Had some fun today with a run of FHO.
100 grams wet buds blended into 125 ml of EVOO.
This is a small batch, so I'll do my best to keep it flat and below the surface of the oil, once things begin to break down.
The Dutch oven is all set up with spacers to keep the stock pot off the bottom.
After the vegetable oil is added be careful to burp everything by lifting the stock pot here and there. You don't want these bubbles surfacing when the oil is hot.
Starting temps.
Fifteen minutes in it's sizzling.
I have a trivet on the back burner with a couple layers of paper towels in case the temperature spikes and I need to lift the pot out of the oil bath for a few minutes.
Almost there. I'm watching for 212 F to set the timer for two hours.
Timer's on.
It took no time at all before the water boiled out of this small batch. There was no foaming.
At one hour and fifteen minutes from when I started (
not from when the timer started) the water is all boiled out and the oil begins to show active signs of decarbing.
The bubbles are so tiny they can be almost imperceptible.
I personally try to keep it around 230-235 for the rest of the time.
Hot spots arise, so I've begun a practice of turning the pot a quarter of the way and then stir and mash. Next time I stir I'll turn another bit first.
Starting the second timed hour I begin an almost constant mashing. I'm determined to get all of the trichomes open.
I'm careful when I'm stirring that I clear all the oil from the outside and get it to the inside. The outside ring is the hottest place in the pot, and I don't want any oil sitting here for very long.
After an hour and fourty-five minutes from the start of the timer the oil is completely decarbed.
I'm trying Randy's gravity feed method.
I don't need to be in here for now, so I turned the lights out to let it drain a while longer. I'll press out what I can, add the lecithin and get it refrigerated. I won't try to get every bit out of the mash, because I plan to eat the mash myself.
Leave no cannabinoid behind.
It makes for a long 12- hour day, with everything else involved in a harvest. Thank God for Carnival.
This time I did something I think I'll make a regular practice. I harvested and washed the buds and then went to do Callanetics while the branches hung to drip dry. Taking that time to work my body meant that my hips and back didn't suffer much at all during the long hours over the pot.
I love what we do.