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    HOME » Getting Started

    Decarboxylation: The Simple Way to Decarb your Weed

    July 22, 2019 by Cannabis Spatula 107 Comments

    You're ready to get cooking in the kitchen and wow your friends and family (or maybe just yourself) with your mad cannabis cooking skills. You're ready to get high during breakfast, lunch and dinner - with some snacks in between. 

    There's just one problem.

    You need to decarb your weed before you do anything else, and you're just not sure how to get started.

    Beauty shot of marijuana that has not been decarbed. Woman's hand holding glass jar with blue lid and blue fingernails.

    Luckily you're in the right place. With this simple recipe, you'll be able to have your marijuana decarbed in no time. And I'm even answering all of your most-asked questions about the decarboxylation process.

    Why you Need to Decarb Your Weed for Cooking

    I get asked this question all the time, so let's go ahead and answer it first thing. In order for your edibles to get you high, you need to put your cannabis through a decarboxylation or decarbing process.

    By slowly cooking your dried buds, you'll release the THC from the cannabis.

    Believe it or not, your raw cannabis contains zero THC. Seriously.

    You can google this for days and read about all of the fun science-y reasons behind this process. Or you can just understand that in order for the food you make with marijuana to get you high, you need to decarb your weed first.

    Got it?

    Good, let's move on.

    dried buds next to wooden spoon

    The Easy Way to Decarb Your Weed

    The decarboxylation can sound intimidating (probably because it's such a big word), but it's actually super easy. With just a little big of prep and an oven, you'll be whipping up edibles in no time.

    First, Prep Your Marijuana

    dried buds with a handheld grinder

    To prep your weed for baking, use a handheld grinder (or your fingers) and lightly grind your cannabis. You do NOT want it to be finely ground - just lightly ground - as if you were going to roll it into a joint.

    Next, Bake Your Weed

    decarbing weed in oven

    It doesn't get much easier than this. Simply spread your ground buds onto a cookie sheet and bake at 250° F for 20 minutes.

    You can cover it if you want to, but it's not necessary.

    Finally, Eat Your Weed

    Okay - don't really eat it. But you're now ready to cook with it. 

    All of the recipes here at Cannabis Spatula start with a base of Canna Butter, Canna Oil or Canna Honey. You can click on the links below to get started!

    How to Make Canna Butter

    How to Make Canna Oil

    How to Make Canna Honey

    Answering your Biggest Decarbing Questions

    I need to decarb my weed, but I'm afraid of the smell. How bad is this going to smell?

    This was one of my biggest fears when I first started cooking with cannabis. There's too much to cover in a quick answer, so click here to read an entire post on the smell of decarboxylation.

    What types of marijuana need to be decarboxylated?

    Pretty much all marijuana will benefit from being decarbed or "activated." 

    This means that not just flowers/buds and trim but kief, hash and hash oils as well.

    I'm going to use this cannabis to make cannabutter and other edibles that I'm going to be baking/heating. Do I still need to decarb first?

    Great question - and YES! For maximum potency of your edibles, you want to activate (or decarb) your cannabis first. 

    This is the case even when you're making slow-cooking infusions like canna butter and canna oil.

    What happens if I don’t decarboxylate my cannabis?

    Well, you'll still get some medicinal benefits from the cannabis, but you won't get as high.

    Can I decarb my weed in a toaster oven?

    Sure thing! In fact, some people that are nervous about the smell decarb their cannabis in a toaster oven in their garage, basement or even outside. Just be sure that your toaster oven is at an even temperature for 30 minutes before starting the baking process.

    Can I decarb my weed using a food dehydrator?

    Opinions are mixed on this decarbing process, and it's not one that we've attempted ourselves. Our preference is for higher heat for a shorter amount of time.

    If you're dead set on using a food dehydrator, be sure to further research the process. From what we've heard, you need to plan on anywhere from 8 - 12 hours for your cannabis to be fully activated.

     

    female hand holding dried marijuana buds. blue fingernails.

    Decarboxylation: The Simple Way to Decarb your Weed

    For those of you who prefer a printable recipe card, here you go. Bonus - there's even a video for you!

    Print
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    Decarboxylation: The Simple Way to Decarb your Weed

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    Your first step in making delicious edibles that will get you high is to decarb your weed. This simple recipe will walk you through the decarboxylation process, and you'll quickly see just how easy activating your cannabis can be!

    • Total Time: 22 min
    • Yield: Varies

    Ingredients

    Raw marijuana (or whatever you prefer to call it - weed, pot, buds, cannabis, etc.)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees F
    2. Use your hands or a handheld grinder to grind your cannabis. Do not over-grind it.
    3. Spread your marijuana onto a cookie sheet and cover with tin foil (cover is optional)
    4. Bake for 20 minutes.
    5. Use your decarbed cannabis to make the base for your edibles.

    Notes

    If using a toaster oven, make sure toaster oven has been at even temperature for at least 30 minutes before baking.

    Oven temperatures may vary. We advise using an oven thermometer for accurate oven temps and for achieving the highest-possible potency for your pot.

    • Author: Cannabis Spatula
    • Prep Time: 2 min
    • Cook Time: 20 min
    • Category: Cannabis
    • Method: Oven
    • Cuisine: Marijana

    Keywords: decarb, activate, weed, marijuana, pot, cannabis, decarboxylation

    How Bad Will It Smell When I Decarb My Weed? »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Smitty

      December 21, 2019 at 12:58 pm

      I don’t trust the temp setting on my crockpot...even on the warm setting my food bubbles. Thinking about a MBM machine is this a good investment?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        April 03, 2020 at 8:32 pm

        It would probably be a great investment, but if you're looking for something less expensive, it would cost less to just purchase a new crockpot with settings you can trust.

        Reply
      • Cynthia

        September 05, 2022 at 4:56 pm

        MBM will not decarb. Get an Ardent. Worth every penny

        Reply
        • Cannabis Spatula

          September 26, 2022 at 2:00 pm

          Yes - and you can use this code to save $30.
          CSPATULA

          Reply
    2. Diane Neufeld

      February 24, 2020 at 2:32 pm

      How many ounces of weed do you need to make 1 cup of cannabutter?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        April 03, 2020 at 8:32 pm

        You can see our full recipe here: https://cannabisspatula.com/how-to-make-cannabis-butter-cannabutter-recipe-and-video/

        You can use 1/2 ounce of weed to make 1 cup of CannaButter.

        Reply
        • Wendy Boyd

          July 19, 2021 at 2:41 am

          Was wondering Couldnt you mix it with browines and then bake 20 min would it be the same

          Reply
          • Cannabis Spatula

            August 01, 2021 at 6:38 pm

            No because you need to decarb it in order to make CannaButter or CannaOil. If you don't decarb first, you aren't going to get the maximum THC from your weed.

            Reply
    3. Robert Hall

      March 06, 2020 at 12:58 pm

      So with all this interest in decarbing weed to get the benefits have you wondered if MANY other plants we use could also gain potency from this? Raw peppercorns and other herb, spice and plant foods in general?
      Thanks,
      Robert Hall

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        April 03, 2020 at 8:32 pm

        Interesting! Keep us posted if you experiment!

        Reply
    4. Juli

      March 24, 2020 at 7:40 am

      We tried to decarb our first batch today to make a recipe of chocolate. What I didn't realize until it was too late my oven turned off after about 20 minutes. now I have a large chocolate bar, (made with crushed cannabis), that has virtually no med. Is there anything I can do with it now? HELP this is an expensive mistake.

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        April 03, 2020 at 8:34 pm

        Oh gosh - that is such a bummer. What did you end up doing?

        Reply
      • Naturabis

        May 12, 2020 at 11:32 am

        I would try melt it back in a "bain marie" and cook it for a about an hr.

        Reply
    5. Butch Scott

      May 03, 2020 at 3:46 am

      Your oven setting of 250 is this in Fahrenheit.

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        May 19, 2020 at 5:21 pm

        Fahrenheit. Sorry about that. The recipe has been updated.

        Reply
    6. Indu

      May 04, 2020 at 2:27 am

      250 celsius? Or do you guys use fahrenheit?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        May 19, 2020 at 5:18 pm

        Fahrenheit. Sorry about that.

        Reply
    7. Ryan

      May 10, 2020 at 11:32 pm

      I never decarb my buds before mAking canna oil and I always get high...no clue why you think u need to decarb it..as long as you hear up cannabis it releases THC.

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        May 19, 2020 at 5:16 pm

        You are definitely losing some of the THC by not decarbing it first. But if it's working for you, go for it. You may find, that by decarbing first, you use less of it in your actual recipe and it lasts longer.

        Reply
    8. Wesley

      May 17, 2020 at 11:19 pm

      I've tried decarboxylating my cannabis 2 times and I really didn't feel n e thing. But I think I no what I done wrong. After baking it for 45 min at 220 to 230. Then letting it cool and putting my butter n a pan dump the cannabis in with it then I was heating out for another 30 to 45 min. Am I cooking all the good stuff out?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        June 02, 2020 at 8:18 pm

        Are you making your CannaButter in a slow cooker? Ideally you'd add your decarbed weed to the butter in a slow cooker and cook on low for 4-6 hours. We don't recommend making it in the oven. Here's our full recipe: https://cannabisspatula.com/how-to-make-cannabis-butter-cannabutter-recipe-and-video/

        Reply
      • Paul

        September 20, 2022 at 10:36 pm

        way too long and to hot. average is 25-30 min at 220 but open in in between a couple times like every 10 min to move it around in case the oven heats uneven.. in any case y you see it gets brown and starts smoking youre done ...

        Reply
    9. Randy

      May 18, 2020 at 7:42 pm

      Once you decarb will you need to do it again? Say if you decided not to use it for a couple of weeks?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        May 19, 2020 at 5:09 pm

        Nope - you should only need to do it once. Just be sure to store it in an airtight container.

        Reply
    10. Flor

      June 03, 2020 at 3:28 pm

      Hi, can i use aluminum foil instead of cookie sheet?? Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        June 03, 2020 at 3:29 pm

        You sure can!

        Reply
    11. Christine Letendre

      June 09, 2020 at 7:47 am

      Do you have to wait for it to cool down before putting lid on and refrigerate? Sorry first to e and just not sure.

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        June 09, 2020 at 12:48 pm

        Wait for it to cool and then store in an airtight container. Your decarbed weed does NOT need to be refrigerated. If you turn it into CannaButter, then you would want to refrigerate the butter.

        Reply
    12. Tony

      July 07, 2020 at 12:07 am

      Why do I need to decarb it to cook with it but I don’t if I decide to smoke it?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        July 27, 2020 at 2:21 am

        When you smoke it, you're adding heat. Decarbing does the same thing. It's required to pull out the THC.

        Reply
    13. Denise

      October 08, 2020 at 9:54 pm

      Do I need to decarb it, if I'm using the stems only?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        October 12, 2020 at 1:54 pm

        Yes - you definitely want to decarb your stems.

        Reply
    14. Richard L Koontz

      November 13, 2020 at 8:43 am

      How many MLS. Of thc per teaspoon of canahoney

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        February 06, 2021 at 7:24 pm

        Assuming your marijuana contains 10% THC, and that you follow the instructions exactly, this recipe should contain approximately 85 mg of THC per ounce – or 14 mg per teaspoon.

        Reply
    15. David

      May 14, 2021 at 9:01 pm

      Does decarbing not reduce potency of weed?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        May 17, 2021 at 3:11 pm

        No - it actually increases the potency of the weed.

        Reply
    16. PAUL T VALENTINE

      May 19, 2021 at 9:02 am

      All i can say is DO WHAT THEY TELL YOU: decarb and make the oil. It is foolproof. I followed the instructions to the letter and made some brownies that would take GODZILLA down. Seriously. Follow their instructions. THEY WORK.

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        May 19, 2021 at 12:51 pm

        So glad this worked for you!!

        Reply
    17. Kitty Cole

      September 07, 2021 at 12:06 am

      I followed the recipe to a tea.. my cannabutter didnt come out very strong at all.. im definatly expecting some kind of crazy dazy not get off the couch feeling... what should i be expecting with this recipe?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        September 22, 2021 at 5:27 pm

        If you assume a 10% THC in your cannabis, then our CannaButter recipe would be 85 mg of THC per ounce of butter. If you want it to be stronger, you'd need to either use a more potent strain of cannabis or use MORE cannabis in your infusion. Hope that's helpful.

        Reply
    18. Jon G

      October 07, 2021 at 9:46 am

      At what point does the thc convert to cbn though I would assume the decarbing in the oven then the slow cooking or baking is going to possibly ‘over decarb’ some of the cannabis…. Right ? There are many people with different decarbing times and temps . I’m surprised I haven’t seen one remark about cbn in this thread

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        October 07, 2021 at 7:57 pm

        You won't "over decarb" your weed - you're simply making sure you maximize the THC!

        Reply
    19. Jennifer

      October 07, 2021 at 6:29 pm

      I have very finely ground cannabis to use, how can I safely decarb?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        October 07, 2021 at 7:57 pm

        That should be no problem. Just follow the instructions in this post, and you should be all set!

        Reply
    20. Ross

      January 14, 2022 at 9:26 pm

      Can I still used my decarbed keif without an oil butter or honey?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        February 07, 2022 at 4:32 pm

        You can.... but the max benefit is using it to create an infusion which you would then use in a recipe!

        Reply
    21. Phyllis

      February 17, 2022 at 9:13 pm

      How much weed do I need to make weed brownies?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        March 02, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        We recommend making your infusion with 1/2 to 1 ounce of weed.

        Reply
    22. Phyllis

      February 17, 2022 at 9:16 pm

      If I defuse weed can I make brownies using only the mix & weed?

      ★

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        March 02, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        Unfortunately, no. You really need to use your defused weed to make an infusion of oil or butter.

        Reply
    23. Nik

      February 19, 2022 at 11:42 pm

      I have a load of canabutter in my freezer..you say to use it within 6 months. Will it loose it potency after that?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        March 02, 2022 at 2:53 pm

        Nah - you should be all good. 🙂

        Reply
    24. Larry Garfield

      June 15, 2022 at 9:00 pm

      After decarbing (cooking my weed for 40 minutes) I immediately mixed it in my brownie mix and got some heavy duty brownies.

      Reply
    25. Carolee

      September 09, 2022 at 4:17 am

      I decarb the cannabis, do I need to use it right away or can I keep in an airtight container to use at a later date? If I can save it to be used later, how long will it be good for before I need to use it?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        September 26, 2022 at 1:58 pm

        Definitely store it in an airtight container. You should be good for at least a year. 😉

        Reply
    26. stanley

      September 23, 2022 at 6:50 pm

      If I put raw cannabis into a cake mixture, say a banana bread, then wouldn't the cooking (heat) of the bread decarb the cannabis and activate the THC? Secondly, if I do decarb the cannabis first, and do not make a canna oil but put the decarbed cannabis into the bread recipe then bake it, would this be an adequate way of getting the THC activated?

      Reply
      • Cannabis Spatula

        September 26, 2022 at 1:52 pm

        Hi! You always want to decarb first to get the maximum benefits of your weed. And you definitely want to use the decarbed weed to create an infusion that you can then add to any of your recipes. This will help your edible taste good (and not like you're just eating plants):) If you're not interested in creating an oil or cannabutter, be sure to look at our full list of infusion recipes - you may want to make MCT powder, MCT oil or a green dragon tincture instead. Good luck!

        Reply

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