for 6-8 hrs total, could I use less flower?
Raspbelyse
You could always use less flower but you will have a less potent oil, independently of infusion time.
Patrick
Yes, I tried it with 5 grams and it worked just fine
Paul
Thanks for the awesome information and clear process description. There is such a wealth of knowlege on this page…
I’d like to try making the MCT oil version you mentioned here, and have a few questions please:
1. Is it as simply as substituting the butter for MCT oil?
2. Although the MCT is tastless in its self, is the finished product likely to have a strong taste?
3. Can I reduce the quantity of oil so as to just cover the greens during infusion, (and use the calculator…)?
4. Will the THC and CBD properties be the same as if making it with butter?
Thanks!
Raspbelyse
Here are my answers to your questions.
1. yes, itas a simple as substituting the butter for MCT oil 1:1.
2. Cannabis will always leave a taste behind. This will also depend on the potency you decide to go with. There are “washes” you can do to help remove some of the taste but it’s never going to taste like plain oil.
3. yes, absolutely! You could also add more greens.
4. Unfortunately, I don’t know for sure since I would need to make both kinds of MCT, regular oil and butter, and then send it to a lab to get tested, which is not feasible right now.
Jodie Carter
Where’s the instruction video gone?
Raspbelyse
Hey Jodie, I think you might be confused, I’ve never had a video for this recipe ( but I’ve been working on one!)
Jodie Carter
Shouldn’t I use a ounce 28 grams per cup?
Raspbelyse
So an ounce is a measure of weight that is also equal to 28 grams (28.3495g to be precise). Now since cannabis compressible, a cup could be different depending on how much you compress it or not. If we weighted out 2 people measuring a cup of weed, we would get different results. So I always recommend using a precision scale when cooking, especially when making oil. Unfortunately I’ve never weighted how much grams of weed is in a cup, but mostly because I never need that amount when I’m making oil. To give you an idea, 7g of cannabis ( the amount in this recipe) is 2/8 of an ounce ( also known as a set).
Jodie Carter
hi, i used 9 or 10 grams instead of ur 7. it was very potent, it made me dizzy for about 3 days lol. im remaking the oil with 7 grams. does it mater that im not using the sunflower oil or anything just straight liquified coconut oil is that okay?
Raspbelyse
yes, coconut works perfectly with this recipe. I personally don’t infusate much just because I don’T use a lot of coconut oil in my cooking but it is the favorite oil of a lot of people when making edibles. You also don’rt need to make a new batch unless you are low. YOu could simply add a bit of extra oil to your too strong first infusion (or use less in the recipes).
Kathryn
I vape flower so I have a lot of ABV piling up. That means I can just skip the de-carbing and go straight to the infusion right? Can I just use the same amount (7g) of ABV flower as well or should it be different?
Raspbelyse
Yeah that is exactly right. No need to decarb. Since some of that THC has been “vaped out” of the bud, what I do is double the amount of cannabis with vaped bud. So if you would use 7g, use 14 instead and test a small quantity of oil by itself to see how it feels before making a big batch of edible, since you’ll be guestimating the potency of your oil.
Zach Adams
Can i double this recipe and sfill be effective?
Raspbelyse
Yes. If you want to be even more accurate, use my THC calculator in the menu to reach your desired potency. 🙂
Ethan Jones
Hey,
I am just venturing into the edibles side of cannabis and have been looking for an easy recipe to follow. This looks like something I can try. Thanks for this, hoping this works out for me.
Cheers!
Sam
Hey I tried this recipe with fresh high potent weed(29% thc) and the oil didn’t have any psychoactive effects. Should I have done it with dryer weed? Higher temperature and lower bake time? Your recipe worked for my older batch(15% thc), but for this one I think I might’ve done something wrong. What you think?
Raspbelyse
If the recipe worked for you with older lower potency cannabis, I think it means that your new cannabis or your technique is at fault. 3 things comes to mind. 1; has it been dried/cured correctly? 2; Did you over decarboxylate? If you decarboxylate at a too high temperature, it can degrade the THC. 3; is your pant matter really 29%THC. Not to call BS but cannabis at 29% THC is extremely rare so unless you bought it at a dispensary that also tests the potency of their products, you were maybe misled.
Best,
Raspbelyse
Shelia
So, I am a first timer. It is currently infusing as we speak. Once it has finished the decarbing process and I strain the oil out do I need to let the oil cool down before I attempt to make a batch of brownies?
Raspbelyse
No. You can use it straight away.
Sebastian
Hi! Thanks so much for this cool blog. Today was my first time doing this and I am quite excited but also nervous.
I got homegrown bud. I would say it’s probably not the best quality and possibly not the strongest bud. But. It’s bud.
I put 5g into the mason jar (it’s a very large mason jar) and put it in the oven as described.
Started at 110 (230F) Celsius for 60 minutes. Shook it every 15 minutes.
After 60 minutes the bud pretty much had not changed its color at all. It was still as green as it was when I first put it in.
Every blog says it’s supposed to turn brown or golden yellow. None of that in my case.
I gave it an extra 10 min at a slightly (!) higher temp.
Still green as a traffic light.
I am worried of putting it in longer.
Does your bud ALWAYS turn brown/yellow?
Raspbelyse
Yes, mine always turn brown or golden/yellowish. First of all, have you grinded the herb before decarbing it? And could it be possible that the bud is not cured properly. After all, cannabis does need to dry naturally over a period of days/week before being able to be smokes or baked with.
Robert
I’ve been making oil/ butter all summer and have not been decarbing just using a mason jar that I first read about in your blog It seems to do alright. Did read another message that explains in a crock pot for a long time the weed does both. Infuses and decarb Have tried to decarb couple of times by your methods can not tell difference in potency Trial and error all the way but a two square inch brownie will do the job. I use one oz trim per 3~4cups oil. Trim is good because no one wants to do anything with it. What is your take on this method?
Raspbelyse
So there is plenty of debate on if decarbing before infusing is necessary or not. At the end of the day, if that technique works for you, it’s all that matters.
J
So i’m lucky enough to have a crock pot with temperature readings. ” set temp” and ” actual temp”. What exactly should it be set at for infusign the oil? I see a lot of instructionals saying to set it to low, but I figure everyone’s crock pot probably works a little differently, and what better way to make it fool proof by having the temperature.
Raspbelyse
Unfortunately my crock pot doesn’t have temperature settings but basically, you just want to make sure the water is not boiling so around 90C / 195F should be a safe spot.
King P.
Really informative stuff thank you for sharing. I have got everything ready and am looking to try this next weekend!
Peggy J Dollar
I have a question? I have gotten into herbalism recently making infused oils, tinctures, and salves. I have a almost 16 year old dog with terminal cancer. I have seen many testimonials to using this to treat them. How do I determine the THC level, and how much to give him? Thank you.
Raspbelyse
I, unfortunately, don’t know much about giving cannabis to animals and since I am not a vet I also don’t feel comfortable giving advice on this topic since I would never forgive myself if anything happened to your pup. Sorry about that. Your pup is in my mind and heart.
David420
Thank you for all the tips. This is a great recipe. I used mct oil and, even though you said to decarb first, I decarbed while infusing and my oil turned out perfectly. I set my crock pot on high for two hours, burping the mason jar a couple of times.
King
I followed the directions as stated for the oil and it turned out awesome. I made some brownies with it. Thank you for sharing.