8 ways to grind weed without a grinder

We’ve all been there; you just scored some killer bud and you’re looking forward to wrapping it in a joint or packing it in a bowl and getting a taste. You start to pat down your pockets and rummage through your bag, only to realize that you haven’t got a grinder.

If this sounds like you, don’t worry. Here are 8 awesome tips for helping you break up your weed without a grinder. Whether you’re at a friend’s place or wanting to enjoy a smoke outside, this list will help you break up your nugs one way or another.

1. HANDS

One of the most old school ways to grind weed without a grinder is to pick at it with your fingers. Simply make a bowl-like shape with one hand and use the other to pick away at your buds and break them apart.

The only real downside to picking apart cannabis flowers with your fingers is that the resin will build up around your hand. High-quality bud will be saturated with a thick layer of trichomes that’s typically loaded with high concentrations of THC.

But don’t worry; as long as you washed your hands prior to handling your weed, you can scrape this resin off your hands using a credit card or keys and smoke it in a joint or bong for an extra kick. After all, rolling buds between your hands and collecting the resin build up is one of the oldest, most traditional methods for making hash.

If you want to avoid getting resin build up on your hands, try rolling your buds in some paper before you start picking at them. Parchment paper works especially well as it is non-stick.

2. SCISSORS AND A SHOT GLASS

If you’re not keen on getting your hands dirty to break apart your weed, we suggest using some sharp scissors and a shot glass. Simply pop your buds in the glass and start chopping away with your scissors.

While this method is a little tedious, it can produce really nice, evenly cut weed. We recommend using a shot glass as a recipient for two main reasons. Firstly, the high walls of the glass help to stop any cannabis from falling out while you chop. Secondly, the small diameter of the glass tightly confines the weed, making it easier to cut through

If you don’t have a shot glass, you can basically use any regular glass or container. Just try to tilt the container on an edge so the buds bunch together nicely and keep an eye out for any pieces that might fly out while you chop.

3. KNIFE AND A CHOPPING BOARD

While it sounds a little over-the-top, this is a really popular way of grinding weed if you don’t have a grinder. Simply place your buds on a clean chopping board and use a sharp knife to finely chop them up.

This method also produces really nice, finely chopped, as long as you have the patience and cutting skills to do it. Just make sure you use clean utensils, and avoid using knives and boards that you’ve previously used to cut very pungent ingredients like onions or garlic, as the odours will contaminate your weed.

4. COIN AND CONTAINER

This method basically builds on the last but uses a coin (or a similar object, like a key) to help break apart tougher buds. Just like before, throw your weed in a sturdy container and throw in a coin (or a few), seal the lid, and start shaking.

The objects will help bash against the weed and does a good job at tearing apart dense or slightly moist nuggets. Remember, don’t try this method using a plastic baggie as the coin or key might tear a hole in the plastic and cause your weed to spill everywhere.

5. COFFEE GRINDER

If you’re planning on grinding large quantities of weed, this is the way to go. In fact, many cannabis users prefer using a coffee grinder instead of a traditional weed grinder when trying to break up a large amount of cannabis.

Simply load your nuggets into the grind and grind it as you would coffee beans. Just remember that the resin from the weed may build up inside the grinder and you may want to use a credit card or a key to collect it at the end.

If you plan to use a coffee grinder to break apart your cannabis, always wash and dry it thoroughly before and after use to avoid contaminating the aroma of your buds and/or coffee.

6. PESTLE AND MORTAR

A pestle and mortar is another popular tool used to grind cannabis. Simply break our buds apart a little with your hand, throw them into the mortar and start crushing it with the pestle until your buds reach the consistency you prefer.

As with the previous tip, always wash and dry your mortar and pestle before and after use to avoid contamination. Finally, for best results, try to use drier buds.

7. GRATER

Have you ever watched a kitchen program and seen a celebrity chef use grater to finely grate garlic for a recipe? Well, you can do exactly the same with your weed if you don’t happen to have a grinder on you.

A high-quality grater (sometimes called microplanes) can be really efficient at finely chopping up even the densest, toughest nugs. Simply take a bud in your hand and grate it against the cutting edge of your plane into a container or onto a clean surface.

As always, make sure your grater is clean before use, and avoid using a grater you’ve used to grate aromatic ingredients like ginger, garlic, etc.

8. BLENDER

Last but not least, probably one of the simplest and most effective ways to grind weed without a grinder is by using a blender or food processor, especially if you’re looking to chop up large quantities.

Most people have these utensils in their kitchen and they are ridiculously easy to use. Simply load your buds into the grinder and grind them up like you would any regular herb. The sharp blades will help produce a really consistent product that works perfectly in a joint, blunt, bong, or even a vaporizer.