How to make cannabutter in an Instant Pot

One of the easiest ways to cook with cannabis is to make your own cannabutter, and one of the easiest ways to make your own cannabutter is in an Instant Pot. We’ve already walked you through how to make cannabutter the old-fashioned way (on the stove), but if you’re looking to cut back on time and effort, it’s time to whip out the Instant Pot, a.k.a one of 2019s most popular kitchen gadgets. 

Any chef that’s worth their salt prepares their workspace and ingredients before they start cooking, so here’s what you’ll need before you can make cannabutter in your Instant Pot:  

• Instant Pot (duh)
• ½ ounce of your favorite flower
• 1 cup of butter (can be subbed with virtually any fat)
• A grinder
• 16 oz canning jar with two lids
• 2-3 cups water 
• Cheesecloth (pantyhose works, too!) 

Now that you’ve gathered all the materials, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get started. (Or should we say it’s time to turn on your Instant Pot and sit on the couch while it works its magic?)

Step 1: Decarb your cannabis 

When it comes to decarbing cannabis, you can do it in the Instant Pot or in the oven. Here’s how to do it in the Instant Pot: 

• Grind your cannabis until it’s fine (but not powdery)
• Place it in the canning jar with the lid loosely closed
• Add two cups of water to the Instant Pot 
• Place the jar in the water. The water should reach the middle of the jar; remove or add water accordingly.
• Once the jar of cannabis is situated, set the Instant Pot for 30-40 minutes on high. 
• When the time is up, remove the jar and let it rest. 

If you want to use the oven, set the jar in a 225-degree oven for about 30-40 minutes. It’s decarbed once it smells piney and turns dark green in color. 

Step 2: Add fat 

Cannabutter isn’t cannabutter without the butter, so this step is essential. Although it’s called cannabutter, you can add pretty much any fat you’d like -- coconut oil and butter are great for baking with, but if you plan on using your cannabutter in savory foods, you can use olive oil or avocado oil. As long as it’s fatty in nature, it’ll do the trick. 

For this step, you’ll want to melt the butter in the microwave, pour the melted butter into the jar (only fill it halfway), stir to distribute evenly, and place a new lid on the jar. Place it back in the Instant Pot, adding water so it reaches the middle of the jar, and cook on the high-pressure setting for 20 minutes. 

Step 3: Chill out and let it cool

For step three, allow the Instant Pot to naturally release pressure (this usually takes about 40 minutes - make sure the “Keep Warm” setting is on), remove the jar, and let it cool. Once it’s cool enough to handle with your bare hands, pour the cannabutter through a cheesecloth (or pantyhose!) into a mixing bowl or canning jar. Put a lid on it, and you’re good to go! Refrigeration is optimal for storage. 

Since this step involves a whole lot of hanging out, may we suggest passing the time with Edibles 101: A Beginner’s Guide to Cannabis Edibles? You’ll learn how edibles work, how much you should eat, and how long they take to work, among other tidbits of information. If you’re not in the mood to read, there’s always tons of 420-friendly content on Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon.

Some final tips 

Whether it’s your first time cooking with cannabis or you consider yourself a professional canna-chef, it never hurts to refresh yourself on the basics: 

• Eating cannabis-laced foods tends to be more intense than smoking - your body is digesting cannabinoids directly into your bloodstream instead of filtering them through your lungs. 
• For best results, start small and slow. You can always eat more, but you can’t do much once cannabis is already in your system. (These tips can help, though.) 
• The effects of edibles can take anywhere from 30-190 minutes to kick in, so time your consumption accordingly! 
• The ultimate potency of your cannabutter will depend on a variety of factors, including how long it cooked, the temperature at which it cooked, and the strength of the strain you used. It’s not a perfect science, so making the perfect cannabutter will require some experimentation. 

Keep your eyes peeled for more cannabis content from CULTA, and in the meantime, check out the Top Eight Mistakes When Cooking with Cannabis so you know what to avoid when you use your cannabutter.