How to Decarboxylate Kief | Cannabis Information Institute

Learn how to decarboxylate kief for cannabis edibles with our simple method.

Decarboxylation, or decarbing, is an essential process in making cannabis edibles. Cannabis is not psychoactive in its raw form and this process ensures that valuable cannabinoids, such as Delta-9 THC, are properly activated. In addition, the process of decarboxylation also prepares cannabis for bioavailability, a process that allows cannabis to have an effect as an edible substance. Learning how to decarboxylate cannabis will become an essential foundation in any cannabis consumer’s knowledge.

Kief is one of the very first cannabis concentrates and contains a high level of THC.

Usually, all that is needed to decarboxylate cannabis, or kief, for infusions and edibles are cannabis/kief, a baking tray, a conventional oven, and high-quality parchment paper.

What is Decarboxylation?

Decarboxylation is the scientific process that takes place when cannabis is exposed to heat. In scientific terms, decarboxylation refers to a reaction of carboxylic acids that remove a carbon atom from a chain of atoms present within a plant such as cannabis. When heat is applied to cannabis, it will remove a carboxyl group from the THCA cannabinoid (non-psychoactive) and creates the psychoactive Delta-9 THC. Decarboxylation also occurs when cannabis is smoked or vaporized.

Cannabis affects everyone in a different way due to the unique endocannabinoid system. It is important that you know your own tolerance to cannabis edibles. If you need to explore more about cannabis “flower to oil ratio”, click here.

How to Decarboxylate Kief For Edibles: Equipment Needed

The equipment needed to decarboxylate kief is very easy to obtain, you may already have all of the required equipment in the kitchen already.

High-quality parchment paper
Kief
Baking tray/cookie sheet
Conventional oven

Decarboxylation will become second-nature for cannabis edibles creators once you learn the correct process.

How to Decarboxylate Kief For Edibles

Decarboxylation is a simple process, no matter if you are using cannabis flower or kief.

Preheat conventional oven to 240 degrees Fahrenheit (115 Celsius)
Line baking tray with parchment paper
Place kief evenly across the parchment paper
Once the oven has heated, place kief inside the oven
Set timer for 20 minutes
Once 20 minutes have passed, stir kief lightly on parchment paper to ensure an even decarboxylation
Set timer for another 30 minutes
Turn oven off and remove decarboxylated kief
Set aside for 15 minutes to cool decarboxylated kief
Now, you have learnt how to decarboxylate kief for edibles
Infuse into butter, oil etc

Decarboxylated kief almost resembles brown sugar and will lose its sand-like consistency. Decarboxylated kief is also stickier than kief than has not been decarbed.

The kief is now ideal for infusions and edible creations. Storing this kief in a dark, cool cupboard is recommended if the infusion cannot take place for days, or even weeks.

Kief can be infused into butter, olive oil, coconut oil, sugar, duck fat, sunflower oil, and many, many more substances. The sky is the limit for cannabis infusions and edibles.

How to Decarboxylate Kief: Other Methods of Decarboxylation

Mason Jar Decarboxylation: Learning how to decarboxylate cannabis in a mason jar is a relatively straightforward process. Instead of using just a baking tray and parchment paper, use a mason jar on a baking dish (image below) or resting on a lined baking tray. Using the same jar to decarboxylate, infuse, and store cannabis oil or butter in is also recommended.

Mason jar decarboxylation is a mess-free, and simple- procedure.

Sous-Vide: Sous-vide decarboxylation takes place at a lower temperature, usually 204 degrees Fahrenheit (95 degrees Celsius) than regular decarboxylation. Sous-vide cooking involves vacuum-sealing food (kief in this case) within a bag and cooking at a precise temperature in water. The advantages of sous-vide decarboxylation for kief include consistency, less mess to clean up, and results that are impossible to achieve with any other method. Cannabutter or cannabis oil can also be infused using this method.

Vaporization: After vaporizing dried cannabis (or kief), a consumer is left with brown, often brittle, cannabis flower material. Before throwing this material away, take a minute to reflect on the process of decarboxylation. Vaping dried cannabis achieves a very similar result, depending on the temperature of your vaporizer, and this ‘waste’ material can be used to infused butter, oil and more. The maximum temperature you should operate a vaporizer at if you want the use ‘Already Vaped Bud’ in cannabutter or cannabis oil is 440 degrees Fahrenheit (227 degrees Celsius). At higher temperatures, combustion begins to occur and the cannabis flower material is no longer useful for cannabis infusions. Vaped cannabis is often high in a cannabinoid known as CBN, a potent sedative. Using vaporized cannabis in infusions or edibles may have a different effect on the consumer than traditionally decarboxylated cannabis.

Machine Assisted Decarboxylation: The contemporary market for at-home cannabis cooking equipment has seen the release of many machines that can decarboxylate cannabis for you. Many of these machine’s primary function is to make cannabis infusions such as butter or oil, but, some of the newer devices will also decarboxylate cannabis for the consumer.

How to Decarboxylate Cannabis While Infusing: What is a Passive Decarboxylation?

Passive decarboxylation involves infusing butter or oil with cannabis/kief, as well as decarboxylating it at the same time. This method is ideal for those who want a one-step process, as well as giving a cannabis consumer the ability to (somewhat) pair terpenes and ingredients to create a synergy like no other.

Passive decarboxylation can be achieved through all of the processes outlined above, however, this method is only advised for those who have consumed cannabis edibles before; the flavour of a cannabis infusion made with a passive decarboxylation is much stronger than an infusion that is made with a traditional, mason jar, or, sous-vide decarb. Cannabis oil or butter made using this process will be less potent, but, somewhat more flavourful.

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