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Making pot butter is easier and more affordable than you think. The trick lies in getting the ingredients, ingredient amount, and infusion procedure right. Here, we give you a step-by-step process on how to make pot butter in a mason jar.

What is Pot Butter?

Pot butter is butter infused with cannabis compounds from flower or concentrate. Once ready, you can use the infused butter to make a wide range of edibles, including sweet and savory treats

The active cannabinoid in pot butter is delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is responsible for the ecstatic and intoxicating feeling you get when you smoke or vape marijuana. Using pot butter is an alternative way to consume cannabis.

However, you should take care not to overlook your maximum effective cannabis dose, i.e., your minimum cannabis tolerance level, when making your weed butter. The best practice is to start with a lower dose and gradually increase as you see fit.

You can also use CBD hemp flower or concentrate if you do not want to experience the intoxicating effects of THC. There are also many strains with balanced THC and CBD levels that provide a relaxed experience with minimal or no THC side effects, such as paranoia or anxiety. Effects can vary depending on amount consumed and product type.

The process of how to make pot butter in a mason jar is described in detail below. Bear in mind that it takes a few hours, especially during the decarboxylation and infusion stages.

Note that the final product can also be referred to as cannabutter or cannabis-infused butter. It is marijuana mixed with butter. Once ready, pot butter is a good ingredient for making a many marijuana-derived products.

Why Use a Mason Jar instead of a Baking Sheet?

Pot butter in a mason jar

There are more than one ways to decarboxylate cannabis, including on the stovetop, oven, or in a slow cooker. Decarboxylation refers to a heating process that activates the plant’s cannabinoids (THC and CBD). When you are smoking weed, decarboxylation happens when you burn it with your lighter

Our focus here is using a mason jar instead of a baking sheet. We already know that a mason jar is perfect for growing and curing cannabis. It is also an ideal container for storing your cannabis, as it provides airtight protection, which is crucial for keeping marijuana fresh.

You need to be able to preserve your marijuana's cannabinoids and terpenes if you want to retain the original flavor, aroma, and potency. Keeping it properly stored in a cool, dry, dark, place is the best way to keep weed fresh for longer.

That said, you should also know that you can use a mason jar in the decarboxylation process. The result you get from decarbing in a mason jar is quite different from what you get if you use a baking sheet.

First, the evaporating terpenes will not escape from the glass jar. Instead, they'll stick to the wall of the jar. At the infusion stage, these trapped terpene molecules can be preserved and retained in the final product, adding to the floor and aroma.

Secondly, decarboxylating in a mason jar significantly reduces the strong cannabis odors from the pot butter product. When baking weed in the oven to activate the cannabinoids, the smell can easily waft through your home.

And finally, since the cannabis is not directly in contact with the hot air in the oven, the possibility of burning away your cannabis during the heating process is much slimmer.

Tools Needed to Make Cannabis Butter

You'll need the following materials to make weed butter in a mason jar:

  • A mason jar with a lid
  • Baking tray
  • Oven
  • Oven gloves
  • Kitchen towel
  • Scissors or hand grinder for the cannabis flower
  • Thermometer
  • Cheesecloth or metal strainer
  • Saucepan or pot for cooking
  • Slow cooker

Pot Butter Ingredients

The ingredients used may vary slightly, depending on your desired dosage per serving, but you can use this as a reference:

  • 1 cup of butter
  • 1 cup (not more than 10g) of ground, decarboxylated cannabis
  • Water

Tips for How To Make Pot Butter in a Mason Jar

Making cannabis butter in a mason jar is relatively easy and affordable but can have a bit of a learning curve to get the recipe just right. Here are a few tips and tricks to make the best pot butter.

  • Choose the right strain and quality: Every strain has a different chemical profile and can elicit unique effects. Choosing the right one can make all the difference. In addition, cannabis quality can vary. Flower has the most trichomes while stems, leaves, and trim have lower concentrations.
  • Decarboxylate your weed: Decarboxylation is an essential part of the infusion process that activates the plant’s cannabinoids, whether you are using flower or concentrates. Without it, you won't properly activate the cannabinoids.
  • Calculate the dosage: The amount of cannabis you use depends on how potent you want the butter to be. Start with a small-to-medium amount of cannabis in the pot butter. Try a small dose (2.5-5 milligrams) and wait a couple of hours for it to take effect. Then, you can determine if you need to increase your cannabis amount in the recipe.
  • Use unsalted and clarified butter: Also known as ghee, unsalted clarified butter has no water or milk. Since cannabinoids bind to fat, they bind better to this 100% fat ingredient than other types of butter. Most butter contains about 80% milk fat.

Directions on How to Decarb Cannabis in a Mason Jar

The first step in the process of making your weed butter is decarboxylation. It is at this first stage that you activate the psychoactive property of the THC molecules.

Do note, however, that you need to grind your cannabis buds first. Do not grind too finely. Use a weed grinder or a pair of scissors to cut the plant materials into tiny little bits — the size of a grain of rice is just fine.

Also, when choosing a medium for embedding cannabis, butter is a very popular choice because of how easily THC binds to it. You can use olive oil, canola oil, avocado oil or coconut oil. But among them all, coconut oil has the ability to retain much more amount of cannabinoids than other oils.

Step 1: Decarboxylation

If you skip this step, you'll end up with a weak or inactive product when you're done. The cannabis buds produce an inactive intermediary compound known as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA). Upon heating, the THCA molecule is converted to THC, the molecule responsible for the ‘high effect'. This is why it is crucial to always decarboxylate if you're making cannabis-infused edibles.

  1. Before introducing the cannabis into the oven, first set your oven at 220-245ºF and preheat for up to 15 minutes. Place the oven rack in the center position.
  2. Place the ground cannabis in the mason jar and screw the lid on loosely.
  3. Wet the kitchen towel slightly and lay it on the baking tray. Put the mason jar on top of the damp towel on its side.
  4. Now place the baking tray in the oven and leave the heat on for 1 hour. Once every 15 minutes, use the oven gloves to bring out the mason jar and shake it to spread the cannabis evenly. This ensures the heat gets to every part of the marijuana. Note that heating time may vary depending on the strain of cannabis you're using, but between 45 minutes and 1 hour is a safe bet.
  5. After the hour is up, bring out the mason jar and allow the content to cool for another 30 minutes.

Step 2: Infusing the Decarboxylated Cannabis with Butter

The next important thing to do is to infuse the decarboxylated cannabis into butter. First, the butter needs to be melted.

  1. Add a cup of water and butter into the saucepan and allow it to simmer over very low heat on the slow cooker until the butter melts completely. The water keeps the butter from burning. Stir the mixture intermittently to avoid burning the butter.
  2. Add the decarboxylated cannabis into the saucepan and let it simmer on low heat for about 3-4 hours. Use a thermometer to ensure the temperature does not exceed 180°F.
  3. Stir the content of the pan every 30 minutes to ensure an even spread of heat.

Step 3: Straining and Storing the Pot Butter

After heating for 3-4 hours, turn off the heat and let the cannabutter cool for another 30 minutes. Strain the cannabutter with cheesecloth into a container, preferably the mason jar.

Set a funnel on top of the mason jar and line it with cheesecloth. Now pour the cooled butter over the cheesecloth and funnel. Avoid squeezing the cheesecloth too hard to prevent bad-tasting plant materials from seeping through into the butter below.

You can store it in a fridge or freezer for later use. Once it has cooled, you can use a knife or spatula to separate the butter from the water. If stored in an airtight mason jar, it could last for up to six months. Avoid microwaving cold or frozen butter to that it since it can negatively affect the product quality.

Dosing

Getting the right dosage is important when making weed butter. You don't want to add too much cannabis and have a bad experience when you consume it. You also don't want the edible to be too weak, requiring you to eat a lot of it to feel the desired effects.

You can refer to this dosing guide for making edibles and our edible dosage calculator to find out how much each serving should weigh.

Recipes to Make with Pot Butter

How to make pot butter

Once you’ve made your cannabis butter in a mason jar, you can store it in an airtight container and use it over the next several months.

Ready to make delicious cannabis-infused meals and edibles? Check our wide selection of cannabis recipes:

Pot Butter FAQ's

How much weed does it take to make a stick of butter?

One stick of cannabutter is made from 1/4 ounce of marijuana and one and a third sticks of butter. During the infusion process, you should typically anticipate losing about 25% of your butter volume or 20% of your oil (coconut, olive).

What is the best strain of weed for making cannabutter?

OG Kush is one of the greatest strains for cannabutter. Users report feeling happier after using this soothing and relaxing strain.

What are the reported health benefits from pot butter?

Cannabutter's omega-3, -6, and 9 components expand and cleanse hair follicles to encourage hair growth. Moreover, it strengthens and nourishes hair to promote strength and health. Furthermore, by maintaining water balance, these micronutrients maintain the skin and scalp nourished, hydrated, and healthy.

Can you make cannabis butter with salted butter?

More water will be drawn out of your infusion by using salted butter, and with that water comes a greater intensity of that “green” flavor that most people would rather not taste.

How long should you simmer cannabutter?

For four hours, simmer the butter gradually, stirring every thirty minutes to prevent burning. Verify with your kitchen thermometer that the temperature does not rise above 180°F. Use cheesecloth or a mesh sieve to pour the mixture into a container after 4 hours. Allow butter to come down to room temperature.

What color should cannabutter be when done?

First of all, there's no significance to the hue of your cannabutter. Neither pale yellow nor green cannabis butter is “better” than the other. The potency or effectiveness of the finished product is not indicated by the color of the finished product.

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How do you know when cannabutter is done boiling?

When the mixture's surface changes from being extremely wet to being dark and glossy, it's finished. Prepare the bowl to hold the completed result while the canna-butter cooks.

Getting More Out of Cannabis with Cannabis Training University

Cannabis legalization made growing cannabis and making infusions like edibles and topicals accessible and affordable for many medical and recreational users. Now you know how to make pot butter in a mason jar, but that is just the beginning!

To learn how to grow weed, make edibles and extracts, find a cannabis job, use cannabis as medicine, or start a cannabis business, enroll in Cannabis Training University.

Our Master of Cannabis certification program is entirely online and offers the best value out of any other cannabis college. Whether you want to learn how to cook with cannabis or launch your cannabis career or grow for personal use, you can gain the skills you need to get started at Cannabis Training University.

Karen Getchell, expert cannabis writer
Karen Getchell

Karen gained expertise in developing training programs and technical documentation as a Senior Editor at Cisco Systems. She began her journey in cannabis as a patient, searching for a way to heal herself. When she perfected a method for making cannabis oil, other patients began to seek her out. An early adopter of CBD medicine, she started her CBD-infused-products business in 2014. Over the last two decades, Karen has taught hundreds of patients and caregivers how to select strains, infuse oils, and extract cannabinoids.

When she isn’t teaching cannabis cooking classes, Karen works as a cannabis business consultant, writes for online cannabis publications like Cannabis Training University, Leafly, and Weedmaps, and runs a CBD-infused-product business.

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