You’ve probably heard about decarboxylation, and you may even be familiar with the process of decarbing dry trim. But what about wet trim? Can you decarboxylate wet trim?
The answer is yes! Decarbing wet trim can be a great way to get more out of your cannabis trim. It’s not as straightforward as decarbing dry material, however, so it pays to know exactly what you’re doing. In this article, we’ll cover all the basics of what you need to know before attempting to decarb wet trim.
We’ll look at everything from the difference between wet and dry trim, to how to prepare it for the process and everything in between. So let’s dive in and demystify the process once and for all!
What Is Decarboxylation and Why Do We Need It?
If you’re looking to make cannabis edibles or tinctures, you’ll need to decarboxylate your cannabis. But what exactly is it? Decarboxylation is the process of activating the compounds in cannabis, including the cannabinoids like THC and CBD, through the application of heat. Simply put, it’s an essential step that prepares cannabis for use.
When decarboxylating wet trim, there are a few things to keep in mind. First and foremost, you want to keep your heat low enough so that it doesn’t burn off any precious plant matter and break down the cannabinoids you’re working to activate. Second, moisture can cause issues in decarboxylation since it’s best done on dry material only—so drying is critical.
Last but certainly not least, keep an eye on your timing since this will affect the potency of your end product. With all that being said, decarboxylation can be one of the more intimidating steps for first-time cannabis users—but with a little guidance and practice, you’ll be decarbing like a pro in no time!
What Are the Benefits of Decarboxylating Wet Trim?
Decarboxylating wet trim has many advantages over other methods of decarbing. For one, it’s much faster than drying and curing buds before decarboxylation, as it removes the need for the lengthy drying process. This makes it the ideal method for those who want to process large amounts of material quickly and efficiently.
Secondly, it preserves terpenes more effectively than alternative methods. Terpenes are volatile compounds that can easily be lost during the drying and curing process, so by eliminating this step you can get more of those tasty aromatic compounds into your finished product.
Finally, decarboxylating wet trim also ensures that you extract cannabinoids from every part of your cannabis material. This means you get a higher yield of cannabinoids in your finished product—which is always a desirable outcome!
What You Should Know Before You Start Decarboxylating
Decarboxylating your cannabis flower is an important step in making edibles and topicals, but it doesn’t just apply to dry bud. If you’ve got wet trim, you can decarb it too — but there are a few things that you need to know before you start.
Will the THC be Activated?
The good news is that yes, the cannabinoids will still be activated with wet trim. Though the water content might slow down decarboxylation, this doesn’t impact the amount of THC being activated — as long as your temperatures don’t dip below 220°F, then your cannabinoids should be activated just fine.
Don’t Use Too Much Heat
Decarboxylating wet trim takes longer than dry trim, and one way to speed up the process is to raise your oven’s temperature. However, don’t go too high — temperatures above 300°F can burn off the plant material’s terpenes. This not only impacts flavor and aroma but also reduces cannabis’s medical potential due to terpene’s medical properties.
Slow Cooker Method
If you want to avoid using too much heat or a lengthy process in the oven, then consider using a slow cooker. Slow cookers tend to stay at around 200–240°F which is ideal for decarboxylation without ruining any of cannabis’s medicinally beneficial properties — plus this method requires very little effort on your part!
The Steps to Decarboxylating Wet Trim
Ever wondered—Can I decarb wet trim? Yes, you can. It’s a simple process, and we’re about to tell you all about it.
Step 1: Dry the Trim
The first step is to dry the trim. You can do this with a dehydrator, but if you don’t have one at home, no worries—you can use your oven. Set the oven to as low as possible (most ovens go down to 175ºF), place the trim on an oven-safe tray and leave it in there for 15 minutes or so. It might take up to 2 hours for really wet trim, so just keep an eye on it.
If you don’t have the time or motivation to dry then yes, you can go straight from wet trim to decarboxylation, no worries mate!
Step 2: Decarboxylate the Trim
Once your trim is dry enough—it should still be a bit sticky when you touch it—it’s time for decarboxylation, which is where you activate the THC in the plant material by heating it up.
Set your oven to 220ºF (or as close as possible) and spread out your dried trim over an oven-safe tray or baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Leave in the oven for 40 minutes and check every 10 minutes or so to make sure your buds don’t burn.
Step 3: Let Cool and Enjoy!
Once done, turn off your oven and let the pan of trim cool down before handling it again. Your decarboxylated buds are now ready to be used in edibles recipes or pressed into hash!
Troubleshooting Tips for Decarboxylating Wet Trim
You may be wondering if you can decarb wet trim. The short answer is yes, but it requires extra precautions. Let’s look at some troubleshooting tips to ensure the decarboxylation process goes smoothly.
Recipe Conversion
The first thing to note is that you have to adjust your recipe conversions when using wet trim instead of dry. You’ll need to use double the amount of trim as you would using dry—for example, a recipe calling for one ounce of dry trim will require two ounces of wet trim for the same result.
Oven Temperature and Timing
You’ll also need to adjust your oven temperature and timing when decarbing wet trim. Keep in mind that the water content in wet trimmings means more energy is required to evaporate it off—so set your oven at least 25% higher than you would with dry material and extend the cooking time by 25%.
For a smoother process, try these helpful tips:
- Spread your wet trimmings out in a thin layer on a non-stick Silpat mat or parchment paper, to help create an even heat distribution as quickly as possible
- Set your oven timer for 15-minute intervals and check on your progress each time
- Once done, allow your material to rest until it’s cool enough to handle; then store it in an airtight container or an ice cube tray with lids
With careful consideration and preparation, you can successfully decarboxylate your wet cannabis trim—which gives you all kinds of delicious possibilities!
Making the Most Out of Your Decarbed Wet Trim
When you’ve gone through the process of decarboxylating wet trim, you’ll be ready to cook with it and make some top-shelf cannabis treats. But, if you really want to maximize your decarbed wet trim, there are a few things you need to pay attention to in order to get the most out of your product.
Use with Quality Edibles
It’s important that whatever edibles you use with your decarbed wet trim are top-notch quality. You should always check the labels to make sure they don’t contain any preservatives or fillers—you want to start with natural ingredients whenever possible.
Don’t Overcook
Cooking your canna-treats is of course key for activating THC, but it’s also possible to overcook them and end up burning away all the goodness. This can lead to a disappointing experience since your treats won’t contain all the beneficial compounds from the trichomes in the wet trim.
To maximize your decarbed wet trim, here are some tips:
- Make sure you have high-quality edible ingredients
- Follow instructions when cooking canna-treats
- Monitor cooking temperature closely (don’t let it get too hot!)
- Don’t overcook––aim for medium heat and only cook until thoroughly heated
Conclusion
All in all, it’s important to take the time to understand what decarboxylating wet trim is and why it’s important. Many cannabis growers have seen great success with this method, but it’s not right for everyone.
Ultimately, the decision is up to you whether to decarboxylate wet trim or not. The key is to do the research, weigh the pros and cons, and decide if it’s a process that will help you get the most out of your weed. With the right information, you can make an educated decision on whether or not decarbing wet trim is the best way to take your cannabis to the next level.
