Turning Trim into Infused Edibles - What You Need to Know About Decarboxylation

Here at Trim Daddy, we are always thinking about our customers’ harvests. Imagining all the different cultivation setups and how different growers operate. We think of all the tender loving care that goes towards all those cannabis plants. Then we realize their fate…to be snipped at the stem and separated from their roots. The TLC does not stop there though! This plant then gets to be processed in a multitude of ways to reach the final product that is desired. Inevitably, it will be time to trim all that good work into clean colas and buds. On this journey to their final forms, there will likely be a bunch of trimmed up sugar leaves and a dusting of trichomes in your trimming tray or on the table. What is one of the best uses for all that trimmed up weed? Take all that frosty trim material and turn it into cannabutter! Obviously, the popcorn nugs and other flower parts of the plant can be utilized as well. Remember, if you put fire in…you get fire out!

Decarboxylation is the most important aspect of making a good marijuana-infused butter or any other cannabis edible. This is the process that activates the dried herb. Several different methods can be used to activate the THCA into THC, or CBDA into CBD. The magic number at which this happens is 240 degrees Fahrenheit!

Figuring out your dosage is strongly encouraged. Anyone that has overindulged on a bunch of potent edibles and regretted them in the next hours understands. It can be easy to go “too far” with infused foods. A 10mg dose per serving is considered standard. It is also an easy number to work with when trying to figure out the dose. Here are some easy formulas to calculate your estimated dose of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or cannabidiol (CBD) …

• To estimate the total milligrams of THC/CBD:

(THC/CBD% ÷ 100) X 1000mg = milligrams of THC/CBD

• To determine the dosage of infused butter or oil:

(Grams of cannabis ÷ number of servings) X (milligrams of THC/CBD) = the dose in milligrams per serving

Unsalted butter is required and the higher the quality, the better! Coconut, avocado, & olive oil can also be infused. These are good choices as a vegan option or a healthier alternative to get properly stoned. Be mindful of the burning point limits with oils and butter. Medicated butter and oil can be stored for a long time in the proper conditions. Certainly, a versatile way to get high in delicious ways!

How to Make Cannabutter…Quickly! (relatively anyway)

There are many ways to create cannabutter and just as many great guides out there on the internet to experiment with to find the best results. Here is a basic and easy oven method to get started on decarboxylating cannabis and making the infused butter needed to create delicious munchies that will have you hungry for more in no time!

• Get the oven heated up to 240
• Put some parchment paper on the bottom of a Pyrex dish or baking sheet w/ sides
• Grind up the herb & lay it out evenly
• Bake for about 30 minutes, checking and turning the material occasionally
• Give or take 10 minutes, depending on the material
• The ideal consistency should be dry and crumbly
• Get a pot or pan on the stove top at low heat
• Add butter, about 4 sticks of butter for every 1 ounce of marijuana or preferred ratio
• Once butter is melted, add the decarboxylated marijuana
• Simmer for approximately 45 minutes on low heat
• Stir frequently and mix well, keep it moving to prevent burning
• When done, pour the mixture through a mesh filter or a cheesecloth secured to a bowl
• Let cool to room temperature before storing in fridge or freezer
• Get to baking!!!

Infusers!

Here is a convenient device to decarb your herbal infusions! These infusers are a no-nonsense and super-easy way to get to magical edibles easily and efficiently. Bonus: way less messy!

Check out these Trim Daddy approved decarboxylation machines!

MagicalButter MB2e Botanical Extractor

Ardent FX Decarboxylator

Levo II Herbal Oil & Butter Infusion Machine

STX Infuzium 420 Infused Butter-Oil-Tincture Maker Machine

An Easy Infused Buttermints Recipe!

This is a great, easy to make, no-bake recipe that is perfect to substitute with infused cannabutter. Buttermints are a great festive treat for the holidays. Anytime, actually! They keep in the freezer nicely as a cold, delicious melt-in-the-mouth edible ready anytime. Feel free to experiment with other flavor extracts, terpenes, and food coloring. The possibilities are endless!

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces of infused cannabutter
• 4 cups of powdered sugar + enough for dusting later
• 1 tablespoon of cream or milk
• 1 pinch of salt
• ¼ - ½ teaspoon of mint extract (pro tip: start low, and add more later if needed)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions:

• Use a mixer to beat the cannabutter until it is smooth and has no lumps left
• Add the powdered sugar, cream, salt, mint extract, and vanilla extract
• Mix everything until smooth again
• Give it a taste and add more flavor as desired. Mix again if added
• Use a sifter to dust powdered sugar on your working surface
• Dust on more powdered sugar as needed if it gets sticky
• If you want to add food coloring, now is the time…glove up and kneed like dough to mix
• Roll the now infused sugar cannabutter dough into ½-inch thick ropes
• Cut ropes into ½-inch long pieces shaped like a little pillow or any shape wanted
• Place the pieces onto parchment paper in a large flat dish like a baking sheet
• Let these dry out for 6-8 hours at room temperature
• They should feel dry on the outside and be soft on the inside
• These can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a month
• Get a longer storage time in a freezer!