Are you looking for a one-pot, set-it-and-forget-it option for making cannabutter and other infusions at home? Look no further than this easy, quick, and efficient method of using an Instant Pot or pressure cooker! Plus, it can significantly decrease the smell while leaving you with a fully finished final product. Let me help you discover how to simplify the process with this helpful guide.
Table of Contents
Article 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.
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.
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.
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.
Nutrition
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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Cannabis Sides & Snack Recipes
I just want to thank you, sincerely. You have improved the quality of my life, by making these instructions so clear and easy to follow. This works wonderful and I no longer need to smoke to sleep at night. Thank you SO much.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear our instructions have helped and made such a positive impact on your life. Wishing you continued health and happiness!
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!
What do you recommend the leftover but used for?
Hi Christina. Leftover bud is great in tea, coffee, and capsules. You can find more suggestions here: https://emilykylenutrition.com/leftover-cannabis-pulp/
Hi Emily. I was wondering if you have a recipe to infuse bacon grease. I am thinking I can use my infused coconut oil I use for my gummies. But am not sure about the ratio. Any thoughts? I probably have 1 cup of bacon grease. Thought it would be fun to fry my eggs in the morning. Always enjoy your articles and recipes.
Hi Deanna! For 1 cup of bacon grease, starting with a 1:1 ratio with your coconut oil is a safe bet. You can adjust based on your preference for strength and flavor. Infusing bacon grease will certainly add a delicious twist to your morning eggs! Thank you for your kind words. Happy cooking!
I made this in the instant pot for the first time and it was so easy and virtually no smell. Except for when adding the butter and straining. So THANK YOU!! Quick question, do you think in the butter infusing step you could use a metal tea/cold coffee infuser made for mason jars? To make it easier to strain? like this?
I’m thrilled to hear that using the instant pot made the process easier for you with minimal odor, Carolyn! Using a metal tea/cold coffee infuser for infusing butter to simplify straining that sounds like an innovative solution. I would just make sure that the metal infuser is compatible with the temperatures involved in the infusion process. The one you linked, designed for cold brew and tea, seems like it could work, but double-check it can handle the heat without releasing any harmful substances. Always prioritize safety and material suitability for cooking. Happy infusing!
I decarbed in my oven and then forgot to put in mason jar to infuse butter. Just threw it all in insta on slow cook. Why keep in jar? 😊
Hi Melissa. The primary reason for keeping the cannabis in a mason jar during the infusion process is to contain and protect the ingredients while they infuse. Here are a few key benefits:
– Keeping the cannabis in a jar helps ensure that the butter or oil absorbs the cannabinoids effectively. This control leads to a more consistent and potent final product.
– Using a jar minimizes the risk of spillage, which can be especially helpful when working with hot ingredients.
– The jar makes it easier to separate the plant matter from the infused butter or oil during the straining process.
Since you’ve already decarbed your cannabis and added it directly to the Instant Pot on slow cook, your infusion should still work well. However, using a mason jar in future batches might make the process smoother and yield a cleaner product.
Happy cooking, and enjoy your cannabutter!
Have you tried making infused yogurt using the Insta pot? I think this could work. I ask for perspective. Thank you.
Absolutely, Jamie! While I haven’t personally tried it myself, I don’t see why it wouldn’t work! It’s such a creative idea, I’ll have to give it a try myself. In the meantime, if you decide to experiment with it, I’d love to hear how it turns out for you 😊
I am in the middle of infusing Coconut Oil. I did grind the flower after decarb. Is this a problem when infusing? I am using an Instant Pot
Thank you
Hi there, Ronda! Regarding your question, no worries at all. Grinding the flower after decarboxylation is just fine. Just remember to strain the mixture well after infusing to ensure a smooth final product. Happy infusing, and I can’t wait to hear how your coconut oil turns out!
I had a major problem when following recipe I couldn’t see anyone else had…. I am using mason jars, and when filling up with water as soon as the water got about half way up the jars on the side they started to flip, and water got in the top.
I tried to get the water out… but did anyone find the same issue that the jars flip once water is half filled up them? How did you fix? I added a couple of empty half full mason jars on the sides to stop them flipping. Hopefully they stay upright. Will find out in 40m after decarb I guess…
Hi Justin. Thank you for reaching out with your issue. You’re not alone in facing this issue, and I’m impressed with your ingenuity in using empty half-filled mason jars to keep them upright. That’s a clever solution!
Another method could be to use a steamer basket to keep the jars steady. This helps to distribute the heat evenly and prevent the jars from moving around too much.
You could also try reducing the amount of water you add to the Instant Pot. Four cups is usually sufficient to generate enough steam pressure without causing the jars to flip. The water level doesn’t need to reach halfway up the jars; it just needs to be deep enough to generate steam.
Finally, ensure the lids on your mason jars are screwed on “fingertip tight”, meaning they’re tight enough to prevent water from getting in, but loose enough to allow pressure to escape.
I hope these tips help for your next decarb session. Please let us know how it turns out and if you have any other questions. We’re here to help!
Happy decarbing!
if you are not supposed to microwave or heat cannabutter how can you cook with it?
HI Stephen. When working with cannabutter, you want to avoid direct heating like microwaving to preserve its potency. Instead, use it in recipes that require gentle heating, such as baking or sautéing, to infuse dishes with cannabis effectively. This guide will help give you ideas and recipes on how to use your cannabutter: =25+ Amazing Recipes Using Cannabutter.
So water got in my jars during the decarb… did I ruin it??
Hi Kd. You definitely didn’t ruin it, but the decarboxylation process may not have gone 100%. How much water got into the jars? Did the flower get soaked? Have you decarbed before? How does the flower look and feel in comparison to other decarb batches you’ve done? If the buds didn’t get saturated in water, I don’t think you have anything to worry about. Does the flower look darker and feel crispier? If there’s any concern, you can always run another decarb cycle. I hope this helps!
So, in all the chaos around my home, I forgot to put the oil in after I decarbed. Just moving too fast and slow cooked it. Will it be overdone?
Thanks for all you do!
Hi Chrystal. Don’t worry! Forgetting to add the oil after decarbing happens to the best of us. Although slow cooking without oil may result in a slightly different outcome, it’s unlikely to be overdone. Your final product will most likely have sleepier effects, but you can infuse your oil as normal.Happy cooking!
Excellent guide, very impressive!
Hi Jay. Thank you for your kind words and support!
Hi Emily,
Love your site. Today I made oil with 28 grams of flower and sugar leaves and one cup of coconut oil. I lost about 1/4 cup of oil due to the flower absorption. Any suggestions for getting the oil out of the flowers? Thank you.
Frank
Hi Frank. To extract the remaining oil from the flower, you can try using a cheesecloth, a fine mesh strainer, or a french press to separate the oil from the plant material. Place the flowers in the cloth or strainer and press down firmly to extract as much oil as possible. Alternatively, you could also consider using a Magical Filter Press which makes the process extremely simple! I hope this helps! Happy infusing!
My pressure cooker has a low pressure mode. Is this the same as the low/slow on the instant pot. I just decarbed on high pressure and added my butter. Not sure what setting on my Cuisinart. Thanks ❤️
Hi Holly! Just wanted to clarify that “Low Pressure” on the Instant Pot is not the same as “Low/Slow”. The “Low/Slow” setting on the Instant Pot is specifically designed for slow cooking, similar to a CrockPot. Hope that clears things up!
The first part of the process cecarbs the cannabis. The second part, after adding butter or oil can be achieved in just 20 minutes rather than four hours by continuing to use the cooker on high. A conventional stove top pressure cooker can also be used in the same way. If you are going for maximum potency, adding already infused oil to a second lot of decarbed bud will bring your product to next level.
I use this method with virgin olive oil. The oil can be used in cooking as a replacement for butter or taken using a teaspoon. My preference, however, is using an eye dropper to fill 000 size capsules. This size capsule will hold approximately one millilitre, given the you cannot fill the rounded top of the capsule. With double infused olive oil, I find this to be a nice dose.
When next I follow this receipt, I intend to add a teaspoon of liquid lecithin to see if this has any effect on potency.
Hi Joe. Thank you for feedback. Our readers appreciate when others share their processes! We appreciate it too. Happy infusing!
Hey random question, what if I set the jar outside to Decarb? Would that work? Would it infuse in oil or is this not possible?
Hi Joe. Thanks for reaching out with your random question about decarbing. We’re here to help!
While it might sound tempting to place the jar outside for decarbing, it’s important to note that outdoor conditions most likely don’t provide the consistent and controlled heat required for effective decarboxylation. Outdoor temperatures can fluctuate, which could lead to uneven heating and insufficient decarbing.
When it comes to infusing oil, once you’ve properly decarbed your cannabis, you can add it to a jar of oil and let it infuse. There are various techniques that use the mason jar method for infusing oils with cannabis and some people opt for cold-infusion methods, which involve steeping cannabis in oil over an extended period without heat. The cold-infusion method may be considered with infusing outdoors. This is not a process we are familiar with, but if you experiment with it, we would love to know how it goes for you!
I hope this helps clarify your question! If you have any more inquiries or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Happy experimenting!
Hi 👋 and Help! For some dumb reason, I thought that when it said you could decarb and infuse in the Instant pot, at the same time, I poured about half a cup of oil in the weed (1.8 oz) before decarbing it. Am I screwed? I am going to decarb to a CBN anyway. And there’s not that much oil in there, but what should I do?
Hi Jill. This is a bummer, but you are not screwed. ☺️ You can run the infusion for twice the amount of time to achieve similar results as if you were to decarb first. There may be more green, plantlike flavor, but potency should be close! The longer you run the infusion, the more CBN you’ll convert. I hope this helps!
I was hoping to get some clarification on step 6 on the instant pot recipe.
It says after adding the butter to return the jar to the “water bath”, but 4 cups of water does not create a water bath in an instant pot. Am I supposed to add more water like I would of using the crock pot as my slow cooker? As I understand the term “water bath” means the water should be over the top of the mason jar. If I was reading the crock pot recipe/method correctly, it seems like that called for the mason jar to be fully submerged for the infusion step.
Just wanted to clarify if more water needed to be added to the instant pot for the slow cooker use step?
Hi D. Is there room for your jars to stand on a trivet? If yes, you are going to want to add more water to create a water bath, but just enough to cover the contents of the jars, not the entire jar. If you have to lay the jar down, I would recommend covering the entire jar. I hope this helps!
Hi there Emily, so one noob question, if I set the temp at 240, for 90 minutes I get the THC and CBD ?
Hi Chappie. That is correct, but the flower has to have both THC and CBD. Not all cannabis contains both.
Hello from Australia!
thank you for all your help. It’s so detailed and we are all so grateful.
Mu question is
My brownie recipe needs 110 g of butter.
I want to use 3.5 g of dry bud for potency. You have recommended to use 57g of butter for infusion.
Would you recommend that I use 57 g to infuse and add the remaining infused butter to the recipe? Would this affect the potency of the overall product?
I was also thinking to only use half the brownie dry contents to keep the ratio as your recommendation
Thanks in advance!
Hi Steve. You want to make sure that you use the exact amount of ingredients that the recipe calls for. Adding more butter will throw the recipe off, but if you wanted more potent brownies, you can make your cannabutter stronger. You don’t need to follow the 3.5g:57g ratio. You can use any amount of flower for infusion, depending on how strong or not so strong you want your final product. Does this make sense?
Hi guys
Great recipes.
I’m a “flower” virgin and started making some oil this morning.
Having misread the recipe I’ve put the flowers and oil in the crockpot from the start – I thought the “set-and-forget” recipe was going to be just that. I missed that the decarboxilation was supposed to be dry.
To combat my mistake my plan is to bring the pot, jars and oil / flower mix to 170F then heat for 60 mins. After this, turn down to 150F for 5 hrs.
What effect is this likely to have on the oil?
Thanks very much
Hi Howard. This is actually a common mistake, but no worries! When infusing, we recommend a temperature of around 180º for infusion at 4 hours. Decarboxylation requires a higher temperature of 240º. What we recommend is running your infusion on low (roughly 180º) for eight hours rather than four. This is double the infusion time and will allow for a decent conversion of THC. I hope this helps!
Hi Emily, to melt the butter can I use a hot water bath or just let it sit out to melt?
Hi Heather. A hot water bath works great!
I grew my own plant and am not sure whether it was THC, CBG or CBD dominant. I tried a recipe to make a tincture decarbing in oven at 250 degrees for 30 minutes. I didn’t notice anything different even after 2 dropperfuls. How long do you suggest I cook it in instapot?
Hi Karen. Unless the plant is THC-dominant, you won’t feel any intoxicating effects. What flower:oil ratio did you use? You decarbed enough for THC, but if you want to decarb further follow these guidelines:
• CBDA to CBD → bake at 240°F for 90 minutes
• CBGA to CBG → bake at 220°F for 60 minutes
I hope this helps!
We’re new with our IP do you seal the butter jars or vent once the butter is in for the 4 hours?
Hi Megan. You’ll be using the slow cook setting, so there is no pressure build up. After the four-hour infusion, the butter jars should be removed from the instant pot, then opened and strained once cool enough to handle. I hope this helps!
Hello, I recently picked up a Gummy Mix by a company called LorAnn. I have made my own cannabutter for about 15 years now. Is there a way to infuse a ready made gummy mix with either oil or butter? Just not sure when to add the cannabis item to the gummies.
Hi Patrick. We don’t have any experience with pre-made gummy mixes, but unless the recipe calls for butter or oil, I don’t think the gummies will set properly. You can always experiment with non-infused butter and see if you can find a way to make it work, without wasting you cannabis. I hope this helps!
what id you do not have a wire basket to put inside your IP?
Hi Rene. If you don’t have a wire basket, you can use anything metal as a trivet. You don’t want the glass directly on the bottom as you run a risk of the glass breaking. Make sure whatever you choose is suitable to be used in an oven i.e. heat resistant. Suggestions: Metal lid of a large jar or bottle – Rings from a large mason jar lid – Large cookie cutter – Small round cake rack – Small metal colander – Balls of aluminum foil. I hope this helps!
Did I do it wrong inthe Decarb process? The 4 cups of water did not touch the jars. I’m using the ninja foodi 8 quart
Hi Nancy. The decarb should be fine, but you want to make sure the jars are submerged in the water bath during infusion. You can add more water if needed. I hope this helps!
What lid do you use on instapot when infusing butter on the slow cook setting
Hi Gary. The tempered glass lid is ideal, but you can use the standard Instant Pot lid (set to vent).
When making butter, is the leftover liquid milk product also infused, and worth using?
Hi Apocatastasía. The leftover milk product doesn’t contain any fat, so there it is not infused because there is nothing for the cannabinoids to bind to. It should be skimmed off and thrown away. Have you heard of clarified butter? Essentially that is what you are doing by removing the milk solids from the butter. There is nothing of value in it and it isn’t worth saving. I hope this helps!
Hi! First I love this website. It’s already been so useful.
I was wondering if instead of adding butter or oil for infusing, could I pour coconut milk instead? I feel like I can but still wanted to ask!
Thank you,
Best
Hi Chanel! We are so happy that the website has been helpful for you! ? You can absolutely infuse coconut milk, but you want to make sure it’s full-fat. Emily has a specific guide if you’d like to check it out: https://emilykylenutrition.com/cannabis-milk/
How many grams is a “stick” of butter
Hi SB. There are 114 grams in a stick of butter. Here’s a guide that has further measurements for easy reference.
https://emilykylenutrition.com/cannabis-flower-to-oil-ratio-guide/
Hope this helps!
You don’t need to add water to the instant pot once you add fat? Other slow cooker recipes make sure to note that the water line should be at or above the level of material in the jar.
Hey Kenny, step 4 calls to add 4 cups of water to the Instant Pot ?
Hi Emily question from Canada. What fits better in a standard size Instapot wide mouth or regular mouth mason jars? Are the jars the 500Ml (16oz) size? And since my Instapot at the bottom is roughly 8 inches across how may jars should be place on the trivet/ can the jars be touching or should there be a space between the jars. Just came across your site and though I have to try this out for sure !! I would love to do 2 ounces Thanks Emily great site can hardly wait to get going with some of your recipes
Hey Dan! Thanks so much for the kind words. There is a lot of flexibility with the jars, you really can mix and match sizes depending on your needs. As long as there is a little space between them, you should be okay. Good luck 😀
Can you use the leaves/trimmings to make this recipe as well?
Hello Dawn, yes, you sure can. Here is my guide for working with trim to learn more 🙂
Emily, Thanks for the quick reply! I like the silicone container idea for ice hash decarboxilation. I imagine some weight needs to be added to keep the jars from floating in the water bath. Has anyone tried this in a microwave oven on low level heat, or is the temperature to difficult to control?
Hey Jim, yes, I think you’re right, you would want to weight down the jar. Maybe some clean rocks in the bottom would work. As for the microwave, I would avoid that at all costs! The temperature is difficult to control and it can get much too hot, putting the good stuff at risk. Here’s my guide on why you should avoid the microwave, I hope this helps!
I usually oven decarb about 3-4 oz of trim and small bud at harvest time, and process 4) pint jars of butter or coconut oil in my 6 qt. IP. Works great!
Any tips/info on decarboxylating “ice” hash in an IP? It seems it would be more efficient than using an oven for about 7 grams of hash. I’m Looking to do some edibles for when the arthritis acts up and need something KO strong!
Thanks for any help you can offer…
Hey Jim. Yes, I would put the hash into a silicone container like this, then put this container inside the mason jar, and proceed as usual. I hope this helps!
Hello. I just used this process and boy was it easy. However I used the low setting of the pressure setting not the slow cooker and the same amount of recommended time. It looks good and doesn’t smell burnt at all. Thoughts on this would be awesome or did I wreck this batch?
Hello Teddy, I am so glad you found the process easy. As long as you are happy with the final results, that’s all that matters! How did it turn out for you?
when decarbonizing flowers in instant pot when finished and opened it up the jar had fallen and water got inside jar and flower wet, am I able to dry it (it will take a couple days) and decarbonize it again or just put the oil and go to the next step and , not sure if it ever did decarbonize or not
Hello Ophelia! No worries, water is not harmful to cannabis. I would dry it, but you do not need to decarboxylate again if it went for the full time the first time. Dry it, put the oil in, and move forward 🙂
Emily here’s a thought. I am an experienced instapot user although I’ve never made cbd oil. I’m trying it but here’s a question. How about using the yogurt function for infusion instead of slow cook function on low. The yogurt function will keep temp at 110 f and just infuse longer or is that temperature to low for infusion.
Pat
Hello Pat! Thanks for writing. Yes, you could totally use the yogurt function. Infusion happens at a time/temperature scale, so I don’t know what the perfect timing would be for 110°F, but I’d add a few extra hours to be safe – maybe 6? Let me know if you give it a try and how it turns out for you!
Do I need to re-add the 4 cups of water for the infusion phase? Or do I do use the remaining evaporated water?
Also, what is the estimated time to ‘handle’ the jars after the decarb process. I don’t want the jars to sit too long while I wait for them to become to cool.
Hey DT. If you feel like you’ve lost a lot of water, it’s OK at add another cup or two. You want enough water in the IP to cover the materials in the jar. As for cooling time, it’s based on what you’re comfortable with. If you have a silicone mit and can safely grab them right away, go ahead and do that 🙂
I just made canna ghee, so easy! How should it be stored and for how long?
Thanks!
I am so glad it was easy for you, Therese! It will last 2-3 weeks in the refrigerator and even longer in the freezer ? Here is my full guide to storing edibles, I hope this helps!
Hi Emily!
Love your site I am now a member. Making cannabutter as we speak. I wanted it extra potent so I did 7g and like 3/4 a stick a butter. The bud is not completely immersed in the butter. Should I add more until it is totally covered? Or ok as is?
Hey Savanna, thank you so much, so glad to have you here 🙂 It is best that the flower is completely covered, otherwise you could be leaving goodness behind!
Hi, thank you so much for posting so much information online! I’ve read that decarbing above 300 degrees can ruin the THC levels. Wouldn’t that be true with making infusions or baking too? I have a 6 quart instant pot and I’d love to decarb & infuse in it but I don’t want to sacrifice THC levels for convenience. What are your thoughts on how THC is affected infusing in the oven at a low temp versus in the instant pot on high?
Hey Flo, you are most welcome. When using an Instant Pot, it can’t get up to 300°F, it usually stays around 212-240°F, so I wouldn’t worry there. For baking, even if you’re baking something like cookies at 350°F, you are fine. Think of it like this: when you roast a chicken. You put it in the oven at 350°F for 1-2 hours, but the chicken itself only ever needs to get to the internal temp of 165°F til it’s done. Tthe item itself, thus the THC in the butter or oil, does not get that hot. I hope this helps 🙂
I hope this helps ☺️
Hi what quart instant pot did you use?
Hey JT – I used an 8-quart Instant Pot 😀
I’m trying to make butter following your directions, I’m decarbing 3/4 of an ounce of girl scout cookies in my instant pot and I have 9 ounces of ghee to add for infusion. Thanks for all the great articles.
Good luck, Kimberly! You are most welcome, thank you for your kind words 🙂
Hi, do you ever use the pressure cook setting to cook the oil & decarbed flower instead of using the slow cooker setting? thanks
Hey Brenda, I haven’t experimented with it yet, but I may in the future with lab tests to see which one performs better 😀 Thanks for asking!
Does the infused oil need to be stored in the refrigerator? Or does that only apply to butter?
Hey Travis! Butter is best in the refrigerator, but oil should be OK at room temperature for a few weeks. If you don’t think you will use it within 2-3 weeks, I would refrigerate or freeze the rest.
My slow cooker will not get to 180 degrees (85 C) will I cook for longer than for hours? My first time.
Glenda, if it’s anywhere in the range of 160°F and up, I would keep the cooking time the same.
Hello,
My instant pot does not have a “low” slow cook option, just “normal”. Should I cook for less than 4 hours?
Hey Sarah! I would keep it at 4 hours, it won’t hurt it 🙂
Hello! When I use the potency calculator, do I put in the amount of MCT oil before infusion (4 hour slow cook) or after? I used 1/2 cup MCT oil and after straining I only had 30 mL. Just trying to figure out the potency as it seems really concentrated! Thank you for all the helpful info by the way!
Hey Kendra! Great question, and thank you for the kind words 🙂 I would use the after amount (30mL) to calculate. If it seems too concentrated, you can add more MCT to the mix to dilute it.
Straining techniques could use some clarification, especially with coffee filter method, since that’s likely what most have available. I found that in order to express the butter/oil completely, and not break the coffee filter, I had to use 3-4 filter layers, and then about 1/4cup of the plant material or oil at a time, hold the coffee filters closed at the top with one hand, and express the liquid through the filters with the other, squeezing lightly at first and changing pressure applied as more liquid is removed, and the plant material needs squeezing to remove the remaining liquid. Then either reserve that plant material into another container and get new filters, or in my case, as I was using cbd trim, just dispose, and get new filters for more of the remaining unfiltered butter/oil, and repeat, until it was all filtered into a clean jar with lid with a good seal.
Note, if your product ends up bitter tasting and green, don’t toss it…add a little pink sea salt and a packet of Splenda – adjust for taste based on the volume of end product you have – the salt and touch of sweet counteracts the bitter from the chlorophyll from the plant.
Thanks so much for sharing this with us, Donna!
Is it 40 minutes after it gets to pressure? Or should I time from the moment the bell tolls signifying the IP is on?
Dude, I just go with 40 minutes from the time the IP is on and the jar is inside 🙂
Hi Emily! I accidentally skipped the straining step, and just put the jar straight into the fridge (making butter). Did I just ruin everything, or can I let the butter melt, strain, and put back in the fridge?
Oops,
Katie
Hey Katie – truly no worries at all, you did not ruin anything 🙂 Yes, you can just let the butter melt, strain, and put it back in the fridge and enjoy as normal.
Hi, new member, here! I followed your Instant Pot MCT oil recipe to a “T” and I’m pretty sure I just ended up making CBD, not THC-infused MCT oil. (The latter was my objective.) Am I right in understanding that the only options with Instant Pot decarb and infusion are as follows?:
Depending on the flower you use, with this method you can create:
[CBD Oil]
[CBG ‘Focus’ Oil]
[CBN ‘Sleep’ Oil]
[AVB (Already Been Vaped) Oil]
I did decarb, as instructed here, for 40 minutes on high pressure:
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.
THCA to THC → bake at 240° F for 40 minutes
CBDA to CBD → bake at 240°F for 90 minutes
CBGA to CBG → bake at 220°F for 60 minutes
THC to CBN→ bake at 240°F for 180 minutes
So I’m guessing that I wasted an ounce of flower using an Instant Pot instead of a crock pot? I’ve had luck with a crock pot and butter in the past, but the decarb and infusing I did with the Instant Pot and MCT oil didn’t yield similar results in terms of desired efficacy. Should I just use a crock pot for all THC infusions? And is it necessary to use the mason jar/hot water bath method in the crock pot for butter, coconut oil, or MCT oil? I had luck with butter without mason jars in the past. That being said, the last couple batches I made didn’t taste great, but were effective. Any advice you have regarding all these questions is greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Hi @Raoul_Delward! I responded to you in the community as well 🙂
1 – Can you explain to me where you think you went wrong? You’re saying you decarbed the flower for 40 minutes first and then put the oil in and infused for another 4 hours on slow cook?
2 – You cannot “create” CBD if it is not already present in the plants genetics. So if you’re thinking that by cooking for longer you have created CBD, that’s not possible, unless there was already CBDA present in the flower. In which case, THC remains – THC does not ever turn into CBD. They’re two separate things.
Let me know your thoughts!
I would not recommend putting any mason jar in the Instant Pot, I have had a jar break in there!
Hi Connie! I am sorry to hear you had a jar break 🙁 Mason jars meant for canning are meant to withstand both the temperature and pressure, but if you’re nervous in the future, you could always vacuum seal the flower and oil or butter in a bag and cook it that way to avoid any glass at all. I hope this helps!
Do you UN-vent your instant pot when on the Slow Cooker mode for 4 hours?
Hey Melissa, no I personally do not.
Hello Emily! Fast question for you – can I cut the recipe in half? I’m just experimenting with CBD oil and I don’t want to make quite so much. I’m borrowing an Instant Pot, so don’t have any experience with it yet either! Thanks – Judy
Hello, Judy! Yes, you absolutely can. You can also always refer to this flower-to-oil ratio guide to help you make different sized batches 😀
I followed your instruction and the end result was a beautiful golden yellow canna-coconut oil! I have used other methods to make canna-coconut oil and the results have always been good but the color was greenish.
I can’t wait to try this oil in my gummies recipe.
I am so glad to hear you’ve had a successful batch, Tom, thanks so much for letting us know 🙂 I hope your gummies turn out great!
I’ve made many attempts over many years trying to perfect the DIY decarb/infuse process. I’ve never been able to get it right… until now. HOLY WOW! I followed the instructions exactly and the final product is way better than I could have ever expected. Super potent and the unrefined coconut oil makes it taste good straight out of the jar. I used popcorn buds so they were perfect size and I didn’t have to mess with them. I was *slightly* paranoid about the mason jars under pressure even though they are intended for canning. Store bought edibles are expensive around where I live so this a game changer being able to make my own at a fraction of the cost!
The only problem I encountered was that I underestimated the smell. Even with great ventilation (multiple fans, open windows, etc.) it took quite some time to get the smell out of the house. I did this in the furthest corner of basement and it still managed to make its way up to the main floor. So if you’re worried about smell I’d suggest doing this outside or in a garage/shed if possible.
Hey Db4y – thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, I am so glad it worked out so well for you 😀
How much water do you add if you have the biggest instant pot?
J.K – I would place the filled jars (lid on) on the trivet inside the IP and then add water until the contents of the mason jars are covered. So, if you’re mason jar is ½ way full of butter and flower, the water goes ½ way up the outside of the jar. You don’t need to submerge them. I hope this helps 😀
Hello Emily, are all mason jars safe to put on the instant pot?
Hi there, I! I recommend sticking with mason jars that are specifically meant for canning, so they can withstand the pressure and heat 🙂