Microwaves, coffee makers, and other household appliances that can be used with marijuana

Our kitchens are filled with a great variety of devices that make our lives easier, but did you know that some of them can have a special relationship with cannabis? Microwaves, coffee makers, ovens, or even yogurt makers can be used in different ways to create synergies (both good and bad) with our favourite plant. Here we show you how.

Some people take weed extremely seriously. Beside buying the latest and greatest cannabis strains, there is also a thriving market of kitchen appliances for fans of this plant. From specific models to create edibles to the latest portable extraction technology, this is a booming sector that continues to grow in places like the U.S.

However, there’s no need to spend money to be able to benefit from what these machines have to offer. Some appliances that are already available in our homes can also be applied to marijuana in many ways, whether in a culinary or more purely recreational manner. And, to prove it to you, we’re going to address some of the most frequently asked questions that users have when contending with these devices.

Should you microwave your weed before smoking it?

Did you know that rapper Snoop Dogg heats his blunts in the microwave for 11 seconds before smoking them? According to him, he does this to “catch all the flavours” inside the blunt, which is just a marijuana joint rolled in a tobacco leaf.

Every smoker, Snoop Dogg included, is free to use cannabis as they please; and he’s not wrong in saying that the microwave “tightens things” and “blocks” its taste. Any remaining water in the blunt cover evaporates due to the excitation of the molecules, which results in tighter wrapping. And the flavour that he refers to probably comes from the terpenes that evaporate in the air rather than the ones in his lungs.

So the answer is yes: your marijuana can be heated in the microwave. As happens with so many other things, though, the simple fact that you can do it doesn’t necessarily mean that you should do it. But if you know the power of your microwave and the maximum time that you can leave your weed in before it burns, maybe it’s worth the risk.

But remember that THC has a much lower boiling point than CBD (157ºC as opposed to CBD’s 180ºC). This means that higher temperatures may cause it to degrade and release volatile substances such as terpenes, thereby altering your weed’s aroma, flavour, and perhaps even its effects.

Therefore, when you heat up your marijuana in the microwave, you take the risk of destroying its active ingredients, which would in turn leave you with harsh buds that are drier than a bone and which may not produce the desired effects.

Can marijuana be decarboxylated in the oven?

A different matter is to decarboxylate marijuana so it can be used as a base for oils, butters, and other kinds of edibles. The fresh plant contains cannabinoids in their acidic form, which don’t produce the effects that we enjoy so much. For this to occur, they need to be activated through decarboxylation, a chemical reaction that takes place when heat is applied.

When you smoke or vape marijuana buds, decarboxylation occurs due to the combustion and vaporisation processes. When you eat cannabis, however, this process needs to have previously taken place, or otherwise it won’t produce any psychoactive effects.

Fortunately, this is quite easy. Simply crumble a little bit of cannabis, place it on an oven tray, and put it in the oven at around 105 – 120°C for 30 – 45 minutes. Check it now and then to ensure that it doesn’t burn. And, just like that, you’ll have your decarboxylated weed in no time! This process can also be done in just 30 minutes if you raise the temperature to a maximum of 120ºC. Above this temperature some terpenes start to volatilise, so be careful.

How can you make extracts with a Nespresso machine?

Have you got a coffee capsule machine lying around? Well, now you’ll look at it with new eyes, because you’re in possession of a lab-approved THC extraction device. A team of scientists from the University of Valencia (Spain) set out to prove if a simple espresso machine could be used to make cannabis extracts using common solvents.

In an article published in The International Journal of Pure and Applied Analytical Chemistry, scientists detail how they used an Essenza Manual XN2003 Nespresso machine (Krups’ typical model) to extract the cannabinoids THC, CBD, and CBN from the cannabis provided to them by the Valencia Police Narcotics Department.

A 0.2 gram cannabis sample was ground up and inserted into an empty coffee capsule. The machine’s water tank was filled with isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol).
When the machine was turned on, it only took 40 seconds to produce a liquid extract containing approximately 90% of the cannabinoids measured in the sample (THC, CBD, and CBN).

This method was compared against other professional methods, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction, gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, and ion mobility spectrometry, and it was found to produce similar results but with a much shorter extraction time (of around one minute).

Researchers also pointed out that they used a thorough cleaning process, and that the machine “was used in our lab during the last two years and a half without observing any damage or incident”. “Our experience demonstrates that this method of extraction of the main cannabinoids gives good results and proves the wide variety of uses available with a cheap and practical coffee machine”, the study concluded.

Should I clean my pipe or bong in the dishwasher?

Putting your favourite pipe or bong in the dishwasher doesn’t seem like a bad idea. After all, you’ve put some crusty plates in there before and they’ve always come out clean and shiny.

But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Hot water isn’t enough to clean or disinfect them properly; water pressure often leads to breakages; and extreme heat can cause them to melt (especially if they’re made of plastic), with the resin ending up in your dishwasher, obstructing things and, above all, staining the rest of the dishes.

The best and safest way to clean a bong is with a solution of 90% isopropyl alcohol or vinegar, along with an abrasive component such as coarse salt. All you need is a short soak and you’ll be able to rinse off most of the remaining dirt very quickly.

Does an electric mill grind cannabis well?

A grinder is an essential tool for anyone who wants to enjoy a good consumption experience. However, if you don’t have a grinder, there are several other devices in the kitchen that can also be used to grind your weed. These include coffee mills, pestle and mortars, food processors, or even blenders.

You can also use a pepper grinder: just replace the peppercorns with the buds and get cranking. Of course, if you prefer using an electric coffee mill, remember to manicure the buds really well to remove all the twigs, because the blades don’t distinguish between good and evil, so you could end up with a mass that includes everything.

Can a yogurt maker ferment cannabis?

Cannabis fermented in cobs is an ancient technique to cure marijuana that is native to Africa. After cutting the crop and drying it briefly, the moist buds were tightly wrapped in banana leaves and tied with a rope, and then buried under goat dung to slowly cure for several months.

This traditional curing method through fermentation ensured a softer and sweeter smoke, as well as higher potency and a richer terpene profile. And now you can also make African cobs (like the renowned ‘Malawi Gold Cobs’) using only a simple yogurt maker.

First you need to make a cob with fresh buds and vacuum seal it. Then place it in the yogurt maker at 40ºC for between 6 to 24 hours. You can go as high as 60ºC, or possibly even higher, but the fermentation will happen more quickly. Then take out the cob and dry it, as it’ll still be moist. Next, vacuum seal it again for a month to cold cure it at 30°C or at room temperature. Et voilà! With a household appliance as vintage as a yogurt maker, you’ll become an expert in one of the most ancient curing processes and make everyone’s jaws drop!