How to Grind Weed Without A Grinder [6 Methods]

So you’re sitting here with a bag of dank weed, a beautiful rolling tray, and all of a sudden — you realize you’ve got no grinder.

That’s where the first droplets of sweat start to appear on your forehead.

“How do I grind weed without a grinder?”

Don’t panic; been there, done that.

We are humans, and humans can get extremely creative when put under tough circumstances.

In this article, we cover 6 ways to grind weed without a grinder — whether you want to do it by hand or use some simple kitchen tools from your pantry.

6 Ways to Grind Weed Without A Grinder

Here’s what you can use to grind weed when you forget to take a grinder with you:

1. Coffee grinder
2. Scissors and shot glass
3. Prescription bottle and coin
4. Mortar and pestle
5. Cheese grater
6. Bare hands

Let’s run through each method and pick out the best one.

1. Coffee Grinder

Fancy a cup of freshly ground coffee? How about using a coffee grinder to shred your weed to the desired consistency?

Just make sure you’ve gotten rid of any coffee bean residue so that the flavors don’t overlap.

The key to successfully grinding weed with a coffee grinder is to pack your herb loosely. This way, you’ll protect the grinder from being damaged.

Clean the grinder right away, or don’t, if you want to take your “wake and bake” routine to the next level.

2. Scissors & Shot Glass

Speaking of getting creative, using scissors and shot glass is another great way to grind weed without a grinder.

Throw the weed into the glass and start cutting it until there’s no more stuff to break up. A shot glass is the ideal medium for this task, thanks to its small size.

Alternatively, you can cut up your flower over a cutting board or a cereal bowl.

3. Prescription Bottle & Coin

This method is anything but precise, but it’s difficult to find a better way to grind weed without a grinder when you’re on the go.

If you have a prescription bottle and a few small coins, you’re all set.

Pack the weed in the bottle (not too tightly!), throw in the coins, and start shaking. After a minute, your weed should break up into smaller bits.

Remember to carefully clean the coins because they’re known for carrying bacteria.

4. Mortar & Pestle

Here we’re heading for some unusual pesto because you won’t be putting basil in your mortar.

It’s good to leave your weed to dry out beforehand to make grinding easier. Just make sure not to apply too much pressure during the job — or you’ll destroy valuable essential oils and make your weed less potent.

5. Cheese Grater

This method may sound troublesome to some, but as long as it works, you can’t complain — especially if you don’t have any other ways to grind your weed without a grinder.

Prepare yourself: gather the grater and place a plate under it. Then shred the weed, watching for tinier bits to stay in the container.

Some leftover buds may stick to the grater’s teeth — if that’s the case, collect them and clean the grater thoroughly from the resin.

6. Break It Up by Hand

Here’s a highly unlikely — yet possible — scenario: you’re all by yourself, in the middle of nowhere, with just the weed in your hands.

Your hands!

That’s the most basic “grinder.”

It’s more time-consuming and requires more effort than the above methods, but if you don’t have anything else, you’re not in a position to complain.

Take that time to ponder which grinder you’ll buy next to avoid the ordeal.

Tips & Tricks for Grinding Weed Without A Grinder

• Clean your tools — cannabis contains much resin and tends to stick to different appliances. Cleaning your tools after grinding the weed will not only prevent the co-use of other substances, but it will also protect the equipment against damage.
• Use rice for coffee grindersµ — if you drink coffee daily, your grinder may hold a decent amount of bean residue, which may be difficult to clean up. Fortunately, you can use a ¼ cup of rice and pulverize it in a grinder, leaving starch that’s easy to clean and collects the problematic dirt.
• Collect the kief — this tip applies to the prescription bottle method. A small brush or a gentle move with a finger should do the trick.

Why Is Grinding Necessary for Smoking or Vaping Weed?

Because it creates more airflow and allows for an even burn — not to mention that having a grinder takes away the mess of breaking up the buds with those “caveman” methods.

You simply can’t smoke a joint when you have whole buds. This may work for bongs, but you’ll still do better if the herb is ground into smaller pieces.

Even if you don’t want to inhale the weed and prefer making edibles, grinding it will result in a thorough activation of cannabinoids and save you the frustration of ending up with weed that’s burnt on one side and too green on the other.

Final Verdict: What’s the Best Way to Grind Weed Without A Grinder?

If I were to pick up my favorite, I’d go with a coffee grinder because, well, it’s a grinder! It ensures even grinding and is the easiest and most mess-free method of all.

Then I’d go with scissors and shot glass — not only does it work well, but it also gives you that fancy feeling of being the McGyver in your circle.

While mortar and pestle may sound like a decent way to grind weed without a grinder, it’s a bit tricky considering the pressure control you must apply if you want to preserve most of your trichomes.

If you’re on the go, the prescription bottle and coin method comes in handy; it’s rustic, no doubt about that, but as long as it works — it’s a good one.

And what about you? What’s your favorite way to grind weed without a grinder?