How To Make Edibles: Easy Guide for Beginners

Written by Joshua Sosin

October 9th, 2025

Making edibles at home sounds straightforward until your apartment reeks, your batch comes out weak, or your gummies split into oily puddles.

We're going to change that with a practical approach built around what actually works in normal kitchens.

This guide focuses on three things that matter most: controlling smells, calculating realistic THC amounts, and making stable gummies.

You won't need special devices or perfect conditions.

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Table of Contents

• Making Edibles at Home With What You Already Have

• Heat Your Cannabis Without the Smell Taking Over

• Turn Activated Cannabis Into Infused Coconut Oil

• Calculate Your THC Per Serving Using Real Numbers

• Make Gummies That Actually Set Without Separating

• Work With Kief, Hash, and Already Vaped Bud

• Savory and Sweet Uses for Your Infused Oil Beyond Brownies

• Storage, Timing, and What to Do If You Take Too Much

• When Time or Smell Make DIY Impossible

Making Edibles at Home With What You Already Have

You don't need fancy equipment to make reliable edibles. A saucepan, mason jar, fine-mesh strainer, and basic measuring tools will get you there.

Plan on using 3.5 to 7 grams of flower for a standard batch.

This produces enough infused oil for multiple recipes without requiring a massive investment in starting material.

The path is straightforward: heat cannabis to activate it, infuse it into fat, calculate strength accounting for losses, then use it in recipes.

Every method choice prioritizes smell control and predictable potency over speed or convenience.

Heat Your Cannabis Without the Smell Taking Over

Heating cannabis makes the THCa more potent and ready for your body to process. Skip this step and your edibles won't work as expected.

The mason jar water bath method eliminates smell completely.

Grind your cannabis, seal it in a mason jar, then submerge in a pot of water heated to 240°F for 40 minutes.

The Zero-Smell Method

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a simmer. Place your ground cannabis in a mason jar, seal tightly, then submerge in the water using tongs.

Maintain the water temperature at 240°F for 40 minutes.

The sealed jar contains all odor while the water bath provides even, gentle heat.

If you don't have a thermometer, keep the water at a low simmer where small bubbles occasionally break the surface. Let the jar cool before opening.

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What If You Forgot This Step?

If you already mixed unheated cannabis into your recipe, extend your infusion time and raise the temperature slightly.

A longer simmer at higher heat can partially compensate, though results will be less predictable.

Some additional activation happens during final baking for brownies or cookies.

This is why recipes using raw cannabis sometimes still work, just with weaker and less consistent results.

Turn Activated Cannabis Into Infused Coconut Oil

Cannabinoids need fat to move through your digestive system effectively. Without fat binding, they pass through your body unused.

Coconut oil and MCT oil deliver a faster onset and longer shelf life compared to butter.

They're also vegan-friendly and stay liquid at room temperature for easier measuring.

The Basic Infusion Process

Use a 1:1 ratio of cannabis to oil by volume. For 7 grams of ground flower, use about 1/2 cup of coconut oil.

Combine your heated cannabis and oil in a small saucepan over low heat.

Simmer gently for 45 to 60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Keep the temperature low enough that you see minimal bubbling.

High heat degrades potency and pulls bitter chlorophyll into your oil.

Straining Without Squeezing

Pour your infusion through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a clean container. Let gravity do the work.

Resist the urge to squeeze every drop from the plant material.

Squeezing forces chlorophyll and plant matter into your oil, creating a bitter, harsh taste that's hard to mask in finished products.

Store your infused oil in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Label it clearly with the date and estimated strength so you don't confuse it with regular cooking oil.

Calculate Your THC Per Serving Using Real Numbers

This is where most homemade edibles fail. People use optimistic math that ignores the THC lost during heating, extraction, and straining.

Start with your flower's THC percentage. If you're using 7 grams of 20% THC flower, that's 1,400mg of THCa in theory.

How Many Grams of Flower Do I Need for Edibles?

For a standard batch, use 3.5 to 7 grams of flower, following a 1:1 ratio with your fat of choice.

This yields approximately 400-500mg of usable THC from 7 grams at 20% potency after accounting for extraction losses.

Accounting for Real-World Losses

Apply an 80% heating efficiency because not all THCa converts even with proper technique.

Your 1,400mg becomes 1,120mg.

Apply a 50% extraction rate since cannabinoids don't fully transfer from plant matter to oil.

You're down to 560mg now.

Account for a 20 to 30% loss during straining when oil sticks to plant material and equipment.

Your final usable amount is roughly 400 to 450mg.

This conservative math prevents weak batches.

If you used 1/2 cup of oil and want to make 20 servings, each serving contains about 20-23mg of THC.

Starting Amounts for Different Experience Levels

Beginners should start with 1 to 5mg and wait at least two hours before considering more.

Your liver converts THC into a stronger compound called 11-hydroxy-THC, which is why edibles hit harder and last longer than smoking.

Regular users typically find 5 to 10mg comfortable for mild effects. Experienced consumers might prefer 10 to 20mg depending on tolerance.

Consider making a non-infused version of the same recipe.

This lets you enjoy the taste without increasing your THC intake if you want seconds.

Make Gummies That Actually Set Without Separating

Gummy separation is the most common complaint in edibles communities. Oil and water naturally repel each other, and gummies are mostly water.

Why Do My Gummies Keep Separating?

Gummies separate when the temperature exceeds 180°F or when they lack proper emulsification.

Add 0.3g sunflower lecithin per cup of liquid and mix constantly, keeping heat below 180°F throughout the process.

The Reliable Gummy Process

Combine 1/4 cup infused coconut oil with 1/4 cup water in a small saucepan.

Add 0.3g sunflower lecithin and whisk thoroughly.

Heat gently while stirring until the mixture looks uniform and milky. Add one packet of unflavored gelatin and stir constantly.

Keep your thermometer in the pan and never let the temperature climb above 180°F.

Higher heat breaks the emulsion and your gummies will separate in the molds.

Add citric acid if you want that classic sour candy texture. Work quickly to fill your molds while the mixture stays warm and pourable.

The Shortcut Method

Buy a bag of commercial gummies in your preferred flavor. Melt them in a double boiler with your infused oil, stirring constantly.

This method uses the manufacturer's existing emulsifiers and stabilizers.

The results aren't perfect, but they're significantly easier than making gummies from scratch.

Mix thoroughly to distribute THC evenly across all pieces. Uneven mixing creates inconsistent potency where some gummies are weak and others overwhelming.

Work With Kief, Hash, and Already Vaped Bud

Flower isn't your only option. Different cannabis forms need slightly adjusted approaches but follow the same basic principles.

Already vaped bud (AVB) went through heating when you used it, so it's ready to infuse directly.

Mix it into fat following the same 45 to 60 minute simmer, then strain.

How to Work With Hash

Hash needs gentle heating at temperatures slightly lower than flower. Use 220 to 230°F in your water bath instead of 240°F.

The concentrated nature of hash means you need less material for the same potency.

Start with 2 to 3 grams of quality hash for a batch, normally using 7 grams of flower.

Using Concentrates and Cartridge Oil

Many concentrates and vape cartridge oils are already activated during manufacturing.

Check if yours went through a heating process.

You can mix concentrates directly into melted butter or oil without additional heating if already activated. Stir thoroughly and proceed with your recipe.

Adjust your potency calculations for the higher starting strength.

A concentrate at 70% THC has more than three times the potency of 20% flower per gram.

Savory and Sweet Uses for Your Infused Oil Beyond Brownies

Brownies and cookies get all the attention, but your infused oil works in countless recipes that don't require baking expertise.

Drizzle infused coconut oil over fresh popcorn with sea salt for the easiest edible snack. Mix a tablespoon into pasta sauce just before serving, or whisk it into salad dressing with vinegar and herbs.

No-Bake Options

Energy balls made with dates, nuts, and infused coconut oil require zero cooking. Roll them in cocoa powder or shredded coconut.

Mix infused oil into honey and use it as a sweetener for tea or toast. Blend it with peanut butter for a versatile spread that works on crackers or fruit.

Whatever recipe you choose, mix the infused oil thoroughly into your other ingredients. Poor mixing creates "hot spots" where THC concentrates in some bites while others contain almost none.

Eating your edibles with fat-rich foods enhances absorption.

Taking edibles on an empty stomach versus with a meal changes how quickly and strongly effects appear.

Storage, Timing, and What to Do If You Take Too Much

Temperature affects potency over time. Heat and light degrade THC into CBN, a different compound that tends toward sedating effects rather than the familiar high.

How Long Do Homemade Edibles Last?

Homemade edibles last one week refrigerated in airtight containers or frozen for up to six months.

Infused oils stay fresh for two months refrigerated when properly stored in dark, airtight containers.

Timeline Reality Check

Making a batch of gummies from scratch often takes a full afternoon when you account for heating, infusing, troubleshooting separation, and cleanup.

Budget more time than you think for your first attempt.

Most failures happen when rushing. Taking shortcuts with heating time, straining too quickly, or not mixing gummy ingredients thoroughly enough creates predictable problems.

The following represents general information about managing an unexpectedly strong experience, not medical advice. Consult healthcare professionals for individual guidance.

If Effects Feel Too Strong

Stay calm and remind yourself that cannabis effects are temporary. Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down.

Drink water and eat regular food if you feel up to it. The effects will pass on their own, typically within a few hours.

Having a trusted friend nearby can provide reassurance.

Consider starting with half of your planned amount next time and waiting a full two hours before taking more.

Important: Mood is not a medical authority, and we don't provide health advice. Consult with healthcare professionals for guidance on individual needs and circumstances.

When Time or Smell Make DIY Impossible

Some situations call for immediate, no-smell solutions with precise strength. Not everyone has the time for multi-hour infusions or the privacy for any cannabis odor.

Mood's hemp-derived edibles offer lab-tested consistency when constraints make DIY impractical.

Each batch comes with third-party testing results showing exact cannabinoid content.

These products deliver the same predictability you've been working toward in this guide, without requiring kitchen time or creating any smell. They're federally legal under the Farm Bill and available for direct shipping.

Our 15mg Delta-9 THC Gummies provide consistent strength per piece, and our Hero Dose Rapid Onset Gummies use specialized formulations for faster effects.

Learn more about hemp gummies and how they work.

You're Ready to Make Edibles That Actually Work

You now understand how to heat cannabis in a mason jar for zero smell and infuse into coconut oil using conservative simmer times.

You also know how to calculate realistic THC amounts that account for actual losses, and make gummies that stay stable through proper emulsification.

Start with small THC amounts and label everything clearly with dates and estimated strength.

The confidence to predict and control your results comes from following these practical methods rather than chasing perfect technique.

Begin with simple recipes that don't require baking expertise.

Infused popcorn or energy balls let you verify your process before investing time in more complex projects.

Your first batch might not be perfect, but with these constraint-aware methods, it will work predictably.

That's the foundation for developing preferred recipes and strength levels over time.