DIYers and other creative enjoyers of cannabis can now use two-in-one devices that combine the decarboxylation and infusion processes into one machine. This allows for an easier and more efficient way to enjoy or create cannabis-infused products, specifically edibles.
A 2-in-1 decarboxylator and infuser combines the decarb process and infusion cycle with integrated features like precise time and temperature controls, maximizing herb potency by protecting your cannabis flower and hemp extracts from burning or so-called “undertaking.”
This post takes a comprehensive look at these devices, how they work, and our recommended 2-in-1 decarboxylator and infuser in 2022.
We think the Ardent FX 2-in-1 decarboxylator & infuser is the best for beginners and a great addition to any budding (pun intended) chef’s kitchen.
What is a Decarboxylator and Infuser?
A 2-in-1 decarboxylator and infuser is a device used to activate compounds within plant materials, such as cannabis compounds like cannabinoids and terpenes, while simultaneously infusing them with other ingredients. This two-in-one device makes it easy for home cooks to make cannabis-infused products with professional results.
Combining the decarboxylation and infusing process makes it possible to create a wide variety of products for recreational and medicinal use in the comfort of your home. As an added bonus, this two-in-one device also helps ensure that all the compounds found in cannabis are activated before use, making it easy to utilize all of the therapeutic benefits that cannabis offers.
These devices provide an easy and efficient way to create many products with professional results. So it’s an excellent option for making edibles, topicals, or other cannabis-infused products.
How Does The Decarboxylation and Infusion Process Work?
The decarboxylation process involves heating the plant material at a gentle temperature to convert the compounds into their active forms. This is necessary for medical benefits, as some of the compounds found in cannabis need to be activated before they can affect the body. On the other hand, the infusion process adds other ingredients to the mix, such as coconut oil, butter, or alcohols used to create edibles and topical preparations.
Their integrated safety and quality assurance features (e.g., temperature and timer controls, preset selectors) ensure the ability to prime cannabis and other plant materials for use in an easy bake oven, crock pot, or slow cooker with minimal supervision.
Benefits of a Decarboxylator & Infuser vs. a Standalone Decarboxylation Machine
Given the complexity and hands-on nature of the decarbing and infusion process, a consolidated hardware experience (i.e., learning curve, UI/UX etc.) when setting an exact temp, time a heat cycle and creating finished infusions is understandably preferable — particularly among budding cannabis chefs and DIYers.
Another advantage of a two-in-one decarb machine is the need to only wash a single set of components rather than two or more, to say nothing of the opportunity to save money in the long run through the maintenance of one instead of multiple devices.
What Can You Infuse With Your Cannabis Flower?
There’s a surprising number of items you can infuse with cannabis. Think of a decarboxylator and infuser as the aptly-named and wildly popular “Magical Butter Machine” of 2017, but with added functionality and safety features. If you aren’t impressed yet, it’s worth noting that it’s not just cannabis that can be used in the process; anything from basil to oregano can be used to create an herbal infusion as well.
Here are three examples of what you can infuse with your cannabis below.
Coconut Oil Infusion
Coconut oil is a great base for infusing cannabis because it has a high saturated fat content, which is essential for binding with the cannabinoids found in cannabis. Coconut oil also has many health benefits, making it an ideal choice for those looking to get the most out of their cannabis-infused product.
Butter Infusion
Infusing butter with cannabis is a great way to make edibles for medical or recreational use. It’s also a remarkably versatile finished product, as you can use it for everything from fried eggs to full-blown pastries and baked goods.
If you’re looking to infuse butter, we suggest using not just cannabis, but other complementary herbs as well for more rounded flavor profiles based on your intended use case.
Olive Oil Infusion
Using olive oil as a base for cannabis infusion has several key benefits. First, olive oil is generally considered the healthiest and safest cooking oil, and it provides an enjoyable flavor to infusions of cannabis. Additionally, it’s readily available at most grocery stores and can be used in nearly all forms of edible recipes.
Olive oil is also known for its high smoke point, meaning that it can be heated to a higher temperature than other cooking oils without burning or smoking. This makes olive oil an ideal choice when infusing cannabis with the intention of creating edible recipes, since these often require longer and higher temperatures in order to draw out the desired compounds from the plant material.
Things to Look For When Buying a Decarboxylator and Infuser
Whether you’re interested in making edibles or simply priming cannabis buds for the production of CBDA tinctures, there are a few essential features any decarboxylator and infuser should have right out of the box. These include:
Temperature Customization Options
Rather than having to set temperatures manually with each use, strain and variety of cannabis you work with, be sure to select a device that can set up multiple heat and preferably timer presets.Once you’ve perfected the desired prep parameters for your desired use cases (after some trial and error), presets prevent you from having to commit multiple values and value pairings to memory, with the moderate risk of getting them mixed up.
Is It Dishwasher Safe?
In order to keep cleanup quick and convenient, always opt for a device that can safely be run through the dishwasher. Quality component materials and considerations centered around hygiene (e.g. food-grade silicone connectors, stainless steel or aluminum internals) are also crucial for preserving as much flavor as possible.
Small Batch or Large Batches?
While it might seem desirable to be able to process larger amounts of cannabis at a time, it’s important that the entire batch be fully and evenly decarboxylated and/or infused to ensure high quality end products. For this reason, our generally recommended sweet spot for a decarb machine is a capacity of up to four ounces.
The Best Decarb Machine and Infuser for Beginners
For beginners new to creating cannabis edibles, we recommend starting with the Ardent FX portable canna-kitchen. The Ardent FX is an all-in-one iteration of the Ardent Nova decarboxylator that features an array of components that allow users to infuse, decarboxylate, and cook with cannabis extracts all in one device.
The Ardent FX utilizes a large stainless steel chamber to heat flower, kief, stems or concentrate, processing up to four ounces at a time. It features precise temperature settings and an easy-to-read digital display, along with both automatic and manual power cutoff for the convenience of newer users. The Ardent FX is dishwasher safe, and has a safety shutoff mechanism to prevent the machine from overheating while unattended.
If you’re looking to experiment with making edibles, DIY tinctures, homemade vape cartridges or herbal infusions, the Ardent FX is a sturdy little machine with a comprehensive assortment of safety features to protect both your wallet and your soon-to-be perfected herb products.
