Ever wondered about the powdery stuff you find at the bottom of your cannabis grinder? It’s called “kief,” and it’s one of the cannabis plant’s best “secret ingredients.”
Consisting of dried trichomes—the tiny, cannabinoid-filled glands that give fresh cannabis flower its characteristic silver dusting—kief is a concentrated source of cannabinoids and terpenes. Once you learn how to decarboxylate kief, you can use it to make incredible kief edibles right from the comfort of your own home!
Hold on: What’s “decarboxylate”? And why learn how to make kief edibles when there are so many great store-bought options at Mission dispensaries? Read on and uncover all the answers to your questions and so much more.
Why Decarboxylate Kief?
To be converted into the active form we know and love, THC needs heat, which is why we smoke and vape cannabis flower and other cannabis products such as kief. Cannabinoids like THC and CBD are found in their acidic forms (THCA, CBDA, etc.) in raw cannabis, and these acidic forms do not have the same psychoactive or therapeutic effects as their decarboxylated counterparts.
The technical term “decarboxylation” refers to the process of removing a carboxyl group (–COOH) from these acidic cannabinoids. This process releases carbon dioxide (CO2) and converts THCA into THC, CBDA into CBD, and so on.
The chemical reaction can be summarized as follows:
THCA → THC + CO2
In simple terms, decarboxylation is the process of heating cannabis to convert THCA into THC. This conversion is essential for activating the intoxicating properties of cannabis, making it suitable for making all kinds of edible products, from brownies to pasta and everything in between.
How to Decarboxylate Kief: Two Step-by-Step Guides
When you smoke or vape cannabis, the decarb process is instantaneous. But if you want to make kief-infused edibles (or any kind of cannabis-infused edible), you’ll have to decarb the cannabis first to activate the necessary compounds.
What You’ll Need for the Decarboxylation Process
Fortunately, decarbing kief is a relatively simple process that requires only a few tools and materials.
- Cannabis Material
- Oven
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Sheet
- Aluminum Foil
- Freezer
- Your Choice of Oil (optional)
- Mason Jar
How to Decarb Kief in the Oven
- Preheat the oven to 240°F (115°C).
- Place a sheet of parchment paper on top of the baking sheet.
- Using a digital scale, weigh out the desired amount of kief (typically in increments of a few grams) and then spread it out on the baking sheet. Be sure the kief is in an even layer — if it isn’t, you risk creating mounds or clumps.
- Cover the baking sheet with aluminum foil and place it in your oven. For THC-dominant flower, you’ll bake for 27 – 30 minutes. For high-CBD flower, bake for 45 – 55 minutes.
- Once the time has elapsed, remove the baking sheet from the oven and let it cool completely with the foil still on. To stop further decarboxylation and prevent degradation of the THC, you can cool the cannabis by placing it in the freezer for a few minutes.
- Collect your decarboxylated kief and store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. When cooled, the kief will have darkened slightly and may have possibly melted into a resinous pool, which is why we recommend using parchment paper.
Viola! Your decarbed kief is ready to use in recipes or for infusion into oils and butter — the sky’s the limit.
Bonus: How to Decarb Kief In The Oven in A Glass Jar
For this method, follow the same steps as the oven decarboxylation process described above, but add your kief into a mason jar instead of on a baking sheet before putting it in the oven.
Don’t over-tighten the lid — you’ll need to open it periodically to shake the jar every 15 minutes throughout the baking process (just remember to use oven gloves before touching). Shaking the jar ensures that the kief is evenly exposed to heat, which can be harder to achieve when the kief is spread on a flat surface in the oven.
An added pro of this variant is that it is more stealthy. The mason jar better contains the smell within the jar, making it less noticeable. Also, the mason jar provides extra protection against direct heat, which can sometimes fluctuate in ovens, especially in older models.
How to Decarb Kief in Oil
It is entirely possible to decarb your kief directly in oil or butter, which efficiently combines decarboxylation and infusion. By decarbing directly in oil, you can ensure the cannabinoids are fully activated and readily absorbable. Plus you’ll have an infused fat that is ready for baking and cooking.
- Gently heat your chosen oil in a saucepan, aiming for a temperature between 220°F (104°C) and 250°F (115°C). It can be tricky to guess the exact temperature, and when it’s fully heated, so you should use a thermometer.
- Once the oil is heated, add the kief directly to it and stir well to ensure it is evenly dispersed.
- Maintain this temperature and allow the kief to decarboxylate in the oil for approximately 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent settling and ensure even heat exposure.
- When the time is up, let the oil cool slightly, and if desired, strain the mixture to remove any remaining plant material, depending on how you plan to use the infused oil.
- Store in an airtight container and keep in the fridge.
If you use this method, keep in mind that regular monitoring and temperature control are very tricky aspects of decarbing—so keep a close eye on things.
Using Decarboxylated Kief in Edibles
Once decarboxylated, your kief is ready to be used in countless infused edibles! You can use it in baked goods, dressing, sauces, gummies, smoothies, and more. Your creativity is the limit!
Find Quality Cannabis and Tasty Edibles at Mission
Decarboxylating kief for edibles is a simple process with a huge payoff—but whatever you make with your potent kief, remember the golden rule: Start low and go slow. The cannabis in infused edibles can take up to 90 minutes to take effect. So eat a small portion, wait, and re-up after a couple of hours if you aren’t feeling any effects.
Want to try an edible without going through the decarb process? We can help with that! Start by choosing the Mission dispensary closest to you, where you’ll find a huge selection of tasty edibles in every possible style, from gummies to brownies, infused drinks, and more!
Ready to take a deep dive into all things cannabis? Start with the wide world of cannabis concentrates and find out what makes live resin and distillate so different. Want more? Read through our extensive blog to get the full rundown!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Should I Put Kief In the Oven?
The rule of thumb is to bake kief for 27 – 30 minutes at a temperature of 240°F (115°C). If you are decarboxylating CBD, which requires slightly more time to activate, you may need to bake it for 45 to 55 minutes at the same temperature.
Can You Make Edibles From Kief?
Yes, you can make edibles from kief. Once decarboxylated, kief can be directly added to recipes or infused into butter or oil, which can then be used for any dish you can think of.
What Is The Best Oven Temperature for Decarboxylation?
The best oven temperature for decarboxylating cannabis, including kief, is 220°F to 240°F (104°C to 121°C). This temperature range is ideal for converting THCA to THC without burning or degrading the cannabinoids and terpenes.
