Best Decarboxylators | Buyer’s Guide

Humor us a moment while we sound like your high school chemistry teacher — we promise this is relevant info. The term “decarboxylation” refers to a chemical reaction wherein carbon dioxide is realized from a carboxyl group. The opposite of decarboxylation is “carboxylation,” which is also the first step in photosynthesis.

Marijuana without decarboxylation does not produce any intoxicating effects. The reason for this is that the tetrahydrocannabinolic acid in cannabis (better known as THC) is not psychoactive in its raw form. This is why you could eat several leaves of a cannabis plant and not feel any different than if you ate leaves of basil or thyme, except maybe disappointment.

There is one easy way to bring on decarboxylation and activate THC — through smoking. When you smoke or vape cannabis, the heat begins the decarboxylation process. However, many who smoke their cannabis still prefer to use a decarboxylator beforehand to ensure that their weed is the perfect temperature for smoking.

The decarboxylator shines if you plan to use your cannabis for cooking/baking. The reason for this is cooking or baking with raw weed would not lead to positive results, both taste- and psychoactive-wise.

Of course, many makeshift options for encouraging infuser decarboxylation do exist. This includes leaving your edibles in the oven for an hour before baking or employing the help of a slow cooker. Still, these are impractical and inaccurate.

When you decarboxylate weed haphazardly, it’s easy to overcook your weed and lose the effects of THC. This isn’t even to mention the odorous residue these DIY decarboxylation methods can cause.

Decarboxylators are modern technology, so it can be a bit tricky to explain how they work. Most decarboxylators will work through a series of heating cycles enabled by an intuitive algorithm. This is all happening on the inside — all you have to do as the decarboxylator owner is push a button. Some decarboxylators are less high-tech and will keep your buds confined to an airtight container where the temperature is closely monitored.

The term cannabis decarboxylator is often used interchangeably with herbal or weed infuser, although they are slightly different. While decarboxylators are designed to heat cannabis to its ideal temperature, an herbal infuser is designed to extract strong oil that can be turned into a capsule, tincture, or baking ingredient. Therefore, you may need to search for the best decarboxylator and infuser for your cannabis preparation needs.

Remember, this is helpful too — THC is fat-soluble and will need a fatty ingredient to latch onto to do its magic. These products may also be called cannabutter machines (such as LĒVO Oil, as they create infused oil butter).

This marvelous machine works as a decarboxylator and oil extractor. The LĒVO II is not even advertised solely as a weed diffuser — it can technically be used on any herb. Still, it enjoys incredible popularity among cannabis folks.

The LĒVO II can dehydrate herbs as well as activate them. And yes, by activation, we’re talking about decarboxylation. That means that owners of the LĒVO II benefit from a seamless oil diffusion process and an easy-to-use decarboxylation process. All the appliance’s operations can be controlled from an easy-to-use smartphone app, which is as sleek as the infuser machine’s design.

• 7.9” across, 13” tall
• 9.5 lbs
• Stylish and resembles kitchen appliance
• Retails for $399

The Herbal Chef electric infuser is a great beginner’s option due to its entry-level price point and ease of use. With push-button operation and an easy-to-clean design, it’s foolproof for those new to decarb machines. At just $119.00 (or $95.20 when you use coupon AMMA), it’s one of the cheaper options we came across.

While it’s easy to use and maintain, it’s no slouch on features. The Herbal Chef infuser can make butter, oils, and tinctures in as little as ten minutes. It also features an automatic safety shutoff, automatic or manual operation, and a 1-year warranty.

• Fast and free shipping
• 800 W heater
• Discrete package
• 200 W motor

The MB2e Magical Butter machine is a small appliance. It’s a kitchen tool designed to help budding chefs and bakers make high-quality oils, sweets, and tinctures. The machine comes with pre-programmed temperature and time cycles, which makes it easy to use even if you are somebody without a lot of experience in handling raw cannabis.

This machine is branded as the “world’s first countertop botanical extractor.” It’s designed to include both an immersion blender and a programmable thermostat.

You can also save big with our Magical Butter coupon codes. This cannabis infuser will do everything for you, from grinding to extraction to heating. It earns a high place on its list for its fair pricing and easy baking.

On top of that, you can get the Magical Butter Decarb bundle for just a few dollars more. This includes the DecarBox Thermometer Combo Pack.

• 10” across, 14” tall
• 10 lbs
• Sleek silver design
• Retails for $199.95

By far the easiest infuser to use, the Canada Puffin Cannabutter Maker is as easy as making a cup of tea. Its stovetop operation means you don’t need electricity to operate it, and there are no buttons or settings to fuss with. Simply add bud, butter, water, and heat on the stove. It’s that easy! The function is very similar to a stovetop espresso maker.

At just $59.00 (or $47.20 with coupon AMMA), it’s also the most affordable option here. This is the one for you if you want something simple that will do the trick without breaking the bank.

• Stainless steel
• Durable flip-top and carry handle
• Works in 10 minutes
• Light and portable

The MagicalButter DecarBox comes in a bit of a different form than the other options on this list, coming in a basic silicone box that goes directly into the oven. The silicone box serves as an airtight environment which can then be set to a desirable temperature for the ideal decarboxylation process. The airtight container allows for odor control by locking in the scent of the cannabis inside the box, and the box’s temperature sensor helps you get a true reading of your oven’s temperature.

Although less sleek and automated than the other options on this list, the MagicalButter DecarBox does offer accurate oven temperature measurements. This is generally difficult with at-home decarboxylation processes, as most ovens have an uneven internal temperature.

• 6.5” across, 9” tall
• 1 lb
• Lightweight silicone box
• Retails for $44.95

If you make your own edibles, you need to be decarboxylation. And if you’re decarboxylating, you need to be doing it with the right machine.

The one that you choose is a matter of personal preference. It will depend largely on budget restraints, comfort with technology, and whether or not you are after a simple machine or a decarboxylator/diffuser combination.

No matter what you choose, you are sure to have some fun experimenting with the different kinds of cannabis creations!