Many people started wondering whether they could make their own cannabis products instead of buying them from dispensaries. Luckily, with our help, you can now cook your own edibles by learning how to make cannabis cooking oil.

Oils made from cannabis extracts used for cooking are versatile. They can be infused with numerous different types of oils to make baked goods to the consumer’s liking. Using homemade cannabis oil also provides more control over the cooking experience and potency levels.

How to Make Cannabis Cooking Oil

Learning how to make cannabis cooking oil shouldn’t be very complicated if users know the right steps to take and use the proper equipment. On top of that, they will be more eager to understand how to make THC-infused oil when they discover its benefits.

Before we dive deep into explaining how one can make cannabis cooking oil, we believe it’s important to pinpoint some of the benefits associated with cannabis. Cannabis cooking oil may help with relaxation, reducing inflammation, and providing pain relief. As cannabis legalization is continuously expanding in the United States, people are getting creative with it. They're infusing weed into their cooking, adding unique flavors to their creations, and exploring new culinary horizons.

The process of making cannabis cooking oil at home involves extracting the cannabinoids, like THC and CBD, from the cannabis plant. Then, the extracts are placed into a base oil for better infusion. Follow our step-by-step guide for successful at-home cannabis oil production:

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Gathering the needed ingredients and equipment

To start making cannabis cooking oil, you need to grind around a cup of the cannabis plant, using only the flower or including the stem. You may also need a cup of base oil that is common for cooking or baking, like olive, vegetable, or coconut oil.

For equipment, you’ll need a cannabis grinder, a nonstick baking sheet, a stovetop pot and or a double-boiler, a cheesecloth or a strainer, and an airtight glass jar.

Our team at Sorting Robotics has a lot of experience in making cannabis products. We discovered that you needn’t grind your cannabis plant too finely, as smaller grounds will seep through the strainer and go straight into your oil.

Decarboxylation and preparing the cannabis

Decarboxylation is a process that involves heating the cannabis to activate the psychoactive compounds contained in its buds. This way, consumers can enjoy the effects of the cannabis or hemp plant.

Decarbing may also help the cannabinoids become more bioavailable so that your body can process them more easily.

Infusing the oil

The flavor and potency of cannabis depends on its terpenes. Once the cannabis is decarboxylated, it must be infused to give the oil a unique and pleasant flavor. But can you infuse vegetable oil and other commonly used cooking oils with cannabis?

Yes, due to its versatility, cannabis can be infused with many different commonly used oils. These include canola, vegetable, and coconut oil for a more neutral flavor. But, some people want to make their cannabis oil taste distinctively, so they infuse it with sesame and even peanut oil.

If you want to make your cannabis cooking oil taste very pungent, infuse it with olive or avocado oil. These types of oils are more robust in flavor. Also, they store easily and remain liquid when kept at room temperature, unlike coconut and palm oil, which become solid.

We have to say that the terpenes and flavonoids smell pleasantly when smoked or vaporized. They also taste delicious when included in sweet treats like brownies or edibles.

Time and temperature control

Cooking at lower temperatures is crucial when learning how to make cannabis cooking oil. We recommend cooking below 245°F to keep the cannabinoids from burning. Any temperature higher than 245°F destroys the active ingredients of THC.

Combine the base oil and ground cannabis in a pan or heat-safe pot. The active ingredients of the cannabinoids need a low temperature and at least three hours of frequent stirring. You can add a small amount of water to the oil to help avoid burning and keep the temperature low.

Straining and storing

Clear oil without cannabis plant material residue may require straining. Taking this step also helps reduce the unpleasant taste and smell of raw cannabis, but it won’t completely eliminate it. Straining may also prevent mold and bacteria from accumulating in the cannabis oil.

Start by draining the cannabis oil slowly into a separate bowl. Avoid squeezing the cheesecloth too harshly with the intention to speed up the straining process. You can throw away the cannabis plant residue because you won’t need it for the making of the oil.

The shelf life of cannabis cooking oil is around two months if kept at room temperature. But you can make it last longer if you decide to refrigerate it. These types of oils usually last up to a year. Even minor things may harm shelf life. If exposed to heat, air, and light, the oil may have reduced shelf life.

Improper storage of cannabis cooking oil may also decrease its potency. Thus, you must keep it in an airtight glass container, storing it in a dark and cool place. This way, the cannabis-infused oil might retain its potency for a long time.

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Culinary applications

Once you learn how to make cannabis cooking oil, it’s time to discover methods of applying it in your culinary recipes. If you’re having trouble gathering ideas and getting started, here are a few of our favorite ways to consume cannabis cooking oil:

Brownies

Most commonly, cannabis cooking oil is used to make brownies or so-called edibles. Homemade cannabis brownies taste delicious if they are cooked at a low temperature that prevents the ingredients from burning.

The perfect pot brownie recipe includes cannabis cooking oil, eggs, unsweetened cocoa butter, sugar, non-dairy milk, and flour.

Drinks

Cannabis cooking oil can also be included in many drinks like smoothies, warm milk, and tea.

Mixing fruit like mango with cannabis in a smoothie leads to stronger THC effects and a more enjoyable consumption of cannabis. Only a few drops of the cannabis cooking oil in the smoothie are enough to activate the myrcene terpenes.

Cannabis cooking oil is also mixed into drinks with cinnamon and vanilla to make a cozy and tasty breakfast beverage. You can also include a few drops of cannabis-infused oil into your golden milk, which is a milk mixed with turmeric.

Many people consume tea for relaxation. But a teaspoon of cannabis oil in your tea may enhance the relaxation effects. However, ensure your warm tea doesn’t contain caffeine to avoid potentially harmful effects on your cognitive function.

Dressings

Cannabis cooking oil can be seen as a perfect addition to salad dressings and homemade sauces. Simply substitute the regular oil you usually use in the salad you plan on eating during lunch or dinner with cannabis cooking oil.

Additional culinary applications

The use of cannabis oil is not only limited to brownies, drinks, and dressings. Its versatility allows it to work perfectly for sauteing vegetables and be implemented in dishes with seafood or meat.

You can cook toast and eggs in cannabis-infused cooking oil and create a delicious flavor. Also, this oil is perfect for making protein bars and storing them at room temperature.

How to dose cannabis cooking oil

One of the most important things to consider when learning how to make cannabis cooking oil is dosage. This is crucial because the right dosage will make your experience more enjoyable, reaching your desired effect.

Cannabis edibles may affect each consumer differently. Its effects may have a lot to do with the user’s age, weight, and THC tolerance. Keep in mind that the edibles’ effect is much more potent than smoking a joint because of the involved chemical process.

As with all cannabis products, we always recommend starting with smaller dosages because it’s nearly impossible to dose edibles accurately. But, after a few tries, you’ll get a grasp of it.

If you feel that this dosage is too low, you can gradually increase it by adding one more teaspoon of cannabis oil to your edibles and waiting to see the effects.

If you follow our recipe, mix one cup of base oil with one cup of ground cannabis; the ratio accounts for three to five milligrams of THC in a teaspoon. You may feel the effects of cannabis cooking oil 30 minutes to an hour after consumption.

However, you must remember that the effects of the cannabis cooking oil depend on the potency of the cannabis. Most commonly, cannabis sold legally contains between 20% and 35% THC.

Conclusion

Although it may seem like a meticulous and time-consuming process, learning how to make cannabis cooking oil is a cost-effective solution if you want to add a distinct flavor to your baked goods, drinks, or salad dressings. Remember, the higher the THC dosage in the cooking oil, the higher the potency.

How to Make Cannabis Cooking Oil