Quick answer: The easiest way to grind weed without a grinder is scissors in a shot glass: drop a bud in, snip for 30 seconds, and you have an even grind. A sharp knife and cutting board, a clean coffee or spice grinder, a cheese grater, or just your fingers all work too.
Lost your grinder or left it at home? You can still break up THCA flower for a joint, bowl or homemade edibles with things already in your kitchen.
7 ways to grind weed without a grinder
1. Scissors and a shot glass
Put a bud in a shot glass or small cup. Hold a pair of clean scissors straight down and snip until it is as fine as you like. The glass keeps everything in one place. Kitchen shears work best.
2. Knife and cutting board
Pull the bud apart into small pieces, then chop with a sharp knife the way you would mince herbs. A dull knife crushes the trichomes instead of cutting, so use your sharpest one.
3. Coffee or spice grinder
Pulse in short bursts of one or two seconds. Holding the button down turns flower into powder fast, which burns hot and can clog a joint. Clean it well before and after, or keep one just for flower.
4. Cheese grater
Freeze the bud for 10 to 15 minutes so it is firm, then rub it gently over the small holes of a grater. Go slow so you don’t grate your knuckles.
5. Your fingers
Break the bud into small pieces with clean, dry fingers. It is the slowest way and leaves resin on your skin, but it gives you the most control. It works best for drier, less sticky flower.
6. Pill bottle and a coin
Drop a bud and a coin into an empty pill bottle, close it and shake hard for a minute or two. The coin breaks the flower apart. It is rough but works in a pinch.
7. Mortar and pestle
Crush small pieces in a mortar with gentle pressure. Don’t pound it, or you will smash the trichomes. This is a good choice for decarbing and edibles.
How fine should you grind it?
| How you use it | Best grind |
|---|---|
| Joints and blunts | Medium-fine and even, so it rolls tight and burns slow |
| Bowls and bongs | Medium to coarse, so it doesn’t get pulled through the screen |
| Dry herb vaporizers | Fine and even, for steady heating |
| Edibles and cannabutter | Coarse; very fine flower makes butter taste grassy |
Learn to roll in Joint vs Blunt vs Pre-Roll, or make edibles with our cannabutter guide.
Tips for an easier grind
- Too sticky? Fresh, sticky flower is harder to break up. Leave it out on a plate for 10 minutes, or freeze it briefly.
- Too dry? Very dry flower turns to dust. Store it right next time with our THCA flower storage guide.
- Save the kief. Scrape the dust off your board or glass and sprinkle it on top of a bowl.
Skip the grinding
Don’t want to grind at all? THCA pre-rolls come ready to light, and THCA shake is already broken up and ready to roll, at a lower price per gram.
FAQ
Can you use a blender to grind weed?
You can, but most blenders are too big and powerful for a few grams. A small coffee or spice grinder works much better.
Is it bad to grind weed too fine?
For smoking, yes. Powder burns hot and fast and can pass through screens. For edibles it makes butter taste grassy.
Do you have to grind weed to smoke it?
Not always, but ground flower burns more evenly and is much easier to roll.
