How To Make Cannabutter From Trim

If you’re growing your own marijuana, you likely want to make the most out of every part of the cannabis plant. While many cannabis users focus on the flowers, or “buds,” it’s essential not to overlook the potential of the plant’s trim—leaves and stems that often get discarded. These parts may not be ideal for smoking, but they are perfect for making cannabis-infused oils, particularly cannabutter. This guide will show you how to make cannabutter from trim, ensuring that nothing from your cannabis plants goes to waste.

Why Use Trim for Cannabutter?

Trim, including fan leaves, sugar leaves, and stems, contains cannabinoids—though in lower concentrations than the cannabis buds. The small sugar leaves, for example, can have between 5% and 7% cannabinoids, while larger leaves may have around 2% to 3%. Using this trim for making cannabutter allows you to preserve the high-quality cannabis flower for smoking while still utilizing the plant’s psychoactive compounds in edibles.

Decarboxylation: The Key to Potency

Decarboxylation is the process that activates the cannabinoids in your cannabis trim, transforming non-psychoactive compounds like THCA into psychoactive THC. To decarboxylate cannabis, you need to apply heat at a controlled temperature. Without decarboxylation, your cannabutter won’t have the desired psychoactive effects, making this step crucial. The process involves heating the cannabis at a controlled temperature, typically between 220°F and 245°F, which causes the carboxyl group in THCA to release as carbon dioxide, leaving behind THC.

Once you have decarboxylated cannabis, it is ready to be used in various cannabis-infused products.

For optimal results, it’s essential to decarb your cannabis properly by following a decarboxylation temperature chart. Overheating can degrade the cannabinoids, while underheating may not fully activate the THC. Therefore, using an oven thermometer to monitor the temperature closely can help you avoid common pitfalls like over or under decarbing weed.

How to Make Cannabutter from Trim

Making cannabutter from trim involves a few essential steps, starting with the decarboxylation of the cannabis material on a baking sheet. This process activates the cannabinoids, turning the non-psychoactive THCA into psychoactive THC, making your edibles effective.

Before decarboxylation, you might wonder, should weed be ground? Grinding the weed can enhance the surface area and ensure an even consistency for more effective decarboxylation.

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How to Make Cannabutter from Trim

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Author: Cannabutter Digest

Equipment

• Microwave Oven
• Cookie Sheet with Parchment
• Hand Grinder or Mortar and Pestle
• Small or Medium-Sized Pot
• Stove
• Funnel
• Muslin Bag or Cheesecloth
• Refrigerator

Materials

• 1 cup of butter (can substitute with non-dairy butter, coconut oil, ghee, or other oil)
• 7-10 ounces of cannabis trim

Instructions

• Decarb the Cannabis Trim

  Decarboxylation is a crucial step to decarb weed. Preheat your oven to 245°F. Spread the cannabis trim evenly on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Bake the trim for 30 to 40 minutes, shaking the tray every 10 minutes to ensure the heat is distributed evenly. To properly decarb weed, ensure that the temperature is consistent and avoid overheating, which can degrade the cannabinoids. This process will activate the cannabinoids, turning your cannabis into “decarbed weed” ready for infusions.
• Grind the Decarbed Cannabis

  Once your trim from the cannabis plant is decarboxylated, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool. Use a hand grinder or a mortar and pestle to grind the decarbed cannabis into a coarse consistency. Grinding helps increase the surface area, making it easier to extract the cannabinoids during the infusion process.
• Melt the Butter or Coconut Oil

  In a small or medium-sized pot, combine one cup of water with one cup of butter, coconut oil, or ghee. Heat the mixture on low until the butter has completely melted. The water helps regulate the temperature and prevents the butter from burning.
• Infuse the Butter with Cannabis

  Add the ground cannabis trim to the pot, stirring it into the melted butter mixture to create potent cannabis products. Maintain a low simmer for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. It’s crucial to avoid boiling the mixture, as excessive heat can degrade the cannabinoids and reduce the potency of your cannabutter.
• Strain the Mixture

  After simmering, it's time to strain the mixture. Use a funnel and a muslin bag or cheesecloth to filter out the plant material. Pour the butter mixture through the cloth into a mason jar or other airtight container. Squeeze the bag or cheesecloth to extract as much liquid as possible.
• Refrigerate and Store

  Place the strained cannabutter in the refrigerator until it solidifies. Once solid, it's ready to use in your favorite cannabis edibles. Proper storage is essential for maintaining the potency and freshness of your cannabutter. Keep it in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight and excessive heat.

What Can You Use Cannabutter For in Cannabis Edibles?

Cannabutter is incredibly versatile and can be used in various recipes, allowing you to create your own edibles. From baked goods like brownies and cookies to savory dishes like macaroni and cheese, you can also drizzle it over popcorn or waffles, or even add a dollop to your morning coffee for a cannabis-infused kick.

Storing Your Cannabutter: Maximizing Shelf Life

Once you’ve made your cannabutter, proper storage is key to maintaining its potency and freshness. Cannabutter should be stored in an airtight container, such as a mason jar, and kept in the refrigerator. Exposure to air, light, and heat can degrade the cannabinoids, reducing the effectiveness of your cannabis edibles over time.

If you plan to store your cannabutter for an extended period, consider freezing it. Freezing cannabutter can extend its shelf life for several months without significantly affecting the potency or flavor. Just be sure to use an airtight container to prevent freezer burn, which can affect the texture and taste of your cannabutter.

By understanding the decarboxylation process and properly storing your cannabutter, you can ensure that your homemade cannabis edibles are as potent and effective as possible.

How LĒVO II Can Simplify the Process

If you’re looking to streamline the process of making cannabutter, consider using the LĒVO II infusion device. This innovative machine automates the steps of drying, decarboxylating, and infusing your cannabis, making it easier to create high-quality cannabis-infused oils and butters. With LĒVO II, you can control the temperature and time settings to achieve the desired potency and flavor, all while avoiding the mess and hassle of traditional methods.

In addition to its advanced technological capabilities, LĒVO II features a sleek modern facade that looks great in any kitchen. It comes in five stunning colors, including Licorice Black, Garden Green, Pacific Blue, Paprika Red, and Honey Cream. LĒVO II features a digital screen on the front of the device, where you can adjust both time and temperature settings. LĒVO II is also small enough to fit snugly inside a kitchen cabinet or a pantry if you opt to store it. 

Every LĒVO II device comes equipped with a Power Pod, which holds up to eight grams of cannabis or trim. A reservoir for infusions and a silicone stirring stick are also included in your purchase. Once your infusion is complete, all you have to do is wash LĒVO’s interior parts by hand or in the dishwasher.  

If you’re ready to consolidate your infusion process, it’s time to find the LEVO machine that is right for you! Whether your needs include making personal batches or larger batches of cannabis infusions for edible creations, LEVO has designed a machine for you. What makes LEVO unique? Learn more here.