The Complete Cannabutter Guide

Cannabutter is the most versatile cannabis infusion — the foundation of brownies, cookies, sauces, and any recipe that calls for butter. This guide covers three methods from simplest to most precise, with exact temperatures, timing, and troubleshooting for each.

If you haven't already decarboxylated your cannabis, start with our decarboxylation guide — it's a required first step for any butter infusion.

What You Need

• Decarboxylated cannabis — 7g per cup of butter for standard potency, 14g for strong
• Unsalted butter — 1 cup (2 sticks / 227g) per batch
• Water — 1 cup (this prevents burning and is removed after infusion)
• Cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer
• Digital thermometer
• Airtight storage container

Method 1: Stovetop

The most hands-on method, but offers good control over temperature for experienced cooks.

1. 01

   Melt butter with water over low heat

   Combine 1 cup butter and 1 cup water in a medium saucepan. Stir until butter is fully melted.

2. 02

   Add decarbed cannabis

   Stir in your decarboxylated flower. The mixture should be at a very gentle simmer — not boiling.

3. 03

   Maintain 160–180°F for 2–3 hours

   Keep heat on the lowest setting. Check temperature every 20–30 minutes. Stir occasionally. Never let it boil — boiling destroys cannabinoids.

4. 04

   Strain through cheesecloth

   Pour through a cheesecloth-lined strainer into a heat-safe container. Squeeze gently to extract liquid but don't force plant material through.

5. 05

   Refrigerate overnight

   The butter will solidify on top. Poke a hole in the butter disk and drain the water underneath. Pat dry.

Method 2: Slow Cooker / Crockpot

The most popular method for home infusers. The slow cooker's steady, low heat reduces the risk of overheating and requires less monitoring than stovetop.

1. 01

   Combine butter, water, and cannabis in slow cooker

   Set to LOW. Do not use the HIGH setting — it runs too hot for cannabinoid preservation.

2. 02

   Cook on LOW for 4–6 hours

   Stir every hour. The longer infusion time at lower temperatures extracts more cannabinoids than the stovetop method.

3. 03

   Strain and refrigerate

   Same process as stovetop — strain through cheesecloth, refrigerate, and remove the water layer.

Method 3: Infusion Machine (LEVO, Ardent)

Dedicated infusion machines automate temperature and time with precision. The LEVO 2 and Ardent FX are the two most popular options. Simply add your ingredients, select a cycle, and let the machine handle the rest. See our tool comparisons for detailed reviews.

Dosage Calculations

To calculate the potency of your finished cannabutter, you need three numbers: flower weight, THC percentage, and extraction efficiency. Use our edible dosage calculator to get exact mg per serving.

Example of why dilution matters: 7g flower at 20% THC with 80% extraction efficiency = 1,120 mg total THC in 1 cup of butter. If you cut brownies into 16 pieces, each piece contains ~70 mg — well into "very strong" territory. Halving the cannabis or diluting the butter brings each serving down to a much more manageable 5–15 mg range.

Storage and Shelf Life

• Refrigerator: 2–3 weeks in an airtight container
• Freezer: Up to 6 months. Portion into ice cube trays for easy single-serving use
• Always label with date, strain (if known), and estimated potency per tablespoon

Troubleshooting

• Weak effects: Most likely a decarboxylation issue. Verify your decarb temperature and time. Also ensure you infused for long enough (minimum 2 hours stovetop, 4 hours crockpot).
• Bitter or green taste: Too much plant material passed through the strainer, or the cannabis was ground too fine. Use coarser grind and don't squeeze the cheesecloth too hard.
• Grainy texture: Water wasn't fully removed. Re-melt the butter on low heat, let it settle, and strain again through fine cheesecloth.
• Inconsistent potency: Cannabis wasn't mixed evenly into the butter during infusion. Stir more frequently during the cooking process.

What to Make with Cannabutter

Once you have cannabutter, you can use it anywhere regular butter is called for:

• Cannabis brownies — the classic edible
• Cannabis grilled cheese — use cannabutter to toast the bread
• Cannabis hot chocolate — melt cannabutter into hot milk
• Simple toast, pasta, or any recipe where butter adds flavor