Cooking with Cannabis: From Kitchen Basics to Gourmet Edibles

The art of cooking with cannabis has evolved far beyond the stereotypical pot brownie. Today's cannabis cuisine ranges from simple infusions to sophisticated gourmet dishes that would be at home in any fine dining establishment. Whether you're a curious beginner or an experienced cook looking to expand your repertoire, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to safely and successfully incorporate cannabis into your culinary creations.

Understanding the Basics

Why Cook with Cannabis?

Cooking with cannabis offers unique advantages:

The Golden Rule: Decarboxylation

• **Longer-lasting effects** (4-8 hours vs. 1-3 for smoking)
• **No respiratory irritation**
• **Precise dosing potential**
• **Discrete consumption**
• **Full-body effects**
• **Creative culinary exploration**

Before you can cook with cannabis, you must understand decarboxylation – the process that activates cannabinoids.

• *What is Decarboxylation?**

Raw cannabis contains THCA and CBDA, which aren't psychoactive. Heat converts these into THC and CBD through decarboxylation.

Creating Cannabis Infusions

Cannabis Butter (Cannabutter)

Cannabis Coconut Oil

• *How to Decarboxylate:**
• Preheat oven to 240°F (115°C)
• Break up cannabis into small pieces
• Spread evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet
• Bake for 30-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes
• Cannabis should be light brown and fragrant
• *Pro Tips:**
• Don't exceed 250°F to preserve terpenes
• Use an oven thermometer for accuracy
• Store decarbed cannabis in airtight container
• Decarb more than you need and save for later
• *Ingredients:**
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup water
• 7-10 grams decarboxylated cannabis
• *Method:**
• Melt butter and water in saucepan
• Add decarbed cannabis
• Simmer on low (160-180°F) for 2-3 hours
• Strain through cheesecloth
• Refrigerate and separate water
• Store in airtight container
• *Why Coconut Oil?**
• High saturated fat content (better cannabinoid absorption)
• Vegan-friendly
• Higher smoke point than butter
• Longer shelf life
• *Method:**

Same as cannabutter, but use 1 cup coconut oil (no water needed)

Cannabis Tinctures

Dosing: The Most Important Part

Calculating Potency

• *Alcohol Method:**
• Place decarbed cannabis in jar
• Cover with high-proof alcohol (Everclear)
• Store in dark place for 2-4 weeks, shaking daily
• Strain and store in dropper bottles
• *Glycerin Method:**
• Mix decarbed cannabis with vegetable glycerin
• Heat in slow cooker on low for 24 hours
• Strain and bottle
• *Basic Formula:**

(Grams of cannabis × THC% × 1000) ÷ Number of servings = mg per serving

Standard Dosing Guidelines

First-Timer Protocol

Infusion Techniques

Water Bath Method

• *Example:**
• 7g cannabis at 20% THC
• 7 × 0.20 × 1000 = 1400mg total THC
• Divided into 28 servings = 50mg per serving
• *Microdose:** 1-2.5mg
• Subtle effects
• Good for beginners
• Functional dose
• *Low Dose:** 3-5mg
• Mild euphoria
• Slight impairment
• Social dose
• *Moderate Dose:** 5-15mg
• Noticeable effects
• Recreational dose
• Experienced users
• *High Dose:** 20-30mg
• Strong effects
• Significant impairment
• Regular users only
• *Very High Dose:** 50mg+
• Intense effects
• Medical patients
• High tolerance only
• Start with 2.5mg
• Wait 2 full hours
• Increase by 2.5mg if needed
• Document your experience
• Find your minimum effective dose

Best for: Precise temperature control

Oil Infusion Methods

Advanced Techniques

Cooking Methods and Tips

Baking with Cannabis

Savory Cooking

No-Bake Options

• Use sous vide or slow cooker
• Maintains consistent temperature
• Prevents burning
• Preserves terpenes
• *Slow Cooker Method:**
• 4-6 hours on low
• No stirring needed
• Set and forget
• *Double Boiler:**
• More control
• No direct heat
• 2-3 hours
• *Instant Pot:**
• Pressure cook setting
• 40 minutes high pressure
• Natural release
• *Lecithin Addition:**
• Increases bioavailability
• Use 1 tbsp per cup of oil
• Add during infusion
• *Water Curing:**
• Removes chlorophyll taste
• Soak cannabis in water 3-7 days
• Change water daily
• Dry completely before decarbing
• *Temperature Considerations:**
• Keep oven below 350°F
• THC degrades above 390°F
• Lower temp, longer bake time
• Use oven thermometer
• *Substitution Ratios:**
• Replace butter 1:1 with cannabutter
• Reduce regular butter by cannabutter amount
• Mix regular and infused for milder effects
• *Best Applications:**
• Sauces and dressings
• Soups (add at end)
• Pasta dishes
• Marinades
• Compound butters
• *Avoid:**
• High-heat searing
• Deep frying
• Broiling
• Grilling directly

Perfect for preserving cannabinoids:

Recipe Collection

Classic Cannabis Brownies (Upgraded)

Elevated Olive Oil

Cannabis Honey

Gourmet Cannabis Compound Butter

Safety and Best Practices

Kitchen Safety

Avoiding Common Mistakes

Storage Guidelines

Troubleshooting Guide

Entertaining with Edibles

Hosting Guidelines

Pairing Cannabis with Food

• Energy balls
• Chocolate treats
• Nut butters
• Smoothies
• Salad dressings
• *Ingredients:**
• 1/2 cup cannabutter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• *Method:**
• Preheat oven to 325°F
• Mix melted cannabutter and sugar
• Add eggs one at a time
• Fold in dry ingredients
• Bake 25-30 minutes
• Cool completely before cutting
• *Dosing:** Makes 16 brownies, calculate based on your cannabutter potency
• *Ingredients:**
• 2 cups extra virgin olive oil
• 14g decarbed cannabis
• 2 tsp lecithin
• *Method:**
• Combine in slow cooker
• Cook on low 4 hours
• Strain and bottle
• Use for salads, bread, finishing
• *Ingredients:**
• 1 cup honey
• 7g decarbed cannabis
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• *Method:**
• Warm honey to 120°F
• Mix in cannabis and oil
• Maintain temp for 40 minutes
• Strain while warm
• Perfect for tea, toast, yogurt
• *Ingredients:**
• 1/2 cup cannabutter (room temp)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 2 tbsp fresh herbs
• 1 tsp lemon zest
• Sea salt to taste
• *Method:**
• Whip cannabutter until fluffy
• Fold in other ingredients
• Roll in parchment paper
• Refrigerate until firm
• Slice and serve on steaks, vegetables
• **Label everything clearly**
• **Store securely away from children/pets**
• **Never cook impaired**
• **Keep antidotes handy (CBD, black pepper)**
• **Have non-infused snacks ready**
• *Overheating:** Destroys cannabinoids and terpenes
• *Rushed decarb:** Incomplete activation
• *Poor straining:** Gritty texture
• *Impatient dosing:** Taking more too soon
• *Uneven distribution:** Hot spots in final product
• *Cannabutter/Oil:**
• Refrigerator: 2-3 months
• Freezer: 6 months
• Always airtight containers
• *Baked Goods:**
• Room temp: 3 days
• Refrigerator: 1 week
• Freezer: 3 months
• *Tinctures:**
• Dark bottle
• Cool, dark place
• Indefinite shelf life
• *Too Strong?**
• Dilute with non-infused version
• Cut into smaller pieces
• Take with CBD
• Wait it out safely
• *Too Weak?**
• Increase cannabis amount
• Improve decarb process
• Add lecithin
• Check cannabis quality
• *Bad Taste?**
• Water cure first
• Use less cannabis
• Mask with strong flavors
• Try different strain
• *Inconsistent Effects?**
• Mix infusions thoroughly
• Test potency
• Standardize process
• Consider tolerance
• **Inform all guests**
• **Provide non-infused options**
• **Start with appetizers (gauge tolerance)**
• **Clear dosing labels**
• **Plan safe transportation**
• **Keep CBD on hand**

Like wine pairing, consider:

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Know Your Laws

Ethical Practices

Advanced Topics

Nano-Emulsification

• Terpene profiles
• Flavor compatibility
• Effect timing
• Guest experience level
• Home cultivation limits
• Possession limits
• Sharing restrictions
• Public consumption laws
• Never dose someone unknowingly
• Keep away from minors
• Don't drive after consuming
• Respect others' choices
• Share knowledge responsibly

Creating water-soluble cannabis:

Strain-Specific Cooking

• Faster onset (15-30 minutes)
• Better bioavailability
• Use in beverages
• Requires special equipment

Preserving terpene profiles:

Cannabis Cocktails

• Low-temperature infusions
• Strain-paired recipes
• Terpene reintroduction
• Flavor matching

Non-alcoholic options:

Your Cannabis Kitchen Setup

Essential Equipment

Nice to Have

Visit The Library

• Cannabis simple syrup
• Infused bitters
• Terpene drops
• Nano-emulsified beverages
• Digital scale
• Thermometer
• Slow cooker
• Cheesecloth
• Storage containers
• Labels
• Infusion machine
• Sous vide
• Decarb device
• Potency tester

Stop by The Library for:

Conclusion

• Quality flower for cooking
• Dosing consultations
• Recipe suggestions
• Equipment recommendations
• Local cooking class information

Cooking with cannabis is both an art and a science. Start simple, be patient with dosing, and always prioritize safety. With practice, you'll develop the skills to create incredible edibles that deliver both flavor and effect.

Remember: the journey is just as important as the destination. Enjoy experimenting, learn from each batch, and share your successes (responsibly) with others.

• Legal Note: Always comply with local laws regarding cannabis possession, cultivation, and consumption. Never provide cannabis edibles to minors or anyone without their explicit knowledge and consent.*