Cooking With Cannabis: A Beginner’s Guide To Making Marijuana Edibles

Cannabis-infused edibles serve as an excellent alternative for anyone looking to consume without smoking. Learning how to cook with cannabis and make your own edibles is not only a fun process, it's also quite interesting. You don't need any expensive specialty tools (though you can use them if you want). For most DIY cannabis chefs, all you need is a bit of knowledge, the required ingredients, and time to experiment.

Oh, and some pot. You'll need some of that.

‍There's no disrespect to brownies and cookies, the OG infused baked goods, but the world of edibles is so much more than that nowadays. If a recipe involves cooking with some kind of fat, butter, oil, etc., you can use it for cooking with weed!

So, let's get to it so you can get to making some edibles of your own.

Preparing To Cook With Cannabis

It has been said that once you get the hang of cooking with cannabis the most complicated part is acquiring the right ingredients. Thankfully, this challenging step is also one of the most incredible things about cannabis: almost unlimited variety.

Unlike buying ingredients for a meal or dessert, infused meals have plenty more options to choose from. Sure, you can choose from a range of different groceries, from peppers to broths to flours, but no ingredient has more varieties than cannabis. Thanks to the range of strains and their plant profiles, choosing one type of flower over the other can significantly shift the outcome.

Essentially, it's not as simple as buying "some weed" from the dispensary and throwing it in some brownie mix.

Strain selection is just one component of cooking with marijuana. There are numerous elements to consider when cooking with cannabis, from potency to making consistently dosed edibles. For now, focus on getting the fundamentals down, then branch out and experiment. Once you know how to make edibles, then the real fun can begin.

But, before we step into the kitchen, let's go over what you'll need.

THC vs CBD: An Important Difference You Need To Know

Before making edibles, it's essential to know the difference between the hundreds of cannabinoids found inside various strains. Most of us know THC and CBD, the two most prominently discussed cannabinoids.

The most significant difference between CBD and THC is that THC creates the feeling we usually call a 'high.' CBD does not produce these effects, often producing subtle or undetectable effects in the consumer. When consumed around the same time, CBD can even offset some of the psychoactive effects produced by THC.

Be sure to read up on the contents of the flower you're buying so you know it has the plant profile that produces your desired effects. If you're not looking to feel high, opt for a CBD-rich strain. Those looking to feel it in their head should pick up some THC-rich cultivars. And if you don't want to get too heady, consider finding a strain that strikes more of a balance with its CBD:THC ratios.

Heads up, THC-wary consumers: even products labeled as "pure CBD" may contain trace amounts of THC. This is a concern for many consumers, from those about to take a drug test to someone who doesn't want to feel psychoactive effects. If you fall into that range of consumers, look for an isolate or distillate product, and read those labels thoroughly before making any purchases.

Find A Recipe That Sounds Appealing To You

Now that you know what you need for making edibles, what should you cook?

The best place to start is with something you're already comfortable putting together. It can be anything you'd like. A box brownie mix is just as good of a choice as your favorite savory dish. It's recommended that newcomers follow this approach to ensure that the process doesn't get too confusing by combining a new recipe with learning how to infuse your creations.

Feel free to stick with the baked goods, but don't be afraid to shoot for the moon either. Go big and make a five-course dinner, creating your own infused dining experience if you like! Just be sure to dose your meals properly when cooking with cannabis—more on that in just a bit.

If you need some inspiration, be sure to check out social media for scores of chefs using their culinary skills to make edibles. Then, check out Cooked with Cannabis on Netflix for some additional ideas. You can dive in more on your own by doing some research on leaders in infused meals and drinks.

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