If your recipe calls for oil, or if you just prefer using it to butter, you can easily infuse some cooking oil with cannabis. Cannabis-infused cooking oil is super easy to make. Transform canola oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, peanut oil, sesame oil, or any other type of cooking oil into infused marijuana cooking oil with some cannabis, cheesecloth, and a stovetop or slow cooker.
Benefits of using cannabis cooking oil
The appeal of using cannabis-infused oil while cooking lies in its versatility: you can use it to sauté some veggies, fry up some morning eggs, mix it in a salad dressing, or whatever else you can think of.
Cannabis-infused oils, unlike cannabutter, don’t contain any animal products, making them vegan and kosher. Making your own infused cannaoil also allows you to create the perfect amount you need, and experiment with different recipes, consistencies, and flavors.
Keep in mind that the amount and potency of the cannabis you use will determine the potency of the oil—but you won’t be able to measure exactly how much THC is in it. Exposing it to high heat, such as in a pan while cooking may degrade some of the potency versus using it as a dressing.
However, compared to other cannabis infusions, such as cannabutter in a batch of brownies, the consistency of cannabis cooking oil makes it easier to measure out. You can add a lot to a salad dressing or just drop a little bit in a skillet to cook with your whole meal.
Types of base oils to infuse with cannabis
Picking the right oil for infusion comes down to your flavor preferences and the dishes you plan on cooking. Oils vary in consistency at room temperature, so think about how you plan to store and use your oil.
There are many types of oils you can infuse with cannabis:
- Canola
- Vegetable
- Coconut
- Olive
- Avocado
- Sesame
- Peanut
Canola and vegetable oil have more neutral flavors, whereas sesame, olive, or peanut oil will taste more distinct and might not suit your intended dish.
For something a little more robust in flavor, infuse olive or avocado oil with cannabis. Both stand up well to the grassy, skunky cannabis flavor and store easily in your pantry.
Many oils work well with baking too! You might find one that can do it all, or that you prefer certain oils for specific recipes.
If you want a versatile oil that works well in a stir fry as well as a pie crust, coconut oil is a great option—it adds great flavor to veggies and remains solid enough at room temperature to hold up as a pie crust.
Finding your perfect oil is half the fun. So feel free to get creative!
Materials:
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Oven or toaster oven
- Mesh strainer or cheesecloth
- Cannabis grinder (optional, but blenders and coffee grinder pulverize the cannabis, resulting in edibles with bad-tasting plant material)
- Saucepan, stock pot, double-boiler, or slow cooker
- Glass container for the infused oil
When making cannabis cooking oil, we recommend a 1:1 ratio of cannabis to oil. If you want milder effects, use less cannabis.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup (7-10 grams) of ground cannabis flower
- 1 cup of cooking oil of your choice
Directions:
- Decarb the cannabis. We recommend decarboxylating your weed first, and then putting it in oil. Decarbing your weed turns the non-intoxicating THCA in the plant into THC, the psychoactive compound that will get you high.
- Set your oven to 245ºF and preheat.
- Grind or hand-break your buds on the parchment paper on a baking pan. Don’t grind it too finely into a powder, as it will pass through the cheesecloth or strainer and affect the oil.
- Heat for 30-40 minutes.
- Heat oil and decarbed cannabis. Add oil and decarbed cannabis to a double-boiler, slow cooker, or saucepan, and simmer on low heat for 2-3 hours. Make sure the temperature of the oil stays between 160-200ºF.
- Strain and store the oil. Put a mesh strainer or cheesecloth over the container for oil and pour the oil/cannabis mixture through it. Do not squeeze it out—this will add more chlorophyll to your oil and make it taste more vegetal. Discard the plant material. The oil will have a shelf life of at least two months and can be extended with refrigeration.
Note: Be cautious when using the oil to prepare dishes that require heating. Do not microwave, and choose low heat whenever possible.
Tips and tricks for the best THC oil
The best THC oil for you will depend on your tastes, preferences, and tolerance. Oils that have a higher fat content, like coconut oil, may bind to your cannabis better than thinner oils.
Adding lecithin when heating and infusing your oil can also increase its potency.
Store your oil in a cool, dark place, ideally in a glass container, to preserve it for as long as you need.
