Pantry Basics For the Cannabis Kitchen

Keeping these cannabis-infused pantry basics handy will make edibles a cinch and give a steady base to your cannabis menu.

Every cannabis cook has to keep a well-stocked pantry. That means making big batches of your favorite infusions, leaving the basics for any recipe handy and readily available in the pantry. You never know when you might need a spoonful of cannasugar, or a tablespoon of cannabis butter to elevate a meal.

If you know how to make cannabis edibles (or not), we’ve gathered a few of the pantry basics you’ll need for a full-potency kitchen.

How to Make Cannabis Butter (or Cannabutter)

The go-to for all cannabis chefs. If you don’t know how to make cannabis edibles with butter, it’s the number one recipe to learn. Feel free to double or triple the batch to make your life easier in the weeks to come.

Ingredients:

½ ounce cannabis flower

1 cup butter

1 tsp sunflower lecithin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 220 °F
2. Place cannabis in an ovenproof dish covered with tinfoil. Decarb cannabis flower in the oven for 20 minutes.
3. Remove from oven and roughly grind.
4. Place ground cannabis in a mason jar, along with the butter.
5. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer, and place the cannabis-filled mason jar inside. Simmer for 2-3 hours.
6. Remove from heat, and add sunflower lecithin into the jar while still very warm. Stir to combine.
7. Once cool enough to hand, strain the flower from the oil using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Discard flower.
8. Store cannabutter in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Olive Oil

Infusion olive oil is another great pantry item to always have in stock. If olive oil isn’t your favorite healthy-oil ( or you don’t have enough on hand) feel free to substitute with another oil like avocado oil.

Olive oil is more suited to savory dishes. If you want to get a little creative, you can always add a clove of garlic, chili, or rosemary to your final batch.

Ingredients:

½ ounce cannabis flower

1 cup olive oil

1 tsp sunflower lecithin

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 220 °F
2. Place cannabis in an ovenproof dish covered with tinfoil. Decarb cannabis flower in the oven for 20 minutes.
3. Remove from oven and roughly grind.
4. Place ground cannabis in a mason jar, along with the olive oil.
5. Bring a large pot of water to a simmer, and place the cannabis-filled mason jar inside. Simmer for 2-3 hours.
6. Remove from heat, and add sunflower lecithin into the jar while still very warm. Stir to combine.
7. Once cool enough to handle, strain the flower from the oil using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Discard flower.
8. Store cannabis olive oil in the refrigerator, in a cool dark cupboard, sealed in an airtight container.

How to Make Cannabis Oil Powder

One of the kickers with edibles is the long onset time. It can take hours before the full effects come to fruition. For patients looking for quick-relief, why not turn to cannabis oil powder? Some people report relief comes within 5 minutes and can be used it just about anything.

Ingredients:

⅛ ounce of cannabis, roughly ground.

1/4 cup of your preferred oil

½ teaspoon sunflower lecithin powder

3/4 cup of maltodextrin (a corn-based carbohydrate)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 220 °F
2. Place cannabis in an ovenproof dish covered with tinfoil. Decarb cannabis flower in the oven for 20 minutes.
3. Combine cannabis with oil (we recommend coconut oil), and sunflower lecithin powder in a sealed glass jar.
4. Simmer in a large pot of water for 2 to 3 hours.
5. Remove from heat, and once cool enough to handle, strain the flower from the oil using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer. Discard flower.
6. In a bowl, mix the infused oil with maltodextrin. It is water-soluble and tasteless.
7. Using a sieve, sift the mixture into a fine powder and store in an airtight glass container.

How to Make Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil (Slow Cooker Method)

Cannabis-infused coconut oil is an all-natural, multi-purpose, and vegan pantry item. Coconut oil is an excellent addition to both savory and sweet recipes, plus it’s the key-ingredient no-bake treats.

Besides all that, infused coconut oil makes for a soothing muscle rub and massage oil.

This slow cooker method is perfect for anyone who wants to set-it and forget-it. If you don’t have a slow cooker, use the cannabutter recipe and swap out the butter for coconut oil. Easy Peasy.

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut oil

1 cup roughly ground cannabis

Directions:

1. Roughly grind the flower using a grinder or scissors.
2. Turn your slow cooker on low, and add coconut oil and cannabis into the pot.
3. Set timer for six to eight hours. Place coconut oil and cannabis in a slow cooker, and turn on low for upwards of six to eight hours.
4. After six to eight hours, remove from heat and allow to cool until it’s safe to handle but not solid.
5. Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer.
6. Toss the leftover flower into the compost, as it no longer contains any value.
7. Store the coconut oil in a sealed glass jar, and in a cool dark place.

How to Make Cannasugar

On the many items on your list, you’ll want to learn how to make cannabis edibles the sugar edition. Cannasugar is just that — cannabis-infused sugar. We highly recommend that you sprinkle it on everything, from cinnamon-toast to your morning coffee. Cannasugar is a sweet relief.

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups white sugar

1 cup cannabis tincture

Directions:

1. Evenly spread sugar in an even layer over a baking dish.
2. Add cannabis tincture and mix until absorbed. Spread out into an even layer.
3. Bake on lowest temperature for one hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
4. After one hour, test sugar. If it is still damp, continue baking until completely dry.
5. Sugar is done once it reaches original consistency again (dry, sandy).
6. Allow to cool completely before storing in an airtight jar.

Safety and Precaution Basics in the Cannabis Pantry

If you plan on keeping any cannabis-infused pantry basics, do yourself a favor:

1. Label Everything: Nobody wants a THC-laden surprise. Label all your cannabis infusions clearly. If you know the potency or total cannabinoid content even better.
2. Date Your Concoctions: Some ingredients last longer than others, so you’ll want to date everything immediately after making it. Six months down the line you don’t want to try figuring out if this jar or that jar of cannabutter was the most recent.
3. Keep it Safe: If you live with others, especially children, store all cannabis well out of reach. Cannabis butter needs to stay in the fridge or freezer, but most other infusions need only a cool, dark cupboard. Wherever you store your goods, make sure the kiddos cannot find it.

Now You’re Ready!

Once you’ve conquered the oils, sugars, and powders above, you’ll be fully stocked with pantry basics for you cannabis kitchen. These medicinal essentials will come in handy the next time you make cannabis gummy bears, infused lemon vinaigrette, or a THC-packed hummus dip.

As you get to cooking, don’t be afraid to get creative (but avoid these rookie mistakes!).