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 am trying to bring out the medicinal properties of the cannabis; anti-inflammatory, cbd... i have been infusing in a slow cooker at 120 degrees for 8 hours and only decarb 1/4 of the herb. According to the decarb chart there is 0% cbd and only 0.1% cbd if decarbed for 60 minutes. It was my understanding to bring out the more medicinal properties and less of the “fun” properties of the herb it should be infused at no more than 130 degrees. Am I getting any benefits from the cannabis infusing it this way, I feel that I am but... according to the chart it would seem not. ? THanks.
3rd time trying this recipe and yes it is very functional and pretty ,much dummy proof. Making 100 doses at 60mg ... damn skippy it's good
ca fait 1 an que je fais cette recette, je l'ai adopté.
How many ounces are in a cup of Ground Cannabis Flower?
8oz. I do wish the recipe was using grams instead of cups.
Hi, where in NY can good-quality flowers (or kief) be bought at reasonable cost? Or is that impossible to find except for those with access to alt. sources, given the iron-fist of NY policymakers? I realize there's such a thing as obtaining a medical card, but that's a racket, and you're still limited to their notions of how much THC you need (acting as if 100% of us are infantile, and throwing us all into a one-size-fits-all basket). Again, hoping someone here can provide sources and phone numbers. Thanks.
The recipe was good, but lots of info was missing. Mine were picture perfect, but 1/4 cup of infused oil meant I had to eat about 10 for desired effect, nearly the whole batch! I dried them in front of a fan for 12 ours, but when I put them in the fridge, they melted and turned into one big square. I've got hours into this project and I am disgusted. It seems like more specific instructions were needed. I guess I'll go back to making cookies!
Why do you decarb the bud before cooking in oil? Wont the THC decarb while it is cooking? Mine does! I put 1 gram of ground bud into 2 ounces of oil. If I cook for 30 minutes at 300 degrees, I get something that really kicks me in the head. I don't even cook food with it, I just sip it by the teaspoon. One spoon gives almost immediate desired results. Six spoons over six hours puts me into a waking walking dream state. When I finally give up and go to sleep, I rest wonderfully for 12 hours. I haven't slept 12 hours in 30 years. I have been smoking for 45 years.
This has been my go-to recipe for cannabis infused coconut oil for almost a year now. It has never failed me. I'm back to make another batch and just wanted to thank you for putting this recipe out there for us.
just want to clarify with wrapping in cheesecloth your making a bag for flower to sit in and put flower directly into oil correct?
After cooking down cannabis I had luquid left over,did I not cook long enough? I did have butter on top,can I use squeezed cannabis? Instead of discarding? NEWB
If a recipe calls for a 1/2 cup of oil, but I am looking for a more THC rich end product, could I up the amount of cannabis and reduce the amount of coconut oil when I am doing my infusion? Say 10 grams of weed to 1/2-3/4 cup of oil? I am making gummies and the mold is going to be .5x.5 x 4 in. I would like to get each gummie to be around 50mg THC.. (Something comparable to store bought gummies like cannaburst). I have a fear of having a weak batch and wasting a lot of time and expensive pot.
Making cannabis coconut oil – I have made infused cooking oil using canola oil in the past. Can I use this oil for gummy bears, or do I have to use coconut oil because it is a solid oil instead of the liquid infused canola oil?
Hello Cheryl, When making edible gummy bears, you will need to use coconut oil to achieve the required density and consistency. If you used regular canola oil, it would not combine well with the gelatin mixture. Hope this answered your question. Cheers, Jake
i put the cannabis and the coconut oil together on low heat but it got really dark and i think it may be burned, is there any way to salvage this??
A very informative article. I do think it may be more work than necessary, for the following reasons. First, you can use shake and get the same effect as grinding up good flower. With 12 grams of shake in a saucepan with one cup avocado oil, you can decarboxylate in just 30 min on low, roughly 300f. A 1/2 to 3/4 cup of this oil filtered is enough for a batch of brownies and it takes no time. Also, you don’t extract all the sleepy compounds that come out in long, 6 hour (yikes) extraction. Edibles should make you feel good, the way a joint does. Rarely do they.
Hey, I am just venturing into the edibles side of cannabis and have been looking for an easy recipe to follow. This looks like something I can try. Thanks for this, hoping this works out for me. Cheers!
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