How to Make Cannabis-Infused Cooking Oil
Cooking oil is practically used in every recipe. Therefore by using this guide, you can now turn your favourite meals into cannabis-infused delicacies! Exciting right? Now you can bring your cooking to a whole new level 🙂
Cannabis-infused oil is one of the most adaptable cooking mediums on the planet. Used in all areas of cooking; from baking dessert treats, cooking up your favourite sauces, drizzling it over your pasta, or when your just frying up some early morning eggs, cannabis-infused cooking oil fits your needs.
If you’re just skimming the post, the recipe is at the very bottom of the article!
Bon Appetite. Any meal becomes a delicacy when you add cannabis-infused cooking oil!
Ever wanted to make edibles but don’t know where to start? Did you think edibles were just too tricky to make? I did too… until I made this beginner’s guide!
I always wondered how to calculate the edible potency. After a lot of trial and error, I stopped guessing. The Canna School has an edible dosage calculator so you can be more accurate with your potency levels.
In this blog, we teach you how to make cannabis-infused cooking oil and have a dosage calculator to help improve your knowledge of the oil! We also have a comprehensive guide for this in our cannabis cookbook, along with over 130 other edible recipes, you can learn more about our cookbook here!
Cannabis-Infused Coconut Oil
When making cannabis-infused coconut oil, we use refined organic coconut oil when we make our infusions. That is because it does not have any distinct coconut taste or aroma, making it a good cooking medium. Here’s the brand we have been using and that has proven to work well for us to this date! Here’s a link to the refined coconut oil that we use.
Organic Refined Coconut Oil
Dosage Guide to Cannabis Oil
The dosage guide to making cannabis oil tends to be a little tricky. You’re going to have a hard time finding the exact potency of the oil that you’re making. It’s also worth noting that since some recipes are going to require more oil than others, you’re going to want to add the recommended amount of oil into the mix (so it’s not too potent). But, it’s up to you.
The Problem
It’s not always easy to know the exact potency of the cannabis that you’re using. Especially since you have activated the cannabis. You should have a rough idea of the THC percentage, but there is still lots of room for error. You also have to keep in mind that if there is a small error in your calculations at the beginning, this error is going to be carried throughout, and it will make your final potency percentage off by quite a bit.
The Solution
We have a great dosage calculator to help you when you’re cooking cannabis oil. Keep in mind, since you won’t have an exact percentage it’s going to be off by a little bit. This tool should help you get a rough estimate for the potency of your oil.
This dosage calculator will automatically update when you fill out your own values. It will work for both kief and cannabis flowers.
The Importance of Decarboxylation When Making Cannabis Oil
If you want to learn more in-depth about decarboxylation – click here to read our comprehensive article on how to decarboxylate cannabis!
For your weed edibles to work the way you want them to, there is a very important step. That step is decarboxylation. All this means is that you need to activate the THC, that way you get the psychoactive effects you intended for. The literal definition of decarboxylation is: “a chemical reaction that removes a carboxyl group and releases carbon dioxide (CO2)” When it comes to cannabis, Decarboxylation removes the COOH group from the THC-A molecule by releasing H2O and CO2, turning it into the psychoactive THC. This step is crucial because it will turn the THC-A molecule into the psychoactive THC molecule. If you were to smoke cannabis this would already be happening naturally when you burn it. But, since in this case, there is no cannabis being burned we need to do this extra step.
How to Decarboxylate
We’re going to be heating the cannabis up to a certain temperature. This is the same thing that vaping cannabis does. It’s possible to use vaped cannabis inside of your weed edibles, and there will be psychoactive effects. However, if you have already vaped that cannabis, you will have already used a substantial amount of THC. Consequently, you will have to use much more cannabis in the edible If you are using kief, follow the same process as buds, just skip the grinding step. If you’re using cannabis flower, the first step is to grind your cannabis buds. Once you have ground the cannabis, get an oven-safe tray, and cover it in parchment paper. Next, spread the cannabis evenly over the sheet.
What Temperature to Activate The Cannabis?
The temperature that you should be heating the cannabis to is a bit of a debate. There might be better temperatures out there, and you will have no trouble finding people that claim theirs is the best. To their defence, they might be right. But, the temperatures that we have here are backed by some scientific evidence. At the end of the day, you’re going to have a hard time finding temperatures with a noticeably different effect than these. In other words, these temperatures will do the job! 240 degrees Fahrenheit is the number that I’ve had success with. There has also been some good research done by our friends over at Marijuana Growers HQ. They did an amazing decarboxylation experiment and noted their results:
Below are two decarboxylation charts to help give you a reference to the conversion of THCA to THC and CBDA to CBD. You will want to decarboxylate your cannabis anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes.
Cannabis Decarboxylation Chart
trim decarb at 240 degress farenheit
Equipment Needed to Make Cannabis Oil
Materials Needed:
Infusion Machines Make Edibles For You!
Levo Infusion Machine
Decarboxylating and infusing your cannabis edibles can take a lot of time and effort. Luckily, there are great infusion devices to make this process as easy and seamless as possible. Cannabis-infusion machines are countertop devices that decarboxylate and infuse your butter, oils, and other ingredients for you. With just a few clicks you will have cannabis edibles at your disposal!
We recommend the LEVO Infusion Machine which is the best infusion device on the market. Use code CANNASCHOOL at checkout for 10% OFF!
Recipe for Cannabis-Infused Cooking Oil
Cannabis-Infused Cooking Oil
A versatile edible medium that is simple to make.
Equipment
- Either a Double-Boiler, Slow Cooker, or Saucepan
- Oven
- Baking Tray
- Parchment Paper
- Grinder or Scissors
- Cheesecloth or Strainer
Ingredients
Instructions
- 1Step 1
Grind up the cannabis. Preferably grind up the flower/bud as it’s the most potent and will get you a more accurate measurement, but you can include the whole plant. Make sure that it is large enough to not fall through the cloth/strainer. Anything fine enough will end up in the final product.
- 2Step 2
Decarboxylate your cannabis by spreading the cannabis evenly on a baking tray and putting it in the oven for 45 minutes at 240 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you are using trichomes/kief scroll down to image at bottom)
- 3Step 3
With the cheesecloth wrap the ground cannabis and tie it together.
- 4Step 4
Add oil and cannabis into either a slow cooker, double-boiler, or saucepan. For a slow cooker cook on low for 4-6 hours, and stirring it occasionally. Using a double-boiler, cook on low for 6-8 hours ( 8 hours is recommended), and stirring occasionally. Finally using a saucepan, cook on low for 3 hours and stir it frequently, as the saucepan is susceptible to scorching..Tip* You can add a bit of water to the mixture to help prevent burning.Note: The temperature of the oil should not exceed 240 F no matter which method is used.
- 5Step 5
Strain and capture the oil. If using a cheesecloth do not squeeze, this adds more unnecessary chlorophyll to the oil. Leftover plant materials can be discarded.
- 6Step 6
Finished ! The oils shelf life is at least 2 months! And can be extended by keeping it refrigerated.
Nutrition
www.thecannaschool.caCannabis-Infused Cooking Oil
A versatile edible medium that is simple to make.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Ground Cannabis Flower
- 1 Cup Cooking Oil
Instructions
1. Grind up the cannabis. Preferably grind up the flower/bud as it’s the most potent and will get you a more accurate measurement, but you can include the whole plant. Make sure that it is large enough to not fall through the cloth/strainer. Anything fine enough will end up in the final product.
2. Decarboxylate your cannabis by spreading the cannabis evenly on a baking tray and putting it in the oven for 45 minutes at 240 degrees Fahrenheit. (If you are using trichomes/kief scroll down to image at bottom)
3. With the cheesecloth wrap the ground cannabis and tie it together.
4. Add oil and cannabis into either a slow cooker, double-boiler, or saucepan. For a slow cooker cook on low for 4-6 hours, and stirring it occasionally. Using a double-boiler, cook on low for 6-8 hours ( 8 hours is recommended), and stirring occasionally. Finally using a saucepan, cook on low for 3 hours and stir it frequently, as the saucepan is susceptible to scorching..Tip* You can add a bit of water to the mixture to help prevent burning.Note: The temperature of the oil should not exceed 240 F no matter which method is used.
5. Strain and capture the oil. If using a cheesecloth do not squeeze, this adds more unnecessary chlorophyll to the oil. Leftover plant materials can be discarded.
6. Finished ! The oils shelf life is at least 2 months! And can be extended by keeping it refrigerated.
How to Store Cannabis Oil
We recommend storing your cannabis-infused oil in an airtight jar, such as a glass mason jar. This will extend the shelf life and preserve the cannabis coconut oil for longer, along with keeping it safe from contaminents. We also recommend keeping it refrigerated to extend the shelf life even further. Oil that is both refrigerated and kept in an airtight jar can last up to 2 months!
After the cannabis oil cools down, it will harden up again and become a light green shade as seen in the picture below. The potency and color will be dependant on how much cannabis you use to infuse the oil.
If you liked this recipe and are looking to learn/ read more – check out our cook cannabis category! Lot’s of edible recipes there and new ones are being uploaded daily! Click here to learn more!
Jake Randall is a journalist, author, and University of Guelph Alumni with expertise in all things cannabis, along with knowledge in economics, the environment, and everything in between. Originally from just outside Toronto Canada, Jake has taken on the role of a senior cannabis correspondent at The Cannabis School.
Comments
I live in NC and would love to get hold of some gummies. I 60 and disabled due to Fibromyalgia and Osteo Arthritis. I refuse to get hooked on opioids. Can anyone lead me in the right direction. Thanks
Been making this for a year now and me and everyone I know cant get enough!!! Good job helping me get started on making edibles really appreciate it!
If I'm making this with smaller amounts do the cooking times change at all? Thanks!
Hi Amy, the cooking times will not change if you're making this with smaller amounts. However, if you are using a very small amount of oil, it's quite susceptible to burning so make sure to keep a close eye on it. Hope this helps!
I had a little issue the second time making these. The gummies were not chewy like real gummies and looked more opaque than clear/shiny normal gummies. Have you seen this happen before?
Hi Jim, depending on the amount of coconut oil used the gummies can sometimes be somewhat opaque. When the gummies are almost done cooking and you're ready to add them to the moulds, add around a tbsp of water and mix it in. This will make the gummies much chewier. It's hard for me to give you an accurate measurement of water needed because the amount you should add is going to be different for everyone depending on how much water evaporates over the duration of the cook.
Just came across the gummie recipe and I have a question. What if I already have THC oil that isn’t infused can I still use it and how much should I use?
Is there a way to infuse honey? I’m making a gummy recipe and it calls for infused honey! I have infused oil...can I use it?
Is there a way to infuse honey?
Hello! Yes there is a way to infused honey, here's a link to the blog we wrote on it – https://www.thecannaschool.ca/how-to-make-weed-honey/
Can I decarb the flower at night and then make the oil the next day? Or is it something that needs to be done immediately?
Hi Meg, you don't have to use the decarbed cannabis right away.
Alternative emulsification approach: If you have a toaster oven (like I do), you can simply place your Oil, Weed, and a smidgen of Water into a Pyrex (or saucepan even) and bake it at 220°F for 3 Hours. Stirring the Oil occasionally. It's cleaner (IMHO) and easier. 🙂
I don’t understand. I’m wrapping the cannabis in a cheesecloth and then adding the sack into the oil? The oil doesn’t cover the top of the cheesecloth sack What is there to stir if the weed is inside the cloth?
Hi Kay, If you're infusing with enough oil for the sack to be submerged then you can wrap it in the cheesecloth. Otherwise, you can just add the cannabis directly into the oil and then strain through the cheesecloth afterwards.
YES~! This was a first for me and I am very happy with the results. The coconut oil and weed turned out and was pretty easy, I had to tilt my crock pot so the cheesecloth sat in the deep zone in the oil. After this process I made lime /gummy bears in a loaf pan.
Thanks for the awesome recipe!! I have a question with the calculator. Let’s say I decarb 8 grams. When I’m calculating for my gummy, and I start with 1 cup, but end up with a 1/2 cup in the end, am I putting in the 8 grams with 1 cup or 1/2 cup?? I know regardless I’m using 8 g, I just don’t know if my calculation should have the initial or final product amount. Thank You!
Hi Ashley, you would use the final amount of oil.
Hey so i dont understand how putting the weed in the cheesecloth is going to mix it with the oil cant i just put the weed and oil together then strain it with the cheese cloth
Hi Ian, you can wrap the cannabis in cheesecloth and then submerge it to prevent any plant matter from getting into the oil. This will only work if you're infusing a large amount of oil though. If not, you can just add the cannabis directly to the oil and then once it's infused strain the oil through a few layers of cheesecloth. I hope this helps!
Hi, Once you have done the decarbing, do you throw the weed away? Can it be re-used again? Seems like a shame to be throwing this away. LOL.
Hi Karyn, we recommend discarding the cannabis after you infuse it into the oil. Aside from the fact that almost all of the cannabinoids have been infused into the oil, the cannabis is also going to be completely coated in oil.
Do you keep the weed in the cheesecloth when you put it in oil? I've only every used the cheese cloth to strain a weed/oil mix.
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