While there are various ways to make Cannaoil, the crock-pot method is often used for a specific reason – to avoid permeating your kitchen or the entire house with the distinct aroma of cannabis and to simplify the cleanup process. To prevent the hassle of dealing with a messy crock pot that's a pain to clean and worrying about unintentionally getting the kids stoned during your next pot roast attempt (pun intended), we've introduced a mason jar into the equation. Additionally, incorporating a water bath into the crock pot ensures a foolproof approach. Moreover, most crock pots, even in high settings, don't reach temperatures high enough to risk burning off the precious THC.
Choosing the Ideal Oil for Cannabis Oil
When crafting cannabis oil, any type of oil can be employed, but the quality varies among them. Extra Virgin Olive Oil stands out for its flavorful profile and heart-healthy fats. Pure Olive Oil boasts a higher smoking point, making it suitable for frying, albeit less flavorful than Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Vegetable oil, with its neutral taste and high smoke rate, is a versatile choice. The current craze, coconut oil, is perfect for vegan-friendly recipes. While avocado oil may not be the most budget-friendly, it shares the heart-healthy fats of Extra Virgin Olive Oil and offers another option for high smoke rates, making it suitable for high-temperature baking. Extra Virgin Olive Oil is often recommended simply because it is readily available in our cupboard and has consistently been the most delectable oil, as per my taste buds.
Selecting the Right Cannabis Variety
Over the past year, we've extensively reviewed High-Level Health's highly acclaimed cannabis flower in our blog, accessible in the news section of this dispensary website. Accumulating a diverse assortment of top-notch marijuana through our numerous reviews, we decided to create a blend of ten different strains for this batch of Cannaoil. Our selection spans from robust Sativas and Indicas to potent CBD strains, ensuring a rich and varied composition for our infusion. CBD oil comes from hemp, so cannabis oil will have THC in it.
Making Cannabis Oil in a Crock-Pot – Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1 – Mason Jar Preparation
Start by choosing your preferred oil for the infusion; any oil works, but each type has specific attributes. In our case, we opted for Extra Virgin Olive Oil for its unique qualities. Establish a one-to-one ratio of oil to cannabis. For our blend, we used an ounce of premium High-Level Health ground cannabis mixed with one cup of oil. Gently grind the cannabis without overdoing it to avoid complications during the straining process later. One ounce should fill a standard measuring cup. As long as you maintain the one-to-one ratio, you'll create a potent cannabis-infused oil, assuming your cannabis is potent, to begin with. Adjust the ratio to your liking by adding more cannabis or oil to achieve the desired strength. Combine the cannabis and oil in a mason jar, and hand-seal the jar by firmly tightening the lid once.
Step 2 – Crock-Pot Incorporation
Carefully place the sealed mason jar into the crock pot, ensuring it is submerged in a water bath. Fill the crock-pot about ¾ full with water before adding the sealed jar. Cover the crock-pot with its lid, creating a controlled environment for your infusion. Using the crock-pot method offers an advantage over stovetop methods, as you can set it to medium or high without the risk of THC burning off, as most crock-pots don't reach temperatures as high as 400 degrees Fahrenheit. To monitor the temperature, consider placing a wireless thermometer in the bottom of the crock-pot water bath, ensuring a careful watch to prevent overheating and potential loss of THC from your high-grade marijuana investment.
Step 3 – Gently Cook Cannabis at Low Temperatures and Burp
In this recipe, we're simultaneously completing the decarboxylation process while infusing the oil with cannabis. Decarboxylation is crucial for activating delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for the intoxicating, psychoactive effects we all appreciate. While pre-decarboxylating in the oven can expedite the process, it comes with the drawback of potentially creating odors in your home. The crock-pot method, on the other hand, allows for precise heat control throughout, simplifying the process similar to slow-cooking a pot roast. Most slow cookers don't reach temperatures high enough to boil water (212 degrees Fahrenheit), well below the 400 degrees that can compromise THC effectiveness.
Maintain a water bath temperature between 175 and 210 degrees and cook your cannabis and oil mixture for four to six hours. To mitigate the rare chance of pressure build-up and potential jar explosion, burp the jar once during the initial two hours. Open the lid, stir the mixture well, and then reseal by hand. Continue the cooking process for the remaining time. While we recommend a total of six hours for optimal results, you can stop after four hours for similar outcomes in a time crunch.
Step 4 – Strain the Spent Cannabis Flower
After six hours in the water bath, use oven mitts to remove the mason jar and let it cool on the counter for five minutes. Once cool to the touch, cover another mason jar with cheesecloth and pour the oil mixture through it to strain, collecting the spent cannabis flower in the cheesecloth. Don't discard the spent flower just yet; it can be incorporated into brownies, pesto, or other recipes, as some THC is likely still present in the spent flower.
Step 5 – Utilizing Your Cannaoil
Once you've successfully strained your Cannaoil, the possibilities for its use are virtually limitless. Simply substitute Cannaoil for the traditional oil called for in your favourite recipes when baking edibles. For example, if your brownie recipe requires two tablespoons of oil, you can seamlessly replace it with Cannaoil. If your initial batch of edibles turns out too potent, for the next round of brownies, consider substituting one tablespoon of regular oil and adding just one tablespoon of Cannaoil.
It's crucial to be mindful of potency, which primarily hinges on the strength and freshness of the original cannabis flower. To gauge the strength of your end product, start by testing your edibles in small doses before sharing them with friends to avoid any potential overdosing incidents. Feel free to explore and experiment, incorporating your Cannaoil into various recipes that traditionally use oil. However, be cautious not to exceed the 400-degree Fahrenheit mark during cooking, as surpassing this temperature could result in the loss of THC potency in the oil.
Bottom Line
The crock-pot method provides a practical and odor-controlled approach to crafting Cannaoil, ensuring a seamless infusion process. The selection of the ideal oil, with a preference for Extra Virgin Olive Oil in this instance, adds a flavorful dimension to the final product. By carefully choosing cannabis strains and employing a meticulous step-by-step guide, we have outlined a comprehensive process for creating high-quality Cannaoil. The versatility of this infused oil opens the door to a myriad of culinary possibilities, from baking edibles to experimenting with traditional recipes. However, it is essential to exercise caution and monitor temperatures to preserve the potency of THC. With the right ingredients, methods, and attention to detail, crafting Cannaoil becomes a rewarding and creative culinary endeavor.
HOW TO MAKE CANNABIS OIL LEVO MACHINE, READ ON..
