Does Putting Weed In The Microwave Make It Stronger?

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One thing that you may have heard some people recommend is to put your weed in the microwave to make it stronger and to dry it out. So, does putting weed in the microwave make it stronger?

The short answer here is that no, putting weed in the microwave does not make it stronger. Yes, it may decarb it and dry it out so you can dry weed faster, but it will not actually make it stronger, rather the opposite in fact.

Does Microwaving Your Weed Make It Stronger?

The simple answer to this question is that no, putting your weed in the microwave will not make it stronger. Weed contains over 60 different cannabinoids, with THC being the most important one, the one that gets you high.

Weed also contains many different terpenes, which are what gives weed its aroma and flavor. When you microwave weed, it affects these cannabinoids in a certain way, and it’s not very good.

Microwaving your weed will not only fail to make it stronger, but may actually do the opposite and make it weaker, plus it can ruin the flavor and aroma as well.

What Happens When You Microwave Your Weed?

Ok, so really the only reason why you would ever microwave weed is to dry it out quickly after harvest, but this is really not recommended. Some people may also choose to use the microwave to decarb their weed.

This means that inactive THC is turned into THCA, which is the active form that can actually get you high. Yes, decarboxylation is required for that THC to get you high. However, decarbing your weed is something that happens automatically during combustion, so this is not something you need to do when vaping or smoking weed.

However, you do need to decarb weed if you plan on making edibles out of it, because obviously, you aren’t going to be burning or vaping your edibles. Yes, your microwave can decarb weed, but there is another issue to consider.

Microwaves are very powerful. Decarbing weed requires fairly low temperatures, low enough to activate the THC and other cannabinoids without destroying them. If you use a temperature that is too hot, you can actually destroy the THC and other cannabinoids.

This is also true of those terpenes that add flavor and smell to the weed. In short, when you microwave weed, you destroy those cannabinoids and terpenes, therefore making your weed much weaker and less tasty too.

How To Microwave Weed

If you really want to dry out or decarb your weed using the microwave, although it is not recommended by any means, you can follow the steps as listed below.

1. Shred the buds or chop them up into very small nugs.
2. Place the chopped up weed into a microwave safe tray or dish. A microwave safe plate will work fine too. Make sure that you spread the weed out so there are no thick layers of it.
3. Microwave the weed for very short bursts of 15 seconds and use the microwave on full power. Make sure that you don’t leave it in for longer at once, or else you may burn the plant matter.
4. Open the door after each 15 second burst to let out some steam. You also want to stir your buds each time.
5. Repeat this around 5 to 7 times, or until the weed has gone slightly brown and begun to smell a bit.

3 Better Alternatives To The Microwave

Let’s take a look at some better alternatives for decarbing or drying your weed other than the microwave. Once again, the microwave is generally something that you want to avoid here.

1. Using a Sous Vide Machine to Decarb Weed

If you want to decarb some weed, then a sous vide machine is one of the best methods at your disposal. A sous vide machine will allow you to set the exact temperature required for optimal weed decarbing. This will activate most of the THC while also preserving the terpenes and cannabinoids.

At the same time, decarbing weed can be smelly, but the bags used for the sous vide machine should not let any smell out. Here. You will need a sous vide machine, otherwise known as an immersion circulator, as well as a plastic container for the circulator, a Ziploc bag, a mason jar, and of course, your marijuana.

To decarb weed using an immersion circulator, place the immersion circulator in the plastic container and fill it with water. Then, grind up your weed and put it in a Ziploc bag, making sure to spread it out evenly. Make sure that there are no really thick spots or air pockets in the bag.

Then, with the immersion circulator set to 203 degrees Fahrenheit, let the weed in the Ziploc bag decarb for 90 minutes. Then, take the bag out and let it cool down for about 20 minutes, at which point you can take the weed out and put it in a mason jar.

2. Using the Oven to Decarb Weed

Another good way to decarb your weed is by putting it in the oven. Sure, an oven is still hot, but not nearly as hot as a microwave. Therefore, the oven is usually the preferred method. Sure, a sous vide machine might be better, but let’s face it, you probably don’t have one.

To decarb your weed in the oven, grind up your weed or chop it into small buds, then put it on an oven tray. Make sure to spread the weed out so there are no thick layers.

Put your weed in the oven at 220 degrees Fahrenheit for about 30 minutes. When it is done, it should be light or medium brown in color and a bit crispy too.

3. Drying Weed the Regular Way

Besides the oven, microwave, and sous vide machine, you really cannot decarb weed. However, remember that people also use the microwave to dry their weed quickly. Well, as stated before, this is not a good idea, but there is a better way to dry your weed, the good old fashioned way.

This means that you should just hang your weed up in a space that has very low humidity and is well ventilated. The drying process should take roughly one week.

FAQ

Can You Microwave Weed Then Eat It?

Technically speaking, yes, you could microwave weed and then eat it. Microwaving your weed will decarb it. Therefore, because the THC has been activated, you can eat it, and it should get you high.

That said, remember that you have also destroyed a lot of the cannabinoids, including the THC, as well as the terpenes. So, not only will it not taste good, but if you destroyed too much of the THC, it might not even get you high at all.

What Does Microwaving A Blunt Do?

Microwaving a blunt is done sometimes to help the blunt dry out a little bit. Drying out the blunt and the weed inside can make it burn a little faster and more evenly. That said, you might dry it out to a crisp, and you’ll still end up destroying THC and terpenes.

Conclusion

The bottom line here is that you really just shouldn’t microwave weed. If drying it, be patient and do it the old fashioned way. If decarbing weed, use the oven or a sous vide machine.