This Is How to Decarboxylate Cannabis Correctly
Are you trying to figure out how to decarboxylate cannabis? Well, you’re in the right place, because of we know-how.
In premise, decarboxylation is a process of heating the naturally-occurring compounds in the plant, thus manipulating its content, as well as changing its chemical structure in another that is of preference.
In this article, we will cover what decarboxylation is, the benefits it, as well as how to do it on your own.
So if you want to decarboxylate, you got to keep reading until it’s too late.
What Is Decarboxylation?
Decarboxylation primarily is a process that occurs over a longer period of time before cannabis is trimmed and ready to be sold. The process turns the naturally-occurring compounds from one state to another, such as THCA to THC.
The curing process combined with burning the pant takes care of this conversion, but when you plan to cook with cannabis or make an oil, carboxylation must occur before anything else.
The typical process does not involve substantial heat for decarboxylation, which means you end up consuming cannabis that is not of the preferred consistency. That’s why it’s so important that you decarb the proper way.
However, don’t overburden yourself with it. What might sound like an intimidating and confusing process is actually just another step in your cooking experience, and very simple to do as long as you have the tools necessary
Benefits of Decarboxylation
One of the most common mistakes is avoiding decarboxylation. Unless you are baking your cooked edibles, it is entirely necessary to use heat to activate the constituent compounds in your plant.
Also, when you decarboxylate your cannabis you decrease the risk of botulism. When you don’t decarboxylate, the bacteria will grow in your oil and butter, making it unsafe for consumption.
Whenever you burn cannabis, you are decarboxylating it as well. However, in the process of cooking, you don’t want to burn the plant. In the abscence of the carboxyl group, the CBD and THC in the plant will bind to the rceptors in your body and central nervous system.
Even if you don’t decarboxylate, you will still experience a binding of the compounds, however, the potency will be less than expected, not to mention effective.
How to Prepare Your Cannabis
When you start to learn how to decarb your cannabis, the first thing you want to do is to prepare it. You don’t want to just throw in all of your plant matter on a baking sheet and hope for the best outcome.
By using one of the listed methods, you will ensure that your cannabis receives an even decarboxylation no matter how you do it, thus leading to the most optimal potency possible.
First, you can pick apart your plant with your hands, no larger than a dime. This will take time and it’s advised that you wear disposable gloves.
Second, you can grind the plant matter with a cannabis grinder or any other type of food processor. This is potentially the best method as it it produces a nearly powdered consistent that is certain to decarboxylate as evenly as possible no matter how you go about it.
The problem with this method is the finer you grind, the easier it is to lose product with the finer consistency. If it gets stuck in the container or your grinder, you will simply lose lots of it when handling.
In any case, whatever method is most appropriate for you, it will work given that you provide enough effort. Just remember to bring you cannabis to smaller proportions so that it can be evenly spread out for the actual decarboxylation.
How to Decarboxylate Cannabis
Aside from vaping or smoking your cannabis, there are many ways to decarboxylate it while retaining all of the recreational and therapeutic effects.
The easiest way to do this at home requires:
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Oven
- Cannabis plant matter (grinded or picked apart)
The quantity of the plant matter will determine the final concentration of whatever you are making. The more you use, the more potent it will be. Let’s continue on how to decarboxylate cannabis.
Preheat
To begin, set your oven to 120 degrees Celsius or 235 Fahrenheit. Prepare the parchement paper on the baking sheet.
Now spread the cannabis all across it, ensure to break up any larger pieces if they stick out.
Bake
Now place the sheet with the cannabis in the oven for 40 minutes. This should be well enough for well-dried plant matter. If you’re using moist cannabis, it can take twice as long.
A hygrometer can be used, however, completely unnecessary.
Remove
After the time is up, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let it cool outside. The decarboxylation process has been completed and the marjoiry of the compounds have been converted.
However, keep in mind that each compound has its own decarboxylation temperature, so ensure that you consult with a scientific chart, especially if you are going to decarboxylate some of the lesser known compounds.
Decarboxylation Done Right
Now that you know how to decarboxylate cannabis, you are well on your way to ensure that for whatever purpose you are using your plant matter, it’s in top-notch condition.
Rememer that whatever approach you choose, ensure that your cannabis is ground enough to be evenly spread and that the temperature is appropriate for the compound you need to decarboxylate.
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