CannaBasics: How to Make Cannabis Cooking Oil
[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]T[/dropcap]here are many ways to infuse your meals with cannabis, but the most popular forms are through the use of infused butter or infused oil. Just a dollop of either of these infused items can add a little cannabis kick and flavor to your food—and also provides the added benefits of cannabis, too. Butter can be used in a variety of dishes, but it’s often oil which is chosen as the go-to choice for many cannasseurs.
What is Cannabis Cooking Oil
Put simply, cannabis cooking oil is any standard cooking oil that has been infused with cannabis. This isn’t limited just to vegetable or olive oil, though. Often enough, people also use coconut oil and to a lesser extent, oils with peanut or grapeseed in it as well. Oils have many uses in cooking, so the sky is the limit!
Before You Start—Understanding Decarboxylation
It’s traditional to decarboxylate, or decarb, your cannabis before beginning the infusion process. When decarboxylating your cannabis, the THCa is turned into THC via heat, ensuring that its psychoactive properties are, well, active! To do this, just line a baking pan with parchment paper or foil, and pour your ground up cannabis onto it. Cook in an oven at 250 degrees for about 25 to 30 minutes.
How to Infuse Your Oil
What You Need
1 part cannabis flower, ground up
1 part cooking oil (whichever you choose)
A strainer or sieve
A cooking setup (Popular choices include a double-boiler, slow cooker or saucepan)
How To Infuse Oil
- Set your double-boiler to low heat.
- Pour your chosen oil into a double-boiler, slow cooker or saucepan, then add the ground up cannabis. Stir briefly until all cannabis is coated or covered with oil.
- Leave on low heat for many hours. If you use a double-boiler, keep it heated for one third of the day and stir frequently. If using a slow cooker, keep it heated for about four to six hours. If using a saucepan, about three hours is best (also stirring occasionally).
- Once the heating duration is complete, strain the cannabis material from the oil.
- Store the oil in a sealed jar. Un-refrigerated, it will last two months. If refrigerated, it will last slightly longer.
