Are you looking for a one-pot, set-it-and-forget-it option for making cannabutter or infused oil at home? Look no further than this easy, quick, and efficient infusion method using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker! The best part? It can totally reduce the smell, making at home infusions a breeze. Let me show how easy it is to do the entire process, step-by-step, with this helpful guide.
Table of Contents
Recipe Features
- The best method to decarb and infuse butter oil
- How this method can decrease the order associated with the infusion process
- Want to make it easy? Skip the process, buy my Bliss cannabutter instead, and have it shipped directly to your door!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
It’s no secret that I love using the crockpot for making cannabutter and other infusions, but it can be a lengthy process that leaves me in the kitchen for hours.
I’m constantly trying to make life easier for the cannabis enthusiasts inside my Well With Cannabis Community (any myself as a busy mom!).
So, when I learned you could kill two birds with one stone by using the Instant Pot to decarb and infuse, I created this easy step-by-step to help you learn this method, too.
Not only is this process so simple, but as an added BONUS, it can also significantly decrease the odor associated with the decarboxylation process.
Just place all of the ingredients in a jar in the Instant Pot, set the proper settings, walk away.
You can clean the house or make dinner while the cannabis is decarbing, without worrying about smelling up the entire house.
Once that is done, open up and add your oil of choice to the mason jar. Set the slow cooker option, and get back to work or even just relaxing.
📝 Ready to get started? Below you will find everything you need to know for how to make your own cannabis infusions the easy way with step-by-step instructions, delicious edible recipes to try, and fully-answered FAQs for best results.
Instant Pot Cannabutter or Oil Infusions
Ingredients
- 14 grams dried cannabis flower, buds, trim, or kief (½ ounce)
- 236 grams unsalted butter (2 sticks)
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 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot. If you have a larger IP, you may need to add more water. Add enough water to cover the outside of the mason jars at least halfway.
- After your selected time, carefully release the pressure. Remove the jars from the pot and set them aside to cool. When cool enough to handle, add your desired amount of butter or oil to the jar.
- Add a lid and twist to fingertip tightness (not too tight). Place the jars back in the trivet or steamer basket and return them to the water bath. Select Slow Cook mode on LOW and set it for 4 hours.
- While the butter is infusing, prepare your straining area. Whether it be a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, French press, or a simple coffee filter, you will want to set up a straining station to separate the plant matter from the butter or oil.
- After 4 hours, remove the jars from the Instant Pot. Once cool enough to handle, strain the butter with your method of choice. You can save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes.
- Add the strained butter or oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in. If making infused oil, the process is over.
- If making butter, you will need to drain off the milk solids at the end of the process. Place the container in the refrigerator and allow it to cool completely. During refrigeration, the infused butter will harden and solidify. Remove the solid block of butter and drain the remaining liquid which is the unwanted, leftover water and milk solids.
- Store this in the refrigerator according to the expiration date on the butter you used, or store for even longer in the freezer.
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Nutrition
What You’ll Need
Cannabis of Choice
- Dried cannabis buds, trim, sugar leaves or kief: Use your desired amount of cannabis, ranging from 3.5 grams to 1 ounce. Check out the flower-to-oil ratio guide if you need help deciding how much to use. Next, select your preference for THC, CBD, or CBG dominant flowers. You can purchase from my online shop.
Depending on the flower you use, with this method, you can create:
- CBD cannabutter
- Kief cannabutter
- CBD oil
- CBG energy and focus oil
- CBN sleep oil
- AVB (already been vaped) oil
Butter or Oil
- Butter or ghee: Unsalted butter, clarified butter, and ghee all work great in this recipe. However, clarified butter and ghee are preferred by many because it eliminates a final step at the end. Regular butter will cause separation. Not sure how many sticks of butter to use? Start with this flower-to-oil ratio guide to help you predict the dose of your own cannabutter.
- Oil of choice: Coconut oil, olive oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil, MCT oil, hemp seed oil, and more
Depending on the oil you use, with this method, you can create:
Equipment
- Unsalted butter
- Instant Pot
- Trivet – or a canning rack that may fit
- Mason jars – ensure you are using a canning jar for this process
- Straining equipment – coffee filter or cheese cloth
- Silicone butter mold – optional
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; break it 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 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot. The size of your Instant Pot matters here. If you have a larger model, you will need to add more water. Add enough water to cover the outside of the mason jars at least halfway.
- Step 5 – Secure the lid.
- Step 6 – Set the Instant Pot to cook on high pressure for 40 minutes for THC-dominant flower, 60 minutes for CBG-dominant flower, 90 minutes for CBD-dominant flower, and 180 minutes for THC flower you want to degrade into CBN.
- Step 7 – After the desired time in minutes has passed, carefully release the pressure using the quick release function or natural release.
- Step 8 – Remove the jars from the pot with oven mitts or other protection and set them aside to cool. You now have decarboxylated cannabis.
- Step 9: Once cool enough to handle, take off the lid and add your desired amount of butter or oil to the jar.
- Step 10: Add a lid and twist to fingertip tightness (not too tight).
- Step 11: Place the jars back in the trivet or steamer basket and return them to the water bath.
- Step 12: Select Slow Cook – LOW mode and set it for 4 hours.
- Step 13: While the butter is infusing, prepare your straining area. Whether it be a paper filter and funnel, cheesecloth, French press, or a simple coffee filter, you will want to set up a straining station to separate the plant matter.
- Step 14: After 4 hours, remove the jars from the Instant Pot. Once cool enough to handle, strain the butter with your method of choice. You can save the leftover cannabis pulp for use in future recipes.
- Step 15: Add the strained butter or oil to whatever jar you would like to store it in. If making butter, place the container in the refrigerator and allow it to cool completely. You will need to drain off the milk solids at the end of the process.
- Step 16: Enjoy your cannabis-infused butter!
Note: complete step-by-step printable instructions are located in the recipe card below.
Storage Instructions
Store the butter in an airtight container like a sealed mason jar in the refrigerator according to the expiration date on the butter you used.
It can be stored for a long time if you store it in the freezer.
Depending on how it was prepared, infused oil can be stored at room temperature for several months, but it should be kept in a cool, dark place.
If you are storing the butter in the fridge or freezer, never use the microwave to soften or thaw the butter, as it could destroy the cannabinoids and ruin the final product.
Learn how to store edibles here.
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Choose The Right Decarb Time
Each cannabinoid decarboxylates at a different temperature, so it’s essential 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
Notes and Expert Tips
- When making your own batch of Instant Pot Cannabutter, know that you will end up with less butter than you started with. This is normal because you will remove the milk solids and evaporate the excess water during the process.
- While the most common method is to use unsalted butter, using clarified butter or ghee eliminates the need to clarify your butter and strain milk solids.
- If you are doing an oil infusion, you can optionally add in lecithin. Do NOT add this if infusing butter.
- Know that using different strains can result in different experiences from each batch of cannabis infused-butter.
- One of the best ways to make a more potent cannabutter or oil by adding decarbed kief or cannabis concentrates like distillate or FECO.
- Just want to decarb but NOT infuse? Check out this simple guide for how to decarboxylate cannabis in an Instant Pot.
- One of the most beautiful things about this recipe is saving the leftover plant matter to make other cannabis edibles. One of the easiest ways is to throw it in your favorite sauce or salad dressings.
- If you use butter molds, I recommend using a spoon to get the pure, infused melted butter into the first full stick of the mold. You will only need to remove the milk solids from one stick.
- Ready to bake your favorite weed brownies and cookies? Have no fear; it is OK to bake your homemade cannabutter at higher temperatures.
- Looking for more recipes? Check out this cannabutter board, these 25 cannabutter recipes, or these tasty no-bake cannabutter recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions
No worries, there’s nothing wrong with the old-fashioned way! A great alternative could include a crock pot, a stove top, or an infusion machine.
Yes, a true cannabis lover knows that if you want the activated benefits of cannabinoids like THC or CBD, you need to decarb first. This is because raw cannabis or fresh, raw weed contains cannabinoid acids like THCA or CBDA. The process ensures your end result, decarbed weed, contains the “good stuff” or THC and CBD you want. If you accidentally forget to decarb before adding in your cup of butter or oil, don’t worry, you didn’t just ruin those precious marijuana flower buds. Instead, you will just need a longer cooking time of 6-8 hours.
It depends on how potent you want your end product to be and how much cannabutter you want to add to a specific recipe. For a less potent product, add more butter. For a more potent product, add less. Remember, how much weed you use will have a big impact, too. Follow my cannabis flower-to-oil ratio chart to make a batch size perfect for you. If you’re using trim or kief, adjust accordingly. If you want a very potent product, make kief butter instead.
Using up your cannabutter is certainly the most exciting part of this recipe! From sweet to savory, check them out here or simply swap your cannabutter for regular butter in your favorite recipes.
No worries, if you’re unhappy with how your cannabutter turned out the first time, you can follow my guide to fix weak cannabutter. Keep in mind the color does not indicate potency.
Check out my beginner’s blog posts and join the Well With Cannabis Community. for additional support and resources.
Recipes to Use Up Your Cannabutter
Ready to make the most amazing infusions with the help of the Instant Pot cannabutter you just made! You’re in the right place for tasty, delicious recipes.
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I have used your cannabutter recipe in my instapot numerous times & I gotta say..Absolutely Wonderful Product came out everytime!! 10 Stars!! Thank You So Much!!
Thank you so much for your kind words, Jacqueline! We’re so happy the recipe has worked so well for you. Enjoy!
THANX, Emily!
You’re welcome, Don!
Do I need to decarb before doing this recipe? Or no ? First timer and just don’t want to mess up.
Hi Samantha. Decarb is required first to activate the THC. The process is simple and you can use the instant pot for decarb as well! Here’s a guide to walk you through that process as well: How To Decarb In An Instant Pot » No Smell Method. Happy infusing!
what no gummy recipes
Hi Roberta. You can find our gummy recipes here:
Cannabis Gummies Made With Tincture, FECO, or RSO
Cannabis Gummies Made with Oil or Butter
Happy gummy-making!
So why a four hour infusion time?
Often I hear 2 to 3 hours with the temperature between 160 to 200°
When I looked up Insta pot on slow mode, it’s about 190 to 200°
Could going 4 hours actually be too long?
Considering we already decarboxyalation previously.
Great question, James! A 4-hour infusion allows the cannabinoids to fully bind to the fat, ensuring full potency, but it’s always up to personal preference. You can experiment with different times and see what works best for you.
Are there any concerns with leaving the jar in the Slow Cook on Low for longer than 4 hours? Thanks!
Leaving the jar in the slow cooker for longer than 4 hours can result in a stronger, more bitter taste due to the increased extraction of plant material. Stick to the recommended time for the best flavor! 😊
Hi Emily
Thank you for such a thorough, easy to navigate site. It’s my go to site when making edibles. I thought I’d share my own IP experience and see if anyone else has had the same results. Over several attempts, I found that decarbing in the instant pot for 20 minutes seemed to give me the best results. The 40 minute cycle seemed to ‘cook off’ the thc.
The 4 hr infusion is underway.
Two other points to share (that came from your website).
It you’re going to make cannabutter, save yourself some effort and use ghee.
The other is to use lecithin! For me, it seemed to significantly increase the onset and overall quality of the high.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and tips! I’m glad the site has been helpful for your edible-making journey. Decarbing in the Instant Pot is such a game-changer, and I love that you’ve found what works best for you. Ghee and lecithin are definite winners — happy infusing! 😊
Hi have you used pressure cook for infusing the oil or only 4hours slow cooker?
Hi Gemma. We haven’t personally tried pressure cooking for infusion, but it could be an interesting experiment! If you give it a try, we’d love to hear how it turns out.
Happy infusing!
Hi after decanting should I grind my herb or should keep it whole size? I’m using coconut oil to infuse, can I add rso/ or shatter to the product and when should it be added? Last question which is better for gummies, mct or coconut oil? Thanks I love your page
Hi there! We recommend keeping your herb whole after decarbing for the best infusion. You can add RSO or shatter during the infusion process for a stronger product. Coconut oil is great for gummies due to its texture and stability. Thanks for the love! 😊
Hi Emily,
I am following your recipe and I have a question about the slow cook method, should I keep valve venting or sealed?
Thank you,
Roberto
Hi Roberto. For the slow cook method, you should keep the valve set to venting. Happy infusing!
Thanks again for this awesome recipe,& method.i have the newer growers bible,3rd edition,and there method/ recipe pales in comparison,in my humble opinion anyway.god bless you& yours.
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kevin! Glad you enjoyed the recipe and found it helpful. Wishing you all the best!
I only have salted butter. Will it still work?
Yes Charmaine, salted butter will work just fine and won’t affect the process. Enjoy!
I’ve made cannabis coconut oil a few times using insta pot. Sometimes the weed just absorbs all the oil, and I get very little back when I strain it. Im using a French press to strain. Just wasted 4 ounces of premium home grown bud from this year’s harvest. Using two mason jars, I did 2 ounces flower with 2.5 ounces oil in each jar. What am I doing wrong?
It sounds like you’re using a solid method, but a few adjustments might help improve your results. When cannabis absorbs too much oil, it’s often due to the flower-to-oil ratio. For a better yield, try increasing the amount of oil relative to the flower—this should leave more oil behind after infusing. We recommend following this guide here: Cannabis Flower-to-Oil Ratio Guide & Printable Chart Also, when straining, consider switching from a French press to a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth to extract as much oil as possible. Gently pressing the plant material can help release more oil without wasting any. Lastly, double-check the decarb process and infusion time to ensure you’re maximizing potency. Hope this helps, and good luck with your next batch!
You have a MISTAKE on the (Gram Weight) on the 3X Ecample. You have 14 gram, Not Correct, Should say 42 grams. BUT Its a Great Recipe, I’ve been using it for Years. Thanks 🙏
Thanks so much for letting me know!
Hi there, could this method also be used with honey instead of butter?
Hi Vanessa. We don’t recommend this method for honey for two reasons. The flower is extremely difficult to strain out and you don’t want to heat honey for long periods of time. Here is our guide on infusing honey: https://emilykylenutrition.com/cannabis-honey/. I hope it helps!