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
Aloha from Maui1! hope you’re doing well! just got my weed card and I purchased something called oil FECO with a syringe and it has 54% total THC in it..my question is I want to make gummy bears and chocolate in some really silly molds I wanted to use for a party but everything I found online requires the actual green bud to first make either the coconut oil or the weed butter etc. I don’t think I’ve eaten weed that taste like weed since I was in high school who wants to do that when you don’t have to! L! can you suggest what I can do with this oil please. also I heard that when you’re baking with THC or other chemicals in it it reduces the potency when you eat them is that true is it better to make something that you’re not actually cooking the marijuana in to get more of a potency ? thank you
Aloha Jen! Yes, you can use straight THC oil instead of infusing the actual herb! After you make your mixture, just add the THC oil and stir so it is evenly distributed. When baking any type of edible you will always have some degree of THC (potency) that is lost during the process, it all depends on what you're making. Hope this helped!
Can I use straight thc? If so how much do I use?
I am about to try this recipe and I am sooo excited! I've never done edibles before. I bought 3.5 grams of the flower and it has 18% THC. Playing around with the calculator, if I use the entire 3.5 grams, and use 4 cups of the oil, I can make gummy bears that have around 6.5 of THC per serving, which is what I am looking for. Am I doing the math right? Just checking before I get started 🙂 and aslo.. do I grind the cannabis before doing the heating process in the oven?
Hi! Which part of the double boiler do I put the oil and flower in, the top or bottom pot?
How much marijuana do I need for 200 gummy bears that are around 10-12 percent
Hello Vanessa, It looks like your doing the calculation right! It all depends on the size of the gummy bear moulds you use and how many you make (quantity)! When decarboxylating we recommend grinding the cannabis up before the heating process! We have already written a comprehensive guide on decarboxylation, if you need to learn more, search that up on our website! Hope this helped!
Do you have to put herb in oven or can just do in crock pot with oil on low?
I enjoy this site, but am a little confused by the content. The recipe states that you use “cups” of herb. Yet the calculator says you have to know the grams to figure it out. Cups are a measure of volume, grams are a measure of weight. ???
Hello Wayne, the “cup” is just a guideline as everyone will be using different amounts of cannabis depending on their specific THC levels (cannabis potency), the amount used will depend on how potent you want your oil to be! Play around with the calculator and find a potency that you feel comfortable with. Then just use that amount of “grams” when doing the infusion. Hope this helped.
Hello, im looking to start making my own edibles of all sorts and would like to buy my own seeds to grow how are where can i get good potent seeds to grow and how/where do i start please help
Hi Ebony, we have some cannabis growing guides on the website. You can find those here . What state or country are you located in? Laws regarding where you can purchase cannabis seeds are different everywhere, so I can't tell you where to get them without knowing where you're located. All the best. 🙂
How does the calculator work for dosing CBD? I am growing two different strains that claim to be 16% CBD and less than 1% THC. I want to make gummies for my grandson, so dosing will be important
I started with one cup of solid refined coconut oil and realized I needed to add more as one cup of solid would not yield a full cup of liquid coconut oils. This does throw off the original calculation. Started with 1oz of flower and trim combo. I used about 1 and a quarter cups solid coconut oil. It yielded 8oz (1cup) of liquid oil. I grinded the flower/twin mix and followed the recipe and doubled the cheesecloth. Worked great. I’ll update when the gummies are finished. Test run with regular oil worked well, not like a gummie you get at the store but still good. More to come, but great information and comments so far, super helpful!
Is it necessary to decarboxylate in the oven, I thought the heating on the stove for hours would decarboxylate ?
I tried this recipe and I have a few questions. I used a grinder to ground the cannabis, and I tried to get to one cup, but I ended up with a little less. It was still 21 grams, which seems like a lot. Is there an amount in grams that I should be aiming for? I also used a cheesecloth (for the first time in my life) and one cup of coconut oil in a slow cooker on low for six hours. When it was done, I ended up with a half cup of oil, which I used for gummies. I did try to squeeze out the cheesecloth afterward and got a bit more oil, but I know the recipe does not recommend that because of the additional chlorophyll. I am wondering if my results are typical as far as only getting a half cup. Also, it tasted pretty bad so I am looking for advice on that. (Though it was very potent!) I think I ground the flower too fine and it went through the cheesecloth. My guess is that I should wrap the cannabis in several layers of cheesecloth? I might also start with more oil.
Hi Libby, the number of grams you should use is completely up to you. Play around with the calculator until you find a potency that you like. Infused ingredients like cannabutter or cannaoil are not going to taste great, but there are lots of recipes that can cover it up pretty well. For the cheesecloth, you can do just what you said or you can grind your cannabis a little bit less fine. Either way works.
Didn't see the instructions for using kief, it says “trichomes/kief scroll down to image at bottom”… I feel stupid but I must be missing something. Maybe mobile view doesn't show it. How do I use kief in the recipe?
i am trying to make gummies using cannabis oil 30mg/30ml so how does this compare to infused oil
Hey, when you said we needed a (double boiler, pan, slow cooker) do you mean all three or just one of the appliances above?
Hey! What if I already have cooking hash from a dispensary?
Hi Samantha, This should work! Please let us know how they turn out 🙂
Please excuse my typo (Siri-o) above – having made oil that is ‘too weak’... is there a way I can increase its potency when making gummies? Thanks again
Hi Kristie, I would recommend that you use the oil that's too weak in another recipe that requires a large amount of it(sometimes recipes that require 1-2cups are too potent). Then just make a more potent oil specifically for the gummies. 🙂
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