Contributor: KC Scannell
There are so many ways to enjoy cannabis these days, the choices are almost insurmountable. Each and every dispensary is stocked with various forms of marijuana, each of which packing their very own flavor and experience. Sure, we are all familiar with the traditional floral form of cannabis, but the world of edibles is quickly becoming more and more popular with each passing day. This sudden spike is likely due to the numerous states that have finally lifted their ban on cannabis after years and years of unjustified restriction.
This newfound cannabis-related freedom has opened up a lot of doors and opportunities to growers and companies that are constantly searching for a new way to partake in this tremendously beneficial plant. While grabbing a few edibles from your local cannabis club is all well and good, there is something about whipping up a batch of digestibles in the comfort of your own kitchen that really makes the entire experience that much better.
It is mainly due to the sense of accomplishment one feels when they realize that their homemade concoction is just as good (if not better) than their more professionally put together counterparts. For years, the main “go-to” for culinary cannabis enthusiasts has routinely been butter or oil. Which makes nothing but sense. These components are used in nearly every recipe under the sun. The utilization of these during the course of creating a meal, baked goods, or snacks are what makes an edible potent and effective when eaten.
However, those butters and oils are getting a bit boring, in my personal opinion. To be quite honest, I am ready for a change. I know I can’t be the only cannabis enthusiast out there yearning for a new form of a marijuana-infused ingredient that I can use in a plethora of different recipes.
Which is where cannabis flour comes into play.
Yes, you heard right. The days of oils and butters are quickly becoming a thing of the past, as more and more enthusiasts are starting to whip up their own batches of cannabis flour to cook and bake with. Needless to say, the results are absolutely amazing.
The main difference found in cannabis-infused flour comes in the ganja used to create it. Typically, with oils and butters, only a handful of buds are used during the process. Not with cannabis-infused flour, however. With this newfound culinary aide, the entire plant can be used during its creation.
Which may not seem like a big deal to most, but when you crunch the numbers, the making of cannabis-infused flower is far cheaper than its more known alternatives. This is due to the affordability of flowers and leaves that dispensaries can’t wait to unload from their shelves. This form of “shake” isn’t known for its potency, instead its more readily used by curious cannabis enthusiasts looking to make some edibles at home. The lesser desired an item is – the cheaper it will be. Which, to be honest, goes for just about any product in any industry.
In addition to being a more affordable option, the simplicity of cannabis-infused flour is amongst the easiest to create at home. On top of that, the entire process doesn’t take nearly as long as oils or butters – so the eager enthusiast is able to enjoy the fruits of their labor in a much faster time frame.
The positive aspects of cannabis-infused flour don’t stop there. The shelf life of this particular edible component is amazing. If stored correctly, in a dark, cool area – these batches of flour have been known to last for months on end. So, the more you make, the longer it will last – and the more cannabis-infused goodies you can make along the way. I don’t know about you, but anything that allows me to enjoy the delicious benefits of cannabis for that long is absolutely worth it. Especially, since it is so easy and affordable to make.
While I am singing the praises of this amazing cannabis-infused flour, it may not be for everyone. And that is simply because of the taste. Personally, I don’t mind a little cannabis flavor to my edibles. In a way, it reminds me of the delectable buds that I used in my recipe. Not only that, but it elicits a sense of potency that is sure to follow soon thereafter.
However, that sort of flavor palette isn’t exactly up everyone’s “alley.” Which is more than understandable. For those enthusiasts looking for a better flavor experience, the addition of spices and sugars are sure to please your taste buds.
But enough of this jibber-jabber, let me tell you how to make some of this amazing cannabis-infused flour! Here is a quick run down of the items you will need to have at the ready before starting this process.
You will need to grab a handy-dandy sifter, roughly a quarter of cannabis (7 grams or so), as well as a coffee grinder. If you don’t have a coffee grinder, a standard food processor serves as a great replacement appliance for this recipe. When it is all said and done, if you follow the steps correctly, you will be left with around a ¼ cup of cannabis-infused flour. And it won’t take you more than 10 minutes or so. Which, by edible standards, is lightning quick.
The first step of this recipe is akin to every other edible recipe on the market. You have to decarboxylate your marijuana, first and foremost. The decarboxylation process is what turns the THCA component into its psychoactive counterpart, THC. This is done through exposing the buds and flowers to heat. In this case, you are going to want to preheat your oven to 240°.
Once that is fired up and ready to go, gently place your desired marijuana on a baking sheet, and toss it in the oven for 45 minutes. When the timer goes off, remove them from the oven – but before you do anything else, allow the cannabis to cool.
After you have given those buds a chance to mellow out, take that now room temperature marijuana from the baking sheet and throw it into your coffee grinder or food processor. Make sure whatever appliance you use is clean – because nobody wants a sullied cannabis-infused flour.
When it is all in there, proceed to grind and blend the buds until they turn into a powder-like substance. And, boom, that is it. Dump the newly ground up contents into an airtight jar or container, and be sure to place this flour in a dry, dark, non-heated area for storage.
When you would like to use this cannabis-infused flour in a recipe, it couldn’t be easier. All one has to do is find out how much regular flour would be used in that particular recipe, and simply replace roughly 25% of that with your newly created flour chock full of THC. At this point, you will then take that combined flour mixture, and use your sifter to rid the contents of any chunky, floral components. After that, proceed to complete the recipe as usual, only now with your cannabis-infused flour.
There are some noteworthy things to remember when cooking with this sort of homemade edible, however. The main one being that you should never allow it to go past the 340° mark. That would, effectively, damage the potency of the flour that you have worked so hard to attain.
Other than that, feel free to follow the recipe like you normally would. And when that fateful moment comes to remove your infused edible out of the oven, you will be more than happy with the potent (and tasty) product that you have created. The only thing left to do at that point is grab a plate and chow down!
Bon Appétit, my fellow stoners!
