There are two ways to make your butter. One way is to boil water and then add the butter and Cannabis. The alternative way is to simply very slowly and gingerly melt the butter and then add the Cannabis. Either way has been proven to be extremely effective, however if it is your first time, or if you are somewhat inexperienced in a kitchen setting, you may want to use the water method so you don’t burn the product and therefore waste time and money. Using the water method generally takes anywhere from 18 - 22 hours, whereas making it simply with butter and water takes 3 to 4 hours.
The Water Method
Boil 2 cups of water for every pound of butter you intend to use. Generally, you will want to use between 1 and 4 ounces of finely ground bud (potency of the butter not only depends on the amount of bud you use but the quality as well) for every pound of butter. You can also use trimmings from your harvest, but you may want to increase the ratio, as it is obviously not as potent as buds. Once you boil the water, add your butter and turn down the heat to medium-low. When the butter completely melts, it should start simmering (not boiling, but more of a slow simmer-gurgle). Once this happens, add your finely ground Cannabis to the mix and turn the heat down to low. You may want to give it one initial stir, just to mix the plant matter into the liquid. Cover and let cook for between 18 and 22 hours, checking on it every few hours to ensure the heat does not get too hot. The mixture should again be slowly gurgling bubbles, but not boiling. It doesn’t hurt to add a few splashes of water over the course of the 18 plus hours, as some of the water may evaporate. After around 20 hours it should be safe to remove from the heat. When you do this, allow it to sit for a minute or two. Strain the mixture into a Tupperware container, using a cheesecloth or coffee filter to remove any bits of plant matter from going into the container. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight to solidify.
The next day, the butter should have hardened to a hard chunk of solid butter on top of water. Remove the butter and pat it dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. If there is brown sludge attached to where the butter touched the water remove this by scraping it off with a knife or spoon. Your CannaButter is now ready to cook with or simply spread on toast. For optimum results, store in the freezer until ready to use and do not reheat. It may also be store in the refrigerator, although will only keep for 2 weeks or so.
No Water Method
The other way to make Cannabis-infused butter is without water. This method takes a lot less time (3 to 4 hours) but must be done very delicately as the butter can burn easily, thus wasting your precious medication. Place a pot on the burner and turn the heat up to low-medium (about 9 o’clock on the dial). Place your butter in the pot and move it around constantly to ensure it does not burn (the same ratio of bud to butter applies to the no water method). When the butter has completely melted it should start slowly gurgling bubbles. Once it does this, add your bud or trimmings. Again, give it an initial stir to mix it all together and then cover and turn down to low. Check on it every 15 minutes or so to make sure it doesn’t burn, but don’t stir it. After 3 hours of slowly simmering, it should be ready to remove from the heat. Repeat the same steps as the water method from here on. Enjoy!
