Best Decarboxylators | 2024 Buyer’s Guide

Humor us for 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 also happens to be the first step in photosynthesis.

Marijauna 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 or basil, or of thyme, except maybe disappointment.

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

The decarboxylator really shines if you are planning on using your cannabis for cooking/baking. The reason for this is cooking or baking with raw weed would not lead to positive results, both taste-wise or psycho-active wise.

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

When you are decarboxylating weed haphazardly, it’s easy to overcook your weed and losing the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This isn’t even to begin to mention the odorous residue that 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 that are 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, a herbal infuser is designed to extract strong oil that can be turned into a capsule, tincture, or baking ingredient. 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 referred to as a cannabutter machine (as they create infused oil butter).

This marvellous machine works not only as a decarbylator but also as an oil extractor. Actually, the Levo II is not even advertised solely as a weed diffuser—it can technically be used on any kind of herb—but it enjoys an incredible popularity among cannabis folks.

The Levo II has the ability to dehydrate herbs as well as activate them. And yes, by activation, we are talking about decarboxylation. That means that owners of the Levo II benefit not only from a seamless oil diffusion process, but also from an easy-to-use decarboxylation process. All the appliance’s operations can be controlled from an easy-to-use smartphone app that is as sleek as the Levo II’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 not only to its entry-level price point, but ease of use as well. With push-button operation and and easy-to-clean design, it’s foolproof for those that are new to decarboxylators. 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 either – 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 brands itself 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 decarb and infusion machine 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.

For just a few dollars more, you can get the Magical Butter Decarb bundle. 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 even need electricity to operate it, and there are no buttons or settings to fuss with. Simply add bud, butter and water, and heat on the stove. It’s that easy! The function is very similar to a stovetop espresso maker, if you’ve ever used one of those.

At just $59.00 (or $47.20 with coupon AMMA), it’s also – by far – the most affordable option on this list. If you’re looking for something simple that will do the trick without breaking the bank, this is the one for you.

• 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 in 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 of 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 a way to accurately measure your oven’s temperature—something that is generally difficult to do 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!