Worried about the smell of decarbing, but ready to start making your own edibles? An Instant Pot or pressure cooker is the perfect solution! This method keeps odor to a minimum, is super simple to set up, and requires no additional 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
- A quick and easy way to decarb without an oven
- A way to significantly decrease the odor of cannabis during the decarb process
- 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
When I first started making my own edibles, I was so excited, until I realized my whole house smelled like, well, cannabis. Not ideal when you’re trying to keep things low-key!
That’s when I discovered the magic of decarbing in an Instant Pot. It’s a total game-changer: no overwhelming smell, super easy to set up, and you don’t even need any additional equipment. The best part? You can go straight into infusing if you’re ready to take the next step. If you’ve been wanting to decarb but don’t have an oven, this method is perfect for you.
If you’re new to making edibles, you should know that one of the very first steps is a process called decarboxylation. This is what activates the CBD or THC in your flower, making it ready for infusion. The traditional method for this involves baking the cannabis in a regular kitchen oven, but that’s what creates that strong, lingering smell that so many of us want to avoid.
Decarbing your cannabis in an Instant Pot is a quick, easy, and incredibly effective way to get the job done nearly odor free. Because the Instant Pot seals everything inside, the smell gets trapped, leaving your kitchen fresh and making the whole process much more enjoyable for everyone.
Even better? The maximum temperature of an Instant Pot’s pressure cooker function is approximately (244°F/118°C) on the high-pressure setting, which makes it perfectly suited for achieving the ideal decarb temp of 240°F while minimizing odor and preserving the quality of your cannabis.
My Well With Cannabis Community is always looking for new and better ways to decarb cannabis, and this method has become a tried-and-true favorite. So many of my members love this process, and I’m excited to share it with you too. This guide will walk you through exactly how to decarb cannabis using your Instant Pot, complete with expert notes, helpful tricks, and answers to all your questions. Let’s dive in and get decarbing! 🍃
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.
- Carrier oil: If you will be infusing after the decarb process, choose a carrier oil, like coconut oil or avocado oil.
Note: A complete list of ingredients with amounts and printable instructions is located in the recipe card 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 ¾ 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.
I’ve seen some people store it this way for several years.
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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 → Δ9-THC – bake at 240°F/116°C for 40 minutes
- CBDA → CBD – bake at 240°F/116°C for 90 minutes
- CBGA → CBG – bake at 220°F/105°C for 60 minutes
- Δ9-THC → CBN – bake at 240°F/116°C for 180+ minutes (approximate; CBN forms slowly, mostly through aging and oxygen exposure, so a single bake yields only a little)
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. You do not need to use a grinder, just break up the cannabis buds gently by hand.
- 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
What You Need
- 3.5 ounces cannabis flower, buds, trim, or kief *You can use any amount you want.
Instructions
- If you want to calculate the dose of your edibles, you will want to weigh your material first. Weigh your material using a digital scale and write it down for later.
- Note: You do not need to grind the cannabis, just break it up into small, popcorn-sized pieces.
- Place your desired amount of cannabis in a mason jar. If you plan to move on to the infusion process after, be sure to use a jar that is big enough to hold your desired amount of butter or oil, ex: Pint vs. Quart jar.
- Place a lid onto the mason jar and close it to fingertip tightness. You do not want it too loose or too tight.
- Plug in the Instant Pot and remove the lid.
- Place trivet or the steamer basket into the Instant Pot and then place the mason jar in the trivet or basket.
- Add approximately several cups of water to the Instant Pot. The amount of water will depend on the size of your Instant Pot. You want the mason jars ½ of the way covered with water. Do not add too much water or go past the rims of the jar.
- Return the Instant Pot lid and turn it on.
- Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for: 40 minutes for THC flower, 60 minutes for CBG flower, 90 minutes for CBD flower, and 180 minutes for THC flower you want to degrade into CBN.
- After your selected cook time has passed, carefully release the pressure or let it release naturally.
- Remove the mason from the Instant Pot and set it aside to cool.
- Your decarbed flower is now ready to use! You can move on to the infusion process or find many different ways to use it in the post above.
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!
A general recommendation is to cook anywhere between 30-40 minutes.
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.
Take your edibles to the next level…
My Edibles Made Easy Online Cooking Course will teach you how to easily make cannabis edibles and topical recipes at home. This step-by-step video course will teach you how to infuse, extract, and create edibles with many different product types – all from the comfort of your own home.
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