Are you patiently waiting to make your own cannabis edibles – but worried about the smell? Try decarbing in an Instant Pot or pressure cooker! This method keeps odor to a minimum, is super simple to set up, and requires no special equipment. Plus, you can move on to the infusion process directly after if you want. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get decarbing!
Table of Contents
Article Features
- Quick and easy decarb process
- A way to significantly decrease the odor of cannabis
- Want to make it easy? Skip the hard work and have my best-selling premium Bliss Cannabutter delivered directly to your door. Now shipping across the US!
Why You Will Love This Method
If you want to make your own edibles, one of the first steps in the process is decarboxylation to activate CBD or THC.
The traditional method of decarbing involves baking cannabis in a regular kitchen oven, but the strong smell may be too overwhelming for some people.
Decarbing cannabis in an Instant Pot is a quick, easy, and effective method to achieve decarboxylation – without the odor.
The odor becomes trapped when decarbing in the Instant Pot, leaving less smell for you and a more enjoyable decarb process for everyone overall.
My Well With Cannabis Community is always seeking new ways to effectively decarb their cannabis, and this method has been tried and true, with many happy members loving this process.
This guide will discuss how to decarb cannabis using your Instant Pot or pressure cooker, along with some expert notes, tips, tricks, and fully answered FAQs.
What You’ll Need
- Instant Pot: There are many different Instant Pot models available. Just about anyone will work; you just need the high-pressure setting.
- Trivet or Steamer Basket: To hold the mason jars upright inside the pot. You need a trivet or a steamer basket, but not both.
- Mason Jars: To hold the cannabis and keep it dry. Pint-sized jars are perfect.
- Cannabis flowers: Use your desired amount of cannabis flower, shake, trim, or kief – ranging from 1 gram up to 2 ounces or more. Select your preference for THC, CBD, or CBG-dominant flowers.
Note: A complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions isย located in the recipe cardย below.
The Step-by-Step Process
- Step 1 – Place your desired amount of cannabis in a mason jar and add a lid to fingertip tightness (not too tight). You do not need to grind the cannabis; just break it up into small, popcorn-sized pieces.
- Step 2 – Place the jar on the trivet or in the steamer basket.
- Step 3 – Place the trivet or basket in the Instant Pot.
- Step 4 – Add approximately 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot. This will depend on the size of your IP. You want the mason jars ยพ of the way covered with water. Add more water if needed. Do not add too much or go past the rims of the jar.
- Step 5 – Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 40 minutes for the THC flower, 60 minutes for the CBG flower, 90 minutes for the CBD flower, and 180 minutes for the THC flower you want to degrade into CBN.
- Step 6 – After your selected time in minutes has been completed, carefully manually release the pressure.
- Step 7 – Remove the jars and set them aside to cool.
- Step 8 – Your decarbed flower is now ready to use! Find many different ways to use it below.
Note: complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the recipe card below.
Storage Instructions
Store decarbed cannabis in a dark, cool, dry place in an air-tight container for up to 6 months or even longer.
Iโve seen some people store it this way for several years.
Choose The Right Decarb Time
Each cannabinoid decarboxylates at a different temperature, so it’s important to select the appropriate time based on the flower you have.
Use this guide to select the decarb time that is right for you.
Decarb Times
- THCA โ ฮ9-THC – bake at 240ยฐF/116ยฐC for 40 minutes
- CBDA โ CBD – bake at 240ยฐF/116ยฐC for 90 minutes
- CBGA โ CBG – bake at 220ยฐF/105ยฐC for 60 minutes
- ฮ9-THC โ CBN – bake at 240ยฐF/116ยฐC for 180 minutes
How To Use In Edibles
Once you have decarbed your cannabis, it is ready to use in many different ways.
The most simple way is to add ground, decarbed cannabis straight to recipes like a herb or spice, like salt or pepper.
One of the most simple recipes using cannabis this way is the firecracker, but you can also add decarbed cannabis straight to brownies or savory recipes like ranch dressing.
You can also take this process one step further and infuse the cannabis into butter or oil using the Instant Pot.
Notes and Expert Tips
- Use dried cannabis to start for best results.
- Mason jars are the preferred container to use, but silicone works, too.
- You can use your desired amount of cannabis flower, ranging from 1 gram up to 2 ounces.
- Select your preference for THC, CBD, or CBG-dominant flowers.
- You can purchase them from your local dispensary or purchase hemp flower from my online shop here.
How to Decarb in an Instant Pot
Equipment
What You Need
- 3.5 ounces cannabis flower, buds, trim, or kief
Instructions
- Place your desired amount of cannabis in a mason jar and add a lid to fingertip tightness (not too tight). You do not need to grind the cannabis, just break it up into small, popcorn-sized pieces.
- Place the jar on the trivet or in the steamer basket and place the trivet or basket in the Instant Pot.
- Add approximately 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot. This will depend on the size of your IP. You want the mason jars ยพ of the way covered with water. Add more water if needed. Do not add too much or go past the rims of the jar.
- After your selected time, carefully release the pressure.
- Remove the jars from the pot and set them aside to cool.
- Your decarbed flower is now ready to use. Move on to the infusion process or find many different ways to use it in the post above.
Notes
Frequently Asked Questions
Decarbing in an Instant Pot produces significantly less than other traditional methods. You will barely be able to smell it, which is why so many people love it!
At least 6 months in a cool, dry place in an air-tight container. I’ve heard of it being stored for up to several years in the freezer. Just know that aged cannabis can cause THC to degrade into CBN.
You can use it in many different ways! You can turn it into cannabutter or any type of cannabis oil and use it in so many different recipes.
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CBD Guides & Recipes
Hi! Using the standard oven method, you can create a CBD result by decarbing a THC flower for a longer period of time. Can this be accomplished in an IP? If so, how long should I cook it? Thanks in advance!
Hi there, Tereigh. You cannot create CBD by decarbing THC flower for a longer period of time, just CBN. You need CBDA present to decarb and achieve CBD. Therefore, no, this will not work in an IP. Unless you are trying to go for CBN, in which case 180 minutes is the recommended time ๐
Does the amount of water change based on the size of the instant pot? Or does 4 cups work for all sizes?
Hi John. The amount of water can vary depending on the size of the instant pot. Ultimately, you want to make sure you have enough water so the jar is submerged halfway, but not floating. I hope this helps!
Hello, I followed the recipe and overall it went well and I like this method more than using the oven, but I did get some moisture in the jars. Should I have tightened them more? Or other solution? I let them dry several minutes in front of a fireplace and it helped but not sure of the impact. Thank you for your thoughts and guidance ๐
Hi Tara. The lids should only be finger tight and it is likely the moisture isn’t from the water, but rather the moisture from the flower that tried evaporating out during decarb. I like to leave my flower sitting out to dry prior to decarb to prevent this from happening. Happy decarbing!
I have a 80grams of more THC type flower. Can I decarb half at 40 min then the other half at 180min to get more CBN?
Then mix it together when infusing?
I’m using the pressure cooker and Mason jar method.
Last time made it,I went 45min. The cannaoil I made was very potent. But it did little to releave pain.
Hey there, Rob! Decarbing half for 40 minutes for THC activation and the other half for 180 minutes for CBN conversion and then mixing them together for the infusion sounds like a great approach. Remember, potency doesn’t always correlate with pain relief, so adjusting the cannabinoid profile and ratio could make all the difference. Keep up the exploration and let us know how it turns out! ๐ฟ
Can you do this with Kief?
How much would you have and would the temp be different?
Canโt wait to try this!
I read that the instant pot gets up to 250 degrees. How can that work for decarboxylating for THC? I thought it was 240 for 40. Thanks for clarifying!